Does anyone have knowledge about Duragesic patches?

Question

I have a disease that affects my spine, I also have Fibromyalgia. My doctor has me on Lortab 7.5 for pain. Well, it's just not helping anymore. He said for me to come by tomorrow and get a Rx for duragesic patches. What exactly are these? Do they work quickly? Will they make me feel high or drunk? (I have to function at work) Also, if it is not helping for pain, do you take any other meds with it? Thanks.

I am used to taking pain meds, does the patch give you that wierd/loopy feeling? If so, I can handle that. But extreme drowsiness...cannot handle that!

Answer 1

I am on them some two years now 25 micrograms per hour Fentanyl. Yes I have Rheumatoid Arthritis with Psoriasis, so perhaps AS as well but I do know a prolapsed disc. I was not keen at first and the first few days were Hades. I had bad bouts of nausea and vomiting. I ended up seeing a on-call doc as I was getting dehydrated. He told me to give up on the patch, then gave me an injection and some pills? The injection I did not mind, how one can take pills when you are vomiting up everything is beyond me. Three hours after the injection, the nausea stopped! From then on it has been plain sailing. I am not sleepy, not high, do sweat but nothing new in that. No I would not say that work quickly much depends on body temperature and outside temperature, so if you are hot in bed, or go for a sauna, hot shower, the patch can leech out more of the drug. Likewise if you get cold, say in the winter with snow, ice do not wrap up, the patch may not leech out any medication. I still drive. I am also on Valium 2mgs at night with 25mgs of Lyrica and anti-inflammatory drugs. However in hindsight I am so glad I did not give up at the first hurdle. My Doc stated that if I wanted I could cut the patch in half and build up? The patch they gave me to start with had like a gel in it, but the new patches no gel so I assume you could cut them in half and build up slowly if you have side affects?

Answer 2

When my bad back was in an acute phase, I was on Duragesic 25mcgs. Duragesic is Fentenyl which is an opiate or narcotic. Your doctor will tell you which medications you may take with the patch. It may make you drowsy until you get used to it, so I would avoid driving until you know how you will react to the patch. The patch is usually changed every 72 hours. Always remove an old patch before applying a new one. good luck to you.

Answer 3

You asked if they work quickly....they are released slowly into the skin over a period of time to be changed every 72 hrs or as per dr. orders....so no, they don't start working for a while. For this reason, many dr.'s will prescribe a quick-acting pain med such as the Lortab (hydrocodone) you take. But make sure you ask the dr. about taking it like that. My sister uses these patches for chronic pain and she says they work for her but took a little while. She also says they do make her sleepy. But they come in different dosages so be sure and tell your dr. that you will be working (VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IF YOU WILL BE DRIVING!) because they are going to have an effect for about 72 hours.

Answer 4

I've been via two spinal fusion operations and you're going to be very fortunate if you're capable to role with out discomfort treatment even after a 12 months. The fentanyl is fairly robust so watch out utilising it. Never reduce or tear one of the crucial patches or the time free up will free up a whole dose that can influence in a overdose. My final operation used to be in 2002 and I nonetheless take 10mil. loratabs 4x day forty mil. morphine sulphate at night time and on unhealthy days 20mil. Oxycontin 2x day. For the time you're within the collar ask for a Philadelphia brace they're a ways larger than those they most of the time ship you house with. When I used the patches I gave up and used duct tape so the rattling matters might keep on. The unhealthy factor approximately such robust discomfort meds is that you just ought to be weened off them after awhile or you're going to get ill and feature issues sound asleep.

Answer 5

It's like Bezel or Du Jour.....HAIRANDBONE!