fentanyl patch, only, for pain?

NJR said:

yep
Hey Kent,
Most case where Fentanyl patches are used for cancer require an additional "fast acting" opiate in conjunction with the patch because the patch is great for persistent, chronic pain that requires a steady even dose, but it is ineffective in preventing "Breakthrough" pain.
Over a period of a couple of weeks they ran me through the gauntlet of Oxy's up to straight morphine and then started me on the Fentanyl relegating the morphine to "as needed"
If one is fortunate enough to come off of the pain meds, they then do it in the reverse order weaning the patient off the patch about 25 mcg/h at a time. Once to that level the morphine made it easy to end the Fentanyl all together.
I will let you know how getting off the morphine goes when they let me stop it, but cutting back to 1 tsp (oral solution) every 10 to 12 hrs has not been difficult.

Thanks
Passed along the info, for which I am grateful. A green bottle of liquid Oxycontin seems to be one of the additional meds. I only have experience with Morphine and Hydrocodone as pain meds, so your info was most helpful.

The Subject in play is, again, my Cousin. He went thru John's regiment of chemo, then chemo and rad tx, which failed; then an 8-hour Op that took his voice box, etc.; and, months after that Op has been told he's still got C! His initial tx started a little over a year ago, and I figure he's been on pain meds ever since- especially since the Op last summer. I'm talking serious narcotics use for likely the past year, Folks. He had a long history of alcohol abuse (major) before C, and I reckon the pain meds replaced the booze, and know he's been on a serious amount of those meds for many months, so...Reckon the first order of business, though, is still what it always is with us- Priority #1 is getting rid of the C, at whatever cost. The Drs want him to go thru an MRI on 12/5, then try to treat the remaining C with rads.

And, of note/lesson to all: his medical bills over the past year must be over $300,000, which includes 3-weeks in hospitals, and a month in a Nursing Home, at least 5 PS/CTs, a couple MRIs, and physical therapy, etc., on top of the forementioned- AND HE'S NEVER HAD ANY INSURANCE! Figure Medicare/Medicaid is picking-up the entire bill, he's never really had a job that lasted any length, and is even getting SSI. So, that is a route that can be taken, though the quality of care is likely compromised. My cost was $3,000 with the two year's of deductibles, and I thought I got it taken care of on the cheap! FYI.

kcass