Fentenayl pain patch side effects

Pumakitty
Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

When dad started on his third time with chemo the doctor incresased his patches to 50 mg.  He told me there would not be much of a difference as far as side effects.  But I have seen a major difference.  Dad is sleeping 20 hours out of the day, says he feels really drunk and is having even more memory problems. 

Could any of you share your experences with the pain patches.

Thanks,

Kathy

Comments

  • jcortney
    jcortney Member Posts: 503
    #2
    Not seeing any

    I recently got raised to 50mg and have had none of the effects your dad is showing.  I might suggest that the thrid round of Chemo might be the real culprit.  That was a really rough time for me and I didn't have any pain patches at that point.

    Joe Cortney

    Dalllas, TX

  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #3
    jcortney said:

    Not seeing any

    I recently got raised to 50mg and have had none of the effects your dad is showing.  I might suggest that the thrid round of Chemo might be the real culprit.  That was a really rough time for me and I didn't have any pain patches at that point.

    Joe Cortney

    Dalllas, TX

    Was wondering the same

    I thought chemo could be part of the problem.  He has never had these side effects before.  Thanks for your input.

     

    Kathy

  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #4
    jcortney said:

    Not seeing any

    I recently got raised to 50mg and have had none of the effects your dad is showing.  I might suggest that the thrid round of Chemo might be the real culprit.  That was a really rough time for me and I didn't have any pain patches at that point.

    Joe Cortney

    Dalllas, TX

    Hi Puma ..

    I wore a 12mcg and 25mcg at the same time but I also took 6 Narco pain pills a day.  I was sleeping my most the four-five weeks after my last radiation.....

    I did not feel drunk, but I did feel like I had a double shot of whiskey (from my drinking days a lifetime ago I remember what that felt like), you know, that warm, flush, tingly sensation for about 1/2 an hour ...then it went away along with most of the pain.

    Sorry not much more help...just sharing....

    Say hello to Dad ...tell him he is in our thoughts and prayers.

     

    Tim

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #5
    Tim6003 said:

    Hi Puma ..

    I wore a 12mcg and 25mcg at the same time but I also took 6 Narco pain pills a day.  I was sleeping my most the four-five weeks after my last radiation.....

    I did not feel drunk, but I did feel like I had a double shot of whiskey (from my drinking days a lifetime ago I remember what that felt like), you know, that warm, flush, tingly sensation for about 1/2 an hour ...then it went away along with most of the pain.

    Sorry not much more help...just sharing....

    Say hello to Dad ...tell him he is in our thoughts and prayers.

     

    Tim

    Puma
    I was very much affected by the patches. Could be because I am not very big or that I'm just a lightweight. I was very drunk like, confused, nauseas and slept non stop!
    I guess one way to find out if this is what is bothering your dad, drop back down to a dosage that was easier for him and see if the symptoms go away. Just so you know tho, it took me a few days after stopping the patch before I felt better.
    Good luck and I hope you quickly get your dad feeling better.
    Billie
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #6
    Billie67 said:

    Puma
    I was very much affected by the patches. Could be because I am not very big or that I'm just a lightweight. I was very drunk like, confused, nauseas and slept non stop!
    I guess one way to find out if this is what is bothering your dad, drop back down to a dosage that was easier for him and see if the symptoms go away. Just so you know tho, it took me a few days after stopping the patch before I felt better.
    Good luck and I hope you quickly get your dad feeling better.
    Billie

    Thank you

    What you just described he how he is.  It seemed like everything was going good for him until New Years Eve and then it has really started to go down hill.  I plan to ask the doctor how long he will need to stay on the 50 mg.

     

     

  • backachedp
    backachedp Member Posts: 132
    #7
    Pumakitty said:

    Thank you

    What you just described he how he is.  It seemed like everything was going good for him until New Years Eve and then it has really started to go down hill.  I plan to ask the doctor how long he will need to stay on the 50 mg.

     

     

    Patches

    I have been on them for 12 years and wear more than one.  When I started using them I was tired, but never felt drunk but I was not a Cancer Patient.  My Husband had Chemo Brain which sometimes still comes and goes and he still sleeps alot.  I wish you luck with your Dad and deffinatly do call the Dr and ask if this is normal eighter from the Patch or Chemo or radiation it's hard to know what the culprit may be.  I do know my Husband slept almost all the time during radiation and afterwards, I was kinda glad because then he was not hurting or feeling sick..he only missed 1 Appt for rad's but he would go to bed as soon as he got home.  Hope you get some answers and soon.

  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #8
    OK during the day, nightmares in my sleep

    I don't remember the max dosage for my Fentenayl (it went gradually up and then gradually down), but I was OK  with it during the day.  But in my sleep I had some terrifying nightmares.  If you remember the "Death Riders" from the Harry Potter movies, I saw those things a LOT in my dreams.  It would wake me up in the middle of the night and I was then afraid to go back to sleep in case they would re-appear.  Fentenayl is NOT for kids!

    Mike

  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #9
    Not much help here

    Kathy

     I was also on the 50mcg patch also. They did not help much at all. The funny part I was still on them post treatment and when they werent helping I just removed them and on my next follow up the med onc almost passed out when I told her I just removed it. The meds that got me drunk was the ambien, it worked like a charm. One night I said the heck with it and am sleeping so I took two, dont ever do thatSmile talk about beng drunk

    Wishe and prayers on your dads journey

    Dave

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