Fentanyl pain patch

coloCan
coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Anybody familiar with the Fentanyl 12 mcg/hr transdermal system patch for pain? Did it help relieve pain? Any side effects? Trouble Breathing? Been using percocet but still hurting. Don't know if I should try this stuff.....Thanks....Steve

Comments

  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    I know plenty of people with
    I know plenty of people with RSD/CRPS that use this. I did not. I hate pain meds and only take them when I absolutely have to. I have too many bad side effects from them - I'll take pain over that.

    As with everything, the patches well for some, and not as well for others. Some with side effects, some without much.

    Percocet can have a lot of acetaminaphin, so depending on how much of it you are taking, this might be a good alternative for you. You won't know till you try.
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342

    I know plenty of people with
    I know plenty of people with RSD/CRPS that use this. I did not. I hate pain meds and only take them when I absolutely have to. I have too many bad side effects from them - I'll take pain over that.

    As with everything, the patches well for some, and not as well for others. Some with side effects, some without much.

    Percocet can have a lot of acetaminaphin, so depending on how much of it you are taking, this might be a good alternative for you. You won't know till you try.

    My onc..
    ... took ,e off Percocets because it's not good for the liver, and has my on Oxycontin and Oxycodone for the pain which helps alot, I'm not usually in pain though, I take it if I need it though.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • AceSFO
    AceSFO Member Posts: 229
    Fentanyl Patches
    Hey Steve,
    My partner (johnsfo) has been using the patches for several weeks now and they've been working out really well. The MS Contin wasn't enough to kick the pain (he has bone mets in the sacrum, with the tumor pressing on the sciatic nerve), but the Fentanyl with the morphine as needed, has made a huge difference. He's able to function normally and doesn't seem dopey the way you would expect from something 100x more potent than morphine. Yesterday he even swam laps.

    I'd say if your pain meds don't feel like enough, and the doctor is offering it, give it a shot. I'll see if I can get him to chime in on this thread too, or feel free to PM him.

    Hope this helps,
    Adrian
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    AceSFO said:

    Fentanyl Patches
    Hey Steve,
    My partner (johnsfo) has been using the patches for several weeks now and they've been working out really well. The MS Contin wasn't enough to kick the pain (he has bone mets in the sacrum, with the tumor pressing on the sciatic nerve), but the Fentanyl with the morphine as needed, has made a huge difference. He's able to function normally and doesn't seem dopey the way you would expect from something 100x more potent than morphine. Yesterday he even swam laps.

    I'd say if your pain meds don't feel like enough, and the doctor is offering it, give it a shot. I'll see if I can get him to chime in on this thread too, or feel free to PM him.

    Hope this helps,
    Adrian

    patch
    thanks Adrian. Just figured out how to remove patch from foil container and will give it a try....Steve
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    coloCan said:

    patch
    thanks Adrian. Just figured out how to remove patch from foil container and will give it a try....Steve

    Fibro Pain
    My partner uses the patch for her Fibro pain. She started with the 12's but is now up to 75 and that seems to work for her. She says it is much better then having to rely on pills, because when they wear off you have to wait for the new ones to take effect. But with the patch it just continues. They dont make her sleepy or anything, it has actually helped her alot to just be able to function normally.

    Good Luck, keep us posted.
    Beth
  • AceSFO
    AceSFO Member Posts: 229
    coloCan said:

    patch
    thanks Adrian. Just figured out how to remove patch from foil container and will give it a try....Steve

    Fentanyl and pets
    Hey Steve - I'm sure it will work. If you have any pets though be sure to keep it in a safe place where they can't get at it. It's lethal to small animals (also to some people who aren't already on opiates) You probably already know this, but thought it's worth reiterating. Be careful with the used ones, that animals don't get into the trash.

    Let us know how it goes...
    Adrian
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    I used them
    Steve, I was on the patch for a while and had very good results with them. I do not remember the dosage, I think they were 20 mcg/hr. I had been on an oral pill, oxycontin I think and I'd sometimes forget to take them every 8 hours. The patch was good for 72 hours. The reason I stopped was that summer got here and I like to swim a lot so it wasn't practical to use them. The only side effect I had, if you could call it that, was that my skin would sometimes get irritated under the patch. You also have to put some plastic wrap over it and tape it down when you shower.
    -p
  • johnsfo
    johnsfo Member Posts: 47
    PhillieG said:

    I used them
    Steve, I was on the patch for a while and had very good results with them. I do not remember the dosage, I think they were 20 mcg/hr. I had been on an oral pill, oxycontin I think and I'd sometimes forget to take them every 8 hours. The patch was good for 72 hours. The reason I stopped was that summer got here and I like to swim a lot so it wasn't practical to use them. The only side effect I had, if you could call it that, was that my skin would sometimes get irritated under the patch. You also have to put some plastic wrap over it and tape it down when you shower.
    -p

    I use them -- and swim
    Hi, Steve. I had a met at the sacrum diagnosed early this year, and it causes extreme pain (tumor is entwined with nerve roots). For a long time I took only ms contin and would only take that at night to help me sleep because I thought strong pain meds would cloud my thinking. The pain eventually became so severe that I agreed to try the fentanyl. It works really well, keeps the pain at bay, and does not leave me feeling that I'm sedated or that my thinking is compromised in any way. I use 25 mcg patches, do not cover them in the shower. My onc suggested that I shouldn't swim with them, but I went swimming on Wednesday, just before I was due to change the patch. I noticed that the seal held perfectly even after about 1/2 hour of lap swimming. (The seal seems to hold best when I place the patch on my shoulder.)

    For the first few days of using the fentanyl I felt a little spacey, but I quickly got used to them and don't notice any effect other than pretty good pain relief now. I also take ms contin at night. Strong narcotics do cause constipation and shallow breathing, and both can become problems, so keep alert to any symptoms, and better yet, be proactive to avoid problems. Even so, taking the fentanyl has definitely improved my quality of life.

    Hope that helps, and hope you feel relief from the pain!

    John
  • sharpy102
    sharpy102 Member Posts: 368 Member
    yes
    Hello Steve,

    My mom used fentanyl patches, yes...the main side effect for her was constipation....that is believed to be the side effect of it. She also vomited, but that is not the side effect according to the doctors. 12 mcg/h shouldn't cause breathing problems. She was on 400 mcg/h by the end (plus taking maximum dose of other pain killers), and she did have trouble breathing by that time.
    But besides constipation, no other side-effects were present until she reached the dose of 100 mcr/h (or higher). I hope this helps to you somewhat.
    The biggest disadvantage with this is that you get easily "used to it" (as it's a form of drug as well) and then you always have to "climb" higher and higher. If I were you, I would try other pain killers (as pills) next to your "percocet" (I don't know anything about that one). How fast you get used to your fentanyl dose is varies from person to person....
    I wish you the best of luck Steve, and please update us how you are doing.
    Take care,
    Sophie
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    johnsfo said:

    I use them -- and swim
    Hi, Steve. I had a met at the sacrum diagnosed early this year, and it causes extreme pain (tumor is entwined with nerve roots). For a long time I took only ms contin and would only take that at night to help me sleep because I thought strong pain meds would cloud my thinking. The pain eventually became so severe that I agreed to try the fentanyl. It works really well, keeps the pain at bay, and does not leave me feeling that I'm sedated or that my thinking is compromised in any way. I use 25 mcg patches, do not cover them in the shower. My onc suggested that I shouldn't swim with them, but I went swimming on Wednesday, just before I was due to change the patch. I noticed that the seal held perfectly even after about 1/2 hour of lap swimming. (The seal seems to hold best when I place the patch on my shoulder.)

    For the first few days of using the fentanyl I felt a little spacey, but I quickly got used to them and don't notice any effect other than pretty good pain relief now. I also take ms contin at night. Strong narcotics do cause constipation and shallow breathing, and both can become problems, so keep alert to any symptoms, and better yet, be proactive to avoid problems. Even so, taking the fentanyl has definitely improved my quality of life.

    Hope that helps, and hope you feel relief from the pain!

    John

    thanks for advice John
    put first patch on thursday, 3 PM so it should start taking effect soon, as its noon here Fri in Brooklyn,NY. Can I still take percocet or codeine if needed ? What about ativan for sleeping? Steve
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    sharpy102 said:

    yes
    Hello Steve,

    My mom used fentanyl patches, yes...the main side effect for her was constipation....that is believed to be the side effect of it. She also vomited, but that is not the side effect according to the doctors. 12 mcg/h shouldn't cause breathing problems. She was on 400 mcg/h by the end (plus taking maximum dose of other pain killers), and she did have trouble breathing by that time.
    But besides constipation, no other side-effects were present until she reached the dose of 100 mcr/h (or higher). I hope this helps to you somewhat.
    The biggest disadvantage with this is that you get easily "used to it" (as it's a form of drug as well) and then you always have to "climb" higher and higher. If I were you, I would try other pain killers (as pills) next to your "percocet" (I don't know anything about that one). How fast you get used to your fentanyl dose is varies from person to person....
    I wish you the best of luck Steve, and please update us how you are doing.
    Take care,
    Sophie

    pain
    thanks Sharpy, for advice, I;m also hoping as time goes by my **** and stoma will cause less and less pain til I need to take nothing, can get comfortable and start "living" again and not spend so much time in bed......Steve
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    johnsfo said:

    I use them -- and swim
    Hi, Steve. I had a met at the sacrum diagnosed early this year, and it causes extreme pain (tumor is entwined with nerve roots). For a long time I took only ms contin and would only take that at night to help me sleep because I thought strong pain meds would cloud my thinking. The pain eventually became so severe that I agreed to try the fentanyl. It works really well, keeps the pain at bay, and does not leave me feeling that I'm sedated or that my thinking is compromised in any way. I use 25 mcg patches, do not cover them in the shower. My onc suggested that I shouldn't swim with them, but I went swimming on Wednesday, just before I was due to change the patch. I noticed that the seal held perfectly even after about 1/2 hour of lap swimming. (The seal seems to hold best when I place the patch on my shoulder.)

    For the first few days of using the fentanyl I felt a little spacey, but I quickly got used to them and don't notice any effect other than pretty good pain relief now. I also take ms contin at night. Strong narcotics do cause constipation and shallow breathing, and both can become problems, so keep alert to any symptoms, and better yet, be proactive to avoid problems. Even so, taking the fentanyl has definitely improved my quality of life.

    Hope that helps, and hope you feel relief from the pain!

    John

    That's great!
    I liked the patch but the make up of my skin made them ready to come off after the 72 hours. Sometimes they didn't even last that long. I used them on my upper arm. I would swim every day and sometimes a few times a day. I miss my pool since it was closed for the season. We even had flurries yesterday and today.
  • sharpy102
    sharpy102 Member Posts: 368 Member
    coloCan said:

    pain
    thanks Sharpy, for advice, I;m also hoping as time goes by my **** and stoma will cause less and less pain til I need to take nothing, can get comfortable and start "living" again and not spend so much time in bed......Steve

    good luck Steve
    Steve with this point of view of yours...I'll hear you coming back that you're off of the patches and "living" happily again! :) I wish you all the best, you'll be fine!!! I'll cross my fingers for you as well! :)
    Take care,
    Sophie
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    sharpy102 said:

    good luck Steve
    Steve with this point of view of yours...I'll hear you coming back that you're off of the patches and "living" happily again! :) I wish you all the best, you'll be fine!!! I'll cross my fingers for you as well! :)
    Take care,
    Sophie

    your optimistic prognosis, Sharpy 102
    While pain is my current problem,, what I really dread is the four months of chemo that will soon start. Having been thru chemo (with radiation) prior to surgery, I have a good idea of what to expect which is why I fear it as I will be nowhere near as strong and healthy as I had been at the stsrt of this process back in June. My will to live, however, is stronger than my fear of chemo and aversion to pain. Thank you for your kind thoughts, Ms Sophie (sounds like yiou DID do good by you mother!) Steve