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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Fentanol patches 
        
(Message started by: Karla on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 6:42pm)

Title: Fentanol patches
Post by Karla on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 6:42pm

Most of you know that I have tried every medicine under the sun and nothing has worked. Out of desperation I tried methadone a year ago. I am here to say I have been pain free for the last year which has been a much needed break for this chronic clusterhead. However, I have had to deal with sleeping 15-17 hours a day over the last year. So I have had an intersting life sleeping most of my life away but yet having no ha while awake and having a wonderful quality of life and able to do things for and whith my kids. However, My dr has decided along with my husband and I that it would be better for me to go off the methadone at this time and try something different to see if I can be pain free and stay awake also! Noval concept hey! I am going to try the 25 mg fentanol patches. I pray to God that it works like the methadone. I also pray now that my neuro and I have decided to go this route that my dr is also willing and will perscribe for me. If anyone feels like offering up some prayers for me as I embark on this new journey I would appreciate it. Thanks. Karla

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Miss_Deleny on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 6:44pm

You have my prayers that this new route you are about to take keeps the beast gone from your life!

~April~

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Ree on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 6:59pm

good luck Karla you are also in my prayers... love ree '

ps you can do it... believe!!!!

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by don on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 7:04pm

I dont know if this will help or not but......................

My wife has been on a heavy dosage of oxycontin for a few years now do to chronic pain from a spinal injury. She to was having a lot of difficulty functioning.

She switched to the fentanol patch and after a few dosage adjustments the pain is managable as it was on the oxys and her futional level has increased dramatically. It might work for ya Karla.

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by tsayswhy on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 9:19pm

You got my pray's I hope this works :-*

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Melissa on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 9:25pm

good luck to you Karla, you're in my thoughts and I'll say a prayer for you.

love,
:)mel

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Oct 3^rd, 2003, 11:52pm

BIGASS vibes going up to you Karla, and the family.
I wish you the BEST of luck,
Mast

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by OneEyeBlind on Oct 4^th, 2003, 12:45am

Karla, hoping this works for you !!!!!! My best vibes, prayers, and good juju coming your way !!!!!!

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Svenn on Oct 4^th, 2003, 1:32am

Karla

Wish you the very best.Really hope the Fentanyl Patches works for you.

Wibes on the way

The very best from

Svenn

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Hound_Dogg on Oct 4^th, 2003, 6:55am

Karla,

I was on the Fentanyl Patches (Duragesic by Jannsen). It was not for Clusters, but that's another story for another message board :). They work great for pain. It takes about 24 to 48 hours for you to begin feeling the effects of the patch & once it is titrated to the proper dose, it should work fine. But you should have a couple of "rescue doses" of methadone for the first day or two, until it gets into your bloodstream. I'll give you some hits & misses with this med below.

Hits-One applied patch kills pain for 72 hours, so once you put it on...no worries for 3 days.....Since it goes into your bloodstream slowly, you don't have the many nasty side effects of other narcotics, i.e. sleepiness, itching, drowsy, disconnected, & constipation.

Misses- Once you don't need it, it's hard to wean off from. If you wean down to 25mcg it's still a nasty withdrawal. About 3 to 4 days of something like a stomach virus. BE PREPARED....Sometimes the patches sweat off. Jannsen will give you an adhesive cover for them, just give them a call.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions, Please let me know..

Jim

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by nancyc on Oct 4^th, 2003, 9:28am

Karla, you know I am chronic and was out of work last year for about five months with uncontrollable chs...anyway, my Neuro put me on a 25 mcg. patch...I am still on that same dose...It has made all the difference in the world to my chs..I still have some breakthrus but nothing like I was...I can work everyday...When I get hit, it is very sporatic and not five and six times a day...A few months ago, I started getting hit worse than I ever had since I went on the patch...My neuro upped my topamax and it settled rite down again....He feels the combo of the patch and an antiseizure is what is helping me so much..And I agree...I refuse to up the dose on my patch and for the last year, it has worked for me...I dont post about this combo alot as I dont believe this is the medication for anyone who is episodic...It was my last resort..I was ready to give up last year...Email me anytime..smiles,nancyc

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by mikeslieber on Oct 5^th, 2003, 3:50am

Karla,

I am glad to hear that others are getting the same great results from methadone that I have had. I had some problems falling asleep when I increased my dose. I have been on the same dose for long enough that my biggest problem is forgetting to take all my doses. If I miss 2 doses a day for 3-4 days the only way I can tell is my attacks start to occur daily. Even on the methadone I was still getting 10 attacks a week. (However I would use a fentynal sucker (Actiq) and would get 80% relief in 15-20 minutes.) My Dr. Had read about using ritalin for CH. I tried it for a month, however I had some side effects that gave me problems, so as a trial he switched me to adderall and my CHs were reduced from 10 a week to less the 3. I went off it several times to verify that the results wre accurate. I have since found out that adderal is an amphetamine. Perhaps it would also help with the sleeping problem you have. Take care!

Mike L

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Karla on Oct 5^th, 2003, 7:01am

I had talked to my neuro about adding a medicine to help me stay awake or changing my preventative. It was determined that because of the other meds I am on that it would be better for me to change the preventative.

Thanks everyone for your kind words of support. They mean alot to me.

Title: Re: Fentanol patches
Post by Roxy on Oct 5^th, 2003, 9:37am

Good luck, Karla. I hope this treatment will work for you. You're in my thoughts.

T