Lisa1967
Member
Reged: 10/29/02
Posts: 123
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HI all,
My dr wanted me to try what I thought was the fentanyl patch a few yrs ago,due to my degenerative joint disease.I tried it,and got really sick.BUT-my dosage of lorcet is up to 8 10mga day,an 2 15mg MScontin,with very little relief.So I'm thinking of asking to go back on it,but dont know which one is better? Also,if I have this patch on,will it stop any w/ds from the lorcets??? I'm hoping to go off the pills,and save my liver
Thanks,
Lisa
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jaydee
Stranger
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 18
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Lisa,
I have had good luck with the Duragesic patches. The titration is very important, as the last little bit makes a large difference in pain relief. In other words, they didn't work much @ 125mcg., but 150 mcg. worked wonders for me. They also tend to not last 3 days like they advertise, so be aware and ask for 48 hours if needed. I would definitley get away from all that APAP in the lortab.
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Happy111
Newbie
Reged: 12/18/01
Posts: 26
Loc: New Jersey
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Duragesic helped me, bowel disorder keeps me from taking meds. Doc said that since the medicine is absorbed through the fat/skin tissue it will bypass the digestive system and provide a constant level of pain medication. However! After being on it for over a year I find that the dose level needs to be increased every few months in order to maintain that same level of pain control (tolerance). I am going to ask my Doctor to take me off of it in two weeks. I am 45 and I don't want to keep taking more and more fentanyl. This stuff is strong and if you run out and can not get another patch or other rescue medicine you could be in for a rough ride.
I would rather have a medicine that I can take when the pain is really really unbearable and try to stay away from the addiction aspect of fentanyl.
Sure it was the best thing that ever happened to me, going without pain for 12 hours was like being born again. A new gift of life! I was elated, for the first few months. Then the pain started coming back, so he put me on Hydrocodone 10/325 every 4 hours. They don't do a thing for me so I don't even take them.
From my reading you should use the same medicine for a rescue medicine as well as the pain medicine. So if using Duragesic you should use Actiq for rescue. Well insurance won't pay for this stuff unless you are at end of life or the doctor fills out a bunch of extra paperwork.
And the other poster is correct, patches work 48-60 hours at best, not 72. But everyone is different, so for some it just might last 72 hours.
Also, be careful about falling asleep/passing out. At levels over 100mcg/hr you will experience this, even when driving.
Another thing, I lost 25 lbs since being on the patch and I didn't have the extra weight to spare.
Current status, on the patch, take Hydrocodone once in awhile and I am in constant pain. Only a few times a day it becomes incapacitating, so I figure maybe I can take something just for those spells and live with the stabs/pulls and twitches (without the fentanyl) until some surgeon somewhere can fix my very complicated issue.
Sorry for the rambling, but you should think about the future. Yes it is a wonderful drug, but check out what 100mcg/hr fentanyl is equivalent to in Oxy or Hydro per day.
Hope this helps someone.
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Lisa1967
Member
Reged: 10/29/02
Posts: 123
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Thanks guys,
Just one more question-is Fentanyl the same drug as duragesic?? I always thought they were different patches. Also,can I go cold turkey off the lorcet and just switch to the patch w/o wd's??
Ok,so that was 2 questions
Lisa 
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jaydee
Stranger
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 18
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Lisa, Duragesic is the brand name ( I think the patch delivery system is patented). You won't have any problems IF you start with an adequate dosage of Duragesic. I would absolutely make sure I had some of the hydro to fall back on, at least for a while. WD ain't no fun. Good luck!
John
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