vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Hey all,
In know my last posting was long so I am sorry, so much to ask and tell.
Anyway, I have few questions if someone can help me. First, has anyone been on the Duragesic Patch(Fentenyl) and how does it work?
IS it like taking a pill just is a patch instead of a pill? Do you get the same side effects ie euphoria, itchyness sometimes etc etc?
And finally, instead of telling him lets go with the patch on my next visit, can I go ahead and ask to try Oxycontin? How do I approach that if I can?
Reason I say that is he did have me on percocet at one time. I told him it did help BUT, it only last for like 3 hours and that was it, then I would have to pop abother 2.
So, any help on this would be GREATLY appreciated
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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trixxie
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 122
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Duragesic is a fentanyl patch; which comes in strengths of .25mcg, 50mcg, .75mcg, 100mcg. Typicaly they are worn for 72 hours, but your PMD might have you wear it for less. Typically, your PMD should prescribe breakthrough meds for you, a oxy, hydro med. You can contact Janssen who will provide you with a covering to place over the patch that will keep it in place, no matter what. These coverings are provided for free. They do a screening call, where they determine your eligibility for the coverings as some have a skin reaction to it.
My experience was, I changed the patch after 48 hours, and my PMD at time would not provide b/t meds...I had difficulty with the patch staying on, ie through bathing. The coverings caused skin irritations, and I only stayed on the patch for 8 months. I had "power surges" with it; I could tell when the medication was being released into my system. After awhile(8months)I found that I was affected adversely mentally and emotionally by the medication. I kept asking to be changed and the PMD did not take me seriously. By that time, I had changed PMD's, who did provide b/t meds, and I took myself off the patches, with help of the oxycodone. Never looked back.
I prefer the oxyc, after being on it for 6months, not nearly the hassle...you might also ask about Avinza. I have a friend on that, and she has good success with that med.
HTH, it may be more than you asked for, but it always helps to know what others go through when changing meds. I know I looked, and looked on the internet when I was changed around.
tc
trix
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kandi
Veteran
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 678
Loc: Maryland
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Quote:
Hey all,
In know my last posting was long so I am sorry, so much to ask and tell.
Anyway, I have few questions if someone can help me. First, has anyone been on the Duragesic Patch(Fentenyl) and how does it work?
IS it like taking a pill just is a patch instead of a pill? Do you get the same side effects ie euphoria, itchyness sometimes etc etc?
And finally, instead of telling him lets go with the patch on my next visit, can I go ahead and ask to try Oxycontin? How do I approach that if I can?
Reason I say that is he did have me on percocet at one time. I told him it did help BUT, it only last for like 3 hours and that was it, then I would have to pop abother 2.
So, any help on this would be GREATLY appreciated
I was on the 50 mcg. for a few weeks and got NO relief at all. I think it depends a lot on the individual. Plus they are a pain in the butt to keep on...the sticky stuff they use does not work very well. Ask your doc if you can go on Avinza...it helped me more than any drug I have taken thus far for my back pain, and I've been on quite a few.
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Monte Montgomery ROCKS!
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kimbell1
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/20/03
Posts: 274
Loc: Route 666, Painville, Texas 6...
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I was on this patch for about 3 months until they became almost impossible to find in my area due to manufacture problems.
They were a pain in the butt to keep on. I spent a lot in medical tape to keep them on. Plus I had to keep moving them every day and I could only wear them on my thighs. i HATE those things and they should be discontinued. There are too many pain meds to put up with this Best if kept off the board.
Glad the company had problems or I would still be on the damned things because I tried to talk my doctor out of using them but he liked the idea of 72 hour pain releif (which I never even came close to getting-about 48 hours max).
Lastly, they did not work very well.
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 924
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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It never lasted more than 48 hrs for me...I think that was just marketing...it probably lasted 72 hrs for the two opioid-naive people out of a hundred that they tested, so they ran with it!
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Actually, I don;t think Avinza will help me since the medication I am on now, that the dr wants me to switch from is Kadian, which is the same thing as Avinza, just a different name.
The price for the patches are astounding and something I definitely will look into. I do have insurance but, to be honest, the amount of money off is VERy little. Like Kadian, with the prescription coverage is 200.76. Without the card, it's 278.00 So, as you can see, not a huge difference.
So, am I correct in assuming that these patches, even with this kind of small saving with my card is still going to be in the 300 range, on or about? How much is Oxycontin say 20mg? with?> and without coverage?
Thanks
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 875
Loc: usa
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There are two generic forms of oxycontin which should bring down the price considerably. I found TEVA's less effective, so you may want to call around and see if someone has Endo's.
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vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Aren't Endo's Oxycodone...not oxycontin? In other words...Endocet...Roxicet percocet...all forms of Oxycodone.....I never heard of a Endo Oxycontin
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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CATBOY2
Banned for making offers against the law
Reged: 05/28/04
Posts: 174
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go with the oc.cheaper and works better than patches.
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vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Only thing is the Dr. has not recommended Oxycontin yet. He went from kadian to offering me the patch. I don't know how to approach this.
Should I come out and say, "my prescription plan sucks and will take very little money off the final price, costing me near or over 300 bucks. Then, ask em to recommend something else? Or come out and mention Oxycontin.
Really caught between a rock and a hard place. here
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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parg
Journeyman
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 60
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ask for ms-contin and the doc will be more receptive, doctors are flat out scared silly when you say oxy-contin do to the lawsuits all over the US for any MD who has prescribed it. I know pain MD's who'll write ms-contin scripts all day but won't even think of writing a oxy script. My pain doc has 7 md friends being sued rightnow over writing oxy.
Parg
Edited by parg (08/17/04 09:41 PM)
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Daycamp72
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 283
Loc: Tara
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Vast: We're in the same boat. My PMD prescribed me Percocet 3x per day as a breakthrough med, along with Bextra. Percocet only lasts TWO hours for me.
My doc wants to try me on Fentanyl, but I said NO. Had a bad experience with it while undergoing all the reconstruction surgery a few years back. It simply did not work.
Is the Percocet's effectiveness (only 2 hours) a tolerance issue? I've always wondered. Opinions anyone??
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trixxie
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 122
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Vastchoirs, oxyc is now generic in the lower dosages; manufactured by endo, and...hmm can't remember the other manufacturer. I have not heard good things about the generic oxyc's. IF you have a choice, stick with the brand name.
Asking for oxycontin, is a hard thing, I went armed with a folder of my primary diagnosis, and common medications for those diagnosis. Turned out I didn't need it. I was on oxycodone(not percocet, no APAP)and told my doc that it was not lasting(2 hrs max), and she suggested oxyc. I didn't even open my folder with my paperwork.
I think that approach would of still worked...I know that it has received bad press, but you have more control over your pain coverage.
The duragesic is for 24/7 control. There is adhesion and skin irritation issues. Discuss with your doctor. These are things that you can express to your doctor. Provide your doc with a pain journal...all these let the doctor know that you are working to achieve a reduced pain life...
Hang in there...oh and to the previous poster...Bextra as a primary pain med??? I haven't heard that one...
HTH....
trix
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The truth shall set you free!
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vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Thanks everyone for your help. I actually did ask about ms-contin while on Kadian and the Dr told me there is no sense in trying ms-contin. It's the same thing as Kadian, just a different name. An lull and behold, he was right. It's the same medicine, just a different company.
One thing I do know is alot of his patients are on oxyc (any agents of dumb and slow...namely dea...my dr's name is suess so, don;t think I would list his name..or maybe hers) I am starting a pain journal to document what happens. I also found out the Duragesic (fentenyl) patch would be mad expensive for me even with the prescription overage I have so, I am going to fill him in on that.
He did have me on percocet at one time and I did complain it worked only a couple of hours....actually sometime less. I was thinking...should I bring this up again. Almost coming out and asking if they make a long lasting..controlled release percocet or something like percocet.....maybe that is a safe bet without coming out and asking. Not that oxyc will even work for me but, It's cheaper to try and seee right now, and the patch is just too much money.
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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parg
Journeyman
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 60
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I tried to switch from ms-contin to dilauhif except my pain doc wasn't having it, he said that were aiming for long term relief not 3-4 hours of relief and he also knows my past which they say is in my favor yeah friggin right.
Parg...
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 875
Loc: usa
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Maybe you could say, "too bad they don't make a long acting percocet..since it did work for me before, it just didn't last long eonough" then the doc SHOULD say, "but they DO, it's called Oxycontin!" and since there is a generic, it will cost you much less in the end......or you could tell him you've done some research on the internet and found a site for Purdue that told you about oxycontin and since there's a generic, you'd like to give it a try......... just some idea's..also, it's not at all uncommon to be prescribed BOTH a long acting & short acting pain med for breakthru pain, I'm on 80 mg's OC twice a day, but have percocet 10./325's for break thru pain and take it 2-3 times a day.....when you were on the kadian did you want off because it wasnt working or it cost too much? If it's the cost then the generic OC and percocet for breakthru would be idea for you...
Edited by IMSUSCOT1 (08/19/04 06:02 PM)
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vastchoirs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/05/02
Posts: 287
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Combo of both. It was helping a little bit in the beginning, and I mean very little. Plus, even with the prescription plan I have, the cost is high. I am defintely going to work something in there about a longer acting percocet. Because bottom line, that helped me the most except, it only last so long before the pain creeped back in.
I started my pain journal so I can bring that with me too. I mean, some of the people I have seen in that office that are on what we have been discussing, they look like hell, total nitemare on trailer park ave type material. I feel like a Manhatten buisness man compared to these people. Plus, the doc likes me, I crackjokes and make them laugh when the day is going pretty rotten so, it may work out.
I go back next Friday.
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Doc, you're a pain in my pain
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trixxie
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 122
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hmm. your pain clinic is a little different than mine. But the reason I think that people look down on their luck, is cause they cannot work any longer, and don't have the money they used too...
just a thought..
I still work too..
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The truth shall set you free!
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