DrugBuyers.Com: Pills vs Duragesic patches

ashpup- it's not your state. That's federal law. C-II meds can't be called in.

My experience with duragesic is very limited but I do know it takes many, many hours to start working. I would want to have a 12 hour supply of my regular meds available in the meantime. I'm not sure what variables affect this. I'd have to assume body fat and the distance the medicine has to travel through your skin and inner flesh to get into the bloodstream must have some effect.

Further, apparently, it takes something like a week to 10 days to reach a peak plasma concentration- the dose you want to maintain at. So you'll still be on a roller-coaster of sorts until you get through that honeymoon period.

I have read on DB many times that if you contact the manufacturer, they will send you a package of big clear stickers to go over your patch and help keep it stuck on. I think most people found them useful. I have also read of many people scripted to 1 patch every 2 days because-like all other opiates- as our tolerance goes up, the length of efficacy goes down.

Of course, the vast majority of my experience with patches has been with Nicoderm CQ (10/10/04) and those sticky patches from my TENS unit.

But I read, and I know that patches-any kind of of patches- are a PITA. That new "Birth Control" patch? How long do you think that's gonna last? There are really few places you can put a patch on the human body where it won't get stretched, pulled, crinkled, and ultimately, break it's seal with the skin over the course of a normal day. And those places would be halfway down in between your shoulder blades-but not over the spine.

In short: Patches are a pain, pills are easier. I've put medical tape over my patches, but you know what? Once they lose contact with the skin, you've ruined them. I'm sure patches designed for 3-7 day use are a little more lenient, but they are built on the same principle.

Is a pain-control patch a BETTER SOLUTION?
Absolutely!!!
Patients need only think about it every 2 or 3 days, there is no WAY a patient can con herself into abusing or overusing the patch without facing the facts.

But it's not constructed very cleverly. If it comes off and is stuck back on, the integrety of a transdermal drug delivery system is comprimised. You know what? If we were brave enough to face having all those Bandaids ripped off as kids, then I think whe can deal with a better adhesive in our medicinal patches.

P.S. You guys are all swabbing down with alcohol before applying, right? And cleaning up the old site with rubbing alcohol, too? Okay, I'm going now. . .

i just want a cigarette. . .

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"It's the end of the World as We Know it. . ."
-REM "and I'm seeking asylum in Canada"-toe