Curious about Fentanyl patch

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Donald Whitely - 10 Mar 2006 05:24 GMT

Hi,

I tried the Fentanyl patch several weeks ago. The first one was fine
and with second I ended up with an excruciating headache (I am not
prone to headaches, probably first in over five years). I also vomited
till my stomach was completely devoid of any content. I had had 10 MG
of Oxcodone prior to first patch and another 10 about seven hours into
the first. On the third day i had had 10 MG Oxycodone about two hours
prior to the patch and then had 10 MG about eight hours later. The
headache and vomiting occurred ten hours after applying the second
patch. Removed the second patch soon after this episode.

MY RD has suggested the option of trying it again or going back to the
Oxycontin 40 MG ER and adjusting the dosing schedule.

Not sure what I want to do at this point. I have been using my
Oxycodone taking 10MG every four five hours. I helps but it does not
relieve the pan as well as the Oxycontin or the patch. Oxycontin will
sometimes make me sleepy as the patch did not.

Would be interested in hearing anyone experience with the Fentanyl patch.

Don Whitely

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DianeW - 10 Mar 2006 14:43 GMT

Don - I've been using the patch for almost two years and haven't had
any bad reactions. What dosage are you using of the patch? My doctor
was careful to titrate the dosage very slowly. In fact, she started at
teh lowest dose, 25 mg the first month and supplement with an oral med.
Then upped it each month until we got it right where it needed to be.
The only thing that I can think of is that you are reacting to the
fentyanyl, or it's withdrawal from what you were previously taking. My
dr was also careful to make sure the only med I was using before the
fentanyl was the same one I was given for breakthru pain with the
patch. How is your blood pressure on the patch? Could that have caused
the headache? Just some ideas. Let me know! It's a really good pain
med for me. I was resistant to try it at first but glad I did. DianeW

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Don W - 13 Mar 2006 20:04 GMT

Thanks for your insights. I was started on the 25mcg patch. I have my Rd
I would like to try to the patch again and i am waiting for word back
from him.
My older daughter uses them and her Doctor had her cut them into quarters
and apply them when she experienced the same problem. she has been
elevated to the top strength now. She has fibro, osteoporosis, migraines,
and spinal stenosis. She works through her pain on a full time
job.

I just prefer that my RD prescribe the method we will use when I start
to use them again.

Don W.

> Don - I've been using the patch for almost two years and haven't had
> any bad reactions. What dosage are you using of the patch? My doctor
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> the headache? Just some ideas. Let me know! It's a really good pain
> med for me. I was resistant to try it at first but glad I did. DianeW

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johnie - 13 Mar 2006 21:17 GMT

don, this sounds like an 'OD' reaction.( the vomiting and headache.)
I do know that with any patch method the possibility of inconsistent
release with the occasional over-release of drug can occur. Without the
extra oxy already in your system it might not have been a problem.
Unless you had a bad 'batch of patches', it is a rare occurence
according to fentanyl patch data I have seen but it does happen. I have
even had it happen a few times with oxycontin 80s since the generics
have become available. I didn't do as well on the fentanyl as I do with
oxy. The only way I could keep the patches on was with additional patch
covers and my pain levels remained significantly higher when I tried
it.
Please let us know what you end up going with and hope you resolve it
quickly.

johnie

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Don Whitely

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