OT: Fentanyl Transdermal Patch - Anyone using it?

From what I know;

It IS addictive
Can cause slow breathing
Never use a patch that has been damaged or mishandled in any way
It has the same effects as taking morphine

Brenda

Hi JerseyGirl, I know this is a strong narcotic in the morphine family, very addictive, and can cause slow and shallow breathing and other problems. I hope you and your Dr can find an alternative to this drug or find some way to have a replacement. I am so sorry you're having so much pain and I hope you find relief. God Bless.

I have been on the patch at two different times. Both times for severe back pain (I have an inherited condition that makes chronic pain a given). Each time I was on the patch for approximately 6 months. It helped with the pain -- although didn't take it away completely and still had to supplement with muscle relaxers and other pain medication at times. My patch was 25mg (although doctor said I could use two if needed but I never did).

Like you I didn't want to take off from work -- although the doctor wanted me to.

Both times I was able to get off the patch -- but it isn't pleasant. You will need to wean yourself off gradually and even then it took a couple of weeks and a few sleepless nights and jitters for a few days to get the meds out of my body. My son lived with us at the time and bless his heart would keep me company at night when I couldn't sleep.

I have memory lapses during this time and don't remember much -- which is kind of scary in my own opinion. I never felt impaired and drove while on them (which looking back was not a smart thing to do).

If you want more info let me know -- I can only relate my experience with that particular med and I am not a health care professional.

For me I think the patch continued to let me function as normally as possible when my pain was at its greatest.