Duragesic

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not be applicable to your case)

Comments

The manuafacturers put out a 2 recalls on batches of Duragesic patches during 2004 due to manufacturing faults and possible leakage of the active consituents. For up-to-date details see the website - www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/

I started using Duragesic on the 13th of Feb. Since that time I have been very ill. Vomiting, fever, sweats, hard to breath deep. Went to doctors first. Oxygen level was 85%, My pulse was 129.....The following day I was told to go to the hospital because I was coughing up blood. It seems that alot of the symptoms Duragesic has are the same as the flu. I have been Diagnosed with RSD 4 years ago. I'm very concerned about my physical symptoms. Jae - Montrose, Colorado

My Pain specialist explained to me that Fentanyl will feed a constant stream of painkillers into my system. I have to change them every 48 hours as I do come out in a slight rash in the area where I had the patch, but with cream it quickly goes down. It also doesn't give you that immediate dopey feeling that other painkillers do, because it is slow releasing. Kate - Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK

I just wanted to say that I have been on DURAGESIC 75mcg/h q72, which is working so very well, my pain is GONE! I feel so much better. I was taking Lortab 10/500 and Percocet 10/650 for years and this medicine works SO much better. My doctor still gives me Percocet 10/325 for "breakthrough pain" q12 (BID) PRN. which helps, but I don't require the Percocet all the time - just when I put a new patch on. I just wanted to add my success story to the list of your good and bad ones. Janssen - USA

I have been using the patch for close to 2 yrs now and will soon be titrating down from it so as to be completely off it. My pain doc has voiced serious concerns about the long term use of the patch, stating that "we don't know what long term affects it may have since it has been mainly used on cancer patients."
I was just dx'ed with RSD in both my legs & feet, altho I pretty much dx'ed myself with it 2.5yrs ago. Finally I've found doctors here in Chicago who know something about this condition. Anyway... one of the main reasons for going off the patch is to see if it has had an effect on the swelling in my legs & feet which can be one it's side effects. Recently we had to increase the patch from 100 to 150, I noticed a BIG difference in my legs, MORE pain & edema. Will see how this experiment turns out and will get back to you all. Denise - Chicago, USA

My daughter was using a 50 mcg patch of Duragesic every 3 days. However, she found that she was experiencing painful side effects, e.g., severe nausea, raging headache, and discomfort in the limb to which the patch was affixed. The pain control didn't last for 72 hours. Also, she appears to be allergic to the adhesive. The solution was to use 2- 25 mcg patches on opposite sides of her body and change them every 48 hours. She found the effects of the adhesive easier to bear if she put the patches on the tops of her feet. They were also less likely to peel off. Judy - Chatham, NY, USA

My pain management doctor started me on Duragesic on August 15. I applied my first patch on August 16. By 6:00am on August 17, I was sweating very badly, felt dizzy, and felt ill to my stomach. By 7:00am on August 17, the sweating and dizziness got worse and I starting vomiting. Throughout the day everything I ate or drank I vomited back up. I was involved in a MVA in 2/2002. I had cervical discectomy and fusion done in 2/2003. The pain has gotten extremely bad. It goes into the left side of my head, down into my left arm, my back, my left leg, and both shoulder blades. I get a lot of headaches and numbness on my left side. The doctor feels the patch is the only way to relieve the pain, since all the other medicines I have taken over the past year and a half have not worked. I am now having problems swallowing, so taking a pill is almost impossible. I am willing to try anything, but I don't like having these feelings while using the patch. Rebecca - Binghamton, New York, USA

My mother, age 72, was recently switched from methadone to a Duragesic patch to treat pain associated with deteriorating vertibrae in her back. After being on the Duragesic patch for about a week, she was mentally out of this world (I don't know what the proper medical term would be, maybe dementia?). Anything she said did not make any sense. Talking gibberish about things that weren't really happening or words just jumbled together making no sense at all. Sometimes her speech was not understandable.
An emergency room nurse in one hospital and a doctor at another hospital mentioned that they have seen the duragesic patch cause this terrible dementia in people before. I can't believe this drug is allowed on the market after obviously harming many patients.
After being hospitalized and taken off the Duragesic patch for about a month, my mother's mental capacity has come back gradually. She has a speech problem now where she stutters and can't get her words out, but at least she is talking coherently now. Mark - Middletown, California, USA

My wife used the Duragesic patch for 3 months following a major surgery. She used it with fair results for 3 month using both 50 and 25. On September 18 2003 she used a patch that was packaged in a Duragesic box and package, but the pink lettering on the patch was not there. She had a very serious overdose. Her doctors believe that her body absorbed all 3 days worth in about 15 min. When she arrived at the hospital they were unable to find her pulse, after 3 tries they did find her pulse it was 100 over 45. They immediately removed the patch and her pulse began to regain strength. They also gave her a shot to remove the drug from her system. The
shot worked but caused her to have a massive breakdown which included spikes and drops in her blood pressure, violent mood swings, aggressive behavior, her skin felt like it was burring, lots of pain and a complete lose of memory of the incident. She slept for 16 hours straight when she finally slept. She is doing well now but needless to say I would and will never recommend the Duragesic patch to anyone.
All Doctors and Pharmacists agree that if she had not received the treatment as soon as she did that it would have killed her. Hayden - Orem, Utah, USA

My husband suffered a slipped disc three years ago. After trying many other pain medicines to deal with the chronic pain he went on the Duragesic patch about two months ago. Nine days ago he suffered what the doctors believed to be food poisoning. Violent vomiting, diarrhea, chills and profuse sweating. After 6 hours, a visit from the on-call doctor, and talking to the nurses info line, I called the ambulance and got him to the Emergency Room. By that time, he was in shock and dehydrated. It was horrible!! After much discussion and hearing from other sources, we believe it was the duragesic. He had suffered intense constipation for a week prior to this incident and continuous sweating since he started on this drug. I understand that some people have found comfort from this drug. However, I must say that this is a very new drug on the market and doctors should be much more aware of the possible side effects. My husband received very cursory information about what to expect and when he did go see the doctor two days ago the doctor stated that it could have been the drug that caused this horrible experience and then admonished him for not being on some kind of anti-constipation medicine while he was taking the duragesic. I could have lost him. I could have lost my love because of the negligence and stupidity of a couple of doctors. The first one should have been aware of what the hell he was prescribing and what problems could occur. And, the other, the on-call doctor should have seen the state that my husband was in. Duragesic appears to be the new wonderdrug for pain at the moment. But, please, beware. All that glitters is not gold. Irene - British Columbia, Canada

Today is my first day of trying the Duragesic patch. My Doctor prescribed the 25 patch for my chronic back pain. Been taking percocets, roxicodone,oxycotin and ultrcets to treat the pain (not all at the same time). Anyway I went to see a new pain management doctor yesterday because I wasn't happy with with how my last PMD treated my pain and am now concerned about the horrible stories I have read at this site. Though I see most people that have contributed these bad side effects experiences here were using a higher dose patch then me. Anyway I found it unusual that my new Doctor made me read and sign this waiver upon receiving a script for Duragesic. Perhaps he knows of all the bad things that could happen to someone? Dave - Union, New Jersey, USA

I have been on Durgesic for 7 years now, started in 1996 with the 25 patch and worked my way up to the 100 patch. This is good advice too "also start with the 25 and slowly work your way up until you find the relief" I stayed on the 25 patch for 3 months and then the 50 for 4 months and then the 75 for 1 year than moved to the 100. Duragesic has been a wonder drug for me, and I have had only small side effects that I know of. Such as sweating, hot flashes, and consipation after moving to the 75 patch. I have tried stopping my duragesic "with doctors help" but back, legs, and feet bother me so bad that I must have the drug. Anyway thank GOD for Duragesic, so much better that taking a pill every 4 hours. This way all you have to do is put a patch on every 3 days. Wonderful! Maybe my letter will help someone that is in pain and wondering what to do. I would say my 7 years of use is long term and I have noticed no ill side effects. I have checkup every year and am doing fine. One thing with duragesic you will have to have a Pain Doctor and must see him every Month. They keep a close check on you condition. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION. Contact me if you need to (ikeoody@sigecom.net). Mike - Newburgh, Indiana, USA

Ive been on these patches for a few years now and, to be honest, I wish I never was put on them. The longer you're on them, the more your liable to be addicted. And, believe me, you just can't stop wearing them - not even for a few hours. If you're sick with somthing else and take the patch off (as the doctor says) then you're going to be really sick. I ran a fever above 100 and the doctor told me to remove the patch till the fever went down; but it didn't go for at least a few hours and I had withdrawal symptoms and I ended up being rushed to the hospital for shallow breathing. I was gasping for air.
I started on 50 MG patches and 75s then the 100s, and besides getting out of breath easily, I get wicked hot flushes, headaches and tiredness all the time.
The longer you're on them, the more your body gets used to the medication - and sooner or later they will not work at all. PLEASE feal free to email me on this (kawhona4@hotmail.com). John - Vermont, USA

I have been using the Duragesic patch for chronic pain relief for four years now. I have a severe spinal cord injury which left me with horrible pain. None of the oral pain meds gave me enough relief for any kind of quality of life. As you may know, Duragesic is obscenely expensive. I use two 75 MgH patches at a time and a month's supply would cost over $1,400 a month if I were not on the Jansen patient assistance program. The company furnishes this medication to me for nothing so I owe these people more than I can say. With the patches in place I do not feel high, I do not have any of the problems I had before with oral meds. The bottom line is I simply do not hurt! If I did not have access to the Duragesic patch I probably would have jumped off a building years ago. My heart goes out to anyone who has had problems with this medication. For me it's been a miracle. This applies to the brand name Duragesic patch only. I have had no experience with the generic patch made by Mylan although my pain Doc says he has had many complaints about the Mylan patch. William - Frisco, Texas, USA

Don't be put off by a few negative comments. Many patients find relief through this medication. Read the good and bad comments and listen to your doctor's advice but, most of all, listen to your own body when forming a judgement about your treatment. Editor