Fentanyl

Description

Side effects

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

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case)

Comments

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 was treated in a recent flare up with Fentanyl. Not Duragesic, but with the Actiq form. These are lollipops of pain medicine which cost, locally about $10 to $12 dollars each. My doctor had trouble titivating the drug, due to not knowing that the name Fentanyl is NOT synonymous with instant pain relief. I found the Actiq was NOT sufficient to control my flare up, both because the dose was (I found out later from the pharmacist) equivalent to HALF the dose of morphine that "just wasn't making it" pain control wise, but because Actiq works two hours at longest from what I can find out. It is made for cancer pain spikes, and is probably best used mostly in that venue, unless the RSD patient has pain that he or she knows will subside quickly, with one or two or three lollipops. I believe that Doctors should be taught (by drug reps or someone else) that the lowest dose, 200mcg, is equivalent to about 15 mg morphine, and doesn't last as long. Then they can better count how much medicine you'll need. Amanda - Pennsylvania, USA

Although good initially for relief of breakthrough pain I needed higher and higher doses until I was very sedated. My GP said there was no point in coming off this drug slowly - it was better just to stop. Withdrawal began 2 hours after my last lollipop. I became very depressed with sickness, diarrohea, cramps, the shakes and insomnia. These symptoms lasted 2 weeks. I think it is probably a good drug for post operative pain but not for the long term use that RSD sufferers require. Please note this was my experience; not all people would react in the same way. Tina - Sale, Cheshire, UK

I have been using Fentanyl patches 2/25mcg every 48 hours and Actiq Fentanyl (400 mcg/2 times daily) suckers for breakthrough pain as needed for the past six years. In the first two weeks I was very tired and no energy at all. But in time this passes and the patch helped me a lot. The only problem I only have had a few side effects which include very bad sweats at times, forgetfullness, and the utter lack of interest in sex. Of course my wife is not to upset with the last one. I know this helps me very much and my main worry is the day I have to get off this stuff. I have tried just to see if I still had all the pain and how much my meds were helping but I can not even stop for a day. Just wanted to let people taking it, that it is extreamly addictive. If anyone know a way to get off little by little please let me know. Michael - Frackville, Pennsylvania, USA