Fentanyl patch not lasting 3 days

I do and I hear it's common complaint. My Dr. prescribes them for every other day.

They need subcutaneous fat to work well, so keep your weight up.

Many patients who begin powerful drugs for pain relief need to have their dose adjusted in the beginning of treatment. You need to let your doctor know what’s happening so they can adjust your dose and timing.

I wanted to ask about this. I am very thin because I can't eat due to pain. They just put me on a 12.5 patch and it didn't help. They increased to 25 and I won't go over that since it's so hard to get of of should the time come, but it still does not help much of the pain. I still can't sleep or eat. It's working because I'm not in withdrawal.
One day it didn't work at all just as you say because I had it over a bone and it began helping when I moved it onto fattier tissue. Then I was told by the pharmacist I shouldn't have moved it because it won't work as well if at all, but it did continue to work. So you're absolutely right about that and I wonder how many times I've thought there was something wrong with me when it simply wasn't being absorbed. The MD could have asked where I was putting it and saved us all of that trouble. Lying on bones also hurts a lot.
I wish these doctors would help us with these things but I was afraid to mention it to him anyway since I often hear about desertion by the MD and I'm so afraid of that occurring. I am considering taking something else instead because of the thinness-Not many places to put it. In fact, he told me that they wouldn't give me break through meds because I wasn't responding well. I don't understand that line of thinking at all.
Signed. Still Miserable.

I agree. But, how do you approach this without looking like a drug seeker? I should clarify with my MD if he has any concerns about me in particular. Said he wouldn't give breakthrough meds because I wasn't responding to the opioid. I know extra padding would be helpful but stubbornly isn't happening. This conversation has been validating. Thanks for mentioning.

WOW, this could explains the inconsistency I've felt with these patches!

My doctor changed my prescription to every other day and it has made a big difference.

@lucasmom Mine didn't start working for about 12 hours or so. When it did it worked pretty well on a 75 but after about 24 hours I woke uop in extreme pain like a max 10/10 to the point I can hardlytalk or move, I call it death pain when it seems the worst pain I have ever felt, sometimes it actually sets off my Vegus Nerve and my feet turn in to icecubes even if its plus 25C in my apartment and the rest of my body is very warm. It is a scary feeling, and at first I had no bloody idea what was going on. I never imagined I could get into so much pain that it would set off an alarm in the Vagus Nerve.

Jeez, your very courageous, good for you. Feel for ya.

Its a conundrum when we want to explain what's going on to our doctors in hoped they understand & use the info to offer best treatments. Definitely It is frustrating if we have to worry about not actually being heard. Yikes. I do really hope a method that helps you is happening soon. Take care.

*Noticed Some really helpful tips given in some of your replies here. That's awesome. You're not alone here. All the best.

@jasl

@ellesea01
My doctor changed me to every 2 days and it’s been a game changer. I too have Osteoarthritis, chronic back pain from L4/5 fusion and nerve damage in my right foot and leg that has had me screaming in pain. My neck is awful was going to have (surgery to “clean it up “ but my Breast Cancer and the surgeries took precedence. Doc put implants in wrong and pulled them off my muscles which I still get a terrible muscle spasms in.
I’ve been a terrible doctor picker, really I was limited by insurance where I could go. I had bilateral knee replacements at the same time and recovery was months and needed a cane for over 2 years. My left knee was so unstable and I found a great doctor who said he could fix it and he did! But I still get terrible pain that wakes me up. I take plenty of meds to live and I’ve tried everything, chiropractor he helps my neck, cupping, acupuncture, wellness clinics, diet.
So every 48 hours helped greatly because I was always on the couch or bed on day 3. I never knew a body could hurt like this. This is just the highlights. Good luck and May God Bless you.