Fentanyl patch not lasting 3 days

Posted by bearmom @bearmom, Jun 30 8:21pm

Does anyone use fentanyl patches and find that they do not control pain for the full 72 hours? I feel like they may last 48 to 60 hours at the most.

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lucasmom | @lucasmom | Jul 1 1:19pm

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

thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | Jul 1 6:25pm

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

jenatsky | @jenatsky | Jul 9 3:12pm

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.

jasl | @jasl | 19 hours ago

In reply to @thomhorowitz "They need subcutaneous fat to work well, so keep your weight up." + (show)

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.

jasl | @jasl | 19 hours ago

In reply to @jenatsky "Many patients who begin powerful drugs for pain relief need to have their dose adjusted in..." + (show)

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.