PoloBailey
09-27-2003, 03:16 PM
Does anyone know how long it takes for Duragesic Fentanyl Patch to start working once the patch is applied to the skin?
Thank you very much for your help.
Thank you very much for your help.
Sponsor
sleed76
09-27-2003, 03:47 PM
yes for me it takes about 8 hours to take affect unless you exercise it will absorb faster when your pours open up be patient once it kicks in its pretty effective
god bless
Stephan
god bless
Stephan
avogadro
09-27-2003, 03:58 PM
Hello,
I am on day 5 of the patch. The first patch did not seem to do anything. I think it took until the second application for it to start "kicking-in". Hope this helps!
AV
I am on day 5 of the patch. The first patch did not seem to do anything. I think it took until the second application for it to start "kicking-in". Hope this helps!
AV
nomoreopiatesihope
09-27-2003, 04:28 PM
there is a layer of "instant relief" fentanyl on the tape itself, that is supposed to give an instant dose equal to the hourly dose of the patch.
with the 100mcg patch, it usually took 12 hours for me. and the reservoir of fentanyl under the skin is supposed to keep lasting 12 hours after removal (once it has been on a day or 2 to build up). that way when you replace the patch you get the "instant dose" from the tape, and the reservoir from the patch you just took off will work for the 12 hours you are waiting for the new patch to work.
in my experience it took a week or so of using the patch to get this cycle working
with the 100mcg patch, it usually took 12 hours for me. and the reservoir of fentanyl under the skin is supposed to keep lasting 12 hours after removal (once it has been on a day or 2 to build up). that way when you replace the patch you get the "instant dose" from the tape, and the reservoir from the patch you just took off will work for the 12 hours you are waiting for the new patch to work.
in my experience it took a week or so of using the patch to get this cycle working
NeedANewHead
09-27-2003, 10:55 PM
it took me a full week too to get the full advantage of the patch. Then it worked pretty well for me.
PoloBailey
09-27-2003, 11:14 PM
Thank you ALL SO much for your help. I was asking this because I am using 75 strenghth patches and I don't usually notice when it actually "starts working" or when it is supposed to start working. My pain is fairly consistent, sometimes worse than other times.
Does anyone know any tips or secrets on how to make the patch release more medication? Obviously, I will only do this if it is safe. I am trying to cut down on my break through med's.., percocet. My Doc advised that the patches are much better and safer than the percocet and he would rather increase my patches than the percocets. So if I could release a little more medication out of the patch, that may help me cut down on the perc's.
Thank you very much for all of your help. I really appreciate your input and ideas.
Does anyone know any tips or secrets on how to make the patch release more medication? Obviously, I will only do this if it is safe. I am trying to cut down on my break through med's.., percocet. My Doc advised that the patches are much better and safer than the percocet and he would rather increase my patches than the percocets. So if I could release a little more medication out of the patch, that may help me cut down on the perc's.
Thank you very much for all of your help. I really appreciate your input and ideas.
caliecat
09-29-2003, 03:33 AM
Hi~
Trying to do things to the patch to get a release of more Fentanyl is a dangerous thing to do. Since the med in trasmitted transdermally(thru the skin) you can not control the amount of med that could be released should you do things to it, such as applying heat from sources, or using a hot tub or laying in the direct sun with them on.
Read the med insert and it has a serious warning against having heat come into contact with the patch. Do not use heating pads or hot gel pacs on the patch. Also wearing them in places wear they are very constricted with clothing and getting over heated can also cause a problem. Also, when changing the patch, you should only wsh the area where the old patch was removed with clean cool water, not hot, and no soap, as the med is still in the skin for many hours after removing the patch, and can still cause a larger release of the med into the system.
Before applying the new patch, you should only clean the area with plain water, and do not apply and soaps, lotions or perfumes, etc., this can interfer with the absorbtion of the med into the skin, and may cause the patch to not stick properly and the patch may not be able to create the contact to the skin needed for the correct dosing.
Duragesic patches are not meant to create "bolus" doses to eliminate your need for bt meds. This is very dangerous, and not designed for that purpose. If the current dose of patch you are on is not managing your pain well enough, then you need to talk to your Dr, and an increase in the patch may very well be needed. Many if not most all of the ppl on Duragesic still require a bt med for the times when your pain spikes, but using the patch to take the place of them in any way, is a very bad idea. You may want to talk to your dr about getting a bt med without the APAP in it, like MSIR or Roxicodone(percocet w/o the APAP). Cp is best not treated with meds with Tylenol in them, as it can do some serious damage to the kidneys and liver.
It may be of help to you to start keeping a pain journal and noting when the pain is worse and when you are needing to take your bt meds. This will give your Dr a better feel for what is going on with your pain, and he will be better gadged for the need for increases or moving to a 48hr patch change(if you are on the 72 hr now).
Duragesic is much easier to use than oral meds, and are much safer in the way of controling your med intake, but~ they can still be very dangerous if not used properly, as Fentanyl is a extremely potent drug, and is not to be tampered with or used in the ways expressedly noted by the warnings on the med inserts. I do not mean to sound preachy, but there have been too many problems with meds used incorrectly, and you can overdose on the patch as easy as oral meds, when not used the way intended, or on too high a dose.
Talk to your Dr about your pain levels and your concerns with the bt meds, and think about keeping a pain journal so that he can see where the help is needed, and you will be in a better position to know what you need and when you are having the problems keeping your pain managed properly. It really does help to do this, and it also helps you to better explain what you are going thru and give more credence to your concerns with something concrete your Dr can look at and see where the problems with your pain therapy is.
Best of luck , and take care.
Lori
[This message has been edited by caliecat (edited 09-29-2003).]
Trying to do things to the patch to get a release of more Fentanyl is a dangerous thing to do. Since the med in trasmitted transdermally(thru the skin) you can not control the amount of med that could be released should you do things to it, such as applying heat from sources, or using a hot tub or laying in the direct sun with them on.
Read the med insert and it has a serious warning against having heat come into contact with the patch. Do not use heating pads or hot gel pacs on the patch. Also wearing them in places wear they are very constricted with clothing and getting over heated can also cause a problem. Also, when changing the patch, you should only wsh the area where the old patch was removed with clean cool water, not hot, and no soap, as the med is still in the skin for many hours after removing the patch, and can still cause a larger release of the med into the system.
Before applying the new patch, you should only clean the area with plain water, and do not apply and soaps, lotions or perfumes, etc., this can interfer with the absorbtion of the med into the skin, and may cause the patch to not stick properly and the patch may not be able to create the contact to the skin needed for the correct dosing.
Duragesic patches are not meant to create "bolus" doses to eliminate your need for bt meds. This is very dangerous, and not designed for that purpose. If the current dose of patch you are on is not managing your pain well enough, then you need to talk to your Dr, and an increase in the patch may very well be needed. Many if not most all of the ppl on Duragesic still require a bt med for the times when your pain spikes, but using the patch to take the place of them in any way, is a very bad idea. You may want to talk to your dr about getting a bt med without the APAP in it, like MSIR or Roxicodone(percocet w/o the APAP). Cp is best not treated with meds with Tylenol in them, as it can do some serious damage to the kidneys and liver.
It may be of help to you to start keeping a pain journal and noting when the pain is worse and when you are needing to take your bt meds. This will give your Dr a better feel for what is going on with your pain, and he will be better gadged for the need for increases or moving to a 48hr patch change(if you are on the 72 hr now).
Duragesic is much easier to use than oral meds, and are much safer in the way of controling your med intake, but~ they can still be very dangerous if not used properly, as Fentanyl is a extremely potent drug, and is not to be tampered with or used in the ways expressedly noted by the warnings on the med inserts. I do not mean to sound preachy, but there have been too many problems with meds used incorrectly, and you can overdose on the patch as easy as oral meds, when not used the way intended, or on too high a dose.
Talk to your Dr about your pain levels and your concerns with the bt meds, and think about keeping a pain journal so that he can see where the help is needed, and you will be in a better position to know what you need and when you are having the problems keeping your pain managed properly. It really does help to do this, and it also helps you to better explain what you are going thru and give more credence to your concerns with something concrete your Dr can look at and see where the problems with your pain therapy is.
Best of luck , and take care.
Lori
[This message has been edited by caliecat (edited 09-29-2003).]
It's Just Dawn
09-29-2003, 06:26 AM
A tip to "make the patch release more medication" would not only be dangerous, it would be abuse of your medication. And asking such a thing screamse drug seeker. Ask your physician if you are having increased pain requiring medication. The patch will not make you feel high no matter how hard you try.
PoloBailey
09-29-2003, 12:57 PM
Thank you everyone for your input.
The only reason why I had asked this question was so I could find out if I could cut down on my B/T med's. I do not want to continue the BT's if possible. My doc said the patch is safer than the pills. I will ask him to increase my patch and cut the BT's and see what he has to say. I have been taking meds for approx.. 5 years now and I really would like to cut "down" rather than go "up" in my med's now. I have several herniated disc's and a cracked tailbone. It is very painful and hard to cut "down" after all of this time. I just thought that if the patch could release more medication at a given point, I would not have to take the pill med's.
Thanks again.
The only reason why I had asked this question was so I could find out if I could cut down on my B/T med's. I do not want to continue the BT's if possible. My doc said the patch is safer than the pills. I will ask him to increase my patch and cut the BT's and see what he has to say. I have been taking meds for approx.. 5 years now and I really would like to cut "down" rather than go "up" in my med's now. I have several herniated disc's and a cracked tailbone. It is very painful and hard to cut "down" after all of this time. I just thought that if the patch could release more medication at a given point, I would not have to take the pill med's.
Thanks again.
chrpps99
09-29-2003, 10:32 PM
Hello There
I have been on the Duragesic Patch for about 6 months or so.. It took about 3 days for the patch to become effective for me.. I still have to use BT meds from time to time. I sometimes think that the absorbtion of the meds varies, and it may depend on your metabolism as well..
Please take the advice that many have given you, take the patch as directed, if it isn't effective speak to your Dr.. You run many risks if you tamper with the way the meds are administered. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you.. Or worse your Dr stop prescribing your meds to you. Ya know what I mean..
Take Care
Sonya
I have been on the Duragesic Patch for about 6 months or so.. It took about 3 days for the patch to become effective for me.. I still have to use BT meds from time to time. I sometimes think that the absorbtion of the meds varies, and it may depend on your metabolism as well..
Please take the advice that many have given you, take the patch as directed, if it isn't effective speak to your Dr.. You run many risks if you tamper with the way the meds are administered. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you.. Or worse your Dr stop prescribing your meds to you. Ya know what I mean..
Take Care
Sonya