Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by Executor
Brian...You're on 5g not mg...
Shots can be administered as often as one's Doc determines....But as a general guideline, shots only have to be administered a couple times per month. Many low T people give themselves their own shots. Ex
I guess that I take 10 grams then since it's 2 packets. What are you saying about shots, YIKES. I absolutely HATE SHOTS I don't know if I could give myself my own shot. Things would have to be pretty bad for me to be able to that.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
I found out that women can take:
estratest - includes 2 naturally occurring hormones, an estrogen and an androgen. It is used to treat symptoms of menopause, especially hot flashes, in women whose bodies do not produce enough of these hormones.
Synthroid - replacement for a hormone that is normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism. Synthroid is given when the thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own
It looks like those are the 2 most common medications used by women that are on chronic pain medications for a number of years and have symptoms like depression, fatigue, hot flashes, tiredness, low libido, etc. I hope this helps you to talk to your doctor and give him some information about the hormone replacement therapy,.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianpain33
I guess that I take 10 grams then since it's 2 packets.
Yes....Each packet is 5g. As you've posted, the common starting dose is one packet per day. Then, if needed, patients move to two packs per day. You might ask the Doc about the pump the next time you have your appointment....It's a lot easier and cleaner...i.e. no stuff to squeeze out of a packet. The bottle is about the size of a can of deodorant...You pump it from the top and each pump gives out equal distribution of the med. Two pump bottles come in each box, so it lasts a good while and you only pay the standard co-pay.
Quote:
What are you saying about shots, YIKES. I absolutely HATE SHOTS I don't know if I could give myself my own shot. Things would have to be pretty bad for me to be able to that.
You are not alone in this one. Not sure if I could do it either. Usually Docs leave it up to the patient to either self administer the shot, or come in. If you come in (usually 2 x monthly), an appointment is made with the nurse and it's a 5-10 minute appointment...Easier than a flu shot. The key with the shots is that you have to get the timing just right...Many report that they go from one extreme to the other...Way up after the shot, to way down, when it wears off in a couple of weeks. Conversely, the gel is a more consistent type thing. Those who self administer shot are usually getting them weekly, or every 10 days, as coming in is just too much of a hassle.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Well, my day didn't go so well yesterday and i didn't make my Dr appt. I went to renew my car tags and when I went to pull out of the parking lot my car stuck in reverse(its a stick shift).....So, after calling a friend and at least getting my car home, it is now sitting, so I had no way to the DR, plus problems w/ in home staff for my disabled son...So I had to reschedule.......So as my limbs fall off my body for the next two weeks before I can get in again I will still make sure I roll to my keyboard and type w/ my nose....LOL....
I am going to at least call the Dr and ask w/ out seeing him if he can order some labs on me in the mean time in hopes that something will come good of that to help my situation of feeling as I have been....Now what labs should I request besides the usual thyroid as he normally does?
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by dolejaly
Well, my day didn't go so well yesterday and i didn't make my Dr appt.
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I hate car trouble! Had some just myself this past weekend....On interstate no less!
Quote:
I am going to at least call the Dr and ask w/ out seeing him if he can order some labs on me in the mean time in hopes that something will come good of that to help my situation of feeling as I have been....Now what labs should I request besides the usual thyroid as he normally does?
I would ask the Doc what he recommends. If it were me, I'd request a total work up....All the fixings. I would make sure I included all the hormones as well. All these meds we're taking can have dramatic effect on the bodies natural production of hormones.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Hi, I've been on the patch for about 2 years and I live in NM where its hot and as soon as I get really hot my patch doesn't last but 2 days too. My dr. re-wrote my rx for every 48 hrs. but my insurance wouldn't pay, it had to be written for every 72 hrs. So I suffer on that 3rd day. Your not alone.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Hi again, I feel the same way. It's so nice to hear your not alone. I keep feeling the patch has stopped working. I've been on it for 2 years and it only lasts 2 days but I always feel so tired, exhausted, etc. I also have a hard time keeping them on but I do use tape on every patch. My dr. told me the Duragesic is best but my insurance will not pay at all so I suffer every 3rd day. What I don't like the most is losing my energy. Hope we all feel better and can keep these patches working through the summer heat.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by herzel
My dr. told me the Duragesic is best but my insurance will not pay at all so I suffer every 3rd day. What I don't like the most is losing my energy.
Is there any way you can pay the penalty price and thus, get the Duragesic? I found them to be far superior. I'm sorry you have to suffer on the 3rd day.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
It is so crewel putting people through unnecessary pain. I know how it feels. I have only recently found a Doctor who would ring to get the authority to have the patch changed at 48 hours. I went through hell with the roller-coaster of pain. I wish you luck. Allan.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by noescape
I've been on the fentanyl patch for about 4 years and lately it hasn't been lasting 72 hours ...by not lasting I mean its not just a decrease in pain relief i'm also starting to have withdrawal symptoms anywhere from 48 to 60 hrs after I apply a new patch.... this seems to have coincided with the onset of menopause and hot flashes I told my Dr. about it last summer ,she increased my dose but I still changed it every 72 hrs. I was fine for a while, However in that time I started getting a period again and the hot flashes stopped.
About 5 months ago my periods stopped again. the flashes started, and gradually the patch stopped lasting 72 hrs.again I've been doing ok making them last, sometimes changing it a little early but that third day is getting to be hell..Has anyone ever heard of this?
The new patches does not last for me but for 48 hours. I don't know what they changed but I can't get one minute over 48 hours if I even get 48 hours out of the patches. The hot flashes has happen to me every time I have been put on the pain patches. This last time I was put on the pain patches I had everything out. I was just told to use estroven and black cohosh to stop the hot flashes and sweating, I have not tried it yet but if anyone has please tell me (us) if it works. It can be 25 degrees out and I will be wet from the top of my head to the middle of my back. It's a pain in my ***. Laura
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
I spoke to one pharmacist who told me that he has a pain patient who uses the Fentanyl patch and it doesn't last him a full 72 hours; they've had to change his more frequently.
If you can find other pharmacists to back this up, perhaps you could take that info to your doctor and ask her to reconsider???
Good luck!
~GaiaDianne
Last edited by GaiaDianne; 06-21-2011 at 11:56 AM.
Reason: mistakes
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
I have not had a chance to read this entire thread, but if it has not been suggested yet, you should have your thyroid checked. Hyperthyroidism causes heat intolerance.
Re: fentanyl patch not lasting 72 hrs.. due to menopause
Quote:
Originally Posted by noescape
I've been on the fentanyl patch for about 4 years and lately it hasn't been lasting 72 hours ...by not lasting I mean its not just a decrease in pain relief i'm also starting to have withdrawal symptoms anywhere from 48 to 60 hrs after I apply a new patch.... this seems to have coincided with the onset of menopause and hot flashes I told my Dr. about it last summer ,she increased my dose but I still changed it every 72 hrs. I was fine for a while, However in that time I started getting a period again and the hot flashes stopped.
About 5 months ago my periods stopped again. the flashes started, and gradually the patch stopped lasting 72 hrs.again I've been doing ok making them last, sometimes changing it a little early but that third day is getting to be hell..Has anyone ever heard of this?
Have your Dr. change your dosing to every 48 hours. That's what I've done, thereby eliminating the problem. I've had no insurance coverage issues with the change. This is a fairly common problem according to my Dr. I, too, suffer the hot flashes which causes me to absorb more of the patch (during those times) and that's why the 72 hr. dosing was not working. Good luck.
I don't know if I could give myself my own shot. Things would have to be pretty bad for me to be able to that.
.Has anyone ever heard of this?
