Question...first time on Duragesic - Pain Management Message Board

LibraBalancer · 01-20-2005, 07:28 PM

Today after my disco/nucleoplasty, I was switched from Oramorph to Duragesic 25mcg/hr. My question is HOW LONG till the medicine kicks in and starts working? I put it on at 5:30pm and it's now 9:30 and still nothing. Is this common? I don't know how this is supposed to work just yet. The patch looked a little funny, I mean I guess it's normal I dunno, but there was like air bubbles in parts of the jelly area and other parts of the jelly looked solid w/ no air bubbles. Is that the way they always look or is it mean a leak? Sorry, I'm just niave to this drug. PLEASE NEED ADVICE....did it work for you and how well. Most importantly how long till it STARTS working.....? Thanks...

-JT

twisten · 01-21-2005, 06:20 PM

When I put on my very first patch it took at least 12 hours to kick in. At that time I didn't have any bt meds either and my doc had told me it would start working immediately. Of course this had to happen late afternoon and I had to wait until the next morning to see him again. He did give me bt meds then but the patch had finally started to work. It didn't last me the 3 days though. I did pretty good until the last day then I had to use the bt meds. By the way, the bubbles you're seeing are normal.

Marg001 · 01-21-2005, 11:04 PM

Dear LibraBalancer,
I am on the Duragesic Patch myself, 50mhg. I have Spondylolthesis, and Scoliosis and disc degeneration, and a previous 2 surgeries due to Ulcerative Colitis. I have found that that the patch has been working great for me now but it took a while before I got the dosage right and the timing right on when to change it. I now change it every 2 days, it's suppose to last for 3 days, with most people it doesn't. I am also on b.t. med's of Oxycodone(Percocet). I really find that helps when I am changing the patch, basically because I think with having my partial intestine removed that everything moves through me faster, therefore I sometimes don't seem to have enough pain med's left in my system.I normally need only 1 to 2 Perc's a day for the breakthrough pain when I am changing the patch. If you need any more help I am here.Take good care and I REALLY HOPE that you have found the pain relief that you were looking for, take good care!!

Live Happy,
M.S.

ltedeschi · 01-22-2005, 05:51 AM

I was put on patch 50 mg and I do need the Norco 10/325 for bt everyday but less on the second day. It takes one day to wind up then it works good then on the third day it starts winding down.
Good luck and without bt the patch was useless to me.
Lisa

LibraBalancer · 01-22-2005, 03:54 PM

yeah, I actually had a few percocets left from when I 1st started pain managment at this current office, and Doc told me to stop taking them, there too addictive....then gives me morphine ER to take. But I had to take a few yesterday (actually last 2) because I was feeling like ***** (next day after surg.) and it SO helped. LIKE BIG TIME! Like a percocet has never worked before, and it was working over time too! LOL I guess i was just SO sore, I was thankfull to get that relief. It seems to ME that BT meds would DEFF be needed on Duragesic. I don't get my dr., or maybe it's me...I should speak up and talk to her about it. I mean what's the point in PM if your not managing your pain, I mean really?!