Need Help PLease RE: Possible Damaged Fent. Patch - Pain Management Message Board

IZZY'SMOM · 12-25-2006, 01:20 PM

Hi all,
I know its Christmas Day, but I could use some advice, if any of you all can spare a few moments.
I have been using the Mylan patches because of the cost, and also they are so much smaller than the Duragesic or Sandoz. I am on 75's with 7.5 vicoprofen for needed b/t relief.
Heres my question: As I was applying my patch it fell off onto the floor. When I picked it up, it felt like there was a grain of dirt, ect on it so I scraped it with my fingernail to try to get it off. I did scrape it pretty hard. I can see a small dent where I tried to scrape it off, but I never punctured it through the plastic at all. I am afraid that I may have ruined it. It is my last dose until my next script, and I only have a minimun amount of b/t meds. Maybe Im paranoid, but I dont want to take a chance that I damaged it.
If it were the other brand where I could detect a leak I would toss it immediately, but with these, there is not liquid to be seen, so I dont know if I harmed it. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you so very much~
xoxoxoxo
IZZY'SMOM

forginon · 12-25-2006, 02:07 PM

I think you'll have to use it, being the last dose.

Is there a way to place something small over the spot where you scraped the underside of the patch? Something to block absorbtion in just that area? Then at least you'd get absorbtion from the remainder of the patch?

I apologize if this sounds naive. I am only used to Duragesic, and this is the only idea I could think of.

Be Safe, and Merry Christmas

Shoreline · 12-26-2006, 10:40 AM

Hi IzzyMOM, Mylan uses a different delivery system, As you noticed, no resevoir. The medication is built into the patch and the adhesive, the solvent used to keep the adhesive from drying is a major component of the delivery system,. Meaning if the pacth is still sticky, it can still deliver medication. This method of deliver is used in every other patch technology, whether it's Nicotine, birth control, nitro, clonodine "cataperess" etc.

The resvoir system used by duragesic is completely unique to duragesic and makes abuse or malfunction "puncturing" of that system extremely easy. That's why your suposed to fold them over sticky side to sticky side to prevent accidental contamination should a child pul one out of the garbage etc.. If the patches that use the adhesive as the delivery vehicle will still stick to your skin, it will still delever medication. Taking a old patch you have thrown away and opening it back up may actually continue to deliver meds if the solvent hasn't evaporated and the adhesive hasn't dried I doubt you will reach the same level of effectiveness as the adhesive has dried some and the patch needs time to reach max effect, but it should be better than nothing.

In the future, just slap it back on. AS far as what to do right now. re-applying a patch that's been off the skin and the solvent evaporating it' swill certainly loose efectiveness but may be able to deliver some of the med you body becomes used too. I doubt you have acess to equivent strength BT meds unless your using Aqtiq.The good news is, it's only one day. I imagine you woke up feeling poorly so try to get you script filled asap and then you have to wait for the patch to reach peak effetiveness, another 15+ plus hours, When continued use has been interupted.

Good luck, Dave

IZZY'SMOM · 12-26-2006, 10:52 AM

Hi Dave~
Thanks SO much for the post. I am using my B/t meds today, and the doc is calling me to get them refilled. I dont think i scraped it hard enough to puncture the patch or the adheisive. it was a teeny spot. Thats what I was wondering, that if you DID by chance, could it cause a person to overdose like the liquid filled ones. Thanks again for all of your help and support!