Fentanyl Patch 72 hrs or 48hrs???? - Pain Management Message Board

onyxgates · 01-03-2007, 06:41 AM

I have noticed a pattern that every 3 days my pain shoots up to an 8. On the first day I am at a 5 or 6, the second day a 6 or 7 and the third day it is up to an 8. Now I can't say for sure this happens every time but it sure seems like it lately. So my question is this...How many of you switch every 72 hrs vs. every 48 hrs. Please respond as I am going to see my doctor tomorrow.

Thanks!

whitfield · 01-03-2007, 07:49 AM

I have been on the Fentanyl Patch now for 3 years--100Mcg--told my doc they really only last 2 days--which is true, so he prescribes percocet--works for me--He would give me more patches, but my insurance will only pay for 10/month! Hope this helps--
Roger

kim4074 · 01-03-2007, 09:47 AM

My fiance goes through the same thing with his patches. He finds that they only really work for about 48hrs. Sometimes he changes them early cause the pain is just too much but then he is short at the end of the month and like the above poster he can only get 10/mo. He is given lortab 10/500 to take for the breakthrough. He told his Dr about this and he said on the 3rd day to just up his Lortab. Not sure if thats the best but for right now thats all he can do. I think this is common he did tell his Dr this and he seemed to understand and bumped him up to a higher dosage but my fiance was unable to adjust to the higher dose so on the 3rd day he just takes more bt meds. He was wondering if he switched the spot of where he puts them is this would help. I dont know though. Hope you get the help you need as I know how hard it is to be in constant pain. Kim

IZZY'SMOM · 01-03-2007, 11:49 AM

Hi,
Im on the 50's and havent ever been able to go three days. I tried the 75's and they were too strong. So now i do as the abouve poster stated. I use my b/t meds hydro.7.5 on the end of the last day or in case of anything else. i did notice that now i am having to use my b/t meds sometimes even on the second day in the morning, so maybe I may have to tell my doc, as it is making me short on those. ugh!~ I hope that your doc will help you out. My doc does write my script for 48-72 hours so my insurance does pay for mine. If not, they cost 160.00 or more. Good luck, let us know what he says~
My doc only has myself and two other patients on the patch, so hes pretty receptive when we have all told him they dont last us 72 hours. He told me that on my last visit. The other patients said the same thing.
xoxoxoxo
IZZY'SMOM

RetiredDirector · 01-03-2007, 01:47 PM

Hi Everybody: I was on the patch (Duragesic) about four years ago at 100 mcg/hr and my doctor put me on them with a change at 48 hours from the start. He knew and it seems other doctors are starting to get the message that they just don't last for 72 hours. I was lucky, I never had any problems with my insurance paying for 15 per month.

Onyxgates, I don't have any magic words of wisdom for you, I wish I did. All you can do is talk to the doctor and if he won't up you to 48 hours on your change, see if he will at least write you a script for some additional meds (oral) to take that last day on the patch. Make sure you get something strong enough to do some good, because if you're use to Fentanyl you get from being on the patch, you need some heavy BT meds.

Hopefully, some day the insurance companies will realize that what all the patients are saying is right and the patches just don't last the three days they're suppose to. Let us know how you doctor visit goes and what he has to say.