Generic Name: Duragesic (fentanyl)
Duragesic Reviews
For Chronic Pain "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and after trying different pain meds, I was finally put on Duragesic 25mcg every 72 hrs. The first day on a new patch is amazing. I could do nearly everything I used to. It even helped with the pain from bone deterioration due to a lifetime of taking high doses of Prednisone for my asthma. I will admit that the third day was the worst. About 5 years ago, my doctor upped my dosage to 50mcg every 48 hrs., which has made a huge difference. I still get Norco for breakthrough pain, but I try not to take them unless the pain is really bad. I'm not the kind of person who likes to take any sort of medication, but I know without it, my life would be awful."
For Chronic Pain "I have had several surgeries to rebuild my shoulder muscles and have had one tendon reattached to the bone and covered with a plate, as well as arthritis in my spine. The pain is unbearable at times and sometimes I can't even walk. I was taking the extended-release OxyContin and Norco for breakthrough pain, which didn't help much. They seemed to last a few hours and that was that. Even then, I didn't do much because of pain. My doctor had me try the 75mcg patch for 72 hours and I was amazed. I can wake up in the morning and almost jump out of bed. We have changed to a patch every 48 hours as on the 3rd day it didn't seem to work. But now depending on what I do during the day, I am virtually pain-free. Highly recommend, get your life back."
For Pain "I too am extremely grateful for these Duragesic patches. My only recommendation to future recipients is to invest in paper medical tape. These patches have a tendency to come loose or completely fall off prior to the removal date."
For Pain "I was 'scared' at first to try Duragesic because I knew this was a very strong painkiller. But I was taking so many pills without much relief that something else had to be done. I still have some pain (back pain - 3 compression fractures, and a fractured kneecap). The patches have been a big help in managing all my bone pain. Glad I was 'brave' enough to try them. My doctor is great to prescribe them."
For Pain "My husband was taking over 10 hydrocodone pills a day for his back pain until he found a doctor that finally helped him and has got him on Duragesic 75 patches. He has done so much better with his pain that we get along so much better. The only time he is having some pain now is when it is almost time for his patch to be changed to a new one."
For Chronic Pain "It kept my pain at bay very well. I wore a 50 mcg patch every two days. Occasionally, I would have breakthrough pain, but it was tolerable. The only downside to this medication is that it makes you moody and irritable."
For Pain "I have been on Duragesic for the past 2 years. I'm on a dose of 150mcg every 72 hours. I have Sickle Cell Anemia and have intolerable back pain on a daily basis. These patches work wonders for my pain, but I am a girl who loves to take baths. Just letting you know that you should not take really hot or really long baths while on the patch. I did, and I thought I was going to die. My heart began to race, and I had trouble breathing. After I struggled to get out of the bathtub, my husband snatched the patches off, scrubbed the area they were at, and I started feeling better in about 10-15 minutes. I love it for the pain but hate it for my baths."
For Chronic Pain "It saved my life! I cannot, despite trying, take oral long-acting narcotics. The biggest issue is the perception and doctors' reaction, including pain management professionals, to this medication. Yes, you develop dependence. Addiction is different. It is when you abuse your medication and continue to do so despite negative problems coming from that. The two words are NOT interchangeable. I am on 112 mcg/hour and change every 48 hours rather than the normal 72-hour dosing. It has allowed me to do the things I need to do in my life. I was virtually bedridden before going on Duragesic. It covers my pain for the most part, unless I am doing things physically that make the pain flare into a breakthrough. I take Morphine 30 mg for BT pain."
For Pain "I started on the patch approximately 6 years ago with a 0.50 patch for low back pain. Due to withdrawal symptoms on the third day, (sweating, chills, fatigue), I was increased to a 0.75 patch and then again to a 0.100 patch. I've been on it for two years and with the exception of the first 36-48 hours, I have side-effect problems that are terrible. I have lost all my upper teeth due to gum loss and decay, this just after spending $2000 to get my teeth put into shape. I go from hot flashes and drenching sweats to chills every 10 to 15 minutes. I have severe backache, headache, and urine retention. The patch did wonders for my pain, but long term, the side effects aren't worth it for me."
For Pain "I'm thankful that I found a doctor that understood what I was dealing with and prescribed this medication. Without it, I was just existing, and now I have a full life. The 3rd day is tough when the medicine is wearing off, but by the middle of the first day of a new patch, things are back in order."
For Chronic Pain "Have been taking Duragesic for 10 years. It works great. I use a coupon that covers up to $50 out of pocket. My insurance copay is $35, therefore, I pay nothing for name brand. The generic does not work as effectively as name."
For Pain "I have been on Duragesic patches for the past 12 years and they work well for me. Because I have been on them so long, my dose is high, and they are very expensive, but thankfully we have insurance. If you take the brand name Duragesic patches, you can call the company and have overlay patches sent free, which help keep the patches on much better. I change my patches every two days. It is a very expensive medicine but definitely a lifesaver."
For Breakthrough Pain "I was in a terrible car accident and kept having chronic back pain. I finally found out I had herniated L4 and L5 in my lower back. I was given so many different medicines by my pain management doctors. Nothing was working, not even the epidural steroid shots, until I was put on Duragesic. I have been on them for 3 years, and I wear two patches. I am on 125 mcg. I was basically almost hopeless until I was put on fentanyl. Now I have never felt better. At 27 and a single mother of a five-year-old, I could not afford to be in the pain I was in. I wear the patches every 48 hours, and I still have breakthrough medicines. I'm thankful for this miracle drug."
For Chronic Pain "They have been good and bad for myself, mostly good. I was in an accident that messed up my back, and surgery hasn't been an option at this point. I started out probably like everyone, taking way too many Vicodin to Percocet to OxyContin, it got to be a fistful of pills every day. Made me feel like a junkie. I can honestly say I would probably be dead if it weren't for the patches. I change them every 48 hours, and I've been on the same dose for about 8 years. My biggest worry/complaint is that I'm physically dependent on them and vivid dreaming, it's kinda freaky, and being sleepy sometimes, but the pain is tolerable. I'm on the PAP program (Patient Assistance Program) for low income, so it doesn't cost anything. They are very expensive."
For Chronic Pain "I have been on all different meds for CRPS that I got from a work-related injury 16 years ago. Tried just about all the extended-release options available, but they caused intolerable side effects. Even tried Neurontin, but only got side effects. This drug changed my life. I could function because the pain was tolerable for the first time in years. I do not know what I will do if it is ever unavailable to me. I still need something for breakthrough pain, but I can live an almost functional life now. I am at 125 mcg every 48 hours. I found that 72 hours was too long between changes, as the pain was intolerable on the 3rd day."
For Pain "This medication has completely changed my life. I was on 45 mg MS Contin and 10 mg Percocets for breakthroughs and was breaking through every day, multiple times a day. Then my doctor put me on Fentanyl patches (generic Duragesic), 25 mcg/hr, changed every 3 days. Literally, my life changed overnight. Pain is now down to 'noise' level—yeah, I'm not 100% pain-free, but no pain med can do that. Now, I breakthrough maybe once over the 3-day period."
For Pain "My doctor recently put me on the Duragesic patches. For years, I have tried many other medications with nothing positive to say about them, until now. I tried the patch and automatically thought it was great. I put the patch on, and it seemed like even though it says 72 hours, it really only helped for 48. I made my doctor aware of these concerns, and he instructed me to replace the patch every 48 hours and placed me on a breakthrough medication. Since then, I have actually been comfortable for the first time since my accident. I think the patch is great!"
For Chronic Pain "'Duragesic' is an excellent chronic pain medication: no euphoric issues following the first couple of weeks of use and initial body adjustment, etc., steady pain relief with minimal 'ups and downs' in effectiveness (i.e., breakthrough pain). However, myself, as with many users, find that it is necessary to change the patch every 48 hours, vs. the potential 72 hours (i.e., obviously this is with your doctor's approval). Also, putting the patch on takes a degree of practice and again, as with many, find it necessary to cover it with an approved '3M Tegaderm Cover' to prevent premature loss of adhesion."
For Pain "I was put on Duragesic when the MS Contin wasn't enough to control my chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia, even with breakthrough medicines. At first, the patches worked well once I got up to a dose that worked. The only horrible drawback is that I live in the desert, and once the daytime temperatures got over about 90 degrees F, the patches began dumping more because of the heat. I finally had to quit using them due to side effects brought on by the high temperatures. Also, at times I would just fall asleep. I finally quit the patches altogether when I fell asleep driving and almost had a bad, bad wreck. I feel the patches work great for people who don't have to deal with high outside temperatures."
For Chronic Pain "Been taking This medication for over 13 years responsibly!!! It has helped tremendously to control my pain but not without side effects of not being able to sleep well ever and constant sweating 24/7. Much safer to use than oral meds and no stomach problems."
For Pain "I just had the worst 3 days of pain in many months because Rite Aid gave me the generic patch. It isn't the same. The brand name has a delivery system with a reservoir of medicine on top of the patch. For me, the brand name worked great."
For Chronic Pain "In 7 years of going through every painkiller known to man, my pain management doctor finally found a combination that works very well for me and gave back some of my life. My combination is Fentanyl 25 and Norco 10/325 for breakthrough pain. I have practically no side effects and it does very well at managing my pain 24/7. I can function up to 4 hours before the pain levels start to rise and I have to stop. My issues are severe lower back pain from degenerative and bulging discs L 3-6. Both hips are broken and I have severe osteoarthritis, the same for my right knee. My right Achilles tendon was torn up by a dog, resulting in every infection including MRSA and cellulitis. Multiple surgeries and 18 months to close. Now very painful and always a burning pain. This combination knocks out 90%."
For Chronic Pain "My doctor put me on the patches about 8 months ago. I was taking Norco 10/325 and Lyrica 50 mg three times a day. I was still having pain at night and when I had to walk for any distance at all. This medicine has changed my life, I can sleep all night without waking up from pain, I can walk through the mall now and not limp as badly. I still take 6 Norco a day and my Lyrica 3X a day. But combined with the patch, I feel like I have a new lease on life. The only side effects I have had are a tendency to nod off if I sit down for long and a decrease in my appetite, which is good for helping me lose some weight."
For Chronic Pain "I had a bad injury to my neck and back due to a head on collision with a double decker bus for years I was in severe pain I was on gabapentin-morphine then along came fentanyl patches I started on 25 over 72 hours then 50, then 125 over 48 hours I could not believe the difference just a dull ache I could put up with the hot and cold flushes and slow running heart"
For Pain "Duragesic was a great blessing for me. I'd been on Percodan x 4/day for about 2.5 years when I developed an ulcer from the pills. The doctor started with 50 mcg/hr, but that didn't do it, the 100 mcg/hr is working good still for me. I suffer chronic low back pain, worsened after failed surgery. I've been on these for about 3 years now and am starting to have more breakthrough pain and still get Percodan for these times. I suspect tolerance is developing, but without the patches, my quality of life was almost zero, barring the fact you are alive. These have given me back much of the things I enjoyed doing before, but it requires moderation on my part more now. The only downside I see is the cost and addiction factors. Well worth it to me though."
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