Re: Breathing problems

[Guest guest]

Jodi,I don't know what this could be but maybe there is an issue with your

patch/dose?I saw some things online about the patch, and that people were not

getting consistent pain management... esp. on the generics.

Maybe the beginning dose was too high?Hope you figure it out

Subject: Breathing problems

To: tetheredspinalcord

Date: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 6:57 PM

 

I've been on Oxycarbazapine for quite a while now but it just turns the

pins/needles feeling into a sort of numbness. The intensity of the pain is still

a 7-8. 

Yesterday, my doctor gave me Fentanyl patches. I put the first one on this

morning and within 2 hours I couldn't take deeps breaths. It became very

uncomfortable. I called the pharmacy and she said to remove the patch and call

my doctor. But within a 1/2 hour of taking the patch off, I was fine. 

Anyone else have this reaction, and did it go away? 

Thanks for any input!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Jodi,

Narcotics are depressants; therefore, they can depress the the CNS to the

point it can interfere with the respiratory system. I would contact your MD

before using another patch to get his/her input, possibly lowering your

dose such that it does not impact your respiratory system as much.

Another possibility - do you know if you are allergic to morphine or other

narcotics? Many people are allergic to morphine or other narcotics. It

could be that you are having an allergic reaction to it which is severe

enough to interfere with your respiratory system.

If either of these are the cause of your respiratory distress when using

the patch, they will not improve with continued use. In fact, both can be

life threatening. If it is an allergy, continued use will likely cause the

allergy to get worse, which could cause an anaphylactic reaction. If it is

depressing your CNS to the point of depressing your respiratory drive, then

it would be particularly dangerous if you fell asleep.

You didn't happen to take a shower or bath after applying the patch, did

you? I remember a while back, there was someone on the list that reported

that the heat from bathing caused the patch to secrete more Rx and caused

problems for her. I thought the patch was supposed to be able to stay on

during bathing, so if that was the case (that exposure to heat like that

could cause it to secrete more med, or that the heat allowed the body to

absorb it faster), the mfg would have a warning about using it while

bathing. I think this person said this occurred while taking a bath (rather

than a shower) so they were soaking in the warm water for a longer period

of time than in a shower, but I can't remember for certain. Perhaps someone

else on the list might remember that post from a while back (or you could

always search the archives- that is a great resource. You can see what has

been posted about a given topic on this forum in the past).

Regardless, I would contact your MD, and (s)he should have an alternative

(either changing your dose or changing you to a different med altogether).

Best wishes,

Jenn

> **

>

>

> I've been on Oxycarbazapine for quite a while now but it just turns the

> pins/needles feeling into a sort of numbness. The intensity of the pain is

> still a 7-8.

> Yesterday, my doctor gave me Fentanyl patches. I put the first one on this

> morning and within 2 hours I couldn't take deeps breaths. It became very

> uncomfortable. I called the pharmacy and she said to remove the patch and

> call my doctor. But within a 1/2 hour of taking the patch off, I was fine.

> Anyone else have this reaction, and did it go away?

> Thanks for any input!

> Jodi

>

>