~*~ HI, NEW HERE~*~ Question about Fentanyl Patches

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone~

I was hit by a car, walking home one day from my son's school. Since

then, I have been diagnosed with Herniated Disc, L5, S1 and Nerve

Damage, TMJ, and most recently SEVERE muscle spasm in my back, that I

haven't been able to stand up and walk for over 6 days!!!!

I went to the ER and they put me on Fentanyl Patches. I currently

take Percocet 7.5/500 ~Every 6 hours, Clonazepam 1mg~ 2x,

Clonidine .2mg, at bed, Neurontin 800 mg~ 4x, Zanaflex 4mg~Every 4

hours as needed for spasms, and now Fentanyl, 50 mcg Patches, every

three days!

Well, since I got my first, one, Sunday night, I was feeling better.

I was able to kind of move around more and sleep more than usual.

But, what made me nervous, is that I had a panic attack Monday

night. I haven't had one of those in a long time! Is this normal?

Or is it just me? I seem to be more nervous and anxiety, since the

patch. I am new to this. It is helping, and it has been a really

big help. I still can't stand totally up, but less pain, so I feel

better.

My question is, should I be concerned about this anxiety and Panic

Attacks (I feel like I am going to die, I start shaking, my skin is

very pale and can see lines of red. But, it did go away, after

taking Clonazepam (Take it for Panic Disorder, but wasn't due), and

Neurontin. I am nervous! Is it all in my head or can it be the

Fentanyl?

Thanks, as I couldn't find anything about my symptoms, but wondering

if anyone is feeling it. Plus, the patch is starting to fall off,

should I fix it, or what?

As I am new to this patch and I am nervous, so any info is GREAT~

Thanks a lot~

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

I would like to first express my compassion for what you are going through.

I have several thoracic disc protrusion/extrusions the worst at T6-7 causing

a 6 mm depression on my spinal cord. No myelopathy yet only much pain.

I to wear the Fentanyl patch only my dose is 200 micrograms/hr. I would like

to give you a heads up about the Fentanyl patches.

1. They are offered in generic form but there have been several negative

things associated with these generic patches ranging from inconsistent

delivery to poor adhesion. There also exists two types of generic patches.

One being a semi-solid gel type path and another being liquid filled like

the original Duragesic patch.

2. The life span of the patch is actually closer to 48 hours instead of the

advertised 72 hour. I found that on the third day, my pain would always

increase and also the adhesive would fail miserably.

3. If you get the name brand Fentanyl patch called Duragesic, you may call

the company and tell them that you can't get the patch to stay on. Request

they send you the " Bioclusive " transparent dressing. This goes over the

entire patch to keep it in place. It will save money as it is a free

service. They will only honor the name brand Duragesic patch, not generic.

You can have you doctor insist name brand only so you can get the Duragesic

patch and not deal with problems associated with the generic medication.

Regarding the panic attack, it will take a few weeks to get adjusted to the

medication. The first few weeks I was on the patch, I experienced terrible

nightmares. It's unfortunate that the side effects of all the medications

you list take time to adjust or get use to. I still experience several

unpleasant side effects but have accepted them as a way of life. I need the

medication to relieve the pain. It important to document side effects and

problem encountered on a daily basis and to communicate this information to

the doctor. This ensures you aren't under/over medicated. As part of a

narcotic agreement I signed with the doctor, I needed to show I was able to

do some activity during the day to prove I wasn't over medicated.

The zanaflex you listed is a powerful muscle relaxer and when taken with the

percocet, it actually enhances the pain relieving effect of the medication.

For me, zanaflex knocks me for a loop whereas the other muscle relaxers have

no effect. If 4 mg is too much, you could consider splitting the dose and

work your way up to the full dose. Neurontin is another drug I take but 600

mg four times per day. Another drug you may inquire about if you have lots

of nerve pain is Cymbalta. It's been FDA approved for neuropathy in

diabetics. It too has some pretty wicked side effects for some.

If there are any other questions, please email for more information.

God Bless,

~*~ HI, NEW HERE~*~ Question about

Fentanyl Patches

Hello everyone~

I was hit by a car, walking home one day from my son's school. Since

then, I have been diagnosed with Herniated Disc, L5, S1 and Nerve

Damage, TMJ, and most recently SEVERE muscle spasm in my back, that I

haven't been able to stand up and walk for over 6 days!!!!

I went to the ER and they put me on Fentanyl Patches. I currently

take Percocet 7.5/500 ~Every 6 hours, Clonazepam 1mg~ 2x,

Clonidine .2mg, at bed, Neurontin 800 mg~ 4x, Zanaflex 4mg~Every 4

hours as needed for spasms, and now Fentanyl, 50 mcg Patches, every

three days!

Well, since I got my first, one, Sunday night, I was feeling better.

I was able to kind of move around more and sleep more than usual.

But, what made me nervous, is that I had a panic attack Monday

night. I haven't had one of those in a long time! Is this normal?

Or is it just me? I seem to be more nervous and anxiety, since the

patch. I am new to this. It is helping, and it has been a really

big help. I still can't stand totally up, but less pain, so I feel

better.

My question is, should I be concerned about this anxiety and Panic

Attacks (I feel like I am going to die, I start shaking, my skin is

very pale and can see lines of red. But, it did go away, after

taking Clonazepam (Take it for Panic Disorder, but wasn't due), and

Neurontin. I am nervous! Is it all in my head or can it be the

Fentanyl?

Thanks, as I couldn't find anything about my symptoms, but wondering

if anyone is feeling it. Plus, the patch is starting to fall off,

should I fix it, or what?

As I am new to this patch and I am nervous, so any info is GREAT~

Thanks a lot~

Dawn

[Guest guest]

/Dawn

Hi this is Shirley, and I am impressed with your knowledge of all these meds,

thanks for some of the info, I take Neurontin, and am having some issues with

it, mostly I am losing my vision, and no one seems to believe that that is a

side effect, so I think along with your advice for Dawn, she also should know

that it takes perserverance with these doctors, they don't always believe the

side effects you tell them, but keep in mind YOU are living in that body and no

one knows it better than you. I hope you continue to share your experience, and

keep plugging along, we are here for you Dawn, and once again, thanks for

your info. I am unable to take the muscle relaxers at all, I took one and my

daughter could not rouse me after about 6 hours! She was getting ready to call

911 when I finaly came awake. So no more of that.

Thanks all

Shirley

biddolf <biddolf@...> wrote:

Dawn,

I would like to first express my compassion for what you are going through.

I have several thoracic disc protrusion/extrusions the worst at T6-7 causing

a 6 mm depression on my spinal cord. No myelopathy yet only much pain.

I to wear the Fentanyl patch only my dose is 200 micrograms/hr. I would like

to give you a heads up about the Fentanyl patches.

1. They are offered in generic form but there have been several negative

things associated with these generic patches ranging from inconsistent

delivery to poor adhesion. There also exists two types of generic patches.

One being a semi-solid gel type path and another being liquid filled like

the original Duragesic patch.

2. The life span of the patch is actually closer to 48 hours instead of the

advertised 72 hour. I found that on the third day, my pain would always

increase and also the adhesive would fail miserably.

3. If you get the name brand Fentanyl patch called Duragesic, you may call

the company and tell them that you can't get the patch to stay on. Request

they send you the " Bioclusive " transparent dressing. This goes over the

entire patch to keep it in place. It will save money as it is a free

service. They will only honor the name brand Duragesic patch, not generic.

You can have you doctor insist name brand only so you can get the Duragesic

patch and not deal with problems associated with the generic medication.

Regarding the panic attack, it will take a few weeks to get adjusted to the

medication. The first few weeks I was on the patch, I experienced terrible

nightmares. It's unfortunate that the side effects of all the medications

you list take time to adjust or get use to. I still experience several

unpleasant side effects but have accepted them as a way of life. I need the

medication to relieve the pain. It important to document side effects and

problem encountered on a daily basis and to communicate this information to

the doctor. This ensures you aren't under/over medicated. As part of a

narcotic agreement I signed with the doctor, I needed to show I was able to

do some activity during the day to prove I wasn't over medicated.

The zanaflex you listed is a powerful muscle relaxer and when taken with the

percocet, it actually enhances the pain relieving effect of the medication.

For me, zanaflex knocks me for a loop whereas the other muscle relaxers have

no effect. If 4 mg is too much, you could consider splitting the dose and

work your way up to the full dose. Neurontin is another drug I take but 600

mg four times per day. Another drug you may inquire about if you have lots

of nerve pain is Cymbalta. It's been FDA approved for neuropathy in

diabetics. It too has some pretty wicked side effects for some.

If there are any other questions, please email for more information.

God Bless,

~*~ HI, NEW HERE~*~ Question about

Fentanyl Patches

Hello everyone~

I was hit by a car, walking home one day from my son's school. Since

then, I have been diagnosed with Herniated Disc, L5, S1 and Nerve

Damage, TMJ, and most recently SEVERE muscle spasm in my back, that I

haven't been able to stand up and walk for over 6 days!!!!

I went to the ER and they put me on Fentanyl Patches. I currently

take Percocet 7.5/500 ~Every 6 hours, Clonazepam 1mg~ 2x,

Clonidine .2mg, at bed, Neurontin 800 mg~ 4x, Zanaflex 4mg~Every 4

hours as needed for spasms, and now Fentanyl, 50 mcg Patches, every

three days!

Well, since I got my first, one, Sunday night, I was feeling better.

I was able to kind of move around more and sleep more than usual.

But, what made me nervous, is that I had a panic attack Monday

night. I haven't had one of those in a long time! Is this normal?

Or is it just me? I seem to be more nervous and anxiety, since the

patch. I am new to this. It is helping, and it has been a really

big help. I still can't stand totally up, but less pain, so I feel

better.

My question is, should I be concerned about this anxiety and Panic

Attacks (I feel like I am going to die, I start shaking, my skin is

very pale and can see lines of red. But, it did go away, after

taking Clonazepam (Take it for Panic Disorder, but wasn't due), and

Neurontin. I am nervous! Is it all in my head or can it be the

Fentanyl?

Thanks, as I couldn't find anything about my symptoms, but wondering

if anyone is feeling it. Plus, the patch is starting to fall off,

should I fix it, or what?

As I am new to this patch and I am nervous, so any info is GREAT~

Thanks a lot~

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

I also have suffered some loss of vision. I went from 20/15 (after lasik

surgery 8 years ago) to being a +1.0 when I was taking Topamax as a migraine

preventative medication. Once I stopped taking the meds, my vision returned

to 20/20. Now since my ordeal started Nov 2004, my vision is now -0.75 with

astigmatism. Most of this happened after increasing Neurontin and other

drugs. Any drug that affects the mechanism within the brain seems to have an

effect on vision.

You definitely have to be persistent when dealing with doctors about side

effects. I recently went round and round about the severe joint pain I was

having when taking Lipitor. I was would up to the end that Lipitor wouldn't

cause this type of pain. I have since stopped taking all statin drugs and

started using natural remedies to control my triglycerides. Be very

sensitive to what changes your body experiences when taking the medication.

This is especially true when it comes to driving. We may think we are okay

to drive but if we are ever in a wreck and some one get hurt seriously or

killed, we would most likely be brought up on involuntary manslaughter. The

doctors don't have the backbone to place restrictions on us due to the side

effects of the meds. My SSD lawyer was the one who actually told me I had no

business driving. Once I told the docs this, they were in full concurrence.

Anyway good luck and God Bless,

~*~ HI, NEW HERE~*~ Question about

Fentanyl Patches

Hello everyone~

I was hit by a car, walking home one day from my son's school. Since

then, I have been diagnosed with Herniated Disc, L5, S1 and Nerve

Damage, TMJ, and most recently SEVERE muscle spasm in my back, that I

haven't been able to stand up and walk for over 6 days!!!!

I went to the ER and they put me on Fentanyl Patches. I currently

take Percocet 7.5/500 ~Every 6 hours, Clonazepam 1mg~ 2x,

Clonidine .2mg, at bed, Neurontin 800 mg~ 4x, Zanaflex 4mg~Every 4

hours as needed for spasms, and now Fentanyl, 50 mcg Patches, every

three days!

Well, since I got my first, one, Sunday night, I was feeling better.

I was able to kind of move around more and sleep more than usual.

But, what made me nervous, is that I had a panic attack Monday

night. I haven't had one of those in a long time! Is this normal?

Or is it just me? I seem to be more nervous and anxiety, since the

patch. I am new to this. It is helping, and it has been a really

big help. I still can't stand totally up, but less pain, so I feel

better.

My question is, should I be concerned about this anxiety and Panic

Attacks (I feel like I am going to die, I start shaking, my skin is

very pale and can see lines of red. But, it did go away, after

taking Clonazepam (Take it for Panic Disorder, but wasn't due), and

Neurontin. I am nervous! Is it all in my head or can it be the

Fentanyl?

Thanks, as I couldn't find anything about my symptoms, but wondering

if anyone is feeling it. Plus, the patch is starting to fall off,

should I fix it, or what?

As I am new to this patch and I am nervous, so any info is GREAT~

Thanks a lot~

Dawn