Can anyone tell me about the Duragesic pain patch

My doctor wants me to try the duragesic pain patch. I have fibromyalgia and take lorcet. I'm trying to decide if I want to try it. How long did it take to get in you system? Did you have any side effects? If you had to take it off how long did you continue to have side effects? I'm just thinking it's a big jump for my body to go from taking 2-3 lorcet a day to a duragesic patch 25mg. Where you glad you used the pain patch? When you put it on did you feel like the patch was delivering to much medicine to you compare to what you were on before the pain patch?

Sorry so many questions.

Thanks
Jonna
lavh
keep left ovary

Jonna,
I have FMS as well, along with Chronic Pelvic Pain. I 1st used the Duragesic patch a couple of years ago and proceeded to use it for over a year with excellent relief Unfortunately, my skin started to reject it and I had to switch to long-acting oral meds which I still use, but would go back to my patch in a heartbeat! There are a few Ladies here using this method of Pain relief, I'm sure they'll be along shortly to share their experiences. Also, here is a couple of links w/ info on this med:

www.Duragesic.com
www.Jaansen.com
http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/122.html

I hope you have as much success as I did with this Good Luck Jonna & please keep us posted...((hugs))

PS-The best thing about the Patch, IMO, is the fact that it goes directly to your blood stream instead of needing to go thru your Liver!

Jonna,
I've been using the duragesic patch for about 2 months now. I started on the 25mg changing every 72 hours. I started to have some breakthrough pain so we upped the doseage to 50mg and I now change it every 48 hours.

When I first started I had some dizziness, but that could have been from the Gabatril that I started at the same time. I had surgery the beginning of November that I thought was going to fix me so I stopped the patch. The doctor couldn't find anything so I went back on the patch and I had no side effects at all when I restarted it.

I the patch! It is easy to use and I feel like I get a consistant delivery of meds. Never too much or too little. For the first time in many many months I have some semblance of a life again. I was really on a downhill spiral before I started the patch. I didn't realize how miserable I really was until I found some relief.

Thanks Kim and Sheri for your response. I already feel better about trying the patch. I'm just one of those people that have to know how others reacted to the meds. So I can have a little peace of mind before putting the patch on.

Thanks

Jonna
lavh
keep left ovary

Ladies,
Can I ask - how was it determined that you had fibromyalgia?
I have been miserable for so long and no one can put a finger on what it is.

I noticed I go thru ups and downs - or flareups if you will. Right now as I sit here I am in back, neck, arm pain and my face is so flushed. I couldn't walk the mall the other night my back just couldn't get my legs to move.

Before my hyst (kept ovaries) I had back, pelvic and bladder pain. Still having probs with my bladder - flushed face that no one can explain (not hot flashes) and pain. I have reason for back and neck pain (disc degen, herniations, etc...) but the pain I get is not just from that -its all over parts of me.

I never suffered from headaches and I do now. I also feel the pain and redness (comes in and out) goes hand in hand with when my bladder is giving me grief.

I've been to pain mgmt, ortho, uros..you name it - I can't keep looking like a freak and feeling so horrible.

Can you give me any advice? How are you and how did they discover what you have? I was once told MS now not sure... no one seems to know. Please feel free to email me or post here.
THANKS

LaurLaur,
There are certain criteria a patient presents with that helps the Dr give a Fibro dx. 3+ months of body wide pain, 11 of 18 trigger points are some. Here are some very good links on FMS:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/livin...ibromyalgia980
408.html
http://fibrohugs.com/forum/new_fibro_info.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fibromyalgia.html
http://www.co-cure.org/index.htm
http://www.fibromyalgia.com/home.htm
http://hometown.aol.com/flyerandflyer/wtvault/FIB.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...pedia_A-Ag.htm
http://www.mylifepath.com/topic/fibromyalgia/
http://www.fmnetnews.com/
http://www.fmaware.org./
http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/c...W=fibromyalgia
http://www.shaysnet.com/~wmson/index.htm
http://www.fmnetnews.com/pages/basics.html
http://www.vrainn.com/Stuff/Fibro/fmasses.txt
http://www.fibromyalgiasupport.com/l...le.cfm/id/4073
http://www.afsafund.org/
http://www.muhealth.org/~fibro/
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/3466/Fibro.htm
http://www.tidalweb.com/fms/
http://www.americanwholehealth.com/l...myalgia/fms.ht
m
http://www.fibromyalgiasupport.com/l...le.cfm/id/4095
http://www.myalgia.com/

Fibromyalgia FAQ for Patients:
http://www.muhealth.org/~fibro/fm-pt.html

FACT SHEET~
http://www.rheumatology.org/patients.../fibromya.html

Fibromyalgia: What it is and how to manage it:

http://familydoctor.org/handouts/070.html

Hope these are of some & can provide you with more insight on this very painful, symptomatic syndrome..
My GP referred me to a Rheumy who dx'd mine, it was thot to be bought on by all my surgeries. Have you ever seen a Rheumy? If not I think it would be a good idea Good Luck at finding some answers, please keep us posted
(((hugs)))

Jonna:

I was on the patch for app. 2 mo. but had to go off it because my Ins. refused to pay for it. It gave me great pain relief - if I could, I would definitely go back on it.
As far as side effects, I had some nausea at first but it got better. I also had some fatigue but that also got better after 2 or 3 wks.
I am on MS Contin right now & feel that the patch gave me better relief. And when I started the patch it took only about 12 hrs. or so to get in my system. I did have a slight problem with my breakthru pain on the 3rd day though but it wasnt too bad. If that happens then maybe they will let you chang it every 48 hrs. like Kim does.
Good luck & let us know how it goes !

's

Susan

Jonna,
I also changed my patch every 48 hrs, for me, it only gave relief for that amount of time. By the 3rd day the pain was bad and putting on a new patch takes several hrs to build the med in your system back up...this is something I would definately ask about
((hugs))