@A MyChronicPainTeam Member that experience was in the hospital and doesn't mean it would happen in your own home. Any normal person would take the old patch off before putting on a new one. I found in the early days of my pain life that fentanyl did not help me and asked the doctor not to prescribe for me after the first script. The type of pain a person has is specific to the meds that work for it. I'm fortunate to have doctors who push me to describe in detail my pain specifically so they can know what will work.

Mentioned Users

A MyChron...

Opioids have similar risks, including respiratory depression, sedation, low blood pressure, constipation, tolerance, and long term increased pain sesitivity. The is much variability from person to person as to side effects and pain relief. We all process medications in our bodies and minds differently. The best pain management involves "start low, go slow", trial and error to find what drug(s) work best with the least adverse effects. Fentanyl patches are great for some and not for others. It is very different from methadone in strength and how it's metabolized.
Worry of overdose is unfounded when prescribed by a pain specialist who knows your current medication requirements and starts with an appropriate dose. CindyHaywoodWhite, I know what you are talking about where a patch put on in a hospital caused an overdose. I was a hospital nurse 24 years, 14 of them on a unit that treated cancer and other chronically painful conditions. Sometimes a nurse is not thorough enough looking for a patch that's already in place before placing a new one. Thankfully, this is rare, but can happen. The nurse may think the old one came off. Once or twice I have had an overly sedated patient, and found more than one patch on. We always write the date of placement on the patch. This is good practice at home, too.

I have a friend who wears 2 fentanyl patches every day...along with taking 4 hydro morph 30's and some other stuff I have never even heard of. They work for him. He still has a life, and gets out and lives it.

@A MyChronicPainTeam Member Hi Heather, welcome to the group. I went to read your story but none there yet. How did all this happen to you? I have been on the patch since 2005 with no problems. Never on methadone so don't know. Is it in patch form? I like it as it works well and being good for 3 days you don't get those highs & lows you do with pills. I would say it's safe if you follow the rules for use. hugs,

Mentioned Users

A MyChron...

It would be safer in the fact that it doesn't have to be digested and go through the liver and kidneys. I don't know about anything else.