Fentanyl vs hydrocodone
Common Questions and Answers about Fentanyl vs hydrocodone
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But I think the Fentanyl may be covering the hydrocodone withdrawal. Fentanyl is very strong and the withdrawals can be long and difficult. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones but it's possible that 'it just hasn't hit you yet. I found the first few drops of the Fentanyl were easy but the lower I got the harder it became. I hope you can escape them and find a way to manage your pain.
I have been on mainly hydrocodone ( pretty high doses for quite some time typically 100-120 day) my pm dr put me on fentanyl patch for awhile and I asked go back on hydrocodone patch scared me. I have RSD alot pain swelling right shoulder and arm for almost three years now.
If you are finding you need your breakthrough pain meds on a regular basis, there's a good chance that you need to have your fentanyl dose upped. Ideally, breakthrough pain meds should be taken only for that - periodic times when the long lasting medications aren't quite enough. They should not be used as "additional dosing".
I would suggest talking to your doctor about adjusting your fentanyl dose up, even slightly.
I started Fentanyl in May and it has been extremely helpful for me. The goal of a medication is to reduce your pain enough so that you can function more and do more for yourself, and friends and family. If the hydrocodone left you suffering in pain most of the time and unable to do things, the fentanyl should definitely be much stronger and should help you have a more normal life.
On the flip side, you don't want to be so drugged that you don't do anything either.
Some doctors consider hydrocodone more addicting than the fentanyl patch. I think mostly because it usually gives less euphoria and delivers a steady stream of pain relief. Although some people do abuse the patch as well, and some people have trouble with it.
Usually if you out and out tell a doctor what you will and won't do, they will not be very helpful.
Thank u both philnoir and jerry _oll19 for a wealth of info on the two medications i adked about.
Back ground info: i have been on opiate pain medication for chronic pain for 10+ years
About 2yrs ago i made the jump off of methadone, after being tapered off of 10 mg x8 dayly & 5yrs of use. I was very nieve about pain medication and was put on heavy dose for chronic back pain,bulging disk in C6&7 and L2&3?. After that Dr was no longer in practice.
Fentanyl is a stonger form of an opioid. Opiate and opioid mean the same thing: Opiate is an adjective while opioid is a noun. Percocet is an opioid as is fentanyl. They are synthetic which means they are man made and not derived from a plant.
Good job on getting off the Percocet!
If this medication is not working as well as the hydrocodone, then there is no reason for you to continue it. Also, fentanyl is a very strong medication that has worse withdrawals than hydrocodone.
I would suggest you go back to the hydrocodone. You sound like you were taking it correctly for pain and it was working for you. It should be "if it's not broke, why fix it" , not, "if it's not broke your not looking hard enough". Know what I mean?
Fentanyl is a Schedule II opiate. I believe you MUST have a newly written prescription for it each time you get it, your doctor cannot instruct your pharmacist to refill it. Schedule III drugs like hydrocodone can be refilled but Schedule II drugs cannot. Also, your doctor cannot write the prescription for greater than a 30 day supply. I believe these laws are consistent from state to state, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.
Im kind of regretting doing that workout at the gym, atleast for my arms. They are sooooo sore, I cant even stretch them out all the way without severe pain. I dont know if its just magnified from the w/d but this has been the most painful thing ive endured during this w/d.
Started Pain Mgnt. IN October. They reduced my hydrocodone from 180 pills a month (10mg/325) my primary Dr was prescribing as they no longer helped without taking more than prescribed ( which is why I went to pain management) they reduced me to 60 of the same pills ( Norco) but only twice a day plus a 15 Mg morphine pill which did absolutely nothinh but cause my pain to stay at a very uncomfortable level. Fyi, I hate the pain rating they ask.
I have been on hydrocodone for almost 20 years on and off. Went to the pain clinic and he put me on the Fentanyl patch 12mcg. I have so many drug allergies that the drs are limited as what they can give me. I am ok with one patch but when I put on the second patch I got chest pains, nervous, nauseated. Took second patch off felt better. Call dr next day told them what happened. He said to take up to 3 10/325 hydrocodone a day. Took one and it overdosed me. took that patch off too.
I prefer the fentanyl patch because it is all pain med -- fentanyl is a pure opiate agonist, like morphine, where as Butrans depends on a medication that is part agonist / part partial agonist.
But either patch should be worn only by those who are opiate tolerant. Even the circular provided with the Duragesic patch warns against using the patch in those who aren't used to opiate analgesics.
Have you tried Oxycontin?
I have been taking 10x325 hydrocodone and 100mg tramadol for chronic pain. I was recently given an option to try the fentanyl patch. It scard me so badly i took it off after a month and a half use. The withdrawal was THE most horrific i have ever been thru. Compared to methadone it was scary! So i decided to go back to the hydrocodone and tramadol for this month. Knowing it would be a hard month for me with pain but needed time to think about my options. Now im not sure where to go.
Well, IDK about the Fentanyl, but i have had w/d's from Hydrocodone and it is also pure hell, as you know! But, i would think that the w/d will probobly last as long as the hydro w/d. You know........forever! lol But seriously, probobly really hard for about 8-10 days, then just weak and sucky for the next 2-3 weeks. That's what i think!!!
Thanks for sharing...
Currently my meds are not working effectively. I previously had been on Methadone. Norco now. I tried fentanyl patch but was very scared of the strength so stopped and wont go back there. How does talwin show on a urine drug test and how effective is it really. Also on tramadol er with my norco.
After the first scare that sent me to the ER and now that i got sick i got veryscared to continue on my fentanyl patch while i was sick. Fentanyl patch scares the hell out of me and i did tell my RN when we started it. Anyway i took my patch off while i was sick and then ended up having horrible withdrawal symptoms from it. I didnt think it would be THAT bad due to being on it such short period of time. I was wrong.
Hello Novermhead,
You've asked a good question. Oxycontin is a sustained release medication and I am surprised that you are taking four, 40mgs tablets per day.
According to the conversion charts that I normally refer to the fentanyl patch would need to be 125 mcg to equal what you are taking now, which would be delivered over a 72 hour period.
I was recently prescribed Fentanyl 25 mcg for my abdominal adhesion pain. I have been taking Hydrocodone or percocet off an on for a while now and finally got the point where I was needing it every day to function. I have had 5 surgeries in the past 4 years so that is part of the reason I am where I am.
So, my question is about the Fentanyl. The first week I was using it, it was great. I felt better and had more energy than I have had since I don't know when.
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