Fentanyl patch - 1250131

charvnc
Posts:15

I haven't found the answer under a search for fentanyl, so I'm going to ask:

Do Fentanyl patches "run out" on the 3rd day - we seem to be having a pattern of more breakthrough pain the day the patch needs to be changed.

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Reply # - November 12, 2012, 09:50 AM

catdander
Posts:

That would be an individualized question and it sounds like your husband's patch may be running out a few hours before it should. A call to the person taking care of his pain management will help with scheduling the timing of the patch or adding breakthrough meds.

I hope you and he are ok and managing better than not.

Janine

Reply # - November 12, 2012, 03:38 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Sometimes we change the fentanyl patch after 48 hrs. That's not my typical practice, but it's sometimes recommended, and it would make sense in a setting where pain control is good for 48 hrs but not after that.

-Dr. West

Reply # - November 12, 2012, 04:50 PM

charvnc
Posts: 15

Thank you Janine and Dr West - I'll call our hospice nurse tomorrow and discuss this with her - His pain seems worse on the day we change the patch - before and after - so it could be running out too soon, I also read today that the new patch can take up to 8 hours to start working, which could also be contributing to the problem. We've just noticed he needs a lot more oxycodone on the day we change the patch.

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