Fentanyl User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Mag...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 30, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I have been using fentanyl for the past 7 years for chronic pain. By far, it has been the most effective against my pain. Before using it, I was on all other strong medications, none of them worked for me. I use a transparent adhesive to help hold it in place, and it works. Because of people misusing opioids, my pain management doctor felt it was better to have me change it one day sooner instead of increasing my dose. I’m currently using 50 mcg every 48 hours."

• Pai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 22, 2016

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "Been taking this medication for over 13 years responsibly! It has helped tremendously to control my pain but not without side effects of not being able to sleep well ever and constant sweating 24/7. Much safer to use than oral meds and no stomach problems."

• bac...
• December 16, 2010

Fentanyl for Pain "I was put on Duragesic when the MS Contin wasn't enough to control my chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia, even with breakthrough medicines. At first, the patches worked well once I got up to a dose that worked. The only horrible drawback is that I live in the desert, and once the daytime temperatures got over about 90 degrees F, the patches began dumping more because of the heat. I finally had to quit using them due to side effects brought on by the high temperatures. Also, at times I would just fall asleep. I finally quit the patches altogether when I fell asleep driving and almost had a bad, bad wreck. I feel the patches work great for people who don't have to deal with high outside temperatures."

• Ded...
• June 23, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I used to take 180 10/325 Norco for my chronic pain issues. I am bone on bone in my neck, left shoulder, and left knee. I had a very serious operation in 2010 on my back, all kinds of hardware put in, etc. I have been going to pain management for 2 years, and my doctor would not up my meds or give me anything else. Finally, my doctor wasn't there one day, so I saw a nurse practitioner. I was telling her my story, so she gave me a 12 mcg fentanyl patch with 3 Norco 10/325 a day for breakthrough pain. I tell you this medication has been a lifesaver for me. I sleep better at night. My pain isn't 100% gone, but it has been drastically reduced. I am so happy!"

• Kri...
• April 30, 2008

Fentanyl for Pain "I have been on Actiq for over 2 years. I've been on the same dose the whole time, and I must admit, without it, I would be bedridden and contorted. Actiq is a very serious medication that each prescriber/user needs to be educated, responsible, and accountable for. I truly thank the good Lord for it because my quality of life has improved tremendously, without it, my life would be full of pain and agony, and I would be just a shell of who I am now. So, Actiq is great, just use with care!"

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2010

Fentanyl for Pain "I just had the worst 3 days of pain in many months because Rite Aid gave me the generic patch. It isn't the same. The brand name has a delivery system with a reservoir of medicine on top of the patch. For me, the brand name worked great."

• Me ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Using fentanyl for spinal stenosis and colon cancer. I really can't say enough about how well it works. I have no side effects. Fentanyl gave my life back to me, I lived on the couch for 5 years. It's just enough to make the pain bearable without getting high. 50 mcg/hr. There is one thing I want to pass on. I can't speak for any other state. I have random urine tests and have no problem with the tests. But I came to find out I am on the VT narcotic users database. Who cares, right? Wrong. When looking into this database, I am listed with all the druggies. There is not a separate list for prescription users. As far as this list goes, being mixed with drug abusers is just wrong. And nothing can be done to change this database."

• Gat...
• July 9, 2014

For Chronic Pain "I was in a bad motorcycle wreck June 20, 2013, broke 6 ribs, shattered clavicle, fractured pelvis, and lots of crush injuries. They tried Percocet alone, it would not stop the pain. Many months of suffering with no sleep, till they gave me the Fentanyl 100 mcg patches. I was finally able to get relief and sleep. This is a great medication and life-saving for me. The crush injuries alone were a living hell, and no sleep for months on top of that is enough to drive anyone insane. This medication is safe if taken right and has kept me from losing my mind and has given me a better quality of life. It's just a shame I had to suffer all those months without it."

• Lil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 21, 2012

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "My doctor put me on the patches about 8 months ago. I was taking Norco 10/325 and Lyrica 50 mg three times a day. I was still having pain at night and when I had to walk for any distance at all. This medicine has changed my life, I can sleep all night without waking up from pain, I can walk through the mall now and not limp as badly. I still take 6 Norco a day and my Lyrica 3X a day. But combined with the patch, I feel like I have a new lease on life. The only side effects I have had are a tendency to nod off if I sit down for long and a decrease in my appetite, which is good for helping me lose some weight."

• TJa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2021

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have dealt with chronic back pain for 15 years. After being on several different long-acting opioids. My new pain management doctor (well, he was new to me in 2017!) put me on Duragesic patches. Can’t say enough positive things about the quality of life I have now. Yes, I still have bouts of breakthrough pain, but no longer take it as often. Also nice not to have to worry about “Do I have my meds?” when leaving the house for work as one patch changes every 72 hours. Boom. Done. I do have auto shipment of Tegaderm (on a roll) delivered every couple of months, as no matter what brand the pharmacy prescribes - NONE of them are without coming loose at some point!"

• Ali...
• February 14, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I find it helpful for the 48 hrs. I think maybe I need a higher dose or my body temp runs too high, and I just need to change it every two days. This medication, though, like I have seen some say, has helped so much, and once we get the dose right, I think it will really make a difference in my life. I have not slept in over ten years like I have since starting the patch due to pain. No insurance, I just turned 27. I pretty much just dealt with it all up until almost 2 yrs. ago now. Anyway, I would recommend it for continued around-the-clock relief. It takes some time to figure it out for you, but it's worth it if it works for you. Blessing to all. Hope everyone can find the help and relief they deserve."

• joe...
• June 26, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I injured my back in '99, and since, I have been on everything from morphine, oxy, Norco, dilaudid, and on and on, and never did I get good relief. I would still wake up feeling like an old man with awful pain in my back. I went on fentanyl 25 mcg, and the difference was amazing. It did take a bit, almost two days, for me to feel the full effect of the medication, but I had breakthrough pain meds that took care of it. It is amazing how great it is to wake up in the morning and NOT have to reach for the pain pill, first thing!!"

• Swe...
• June 18, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I was on 50 mg of the fentanyl patch for 12 years. Four months ago, I finally spoke up saying it just isn't working anymore, so my doctor switched me to OxyContin 40 mg. It has not touched my pain! I was getting more relief on the 50 mg patch than on OxyContin, so I'm going to ask to go back to the patch and have it upped to 75 mg. I am also on 8 mg of Dilaudid three times a day for breakthrough pain. I do hate that I have to buy the bioclusive tape to keep on the patch for me works much better. I never really have had any side effects from the patch, the only time I had side effects was when I first tried it 12 years ago. It made me loopy and very out of it, but that went away. The way they had me taking the patch was to put a new one on every 2 days."

• Anonymous
• January 9, 2012

Fentanyl for Breakthrough Pain "I have a type of neuropathy that basically cripples me. I was taking oxycodone for years, but it just made it so I could function. When my doctor prescribed Fentora, it was like a miracle. I can live now, not just get by."

• Ach...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2012

Fentanyl for Pain "My experience with Actiq was like a miracle. I get many very severe migraines, especially when I am in a stressful, rushed situation. Some of these occasions are holidays, birthdays, etc. I would try to prepare ahead of time, but frequently I would get a migraine. When a bad migraine doesn't abate after the usual rescue and pain management medicines, I would take Actiq, without it, I can't participate with my family to help with any preparations, spend any time with them, and can't even sit down to have a meal with them. After several times of a ruined holiday or special times with family, they either forget you or resent you. Children don't understand at all. So, the next time there's a special event, you get nervous thinking of it."

• Eug...
• September 14, 2015

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "Was on Vicodin for years and was taking 8 a day. Doctors recommended Fentanyl. I got immediate relief. I have to apply 1 every 72 hrs. 100 mcg. For me, it works but doesn't last 72 hrs. Should be able to overlap. My breakthrough med is morphine codone. Wish I could find a breakthrough med that works for me. Chronic pain for 15-20 yrs."

• Las...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 3, 2014

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have Crohn's disease, 30-degree scoliosis, 14 reconstructive surgeries on my pelvis, among many other issues. I was mainly put on it because a Crohn's patient does not absorb oral meds very well. The Mylan brand is the only one that works (change every 48 hrs), but I sweat profusely! The doctor will not switch me. It does work for pain, yes, but getting them to stick while constantly sweating is another story."

• 7ye...
• April 28, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I started on 25 mg. After 6 months, I went to 50 mg, another year 75 mg, 2 years 100 mg. I have stayed at this level for about 4 years. Some weeks I need my pain pills for breakthrough pain every 6 hours, but most of the time I take it once a day. Before fentanyl, I would always wake up at night with horrible pain, then, after taking meds, it would take a couple of hours to get the pain back under control. It has been a lifesaver for me. As for the patch wearing off too soon, I have forgotten to switch my patch, and it is usually the 2nd day before I start hurting badly. The other thing is I never take pain pills unless my pain is above a level 4. This has always helped me not to crave them, and it may be why I am not as sensitive as those who try for a 0 pain level."

• but...
• January 23, 2014

For Pain "I started taking fentanyl after trying every other opiate available and finally found relief. I'm on the 25 mcg patch. I'm in the 36th hour right now on the first patch, and so far it's perfect and surprisingly has my pain at a 9 out of 10 taken care of with breakthrough medicines. I felt the patch when I finally slept in for once this morning without having to wake up to the pill schedule."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2017

For Chronic Pain "After a month of continuous surgery, I shifted to oxycodone 30 mg every four hours. It sedated me to the point of uselessness. My MD put me on the equivalence of fentanyl patches, and bam, no sedation, no euphoria, few side effects like nausea and mild insomnia. Very tolerable. The best part was great pain control without the baggage. I had to severely reduce Klonopin during all this due to interactions but still find that half the previous dose of Klonopin is still effective. Only real negative I've noted is interdose withdrawal symptoms prior to changing the patch. Always on the third day, so I'm going through patches a bit faster, though still close to 72 hours. Maybe I'm just a fast metabolizer?"

• Pai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 23, 2020

Fentanyl for Chronic Pain "I have complex regional syndrome in my left arm, shoulder, and hand. I've been on the patches for 20 years. The only side effect is sometimes I get a rash under the area where the patch is applied. I'm on 50 mg."

• TMD...
• June 29, 2009

Fentanyl for Pain "I have been on Fentanyl for about 3 years due to spinal fractures. This is the only medication that has given me any relief. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate my pain at a 2-3 now, whereas before it was a 7. I am currently on 37 mcg/hr (1 x 25 mcg patch and 1 x 12 mcg patch). I have only two issues with the medication. First is that occasionally it causes extreme nausea (this usually occurs the day after applying a new patch) and blisters on my back where I applied the patches. However, this is probably due to sensitivity to the adhesive and not the medication. Even with these issues, the positives far outweigh the negatives with me."

• mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 23, 2013

For Chronic Pain "The neurologist started me on 25 mcg, and I didn't feel any relief until 50 mcg and no side effects. Over time, went to 75 mcg and then to 100 mcg with fabulous results. The patch is to be changed every 3 days, but I had to change it every two days and was prescribed to do so. This is a fabulous medication for severe chronic pain relief, HOWEVER, it's really hard to come off of, so be sure it's done properly: down 25 mcg every 3 months, and the last 25 goes down to 12 mcg for 3 months and done."

• Anonymous
• July 27, 2009

Fentanyl for Pain "Duragesic was a great blessing for me. I'd been on Percodan x 4/day for about 2.5 years when I developed an ulcer from the pills. The doctor started with 50 mcg/hr, but that didn't do it, the 100 mcg/hr is working good still for me. I suffer chronic low back pain, worsened after failed surgery. I've been on these for about 3 years now and am starting to have more breakthrough pain and still get Percodan for these times. I suspect tolerance is developing, but without the patches, my quality of life was almost zero, barring the fact you are alive. These have given me back much of the things I enjoyed doing before, but it requires moderation on my part more now. The only downside I see is the cost and addiction factors. Well worth it to me though."

• Pud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2015

Fentanyl for Breakthrough Pain "I was enrolled in a clinical trial for Abstral 7 months ago. This worked well for me, so my pain doc started giving it to me. Now my doc is being told I am not allowed to use it because I don't have a diagnosis of cancer. I have lupus, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, which are quite debilitating most of the time. If I am not having a lupus flare-up, I'm having a fibromyalgia flare-up, or a RA flare-up, so I never know when I'm going to have a hard day or a good day. I don't wish for cancer, but I do wish the pharmaceutical companies would realize that cancer patients are not the only ones in chronic breakthrough pain. Abstral works well and works in five to eight minutes."