Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Mzdenni wrote: >I no longer take the antibiotics but am still on pain patch ( 12mcg Duragesic) (snip) 2) how do you know when to stop the pain patch 3) how can you avoid withdrawal from the patch Mzdenni, I am not aware of a 12 mcg Duragesic patch. The only dosages I've heard of are 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg and 100 mcg. I've been on all, currently use the 50 mcg. Could you please reverify what the dosage is that you are using now? As Mark said, only you will know when you no longer need the pain medication. I've reduced my Duragesic patch dosage several times, and the way I know that it's time to reduce is when I can go for a week or more without requiring any breakthrough medication. In your case, since you didn't mention any breakthrough meds, I would think that when you have seen a week or more of time with NO PAIN whatsoever, and feel that you are functioning well during the day, and sleeping well during the night, without any interruptions from pain, that this would be the time to attempt stopping the pain patch. If you are on a 25 mcg. Duragesic patch, which is the lowest dosage that I know of, your doctor could prescribe low doses of methadone, (less than 15 mg. per 24 hrs.) or oxycodone, (less than 20 mg. per 24 hours) for you to use to get off the patch without any withdrawal. Methadone would be preferrable, since there are no withdrawal symtoms when a patient discontinues use of methadone, and it's very inexpensive. The med could be reduced gradually over a period of a week or less, until you reached the point where you no longer needed it at all. If you have any other questions you think I could help with, please ask. With love, hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth Bluffton, SC SC State & SE Regional Representative Pancreatitis Association, International Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 > >I no longer take the antibiotics but am still on pain patch ( 12mcg > Duragesic) (snip) > 2) how do you know when to stop the pain patch 3) how can you avoid > withdrawal from the patch > > > Mzdenni, > > I am not aware of a 12 mcg Duragesic patch. The only dosages I've > heard of are 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg and 100 mcg. I've been on all, > currently use the 50 mcg. Could you please reverify what the dosage > is that you are using now? > > As Mark said, only you will know when you no longer need the pain > medication. I've reduced my Duragesic patch dosage several times, > and the way I know that it's time to reduce is when I can go for a > week or more without requiring any breakthrough medication. In your > case, since you didn't mention any breakthrough meds, I would think > that when you have seen a week or more of time with NO PAIN > whatsoever, and feel that you are functioning well during the day, > and sleeping well during the night, without any interruptions from > pain, that this would be the time to attempt stopping the pain patch. > > If you are on a 25 mcg. Duragesic patch, which is the lowest dosage > that I know of, your doctor could prescribe low doses of methadone, > (less than 15 mg. per 24 hrs.) or oxycodone, (less than 20 mg. per 24 > hours) for you to use to get off the patch without any withdrawal. > Methadone would be preferrable, since there are no withdrawal symtoms > when a patient discontinues use of methadone, and it's very > inexpensive. The med could be reduced gradually over a period of a > week or less, until you reached the point where you no longer needed > it at all. > > If you have any other questions you think I could help with, please ask. > > With love, hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > Bluffton, SC > SC State & SE Regional Representative > Pancreatitis Association, International > > > Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or > opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical > consultation. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Mzdenni, That's great news that you were able to do this cold turkey. I have experienced similar withdrawal, perhaps a little more uncomfortable, when my 50 mcg. Duragesic prescription couldn't be filled last year. I had to wait 5 days for a refill, so ended up going through the whole withdrawal process before I was able to get my new patches. For me, it seemed pretty miserable, I had consistant restless legs and arms, sweating, and a nauseous flu-like feeling, and an unreasonably harsh, flaring temper. It was a truly miserable experience, but I survived it!! Then, when I told my PM doctor about it at my next appointment, he told me that I should have called him immediately, because he could have given me substitute medication to pull me through! Grrrrrr! I imagine it does take a while for your whole system to " detox " from all the medication, and you're apt to feel pretty lousy and tired for a while until you are totally med-free. Wonderful to get there, though, isn't it? I wish...... I'm so glad that you're doing better. With love, hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC State and SE Regional Rep. PAI Note: All comment or advice is based on personal experience or opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 >You nailed it Heidi- I believe that the opiate level is considerably depleted by the third day of the patch- I often felt on the third day that I was going through withdrawal- same thing to lesser extent- sweating, nausea, irritable, increase in pain, increase in bathroom activity. Shortly after putting the next patch on, these symtpoms would magically get better. I know they are supposed to be slow release but my experiences lead me to believe that the medication is actually released rather erratically. Probably has to do with many factors. For example, the literature for the medication states that it will release more ( perhaps too much) in to your system if you get overheated. Don't get me wrong though, in spite of these associated problems, I could not have made it without the patch! I sincerely hope that you, too, can achieve comfort without the need for pain meds. I am beginning to enjoy my " clearheadedness " , that is, if it is possible for me to achieve such a state > Mzdenni, > > That's great news that you were able to do this cold turkey. I have > experienced similar withdrawal, perhaps a little more uncomfortable, > when my 50 mcg. Duragesic prescription couldn't be filled last year. > I had to wait 5 days for a refill, so ended up going through the > whole withdrawal process before I was able to get my new patches. > For me, it seemed pretty miserable, I had consistant restless legs > and arms, sweating, and a nauseous flu-like feeling, and an > unreasonably harsh, flaring temper. It was a truly miserable > experience, but I survived it!! Then, when I told my PM doctor about > it at my next appointment, he told me that I should have called him > immediately, because he could have given me substitute medication to > pull me through! Grrrrrr! > > I imagine it does take a while for your whole system to " detox " from > all the medication, and you're apt to feel pretty lousy and tired for > a while until you are totally med-free. Wonderful to get there, > though, isn't it? I wish...... I'm so glad that you're doing better. > > With love, hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > South Carolina > SC State and SE Regional Rep. > PAI > > Note: All comment or advice is based on personal experience or > opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical > consultation. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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