Opioids Fentanyl patch vs dilaudid

[Luci Furr]

I have been on 32mg Exalgo which is time released dilaudid for about 3 years from pain management & also take 12mg immediate release dilaudid a day but was switched last month to 75mcg fentanyl patch cause my insurance no longer covers the exalgo my issues are I was shooting all of my dilaudid & exalgo and now the fentanyl patch doesn't seem to do anything for me except eat my skin cause I'm highly allergic to all adhesives & have a tegaderm over the fentanyl patch just to keep it on...im not going through withdrawal but feel like I'm jonsing for some reason I also take 4mg lorazepam & 10mg ambien a day & at least 100mg of benadryl a day to combat the itching...im out of immediate release dilaudid and haven't shot anything in over a week is there anything I can do with my lorazepam, ambien, & fentanyl patches to feel better? I'm trying to stay off the needle & don't know if it's just psychological or I am going through withdrawal from the exalgo? Any help is greatly appreciated...

 

[Crankinit]

Fentanyl is a lot less euphoric than hydromorphone, which is probably why you feel like you're fiending. The physical opiate effects are there, but the good feelings are missing.

 

[olypen]

Terrible advice would be to extract the fent and smoke it. You'll definitely run out early but you'll also catch quite a buzz.

Why not ask your doc to just to all IR dilaudid? The allergy to the adhesive is a good reason, unless he knows you were IV'ing the D's.

75mg seems like a low dose too, maybe ask to go up to 100 or 125

 

[Luci Furr]

The doctor won't do all ir dilaudids it's against their policy I tried researching extracting the fentanyl and almost came up with nothing I've seen about microwaving it a few seconds then sucking on it and using isopropyl alcohol rinse then sucking on it and repeating but had zero luck with either I have seen smoking it mentioned a few times but no instructions which would be very nice to have my patches are flat there in no liquid in them to extract

 

[olypen]

The doctor won't do all ir dilaudids it's against their policy I tried researching extracting the fentanyl and almost came up with nothing I've seen about microwaving it a few seconds then sucking on it and using isopropyl alcohol rinse then sucking on it and repeating but had zero luck with either I have seen smoking it mentioned a few times but no instructions which would be very nice to have my patches are flat there in no liquid in them to extract

If they arent the watson brand with the gel, my method, after extensive reading online, for the mallinckrodt brand was to run a torch over the back side with the plastic backing still on. Just enough to warm it up. The mallinckrodt brand has an extra layer and i didnt have much luck extracting without first pulling them apart. i dont think all matrix brands have this 4th layer and peeling other brands apart might not be necessary.

The slight amount of heat makes pulling the layers apart MUCH easier. Then i'd just peel the adhesive/dispersal membrane off hopefully in one piece that doesn't stick together using a super fine flat screw driver or a fresh razor blade. takes a little practice, lift a piece and SLOWLY pull it apart trying to not let it stick to itself in the process. THen i'd soak both pieces in isopropyl alcohol 91% in a hot water bath with a few drops of vinegar. By water bath i mean putting the cup with the alcohol and the patch in a pan of hot water, usually on the stove on warm.

Try to lift the glass off the bottom of the pan to avoid cracking it and losing your precious solution. I used mason jar lids. Stirring it every five minutes. After an hour i'd pour the alcohol into a shallow dish, set it on top of the pan with the warm water, usually turning the heat up and set a fan blowing on it. Dries up all the alcohol and leave the fent to be scraped up off the bottom.

Be careful though. I do not recommend this at all. It's really dangerous. The WD are horrible and you WILL run out early. There is a reason people call fent the crack of opiates. I'd easily go through a couple 100mcg patches a day.

I would seriously try to get the dose increased before i went this route. It's the reason i have an appointment with a sub doc this week, but you asked and that's what i would do for an extract.

 

[Luci Furr]

Thank you very much you are very well informed it seems I sure do appreciate you sharing your very detailed knowledge it sounds like I should of got a chemistry degree instead of emergency medicine lol I am very hesitant to even think of withdrawal any worse than dilaudid I thought I was dying a few months ago when I ran out a week early I literally was in hell for a good full 5 days with zero relief

 

[crzydiamond]

Personally, if you are notin withdrawal physically I would just find ways to deal with the mental wd until you fill your IR dilaudid. I mean, you're not sick it's not gonna kill you to not feel "High" for a week or two of whatever til you fill the IRs

Yes sometimes indeed we do get addicted to and miss and crave the actual shooting ritual. First time on methadone I pi led up an IV coke habit due to that needle craving

I've done fentanyl both worn and buccally. Also IV but that's such a waste. You def will run out and be miserable doing that. Some patches you can cut and put pieces in your gums and that really hits you. But it works well with some and not others (as above poster explained, that's why he removed that layer in a certain brand). The Sandoz nongel were great for buccally use but they suspended distribution in Jan 2013 and i dont know if it resumed

Hang in there til you fill your IR dilaudid. Or you'll find yourself out of all meds, not high, and in killer
Wd on top. Mental wd is far easier to handle. And your body will soon adjust

 

[Rybee]

How about actually taking some responsibility for your pain management?

 

[Erikmen]

I have been on 32mg Exalgo which is time released dilaudid for about 3 years from pain management & also take 12mg immediate release dilaudid a day but was switched last month to 75mcg fentanyl patch cause my insurance no longer covers the exalgo my issues are I was shooting all of my dilaudid & exalgo and now the fentanyl patch doesn't seem to do anything for me except eat my skin cause I'm highly allergic to all adhesives & have a tegaderm over the fentanyl patch just to keep it on...im not going through withdrawal but feel like I'm jonsing for some reason I also take 4mg lorazepam & 10mg ambien a day & at least 100mg of benadryl a day to combat the itching...im out of immediate release dilaudid and haven't shot anything in over a week is there anything I can do with my lorazepam, ambien, & fentanyl patches to feel better? I'm trying to stay off the needle & don't know if it's just psychological or I am going through withdrawal from the exalgo? Any help is greatly appreciated...

Fentanyl is a very strong medication. If you are still in pain, you should ask for breakthrough meds. But as strong as your tolerance gets more difficult is going to be your way out.
Very difficult I´d say.. maybe if you focus on the pain management only you will feel better soon.

 

[Papaverium]

Hydro ftw

 

[Kevlarrrrr]

Fentanyl is a lot less euphoric than hydromorphone, which is probably why you feel like you're fiending. The physical opiate effects are there, but the good feelings are missing.

everytime my friend does fentanyl he just straight passes out. It terrifies me. ��

 

[olypen]

fent is gonna KILL your tolerance too. I went from doing 16mg IV D shots to 32-40-48 without even getting that lovely D rush we all know and love. Dillies just feel like a waste if you have a serious fent habit. sad but true... D was always my DOC... and i say this as i extract a couple 100mcg patches which i'm sure will be gone by morning even with the xanax, klonopin, soma temazapam combo already in my system.

You have been warned

 

[Luci Furr]

Update...I went to pain management and got the patch upped to every 2 days instead of every 3 days and he prescribed a steroid nasal spray to use on my skin prior to applying the patch for hopefully better adhesive thank you very much for all the input it was greatly appreciated even the try taking responsibility for my pain management which is exactly what I'm trying to do as well as coming off the needle!!!

 

[olypen]

Update...I went to pain management and got the patch upped to every 2 days instead of every 3 days and he prescribed a steroid nasal spray to use on my skin prior to applying the patch for hopefully better adhesive thank you very much for all the input it was greatly appreciated even the try taking responsibility for my pain management which is exactly what I'm trying to do as well as coming off the needle!!!

Awesome!

I noticed the patches really do need to be changed every second day.. by then i was starting to feel WD wearing them. Even though i smoked or IV'd most of my fent i usually wore one so i didn't wake up up quite as sick in the AM.

If you have a problem with them coming off i recommend Medipore tape, it is not the cheapest but it IS the best for keeping those patches on. It's a breathable cloth style tape that is also perforated in the perfect size to tear off to cover an entire matrix style (not gel reservoir) patch. No scissors required! It lasts and keeps patches on forever, even showering daily It was $35 a roll at the medical supply store here locally, but MUCH cheaper on amazon. I'd give it a try.

Good luck!!

 

[Luci Furr]

Thanks for the tip olypen I need all the help I can get I sure appreciate it I will look the tape up since im highly allergic to all adhesives I need a miracle to keep a patch on even 2 days I have been using tegaderm and going to try the steroid nasal spray prior to putting my patch as well which was just prescribed

 

[olypen]

in my case they used the medipore to keep the tegaderm on. I had a cyst removed on my tailbone, terrible experience, with a wound vac and everything. The dilaudid and valium was the only thing that made me not want to kill myself lol.

I took a roll of medipore home with me every time i went in for a dressing change... i still have probably have a half dozen rolls left. It's amazing stuff.