Friends-
I hope there's someone that has some...useful experience with Fentenal patches out there. Please allow me give you a brief history of my situation...
I am seeing a Pain Specialist. I've been on pain meds 20 years. For the first 15 years I received 240mg. morphine a day plus hydros. Never had any problems,never complained,lost a pill,etc. I worked,I played,I had a social life. Five years ago my dose began to be reduced. When it hit 180 mg a day things got tough. Not just the withdrawals-the pain,the physical limitations,etc. But the dosage continued to be lowered,and things got much worse. I survive,but the joy in life has been reduced to scarce moments here and there. I have a hard time not being resentful by the new regulations that have stolen my life from me. But enough of that.
I have been on 90mg. daily total morphine for several months. That's steady and will not be screwed with further.
Now-my concern. If I switch to Fentanyl,it will mean another dose reduction to 60mg. daily morphine equivalency. The only reason I consider it is this: I know the used 3 day Fentanyl patches will have some residual drug left. The patches can be cut open and the drug used. All dangers aside,does anyone have experience doing this? I need some idea of what % etc. of the drug would be left in old patches. I do not expect reliable,safe,etc. data. I am looking for gross estimations. My goal is to decide if there is enough "waste" to compensate for the 30% reduction in my daily dose.
Please help-any information-anything at all-will help.
Thanks-
Marty
PS-I'm no stranger to the street,but I have no desire to revisit the lifestyle. Those days are gone-besides,I'm old and slow now.
I hope there's someone that has some...useful experience with Fentenal patches out there. Please allow me give you a brief history of my situation...
I am seeing a Pain Specialist. I've been on pain meds 20 years. For the first 15 years I received 240mg. morphine a day plus hydros. Never had any problems,never complained,lost a pill,etc. I worked,I played,I had a social life. Five years ago my dose began to be reduced. When it hit 180 mg a day things got tough. Not just the withdrawals-the pain,the physical limitations,etc. But the dosage continued to be lowered,and things got much worse. I survive,but the joy in life has been reduced to scarce moments here and there. I have a hard time not being resentful by the new regulations that have stolen my life from me. But enough of that.
I have been on 90mg. daily total morphine for several months. That's steady and will not be screwed with further.
Now-my concern. If I switch to Fentanyl,it will mean another dose reduction to 60mg. daily morphine equivalency. The only reason I consider it is this: I know the used 3 day Fentanyl patches will have some residual drug left. The patches can be cut open and the drug used. All dangers aside,does anyone have experience doing this? I need some idea of what % etc. of the drug would be left in old patches. I do not expect reliable,safe,etc. data. I am looking for gross estimations. My goal is to decide if there is enough "waste" to compensate for the 30% reduction in my daily dose.
Please help-any information-anything at all-will help.
Thanks-
Marty
PS-I'm no stranger to the street,but I have no desire to revisit the lifestyle. Those days are gone-besides,I'm old and slow now.
