Opioids How often is Fentanyl prescribed

[piller97]

How frequently is Fentanyl actually prescribed??

Though I have known about Fentanyl for a couple of years, I've always believed that it was something that exists but that is rarely used.
But after seeing so many posts on BL about Fentanyl, its got me reconsidering.

Its my understanding that Fentanyl is only used(medically) for extreme(generally end of life) pain, and that it is so strong that it is not frequently used outside of this.
Is this wrong?

(FYI, i have no plans on ever using Fentanyl, Im just a curious guy)

Thanks!

-p

 

[Neezer]

Actually, for people requiring round the clock pain relief with opiates, they're prescribed quite commonly. They can be prescribed for end of life pain, or somebody that has two or three herniated disks in their back.

It's just another long acting opiate, such as Morphine or Opana ER. & as far as how strong Fent is, the dosages of it are given at the MICROgram level, rather then the milligram level.

Any more Q's?

 

[Survival0200]

Where I live the drug market is currently flooding with all kinds of fentanyl ER and IR preparations. So, I think it has become pretty popular!

The idea of wearing one patch for three days for pain is definately more inviting, than having to eat a pill every six hours or so.

If I were in pain, I'd probably ask for "the pain patch". :D

 

[Blind Melon]

Fentanyl is actually one of the shortest in duration (but most potent) opiates currently being prescribed. Many times stronger than heroin, with a duration of around 1-3 hours, I believe. Which is why it comes in patches. A variant of Fent is used to tranq Elephants. So.... that should give you an idea. M99 (what Dexter used on the show to knock out his victims) is another of Fentanyl's cousins I believe. Usually terminal patients and people in fucked up accidents get the F. That and CPPs who have been on the good stuff for a long time.

 

[Neezer]

This doesn't really mean anything, but it shows a circumstance when Fent can sometimes be prescribed...

Two years ago, I had shoulder surgery, and once my nerve block wore off around ~6 hours later, I just couldn't get in front of the pain, my percocets weren't doing SHIT. So, per doctors orders from earlier that day, I went to the ER. Explained what happened, what was going on, etc. Doctor came in, gave me a shot of Dilaudid and gave me an Rx for 25MCG/H fent patches. He also gave me a patch to wear right then and there...

....Which was awesome, cause then when I got home I said fuck it and smoked it. rofl.

 

[Morphling]

Fent is prescribed very commonly due to the fact that it's perceived as not being very abusable, which really isn't true. I asked for some morphine ER pills from my doc and he wouldn't do it but 200mcg of fent an hour, np!

 

[Felonious Monk]

Fent is prescribed very commonly due to the fact that it's perceived as not being very abusable, which really isn't true. I asked for some morphine ER pills from my doc and he wouldn't do it but 200mcg of fent an hour, np!

That's crazy! Doctors also seem to just fail to understand it, because it's not a pill. I agree with Survival too, for new pain patients it can be a lot easier to wrap your head around "change this every 3 days" than "take as needed" when you're always in pain...

 

[Moredopamine]

Fentanyl is usually used for chronic pain, cancer, etc.. it's not going to be scripted for your knee pain due to a sports injury. It's also very common in anesthesiology - it was used for my wisdom tooth extraction.

Yes you are right that it isn't used much for run-of-the-mill, temporary pain.

 

[piller97]

Im aware of its potency which is what lead me to my initial conclusion that it would be seldom used.
But I have always thought that the patch idea would be ideal as IMO its probably one of the least invasive ROAs possible.
The fact that it lasts for multiple days seems like it would be ideal for someone who is at a level of pain where the need to be consistently taking medications would only result in further discomfort.

I am however surprised that its so common as I could imagine that doctors would be slightly nervous RXing it as the possibility of an accidental overdose(do to the potency) seems slightly higher than with a weaker opioid.

Thank you to all that replied
-p

 

[missmeyet?]

This all depends too on where you live in the US. In some places it is more commonly prescribed and in others they will rarely prescribe it at all.

 

[Neezer]

[snip]

I am however surprised that its so common as I could imagine that doctors would be slightly nervous RXing it as the possibility of an accidental overdose(do to the potency) seems slightly higher than with a weaker opioid.

Thank you to all that replied
-p

Generally, a doctor doesn't script Fent right off the bat. They end up prescribing fent once you've built a tolerance to opiates in general, for that very reason. & that's why they [usually] start out with lower dose patches. 12.5mcg/h or 25mcg/h.


...All of this fent talk makes me want to try the damn nasal spray they came out with of it. lol.

 

[piller97]

Generally, a doctor doesn't script Fent right off the bat.

Assumably.


When using it recreationally, does that not result in tolerance developing very quickly and just requiring higher and higher dosages?
Because it would make sense to me to avoid Fent simply on the grounds that once you've developed a high tolerance to that, there isn't really anything stronger
(Im aware there are opiods that are technically stronger, but I don't believe they are FDA approved)

 

[Survival0200]

it was used for my wisdom tooth extraction.

What? The drug cultures sure are different. Here you'd receive a shot of local anesthetic and an Rx for ibuprofen.

 

[Moredopamine]

What? The drug cultures sure are different. Here you'd receive a shot of local anesthetic and an Rx for ibuprofen.

The common practice is to carefully combine a sedative/painkiller.. namely midazolam/fentanyl. They can add nitrous oxide to the mix too, or you can opt for ketamine in the right circumstances. Getting your wisdom teeth extracted is a pleasant experience, at least in the states. :D

 

[Felonious Monk]

But I have always thought that the patch idea would be ideal as IMO its probably one of the least invasive ROAs possible.
The fact that it lasts for multiple days seems like it would be ideal for someone who is at a level of pain where the need to be consistently taking medications would only result in further discomfort.

That's also very true, pills themselves can be tough to swallow and digest, especially people with bad digestion, which I think might be why my PM doc started me on 12mcg patches off the bat, even though I'd never been to PM before.

I also got fent when I was put under for my colonoscopies (and possibly endoscopy). They gave me like 50mcg plus Propofol to knock me out. Came out of it feeling alright but definitely a clinical high.

Didn't know they ever gave it for wisdom tooth extractions though, maybe only if they're seriously impacted? I got all 4 of mine out at once (age 15-16 though) and all I got was a bunch of novacaine shots and nitrous oxide the whole time. Left feeling fucking loopy but then the pain hit, they only gave me Darvocet... (I was good in 2 days though, people complain too much about wisdoms)