duragesic patch side effect...please help

[skinner6775]

I have met with a pain specialist. I am a C5-6 complete quad injured for 6 1/2 years. i have been experiencing phantom pains such as burning, tingling for as long as i can remember. recently i've been experiencing severe pain in my shoulders (about 2 years). it has gotten to the point where i have a hard time sitting in my chair for long periods of time. (even laying in the bed doesn't decrease the pain because i can only sleep on my back and my scapular muscles dig in the bed and throb) i sleep on an awesome mattress honeycomb topper which cost a bizillion dollars to help with pressure relief. it's miserable becuase i can't find a position that relieves the pain besides having someone sit me up away from the bed or the chair backrest. anyway, the pain doctor put me on a duragesic pain patch a little over a month ago and i thought for the first 6 days or so that it was going to be an awesome solution. however, ever since i started the patch i have had severe bloating and stomach cramping. i have read the duragesic website up and down and really haven't found too much about bloating or cramping. my bowel program is still successful as i move stool regularly, so i'm pretty sure im' not constipated. i was wondering if any of you who have used the pain patch have had any of these symptoms/complications? i totally hate taking medications and have tried massage therapy, TENS unit, and physical therapy. these things work short term but then i'm right back to being miserable. i would love to hear some feedback about the cramping/bloating and/or other options and experiences. thanks

[jccarolina]

My husband is on that (75mcg).
He had that for awile but it went away with time. His small intestines where slowing down untill he adjusted to the meds.
Were you on any other long term opiate meds before you went on the patch?

[LaMemChose]

I'm no longer opiates, but I had been for years. My doctor was always concerned about my gastrointestinal system. She was concerned about my bowels and stressed drinking tons of water.

When the meds were new or my dosages were increased, I'd feel sick upon awakening for a week or so. She suggested sipping tea and eating a few crackers upon getting out of bed.

The opiates can slow everything, can make altered balance and sense of where your body is in relation to everything else even worse. Transfers can be dicier when meds are new or dosages are changed. At least it was that way for me.

Also, alcohol's effects will be much greater when on opiates. I made the mistake of drinking with my meds at the end of my rx opiate days. I don't recommend drinking with the opiates. Together, they're kinda harsh on the liver.

Hope you find some relief for your pain.

[alan]

The patch made me sick as a dog. Anti-nausea meds didn't help. I was hoping the patch might help reduce the pains, but nausea plus pain was not what I needed or wanted. :(

[Stiggy]

Didnt have any luck with the patch.The kind of pain we deal with...nothing much helps.

Stiggy

[MsRiddle]

Hi~
I have not experienced any gastro intestinal problems with the Duragesic Patch. The only real side effects that I believe I have are sleepiness and loss of appetite. My spinal cord injury is incomplete so I do not have first hand experience with the type of pain that you have, however, you did mention burning and tingling. I tale two anti seizure medications for what my pain management doctor calls, Neuropathic pain. The burning especially was unbearable. It feels like having a red hot sword being plunged under my scapula and up towards my heart and neck. They put me on Neurontin first but I had side effects. Now I take, Keppra and Lyrica. The Lyrica is really good with the burning pain but did not deal with the throbbing I have from having blocks in my CSF. I thought that the Lyrica would replace the Keppra but I continue to take it becuase it slows down the Central Nervous System and helps keep the CSF pressure from building up.

I really hope that you will find relief. I always have to give myself three or four weeks to get used to a new medication but if the side effects are too severe, you have to weigh your options.

[MsRiddle]

Hi~
I have not experienced any gastro intestinal problems with the Duragesic Patch. The only real side effects that I believe I have are sleepiness and loss of appetite. My spinal cord injury is incomplete so I do not have first hand experience with the type of pain that you have, however, you did mention burning and tingling. I tale two anti seizure medications for what my pain management doctor calls, Neuropathic pain. The burning especially was unbearable. It feels like having a red hot sword being plunged under my scapula and up towards my heart and neck. They put me on Neurontin first but I had side effects. Now I take, Keppra and Lyrica. The Lyrica is really good with the burning pain but did not deal with the throbbing I have from having blocks in my CSF. I thought that the Lyrica would replace the Keppra but I continue to take it becuase it slows down the Central Nervous System and helps keep the CSF pressure from building up.

I really hope that you will find relief. I always have to give myself three or four weeks to get used to a new medication but if the side effects are too severe, you have to weigh your options.

[igetmostofit...]

I have met with a pain specialist. I am a C5-6 complete quad injured for 6 1/2 years. i have been experiencing phantom pains such as burning, tingling for as long as i can remember. recently i've been experiencing severe pain in my shoulders (about 2 years). it has gotten to the point where i have a hard time sitting in my chair for long periods of time. (even laying in the bed doesn't decrease the pain because i can only sleep on my back and my scapular muscles dig in the bed and throb) i sleep on an awesome mattress honeycomb topper which cost a bizillion dollars to help with pressure relief. it's miserable becuase i can't find a position that relieves the pain besides having someone sit me up away from the bed or the chair backrest. anyway, the pain doctor put me on a duragesic pain patch a little over a month ago and i thought for the first 6 days or so that it was going to be an awesome solution. however, ever since i started the patch i have had severe bloating and stomach cramping. i have read the duragesic website up and down and really haven't found too much about bloating or cramping. my bowel program is still successful as i move stool regularly, so i'm pretty sure im' not constipated. i was wondering if any of you who have used the pain patch have had any of these symptoms/complications? i totally hate taking medications and have tried massage therapy, TENS unit, and physical therapy. these things work short term but then i'm right back to being miserable. i would love to hear some feedback about the cramping/bloating and/or other options and experiences. thanks
When I increased from 50 to 75, I found that I was more comfortable and was finally getting some zzzz. After 2 days with the new strength, I was up, moving, laughing, and drinking plently of fluids. It took about a week for my body to get regulated (and make adjustments in my fiber/fruit/protein/water/senna+) intake.