Re: All about the drug that Prince used

pitdakota · ‎03-16-2010

@AnotherView2 wrote:
Fentanyl was initially reserved for end stage cancer patients and other terminal hospice patients ONLY. The thinking was to make them comfortable since they will be gone soon. It was only used in hospital settings, especially when a pump was involved.

Then somehow doctors started prescribing patches, etc. to patients
Who are still out driving cars, etc.

Fentanyl is the highest level of pain relief available in the US. It used to be restricted to hospital settings only and my personal opinion is that it should have stayed that way.

I have a relative by marriage that is currently addicted to fentanyl that is prescribed by her doctor. She was no where near needing that level of relief yet she was prescribed it.

Now, she is completely addicted and unable to stop using it. She didn't even realize when she was prescribed it that it was so dangerous. She is a shell of her former self.

You can OD on Fentanyl by simply getting a release patch too warm in the shower...

Stormy, your have my sympathy and prayers. I've seen what the drug can do
______________________________________________________

Addiction to any substance is a real challenge for people and certainly a tragic cirucmstance for that person and the people that love them. I am so sorry to hear about your relative.

But several things you posted about Fentanyl are not really truly accurate. Fentanyl was first manufactured I think right before 1960 as Sublimaze. It was only in IV form then so of course was limited to a hospital situation. At the time, it was really an achievement to provide another option because of the problems with other narcotics being inconsistent to manage very high levels of pain for hospitalized patients.

But the Fentanyl patch was not developed until the early to mid 1990s. And one of the main reasons they were working on the patch was for use outside the hospital setting for Hospice settings and those with failed back syndromes. So the use of either the Fentanyl patch or the lollipop was not intended to be used only in a hospital setting.

In the situation of a person only being on a Fentanyl patch along with taking no other pain meds and they are using it as prescribed, it would be next to impossible to OD from taking a hot shower with a Fentanyl patch.

Fentanyl is a powerful medication but one that if used as prescribed has many positive effects in managing serious pain. As with anything, it can be over prescribed and abused. It has also been "out on the stree" for decades. But that should not detract from the legitmate reasons for its use to help the people for which it is intended.

* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *

Ms X · ‎09-13-2012

@Stormygirl wrote:
Oh dear AnotherView2... yes I have seen the ravages of Fentanyl first hand when I was up to 150 ugm. Took 2 patches to make that dose. Weaned off and was the hardest month I ever lived. They put that drug in pumps now too. I thought it was a horrific drug.......lost over 100 pounds and was a shell of my former self. Wasnt till I ended up in Hospice during a pallaltive care hospitalization they put in this pump....I wasnt supposed to live this long. I survived hospice and now noone knows what to do......when the only other option is back on those poison patches or a pump that I cant find local care. Hard decision those 2...and can back one in an impossible corner to get out of intact. I cant imagine what would happen if the catheter kinked off or the device malfunctioned. That University Hospital Clinic closing was a kick in the head. I dont feel safe anymore with a pump but feel less safe on the patches.....oh dear no decision is right. Makes one feel really bad when it is apparent I outlived my prognosis.

That you've outlived your prognosis is a bonus, @Stormygirl! How much would it cost for you to fly into Boston to see a pain specialist at one of their world-class hospitals there? You deserve it. Even if you could get a specialist closer at hand, you might get a new plan that could be followed by your doctors locally with perhaps a visit yearly to a major medical center. Please call your primary care doctor to discuss this. You clearly are intelligent enough to do this yourself.

butterfly123 · ‎06-27-2013

@Stormygirl

Please let me and the others know what we can do to help you.

I am very concerned for you and the situation the medical facility left you with.

Please look into other ways to help you to relax and ease the anxiety. Whatever relaxes you such as reading a book or magazine, meditation, watching a funny movie, pictures of animals or some other activity that interest you.

I want to suggest a You Caring funding site or something for you to have the money needed to find or travel to specialists whom can help.

Filing a lawsuit with an attorney that only gets paid when the case is won is another good piece of advice as others have stated.

Please keep in contact!

Stormygirl · ‎08-01-2015

thank you butterfly123.....I appreciate it.. I can no longer think today so Im just going to rest. I want to try to compose a letter to Attorney General about the situation tommorrow per request of my back up local physician (unfortunately he knows nothing about pain pumps though).He is such a good guy and is appalled at the situation. I think he is bringing it up at the next physician board meeting. Things move very slow when the situation is dire.....so much red tape and all that. Thank you.

butterfly123 · ‎06-27-2013

Please continue to keep us informed and I will help you with what I have knowledge about.

There are many intelligent and kind people here who care and have great ideas.

Know, that you are not alone.🌹

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@Stormygirl wrote:
thank you butterfly123.....I appreciate it.. I can no longer think today so Im just going to rest. I want to try to compose a letter to Attorney General about the situation tommorrow per request of my back up local physician (unfortunately he knows nothing about pain pumps though).He is such a good guy and is appalled at the situation. I think he is bringing it up at the next physician board meeting. Things move very slow when the situation is dire.....so much red tape and all that. Thank you.

OMGosh I don't even know what to say to you. Except I'm sorry of the diagnosis you have, the pain you are going through and the turmoil of the pain pump/medicine issues.

Geez, I think if it were someone I loved and that time was running out, I'd go on a tour of the White House and fall-out there. It would get you the attention you need!

AnotherView2 · ‎06-19-2011

I hear what you are saying pitdakota and agree with all except that you can't OD in a hot shower...in fact, you can.

Read down halfway regarding showers:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fentanyl-transdermal-route/precautions/drg-20068152

My relative kept passing out and falling in shower. She went to doc to ask why and were told to skip hot showers. The heat releases the patch's drug too quickly and it can be very dangerous .

The reason I am so aggravated by her being prescribed this very addictive and potentially fatal drug is that she was given it for fibromyalgia pain. A lot of sites I've read say that heavy narcotics like this one have NOT been proven as effective against fibromyalgia. Now she is addicted to taking it and she tried to go off and can't due to an addiction. She started with fibromyalgia, which was tough enough, and now she is saddled with an addiction.

I hope everyone reading this thread warns their relatives of the dangers of fentanyl.

Ms X · ‎09-13-2012

@Stormygirl wrote:
thank you butterfly123.....I appreciate it.. I can no longer think today so Im just going to rest. I want to try to compose a letter to Attorney General about the situation tommorrow per request of my back up local physician (unfortunately he knows nothing about pain pumps though).He is such a good guy and is appalled at the situation. I think he is bringing it up at the next physician board meeting. Things move very slow when the situation is dire.....so much red tape and all that. Thank you.
____

Perhaps you should send a copy to your senator and House member in DC.

butterfly123 · ‎06-27-2013

@Stormygirl

I wanted to reach out to you and ask how are you?💜

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@AnotherView2 wrote:
I hear what you are saying pitdakota and agree with all except that you can't OD in a hot shower...in fact, you can.

Read down halfway regarding showers:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fentanyl-transdermal-route/precautions/drg-20068152

My relative kept passing out and falling in shower. She went to doc to ask why and were told to skip hot showers. The heat releases the patch's drug too quickly and it can be very dangerous .

The reason I am so aggravated by her being prescribed this very addictive and potentially fatal drug is that she was given it for fibromyalgia pain. A lot of sites I've read say that heavy narcotics like this one have NOT been proven as effective against fibromyalgia. Now she is addicted to taking it and she tried to go off and can't due to an addiction. She started with fibromyalgia, which was tough enough, and now she is saddled with an addiction.

I hope everyone reading this thread warns their relatives of the dangers of fentanyl.

There are ways for a person who is motivated to be weaned off Fentanyl and onto a different medication. Just as an example - methodone can get her weaned off . Of course, she would need to be motivated to do so.