Actiq Fentanyl Sucker

Actiq did absolutely nothing for my pain. I was initially given a coupon for 6 free for a trial. 200mcg and it just made me feel like I took about 20mg of Valium. I then tried the 400mcg with the same results. I did not have a coupon theat time and my ins. wouldnt cover it and they were $37 apiece at the one pharmacy where I could fine them. So I picked up 2 of an rx for 60 and never picked up the rest. Definitely not worth $37 a pop. Not even $5 a pop in my book. They worked like more of a benzodiazepine than an opiate for me. I wont use them again.

PDX

Benzo's don't really cause analgesia, so I don't understand this comment.  I happen to think that Actic lollipops work fairly well and are the best fentanyl delivery system yet developed in my opinion.  They will knock you out but so will any strong analgesic and I can't say they have a similar effects as benzodiazepines, except sleepiness.  They do taste good I have to agree-are they all grape?  I have only had the 800mcg.  Good luck with your therapy.

Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!

I've never really come across these, what all are they prescribed for? 

I'm a social worker, not a medical professional. All comments and thoughts are simply my opinion and experience.

just to clarify, it is like a lollipop for a child, but the Actiq pop isn't for children unless they are prescribed it. (highly unlikely)  I agree that a lot of people don't know the correct way to use the Actic lollipop and that is why they don't get the proper effect from it.  They make it taste so good that it is hard to not want to swallow the juice and this is why many people don't find it effective.  However when used properly it is a very potent painkiller and very effective pain management tool.

Check with a liscensed MD before you take any suggestions!

Hello,

I am getting back on the F patch starting at 25mcgs. While I was pregnant I was on 75mcg because that is the highest dose allowed, (I believe). My [former] doctor is unable to perscribe medication anymore so I found a new pain specialist. They both started me on Hydrocodone 500.  I have chronic as well as significant amounts breakthrough back pain. Is this typically a route Dr.'s would go for pain management? Are there other forms of medicine that deliver relief for chronic/breakthrough pain?

ANG

Angela,

Look at your hydrocodone prescription bottle again.  What is the number for the slash (/) mark?  The 500 you reference is the amount of acetaminophen (tylenol) in your pill, the first number will indicate the amount of hydrocodone per tablet.

Just an example: generic Lortab 10 is listed as 10/500, which signifies 10mg Hydrocodone; 500mg Acetaminophen.

gtrplayer

Shaa3

There are several things a doctor can give you. I was on the F-patch for 4yrs and they can increase the dose your on for breakthrough pain. My pain specialist gives me Avinza in combination with vicodin and Actiq pain suckers.  The Avinza is a 24 hour pill so you only take one a day.  The vicodin I use if I decide I'm going to plant flowers (or something that will cause me more pain) then if the vicodin isn't enough I use my suckers.  I think the key is getting a doctor to understand you live in different levels of pain and require different strengths of medicines! 

Doctors have to take into consideration how long you've taken opiates and at what strength. So you don't overdose they gradually raise the levels.  And it gives them time to assess if your an addict or a true chronic pain patient! Sucks but with all the drug addicts out there pain patients get grouped in with them!!  So sticking with a good doctor is important. 

Many people dont take this medication correctly and that's the main reason people are not satisfied with this product because when fentanyl is properly absorbed it does a stunning job at blocking pain but has a short duration and that si the reason they are only good for breakthrough pain from longer 12 hour+ acting opiate formulations.

Duragesic patches come in 12.5, 25, 50, 75, and 100mcg.. You can wear two patches 1-100mcg and 1- 50mcg totaling 150mcg, but they don't actually make a 150mcg patch...

Ray

100mcg is the highest dose available.

You all are nutty!!!  It seems as though all you do is argue with each other.  It's very funny to see this.  Half of you have no idea what you're talking about and the other half are Pharmacists.  Anyway, enough comedy.  I was given a script for the 800s once.  It was for 6 of them for my severe breakthrough "attacks" that I was having and they were great.  So great that I haven't had the need for them since last year, knock on wood, the attacks just stopped.  I have what is known as Foraminal Stenosis which simply put, means that the area around the nerves in three separate locales are closing down on the nerves themselves, causing serious pain.  I take the 15 mg Oxy for BT pain now and I did then too.  When it would get really bad, I would yank out one of those little lollypops and go to town on it.  I couldn't wait until the pain got bad, I had to get a lolly out at the onset or it wouldn't work for me.  Once, I had to use two 800s at the same time.  It worked great.  I thought that most people who were on the Fentanyl Patches, used the Actiq for BT pain.  I guess not everyone does.

I've never tried one of these suckers, but for my money, the Fentanyl patch is by far the best analgesic ever. I have severe cancer therapy caused pain and have replaced my former Rx of up to 250 mgs of Oxycodone p/d (including that used fot BTP) with the 72 hour Fentanyl 75 mcg p/hr patch and up to 90 mgs OxycodoneIR p/d for BTP. Mostly due to a sharp drop in frequency of BTP, I am now using 25-30% less analgesic p/d than before. This is based on the Fentanyl to Oral Oxycodone chart that came with the P.I. insert.

Topic about "Dream States", and I wrote you a little bit there. I did read the insert thoroughly and I thank you for your emphasis on the problems with heat. It is of major concern and I will bring it up in any of my future posts about the Fentanyl patch. Man, are you right about the blessed lack of side effects! As you saw, I was taking a rather hefty dose of Oxycodone, no where near Rush Limbaugh's level but then, I'm not a fat pig either. I'm sorry all of you Rushies out there, I'm allowed to dislike the man and even you ditto heads  have to admit that 'ol Rush has a serious weight problem. OK, Q, back on message.

One of the many side effects of the anti-androgen Lupron-Depot hormone therapy is frequent hot flashes. My 53 year old wife 'o my life is going through menopause while I'm being subjected to "manopause" and the accompanying hot flashes are identical. I mentioned this to my oncologist when he Rxed Fentanyl for me. He said that they shouldn't be of much concern, but he was pleased to know that I had already done my homework before I asked him if I should try the patch. As I have posted in many places, I consulted extensively with a veteran user of Fentanyl here on the board before I asked for the change in medication (Thanks once again, htmom!). I would be pleased if you would p.m. me any advice or anecdotes dealing with this super potent analgesic as I've only been using it since 06/09. Forewarned is forearmed, I always say. Thanks, Ray!

                                                                           Q        

Are the suckers for BTP, rather than for long term dull pain? If so, are they less likely to be prescribed? Because the mcg doses are greater than the patch, do they cause euphoria? I have only been given the duragesic patches. They did take away the pain and they also gave me a mild sense of euphoria. Nothing too intense but, I did feel very relaxed.

[edit]

exactly right.