If you have moderate-to-severe chronic pain, a healthcare provider may prescribe a 25-mcg/hour
fentanyl patch (
Duragesic®). This medication is a very strong, long-acting prescription opioid narcotic and should only be used in people who are already tolerant to the effects of opioid pain medications.
When determining an appropriate dosage, your healthcare provider will take into account several factors, such as the type and severity of your pain, other medications you are taking, and other medical conditions you may have. It is best to underestimate the dose initially, in order to avoid dangerous potential side effects.
Regardless of the dosage, each fentanyl patch is worn continuously for three days (72 hours). After three days, a new patch is applied to a different skin site.
(For more information on using the 25-mcg/hr strength of this pain medicine, click Fentanyl Patch. This eMedTV Web article takes an in-depth look at this medication, including how it works, potential side effects, and who may not be able to safely use it.)
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