Alternatives to the Fentanyl Patch

The fentanyl patch is a narcotic analgesic prescribed to someone who is in moderate to severe chronic pain. It is attached by adhesive to the arm, back or shoulder and administers a steady dose of the narcotic, fentanyl, through the skin. This in turn provides constant pain relief to the sick or injured person. There are some alternatives to the fentanyl patch involving a pill or lollipop regimen. You and your doctor are the only ones who can decide if an alternative is right for you.

History

• The fentanyl patch was created to do away with having to take pills around the clock for pain relief. Taking pills for pain does not provide a constant relief; the pain relief starts to wear off after a few hours. This method provides someone in chronic pain relief for only short periods of time. The patch delivery system addresses this problem.

Oral Time Released Medication

• Oxycontin is a time-release pill developed to supply constant pain relief, similar to the way the fentanyl patch does. It is taken orally, but unlike traditional pain pills, it dissolves over a period of 8-12 hours, providing the constant relief of a patch. Other types of narcotic drugs, such as morphine, also have time-release pill versions. The time-release pill can be an option for the fentanyl patch user.

  Time-release pills may work well as an alternative to the patch, but it is up to the individual to decide if this provides the pain relief they need. Each person is different, and the pills may dissolve too quickly for some and not fast enough for others. The pills come in many different strengths appropriate to various types of pain.

Two Medications Working Together

• Another medication regimen a doctor may use as an alternative to the fentanyl patch is time-release pills along with traditional pain pills that last for about four hours. This allows the sufferer to have a pill to take for "breakthrough" pain. As the time-release pill starts to wear off and it is not time for another one yet, the person can take one of these short acting pills to hold them over.

  The fentanyl medication also comes in the form of a lollipop the patient sucks on when in need of pain relief. The medication works almost immediately as the candy dissolves. This is not an alternative to the patch alone. It lets the user decide how much medication they need and at what times. This method can be used in tandem with traditional pain pills such as percocet. This medication regimen may be another alternative for the patch.

  This may not work well at night for the person using the traditional pain medication and lollipop together. If the pain becomes worse during the night when he is sleeping, he will have to wake up and suck on a lollipop for a few minutes to help the pain subside.