I haven't posted in a while. I am an oral cancer survivor with surgery done in May to remove it from beneath my tongue. The question I have today is unrelated but I think I could find an answer here. My doctor prescribed fentanyl patches for chronic back pain (I believe they are 50mg). I put one on during the daytime and didn't notice anything. About 3am I woke up being unable to breath, gasping for breath. I was dizzy and disoriented and very scared. Has anyone had a reaction like this to a fentanyl patch? I'm afraid to use one again.

I certainly never had any reaction like that nor have I seen similar posts. I am not a doctor but it sounds like you had too high a dose without sufficient prior opiate use. the patches come in lower doses like 25. Please call your doctor before putting another one on.
Here is a cut and paste warning about fentanyl patches that you should have been given:
[quote]Fentanyl Patch should be used only for long-term or chronic pain requiring continuous, around-the-clock narcotic pain relief that is not helped by other less powerful pain medicines or less frequent dosing. Do not use Fentanyl Patch if you have not already been taking other prescription narcotic pain medicines (eg, morphine, codeine) on a regular schedule. Do not use Fentanyl Patch for short-term pain, mild pain, pain that occurs after surgery, or pain that does not require medicine on a regular schedule. Because serious, sometimes life-threatening, breathing problems can occur (especially in patients who have not been given narcotic medicines in the past), seek immediate medical attention in the unlikely event that very slow, shallow breathing occurs.

Tell your doctor if you are also taking ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, nelfinavir, nefazodone, amiodarone, amprenavir, aprepitant, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluconazole, fosamprenavir, or verapamil. Tell your doctor if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. The risk of Fentanyl Patch's side effects may be increased.[/quote]

There is a warning that comes with the patches, Did you cintact you DR about the after affects ?? This is what you are supposed to d=o with that type of reaction george. Geez charm, LOL I should have read all of your post You said it much better than I did