 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Remember that the "fast acting (short term)" painkillers, i.e. Morphine Sulfate still takes 1/2 hour for complete effectiveness if taken orally. It is the fastest acting. Injections are immediate.
Fentanyl patches take 24 hours before they reach their maximum effectiveness. They are a 72 hour, time release patch.
If you are medicating through a PEG tube ALWAYS get clearance from the doctor first. Crushing up time release pills can cause an overdose for example.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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