Oxycontin is very high-test and can lead to serious constipation problems -- be sure your mother is also getting a stool softener as well as a gentle laxative (usually combination is something like Senekot and Colase). It is also on the "Beer's List" which means it is a drug which can cause dizziness, mental confusion and risk of falling in the elderly so be careful to monitor how your mother responds to this. It is the same drug (an opiate) as Oxycodone but in a time-release, much higher dose.

I do not know enough about Duragesic absorption to speak to the RO's decision but it does come in very low doses (down to 12 mcg/hr). There were older people at Hopkins with about the same physique as your mom using the patches as the oxycodone/oxycotine was causing them too much dizziness and confusion.

Gail