Many patients do better on fentanyl (Duragesic) than on oxycodone, as regards pain control -- however it is not uncommon to have issues adjusting -- issues which might include vivid, scary dreams or even strange hallucinations -- my husband had the dreams for about 5 days and then adjusted. He had had problems with oxycodone and found he functioned better, had less digestive issues, and had his pain much better controlled by the fenanyl.

As regards mouth pain, several things are worth trying besides the "magic mouthwash" which our nurses hated as it led to a number of cases of aspiration (throat numbed TOO much): Gel-Care (or OTC sibling, Rincinol) -- this is a coating agent; l-glutamine rinse (5% solution, powder available at GNC) -- there is a promising anti-mucositis drug in trial which is based on l-glutamine but in a proprietary formulation which delivers more of the amino acid to the mouth mucosa -- and for those who live in countries where it is approved, that is, UK, Australia, NZ, Canada and about 30+ other countries, benzydamine hydrochlorite -- considered the best to reduce severity and duration of mucositis -- in the over-the-counter rinse, lozenge or gel named Difflam or (in Canada) a prescription drug called Tantum.

Gail