Durogesic
Durogesic patches help relieve very strong and long-lasting pain.
How to Use
Dosage
Each patch contains medicine for 3 days (72 hours). Change the patch every three days, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Method
Apply the patch to a flat part of your upper body or arm (not on a joint). For children, always apply to the upper back so they cannot reach it. Press the patch firmly onto your skin for at least 30 seconds. Wash your hands with clean water after handling patches.
Do not use more than the prescribed dose or apply more patches than your doctor has told you to. One patch provides medicine for 3 days.
Possible Side Effects
- •Nausea, vomiting, constipation
- •Feeling sleepy, dizziness, headache
- •Allergic reaction, itchy skin, rash, skin redness
- •Loss of appetite, dry mouth, stomach pain and indigestion
- •Trouble sleeping, depression, feeling anxious or confused, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or smelling things that are not there)
- •Muscle tremors or spasms, unusual skin sensations like tingling or prickling
- •Spinning sensation (vertigo), fast or uneven heartbeat, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, diarrhea
- •Heavy sweating, difficulty urinating or emptying bladder, extreme tiredness, weakness or general feeling of being unwell, feeling cold, swollen hands, ankles or feet
- •Intense feeling of happiness (euphoria)
- •Reduced sensitivity to touch, especially in the skin, memory loss, blurred vision
- •Slow heart rate or low blood pressure, bluish skin due to low oxygen in the blood
- •Bowel obstruction (ileus)
- •Itchy skin rash (eczema), allergic reaction or other skin problems where the patch was applied
- •Flu-like illness, changes in body temperature, fever, muscle twitches
- •Difficulty getting or keeping an erection (impotence) or difficulty having sex, difficulty swallowing
- •Pinpoint pupils, temporary stops in breathing (apnea)
Important Warnings
- This medicine is dangerous for children. Keep all patches, used or unused, out of their sight and reach. If a patch sticks to a child or they put it in their mouth, it can be deadly. Remove the patch right away and call a doctor or go to the nearest hospital.
- Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to fentanyl or its ingredients, have short-term pain (e.g., after surgery), or have breathing problems like slow or shallow breathing.
- This patch is only for the person it was prescribed to. If it accidentally sticks to another person's skin, especially a child, remove it right away and contact a doctor. This can cause serious, even life-threatening problems.
- This medicine can cause unusual sleepiness and slow or shallow breathing. If you or someone else notices this, remove the patch, call a doctor or go to a hospital, and try to keep the person awake and moving. Do not expose the patch to direct heat (like heating pads, hot baths, saunas), as this can release too much medicine into your body.
- This medicine contains fentanyl, an opioid, and can cause dependence or addiction. Do not stop using it suddenly without talking to your doctor, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Show 1 more warnings
- Do not drive or use machines if this medicine makes you sleepy or dizzy, as it can impair your ability to perform tasks safely.
Use in Elderly Patients
Avoid use in older adults. Sedative. Serotonergic. Intended for the treatment of cancer pain. Not suitable for initiating opioid medication. Low transdermal efficacy in cachectic patients. Increases the risk of confusion and falling. Need for laxative is often necessary. Consider potential significant interactions. (updated 24.3.2025)