Fentanyl patches are made with different dosages. Be sure you know the dose your child is prescribed.
Fentanyl (also called Duragesic®) is a medicine used to reduce pain. It is a type of medicine called an opioid or a narcotic.
The fentanyl patch is a way to give your child this pain medicine. The patch goes on your child's skin and releases a small amount of medicine over time. The medicine is absorbed slowly through the skin and into the body. A fentanyl patch may be used for pain that is more chronic or persistent.
Put a new patch on a new area of skin every 72 hours (about 3 days). Always put the patch on clean, dry skin. Change the patch at the same time each day to give your child better pain control.
Each fentanyl patch is sealed in its own protective pouch. Do not remove the patch from the pouch until you are ready to apply it.
Remove the old patch
Remove the old patch without touching the gel on the inside of the patch.
Fold the patch in half so the sticky sides stick together. Dispose of the patch as instructed by your pharmacist.
Wash your hands well after handling the patch.
Check your child’s skin where the old patch was attached. If there is redness there, it should go away within 1 to 2 days. If the redness does not go away in 1 to 2 days, contact your child’s doctor right away.
Choose where to place the new patch
Choose a different area of skin for the new patch.
The best places to put the patch are where there is little movement, like the upper back, upper arm, or chest.
Do not put the patch on skin that is red, swollen, sore, irritated, or on skin treated with radiation.
The patch does not need to go over the area of pain.
If there is hair on the skin where you want to put the patch, clip the hair with scissors close to the skin. Do not shave the hair.
Use water to clean the area where you will place the patch. Do not use soaps or lotions. Let the skin dry completely before applying the patch.
Do not cut fentanyl patches. Cutting patches can be dangerous and lead to serious side effects.
Put on the new patch
Supplies needed:
1 Fentanyl patch
Pen for writing the date of the patch change
To change the patch:
When you are ready, tear open the pouch at the small notch found on the edge. A paper liner protects the part of the patch that will stick to the skin.
Peel off the liner carefully using the tab that sticks out from the patch. Try not to touch the sticky edges or the gel on the patch.
Place the patch on the skin, gel side down.
Press the patch firmly in place with the palm of your hand for 10 to 20 seconds. Make sure that there are no gaps at the edges and that the patch sticks to the skin.
Throw the liner away in the trash.
Write the date and time on the patch or on the box. This helps you remember when you need to change it.
If the patch falls off before it is time to change it or is loose, replace it with a new one:
Remove the patch if it is still clinging to the skin and fold it in half so the sticky side sticks to itself.
Dispose of the old patch as instructed.
If gel from the patch gets on your child’s skin:
Wash their skin with running water right away.
Do not use soap or alcohol to remove gel because this can make the medicine absorb faster.
If you are concerned about the medicine getting on the skin, call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Safety reminders for fentanyl patches
Fentanyl is strong pain medicine. Accidental exposure to fentanyl can lead to harm or even death. Young children have the greatest risk. Use fentanyl patches as instructed by your care team.
Follow these guidelines to keep everyone safe:
Store all patches (used and unused) in a secure place out of the reach of children and pets.
If anyone touches the gel from a patch, they must wash their skin with running water right away.
Do not cut patches. Only apply whole patches to the skin.
Fever may cause fentanyl to absorb into the skin faster. Contact your health care provider if your child has a fever to see if the pain medicine should be changed.
Do not use a heating pad over the patch area.
Your child may take a bath or shower while wearing a fentanyl patch. Avoid very warm or hot water. Do not rub the skin around the patch so strongly that the patch comes off while washing.
Talk to the doctor before letting your child swim.
Do not let your child use a hot tub. This may cause more medicine to be absorbed. This could cause a life-threatening overdose.
Fentanyl can make your child drowsy, dizzy, or increase the risk of falls. Do not let your child do anything that could be dangerous, such as drive a car or ride a bike, until you know how the medicine affects them.
Fentanyl side effects that need emergency treatment
Some side effects from the fentanyl patch need emergency medical care right away:
Breathing problems, such as trouble breathing, quick shallow breaths, or slow breathing rate
A change in alertness, trouble staying awake, or being hard to wake up
If your child has any of these side effects, take off the patch immediately and call 911. If your child stops breathing, administer CPR.
Using the fentanyl patch with other medicines
Skin absorbs fentanyl slowly, so your child's pain may not be relieved during the first few hours that the first patch is in place. Give your child other pain medicines as prescribed during this time.
If your child’s pain increases more than expected, your health care provider may prescribe a short-acting pain medicine such as morphine or oxycodone along with the fentanyl patch.
Do not give your child any of the following medicines while they are wearing a fentanyl patch unless your child’s doctor says you can:
Some effects of the patch will continue for 18 hours after it is removed because the medicine has already been absorbed into the skin.
When your child no longer needs a fentanyl patch, your provider will tell you how to slowly reduce the dose over a few days using other opioids. This is known as tapering, and it will prevent symptoms of withdrawal. Let your doctor know if these symptoms occur:
Keep all medicines in a secure storage area away from children and pets.
Store fentanyl patches at room temperature. They do not need to be refrigerated. Avoid hot places, like a car in warm weather.
When your child no longer needs this medicine, dispose of any patches left over from your child’s prescription as soon as possible. Do not save unused patches.
Follow instructions for safe disposal. Many areas have return programs to allow medicines to be brought to the pharmacy or another location rather than discarding them in the trash. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions.
Always follow the instructions given by your care team. If you have questions about fentanyl patches, please talk to your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Questions to ask your care team
How does the fentanyl patch work?
How often do I need to change the patch?
What should I do if the patch falls off?
How long will my child need this pain medicine?
Are there other ways to help manage my child’s pain?
How do I safely store and dispose of fentanyl patches?
Can my child take other medicines while using a fentanyl patch?
What should I do if my child has side effects from the patch?
What emergency warning signs should I watch for?
Key points about fentanyl patches
A fentanyl patch contains strong pain medicine used for pain control.
The patch delivers medicine through the skin into the blood stream.
Place the patch on clean, dry skin and change the patch every 72 hours (3 days) or as otherwise instructed.
Too much fentanyl can be life-threatening. Seek medical help right away if your child has trouble breathing, decreased alertness, or is hard to wake up.
Follow your health care provider’s instructions for safe use, storage, and disposal of fentanyl patches.
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