Fentanyl
Fentanyl
Sorry for starting another topic but I don't know how else to get an answer.
Yesterday I had cataract surgery. I had a little anesthesia. I noticed that I did not have any RLS symptoms for the next 24 hours. That has not happened to me in about a year. Today I called the anesthesiologist to ask her what she gave me. She told me it was a mixture of Versed (similar to Valium) and Fentanyl, which is a narcotic.
I doubt that the Valium had any effect since I take Ativan, which has no effect on the RLS. I bet it was the Fentanyl.
Forgot to mention that I am also very depressed today. From reading the messages, it seems that depression is a side effect of these opiates. Is that correct?
Does this make sense?
Dale
Yesterday I had cataract surgery. I had a little anesthesia. I noticed that I did not have any RLS symptoms for the next 24 hours. That has not happened to me in about a year. Today I called the anesthesiologist to ask her what she gave me. She told me it was a mixture of Versed (similar to Valium) and Fentanyl, which is a narcotic.
I doubt that the Valium had any effect since I take Ativan, which has no effect on the RLS. I bet it was the Fentanyl.
Forgot to mention that I am also very depressed today. From reading the messages, it seems that depression is a side effect of these opiates. Is that correct?
Does this make sense?
Dale
Last edited by Sleuth on Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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It was probably Fentanyl, which is a very strong narcotic that's often used for anesthesia. I had a minor surgery about 1-1/2 years ago, and they used a light anesthesia that was a mixture of Fentanyl, Valium, and a barbiturate. I felt great afterward. Fentanyl is what's in the Duragesic patch, I believe.
Susan
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Fentanyl is an opioid, just like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, etc.
As such, it will give you a certain amount of mood *boost* while in effect, and as with any such modification, you get a rebound effect when it wears off.
However, if you were on some kind of long-term treatment with such a drug, you could use an extended-release or long-duration form that would keep you from ever getting to the point of rebound. You'd eventually adjust and lose the boost itself, but you should simply end up with a mood similar to your original unmedicated mood, while retaining the benefit of treating your RLS.
I wouldn't give up on the idea so easily. Maybe talk to your doctor about oxycontin (continuous-release oxycodone), or maybe a fentanyl patch, or maybe even a low dose of methadone, whose half-life is so long that it might as well be continuous-release medicine. I'm sure there are other options as well. Perhaps even extended-release tramadol, which is a pseudo-opioid with a touch of an SNRI antidepressant in it.
As such, it will give you a certain amount of mood *boost* while in effect, and as with any such modification, you get a rebound effect when it wears off.
However, if you were on some kind of long-term treatment with such a drug, you could use an extended-release or long-duration form that would keep you from ever getting to the point of rebound. You'd eventually adjust and lose the boost itself, but you should simply end up with a mood similar to your original unmedicated mood, while retaining the benefit of treating your RLS.
I wouldn't give up on the idea so easily. Maybe talk to your doctor about oxycontin (continuous-release oxycodone), or maybe a fentanyl patch, or maybe even a low dose of methadone, whose half-life is so long that it might as well be continuous-release medicine. I'm sure there are other options as well. Perhaps even extended-release tramadol, which is a pseudo-opioid with a touch of an SNRI antidepressant in it.
Disclaimer: I often talk about what I do and what works for me, but these are specific to me and you should always consult a healthcare professional before trying these things yourself, lest you endanger your health or life.
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Sleuth, while it's certainly not great news, it's very possible that there is SOME combo out there that WILL work.
How's the new doctor? Have you seen him or her yet?
How's the new doctor? Have you seen him or her yet?
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest
Managing Your RLS
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
Managing Your RLS
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
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ViewsAskew wrote:Sleuth, while it's certainly not great news, it's very possible that there is SOME combo out there that WILL work.
How's the new doctor? Have you seen him or her yet?
I saw her on Monday. She seemed terrific at first, but I'm not sure she will do. I think all these doctors affiliated with movement clinics in major hospitals here in NYC follow the same pattern. I don't believe that includes experimenting with anything other than the usual Requip type meds.
Susan,
Isn't Versed in the same family as Ativan. I've been taking that for years now. I know it causes depression, but the depression I felt after the surgery was very intense.
BTW, I never felt a boost. I was too disorientated from the eye surgery to feel anything. The one thing I noticed, though, was no RLS symptoms. The depression I felt the next day was so intense, it negated the thrill of having no RLS symptoms. If I had to choose between the two, I'd have to go with RLS. That's how bad the depression was.
This morning, I feel soooo much better depression-wise.
Isn't Versed in the same family as Ativan. I've been taking that for years now. I know it causes depression, but the depression I felt after the surgery was very intense.
BTW, I never felt a boost. I was too disorientated from the eye surgery to feel anything. The one thing I noticed, though, was no RLS symptoms. The depression I felt the next day was so intense, it negated the thrill of having no RLS symptoms. If I had to choose between the two, I'd have to go with RLS. That's how bad the depression was.
This morning, I feel soooo much better depression-wise.
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I'm glad you're feeling better today. Whatever caused it must have worn off. Versed is a "benzo," like Valium, Ativan, Klonipin, etc. You may react differently to different benzos, who knows. When they give you general anesthesia it's different from taking an Ativan to relax or to help with the RLS - they totally knock you out. It's a lot of drugs in the system all at once.
Susan
The doctor I saw on Monday just called. I emailed her about my experience with the Fentanyl. She was interested to hear it. She said she treats many RLS patients with narcotics. She named a few names that I've seen posted here. Monday I'm going for a blood test. She is going to call my psycholopharmecolist and meet with the psychiatrist who works with her. She thought that between the three of them they could come up with something that would work while controlling the depression.
This sounds very promising.
This sounds very promising.
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That sounds awesome, Sleuth.
Ann - Take what you need, leave the rest
Managing Your RLS
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
Managing Your RLS
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.