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November 17, 2009 - 10:13pm
Heating Pad - Fentanyl Question
I have been on the Fentanyl patch now about 9 weeks.
I was told in the very beginning NO heat sources allowed - water beds - saunas, spa, whirl pools, electric blankets, heat pads etc.
As your body temp will rise and cause a dangerous amount of the drug to go into your system too fast. OK - got it - understood.
BUT there was a glitch - I have a water bed ( no wave ) that I LOVE and is SO good for my back. SO Dr. says OK just be sure to put your patch somewhere you KNOW it will not be in contact with the mattress. I physically can not roll over on to my stomach - so problem solved.
HOWEVER now that got me to thinking - why can't I use a infrared heating pad? I of course would not put it any wheres NEAR my patch area.
BUT if the water bed is OK as long as the patch does not come on contact with the mattress then would the same not be for a heating pad?
I ask as heat is a GOOD friend of mine and does me SO much good 
I hate to give heat up if I don't have to. 
_____________
Ms. Humpty Dumpty Took a great fall. L1-L2-L3-L4 - S1 & S2 full herniations. Spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, degenerative disk, scoliosis. Knees, hips & spine have degenerative bone disease, arthritis and bone spurs. Age 49 - Here to find & offer support. Had bilateral knee replacement surgery done March 15th, 2011
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My Thanks -
See I was told not to even USE a heating pad - but after thinking about it, I came to the same understanding as you posted - not near it.
The water bed would make a lot more sense to me, as you would think it would raise my body temp and maybe interfere with the meds....
Live, post and learn and move on lol
Ms. Humpty Dumpty Took a great fall. L1-L2-L3-L4 - S1 & S2 full herniations. Spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, degenerative disk, scoliosis. Knees, hips & spine have degenerative bone disease, arthritis and bone spurs. Age 49 - Here to find & offer support. Had bilateral knee replacement surgery done March 15th, 2011
The heating pad can and will also raise your body temperature, and can in theory result in more fentanyl being released from the patches, especially with the gel formulations.
I would not , under any circumstances try using a heating pad without taking it to my doctor and pharmacist and asking them first.
You don't want to find out the answer the hard way.
Sandi
I am not a physician nor a medical professional. All opinions expressed by me are of my own making and thus should be considered with that in mind.
CES and more....
True - very true - Thanks Sandi
Ms. Humpty Dumpty Took a great fall. L1-L2-L3-L4 - S1 & S2 full herniations. Spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, degenerative disk, scoliosis. Knees, hips & spine have degenerative bone disease, arthritis and bone spurs. Age 49 - Here to find & offer support. Had bilateral knee replacement surgery done March 15th, 2011
I was on Fentanyl patches for a long, long time and was told to never use a heating pad. My doc was well aware that I used the patches on my upper arms and would have been using a heating pad on my lower back, so I'm thinking it raises your body temperature significantly and would cause problems. Also, I imagine a heating pad gets one heck of a lot hotter than your water bed does, no?
Linda
3 level 360 degree lumbar fusion (L3-S1) November 2008
EDITED
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Post Edited by Moderator haglandc
When I was using the patch I had raised the same question. My answer from "PA" at "PM" docs office advised me with the statement that the heat source is not to be directly applied to patch. A heating pad was fine as long as it did not touch the patch. I asked if they would confirm with "Pharmacuetical Rep" just for peice of mind. Got the same comment except they added "not directly touching the patch and that the heating pad is used per manufacturers instructions" Pointing to the length of time that you are suppose to use the heating pad and the fact that your not suppose to sleep with it on and all of that good stuff.
One interesting point that did come up was. The thing that produces the most heat at the patch is not even addressesd in the "Prescribing Information". That is if you are wearing the patch and happen to got outside, even when it is kind of mild, but let the sun hit it is like the windows up on a parked car in the sun. Or, if you should go outside and should get into some physical labor to the point of sweating produced heat under the patch way beyond what some of the precautions were, but it is not listed to avoid!!!
Just be very careful!!!