Hi Megan,
I didn't like driving while on the short term oral opioids - I could tell the difference as the drug kicked in and then slowly wore off. On fentanyl patches, I was on an even keel the whole time and, except for the fact I had a patch on my skin and had to remember to change it every third day, I wouldn't have known I was taking a drug (once I got settled into it). If you've been on oral opioids, you shouldn't have much trouble adjusting. I think they'd knock you flat if you were not used to morphine. They make the 12mcg strength for people who haven't adjusted to morphine yet. The normal starting dose would be 25 mcg.
I don't like driving a long way (an hour tops) because I'm prone to getting dozy after a while and that could be the fentanyl. I don't suffer from it when I'm busy at home or work but sitting in the car for any length of time does make me get sleepy. I would drink coffee to offset it. I avoided driving for more than an hour without a long break. When I went to Victoria to visit my daughter, I caught the train so as to avoid the long drive.
It might be worth a try for you, although Angelmom seems to have found them more debilitating than me. That could be because Lisa was on such a high dose.
I hope they get this porphyria under control for you soon.
