Thor283I'd like to hear from anyone who is using or has used the Butrans Patch? How effective has it been for your pain, and at what dose you needed? I know that typically everyone is started at the lowest dose, but so far everyone has had to go to the highest dose. Several people have also complained that the company should make an even higher dose, or that they should be allowed to change it every 4 days, rather than every 7 days.
I also want to know if you were given something for break through pain? What were you given and how well it works? The big concern is the opiate in Butrans has the capability to block other opiates almost completely. The opiate, Buprenorphine, when used in higher doses causes this problem. So I'm hoping someone here has been on the patch since it was invented and can shed some light on this?
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Is a wee Irish Rose reading this.
I hope we get some answers here. I surely miss the smiles ye put on me face.
Thor
LauraL3
Anonymous 
rocky st8n
sara12345
Rocky,
What do you mean, that you think the tightness in your chest and shallow breathing all started after being on the patch? If so you have to tell your Doc. You don't say how long you're on the patch. If it's only 1 week and you can tolerate those feelings maybe you can give it another week. The tightness in your chest sounds like anxiety. But the shallow breathing may be a rare side effect. As you may know, the opiate in the patch is Buprenorphine. I take Bupe as a pill. I was put on it long before the patch ever existed. Bupe has been known to cause anxiety and shallow breathing. The anxiety may go away in a month, but I'm concerned with the shallow breathing. Butrans may be wrong for you. I have 1 buddy on Butrans, and he never complained about any side effects. The only other thing I can offer is that after the injury you described, and the surgeries, I think a certain amount of anxiety is to be expected.
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I just thought of another thing. Is your Doc checking your Blood pressure regularly? High blood pressure feels exactly like anxiety. Even if it's not elevated, there are 2 drugs for high blood pressure that calm anxiety as a side effect. Maybe he can put you on 1 of them. Ask him.