ive been on the 5mg patches for back pain for 6months,but i have sleep disturbance and puritis..i have decided to stop them two days ago..am i doing myself harm... i have had shaky legs during the night..what other symptoms could i have and do i need to inform my doctor... i am still taking co-codamol 30/500
Buprenorphine - what are the withdrawal symptoms from butrans patches 5mg?
Question posted by mckaya5 on 12 Feb 2012
Last updated on 7 August 2020 by model_un
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
13 Answers
model_un
8 Aug 2020
What if I said, that I've never experienced withdrawal... is it that I never wore them long enough. I suffer from degenerative disc disease. Neck fused at four levels. Last two levels apparently failed. Anyway, my first introduction to the patch was 2 years ago. Started at 5 then bumped up to 10 did that for about 3 months, had surgery and went off the patch, no reaction that I can remember. Was good for a year and few months. Pain came back and when back on the 10, did it for 3 months. Stopped when I started other meds, not reaction. And now back on, at 20. But here's the thing I still have pain. Doc stays I now have post-laminectomy syndrome and will most likely require pain meds for a long time. I guess we will see if I suffer some kind of withdrawal...
Mark Hodgetts
15 Dec 2018
What can u take when coming of Norspan. My husband have bad side effect coming of them
CheleArt
12 July 2018
Hi there
I've actually lost track of how long I use buprenorphine/transtec... I've been I'll for 30 years and my specialists searched for years for the right pain medication. I have fybromyalgia, polineuropatía, MS ... so pain is a life's companion. I think it's about ten years that I had the patches. 75 ones which I slowly managed to get down to 5 . Now I have moved to Spain for my health,which had improved enormously. I had been in a wheelchair for 15 years... now I do hiking in the mountains... but here the lowest dose of the patches are 35 ... so what I started doing is to leave them on much longer than prescribed, until Im in too much pain. And cutting them in half. Now I lye awake with restless legs , listening to soothing sleep music. And my last patch I put on ten days ago. I e been very sad these last days, but I never knew that this could come from the withdrawal...
it's shocking to me that the doctors don't tell me these things. But compared to some of you I feel I'm doing great.. I only wish I could get the 5 mg ones again.
JekylL_VIW
6 Nov 2017
Hey yo. This seems an old post, but after Googling the past few days for information this link for it keeps popping up.
Currently on day 3-4 coming off a 35mg/h patch after about a year of use. It's been pretty rough. Worst part has been the total inability to sleep due to full body fidgeting and general restlessness. Keep reading about Immodium for helping with this, has anyone had any experience of this?
Hope everyone who has posted their experienced has had success in their journey.
Fibroone
30 June 2017
I am adding my experience if others are looking for info as I am today. I have tapered down weekly from 20,15,10,5 patch. I had a lot of anxiety and nightmares but that's it. BUT 24 hours after the 5 came off I had severe body contortions. My head to toes. Like an exorcism. Restless legs x100 in my whole body. Vomititng and diarrhea. I took myself to ER at 3 am as I could tell no relief in sight. Oh, and I threw an extra 10patch back on. Hospital gave me clonodine and Valium. Gravol, which made it worse. Eventually it settled everywhere but my legs. They sent me home with Valium and clonodine. THESE ARE STANDARD ISSUE DETOX SUPPORT DRUGS a GP should give you. I am a drug and alcohol counsellor myself. So I know this. I've had patch on 24 hours now. I am still bed ridden and nauseaus. Weak from the extent of the seizing??? I have fibromyalgia. Did that make it worse. I'm also a ginger- we can have weird reactions.
MY PAIN DOC AND PHARMACIST SAID I SHOULDNT HAVE DETOX SYMPTOMS OFF THE 5mcg. Wrong!!! Get support. Do it slowly. Don't start on weekend when you can't access your doctor.
sara12345
2 July 2017
You went off way too quickly. My neurologist told me to go down by 5 mcg (from 15 mcg), then to wait a long time before reducing it further. I said weeks? He said, a long time. My reaction were periods of sweating, but the worst of it was the pain from all different places on my body. I thought that the Butrans was just to treat my severe migraines since I had significant pain elsewhere at times. But that was nothing compared to the pain after reducing the patches. I also have fibromyalgia. And after full patches were back on, the pain was still there to some degree. That's because with fibromyalgia, the body keeps responding to the offense after it is gone. I had severe coughing from two cats in the house. After they had been out of the house for awhile, my pulmonologist told me that my breathing tests were now good, but that once the offender is gone, people with fibromyalgia will keep responding.
At day 20 after going from 15 to 10 mcg, I had to put the patch back on because I had had bad migraines for most of a week. Now I was in rebound. I'm not familiar with the term "ginger". What did you mean by that? And another doctor told me that I would have the worst time when I went off the final 5 mcg patch. So your Doc and Pharmacist were wrong. Let me know how you are doing and what you are doing. And why were you put on the Butrans patches in the first place. I sure wish you the best. Sara
sara12345
2 July 2017
I recently found out that Butrans comes in 7.5 doses which can make the withdrawal be drawn out longer with smaller increments going down.
linreed
7 July 2017
Thanks for these comments! I am 65 and female also a psychologist. I have taken Butrans patch 7.5 for about 3 years. I have pain in lots of areas on right side of body. This was given as nothing was working for my cervical area. My new pain doc did a radio frequency procedure and the pain levels have decreased dramatically. So, I decided I would not put on my new Butrans patch. By 3rd day, I was sick to my stomach and edgy. Then my legs started to feel restless, actually my whole body. It's now been two weeks. I am very depressed and weak. I am anxious. The patch obviously took care of more than just the pain in my ne k as my whole body aches. My eyes are watery and my legs aren't as restless, but still "are" restless. I see my pain specialist Monday. I'm thirsty and pee a lot. At first I was very hungry. Now I'm forcing myself to eat. Will this end soon? Should I go back on the patch and then withdraw more slowly?
Fibroone
7 July 2017
Ginger means redhead :)
DennyFS
14 Aug 2016
I am worrying now. Until 6 months ago I was on 75mcgs, but managed to drop to 52, now on 35mcgs. Mainly because I changed GP because I had moved temporarily and the new guy refused to give me 75mcg patches (small panic).
I'm managing ok and haven't had too much in the way of withdrawal but not sure now whether I should drop doses again. The pain has increased but do I go for quality or quantity of life?
Rich88
8 April 2016
Just come off brutran10 been on for two months before 5 for 3 months off now one week any shaking legs problem and tummy pains getting far worse
Last night started 9.30 then at 3.30 am took tramadol as suggested by GP
Settled down slightly and managed about 3 hours sleep
Trying to cope without other drugs but difficult but how long can I expect the be like this after 7 days now
Daniela maria
21 May 2015
I've been on 20mg patches since January this year due to disc prolapse and nerve compression. I was in heaven, no pain at all. I had my spine op in April and after that reduced the dose to 10 mg, was on it for a week and Dr didn't say a thing I decided to stop it. Nightmare, 5 days without sleep, very restless, with reflux, anxious, sweating cold... Went back to the Dr and she prescribed me the 5mg patches, omeprazole and diazepam to sleep. I was as new again. After the 7 days course I decided to withdraw and did it 4 days ago. No sleep since then and all symptoms are back, I feel like scratching my chest a scream at night as can't sleep. I'm nearly putting the patch back for one more week but tomorrow I will ask my gp to prescribe me something to easy the symptoms. I was even researching detox clinics as it's being so hard doing it on my own.
How are you getting on now after all those years? I found this as can't sleep and it's sad but it's good to know that this is a common symptom.
L8R2Day
25 May 2015
Ask your provider about stepping down from the 10 to the 7.5 and then maybe the 5. Also, sometimes there are medication options for sleep. I understand the goal is to stop taking medication, and adding more to stop one seems counter productive. However supporting your body's symptoms make it easier and less likely to miss work or other aspects of life. I would ask for a written plan to adhere to to help decrease the "symptoms" and keep you on the path.
sara12345
25 April 2015
If you ever remove it, it won't stick properly to put it back on, so I would be interested in how people did that. Against my neurologist's advice, I went from 15 mcg to 10mcg by moving the patch each week further down my leg to reduce the dose. By the third week, the patch was on my ankle. I wear the patch for severe 24/7 migraine pain caused by a major stroke. I had a terrible migraine for the next 5 days. Pain medication wasn't helping much and you risk rebound migraines if you take pain medicine for more than 3 days a week. So I had to go back on the full dose. I guess I really need the pain relief from the Butrans patch. I didn't have any other withdrawal side effects as described above, except I always have nausea and sometimes vomiting from the pain..
eXo
23 April 2015
Others have touched on this, but I figured I'd post from the perspective of someone on thew 20mg patch.
The first time I took my patch off and forgot to put a new one on I found the next day I was extremely fatigued. I got dizzy & nauseous easily, my feet felt like lead, and I was easily out of breath. I didn't realize I had forgotten my patch, so I went into day two without it. I had insomnia that night and the next day severe depression hit me. Simply getting out of beds that morning felt impossible. Once I was up I felt almost out of body. The aches and backpain I take it for felt magnified. I dragged myself to work, shut my office door, and spent the entire day uselessly upset. Generally I am a very outgoing, upbeat, confident person.
During this I realized I had forgotten a new patch. At the time I had been on 20mcg for about a year. It actually sort of scared me to see how dependent I had become. I got home and put a fresh patch on and went to sleep. The next day I was still pretty rough, but the depression had subsided. The following day I woke up feeling totally normal.
It's friggin scary.
I'm actually getting off the patch currently. After nearly 3 years on the 20mcg I went to my doc and asked him to drop the 15. I wore that for a month and while it was nothing like the event above, it was still sort of rough. Last week I decided that another 4-5 months of this slowly stepping down withdrawal crap was not for me. So I took my last 15 off and started the process of trying to get through the withdrawal. I'm on day 6 right now, and this morning I almost gave up, but after getting up and moving around and forcing myself to be active I started feeling better. The mental aspect of the withdrawal is the scariest for me. I feel like I can handle the physical symptoms. The pain, the fatigue, the breathing... it's the fact that I know my brain can turn on me at any moment. I spend a lot of time making lists about everything I enjoy in life and all the reasons I'm putting myself through this withdrawal to benefit my life. That way if a fit of depression hits, I'll have something to focus on.
I don't recommend butrans for anyone in their 30's It is too young to be permanently dependent to pain management.
Thor283
25 April 2015
eXo,
You are actually quite lucky you're in your 30's. What I mean is the withdrawal you face is doable. When we get older, 50's or above, it may become impossible. I don't know how much you know about the Buprenorphine in the patch. Learn all you can. That drug is like Methadone in that it takes very, very long to ext the body. As bad as drugs like Oxycodone or Morphine are to quit, they're easier because basically you do 10 to 12 days of a living hell, but then you start to feel better. And I mean a cold turkey quit. But you really can't do that with Bupe. The withdrawal symptoms (wds) can last several months. I strongly suggest a slow taper off. Drop down to the next lower patch only once every month. You didn't get like this trying to have fun. You shouldn't half kill yourself getting off it. Listen to me. I want you to continue your life as you quit. Unfortunately, I won't be back soon.
I'm in a public Internet area, and I rarely get here. If I was here daily I could get you through this. I've helped many. Here's a good place to go for you, they help specifically with Bupe. It's called addiction survivors. The site id funded by the makers of Bupe because it's a very hard drug to quit. The mod there works for them & she knows of what she speaks. I mean sometimes you need others who did it, they're there too. What isn't there are braggers. Do this slowly. After 3 years expect close to a year before you fell as your old self. Once you're down to the weakest patch, techniques like wearing it 2 days, then 1 off, wear it again 2 days, 1 off etc. Never throw old patches away. They still have drug in them. When you're down to the nitty gritty, they will help. Please trust me. I will try to come back in a week. I'll look for you. Feel free to send me a PM. Eventually I will answer. I'm getting thrown out.
God Bless
eXo
27 April 2015
You are incredibly kind. I will PM you.
dragonfly1969
5 Dec 2015
So true! Hope you are feeling better. I was shocked at how severe the depression and fatigue were. Feeling life was useless and stayed in bed.I looked in the mirror and said " you are sick!" I looked gray, like my cancer patients. There has to be a balance between quality of life and med tolerance for us younger people.
Nanook626
3 June 2017
I am so grateful for your comment! I didn't know what was going on with me for the past week. I started the patch about a year ago (5mcg). I increased to 10 and recently to 15. I have chronic pain from degenerative disk disease. I noticed some skin irritation with the 5, it got a little worse with 10; but 15 was really bad. My skin itched like crazy under the patch, and turned BRIGHT red. Then it became hard and crusty. I called the doc and got backed down to 10. 3 days later, the skin problem started up again. I have tried different areas of my body to no avail. So, I just pulled it off one day and said that's it, couldn't stand the itching anymore. That was 5 days ago. Since then I have not been able to sleep, am extremely restless at night and very anxious. Today, I am severely depressed, crying and exhausted from lack of sleep. I could not figure out what was wrong until I decided to look up withdrawal symptoms and found your comment.
Others have posted that they were prescribed Tramadol to help, but I am already in that and it is not helping. I guess I will just have to ride this out unless depression gets worse. I am just grateful to know why I am such a mess today.
eXo
4 June 2017
I'm glad it helped you.
After I got off butrans I've never looked back. It was great for the pain, but it just wasn't worth the dependence for me.
Best of luck finding something that helps with your pain without making things worse in other areas.
Nanook626
4 June 2017
I caved last night and put the 10 mag on my leg instead of my upper body; if it starts itching, it's coming off. I couldn't deal with my symptoms, so I am going to try the lower dose. I read that the physical symptoms go away after a short period, but mental can take months. I can't wait months to get rid of depression and sleep through the night. As it was, I didn't fall asleep last night until 5 am. Can I ask how you are controlling your pain now? I am 58 and have had chronic pain for a very long time, which worsened in the last few years. That's how I got started on Butrans. (BTW:didn't get out of bed yesterday).
Kathryn Berkowicz
25 July 2017
I have gone five days without my 10mcg. patch and have never felt worse. I removed it early because of itching and irritation. I thought that I could handle it but now know that I cannot. I have had pain everywhere and have not slept for three nights. The restlessness is unbearable. My head is pounding, I have been crying daily and feel incapable of doing more than dressing. I will call my pain doctor for an early appointment and will never try to manage my pain myself.
eXo
25 July 2017
Kathryn, I'm sorry you are in the midst of that.
The most important thing is to know what you want. Docotr's do not know what you want and will prescribe all sorts of things. Butrans taught me to never accept a prescription for something I haven't researched first.
Currently you know two things in regards to this. You know how dependent your body can become on Butrans and you know how difficult it is to get off of it. Just keep that goal in mind and make sure your doctor understands that you want to get away from it, but that you also need to do it safely. My method was not safe, but it was the best method for me as I know myself and I know my impatience when it comes to dealing with this sort of thing. I decided on two weeks of hell over a year of stepping down through a half hell.
Talking it out with people really helps. I'm glad you found this thread.
Beekay44
10 Aug 2017
Nanook626 your irritated skin under the patch can be fixed with a steroid spray that comes as an inhaler for breathing problems like Asthma but instead it is used on the skin as two/three sprays on the skin 30 minutes before apply your new weekly patch
wacorbetts
25 Aug 2017
Get Fluticasone... Either by RX or over the counter Flonase. Spray it on and let it dry before putting the patch on. My skin was just like yours. Insanely itchy and when I took the patch off I had a dark red, crusty (almost like a scab) rectangle. I put the patch on my chest now but use the (noise spray) Flonase religiously. It made ALL THE DIFFERENCE in the world!!
connielcooper
29 Dec 2017
I have been using the Butran 20 mcg patch for a year now. My husband lost his job and I had to pick up Medicare. Long story, short... Butran is not covered under new prescription coverage. I have been thinking of getting off them anyway, but I am terrified of the withdrawal. I am wondering how you are doing now? I can't afford $400 a box, so I am going to have to come off them. I plan to get help from my docs, but so far the pain clinic has not called me back. Very hard to get them to return calls. Hope you are doing well.
connielcooper
29 Dec 2017
I have been using the Butran 20 mcg patch for a year now. My husband lost his job and I had to pick up Medicare. Long story, short... Butran is not covered under new prescription coverage. I have been thinking of getting off them anyway, but I am terrified of the withdrawal. I am wondering how you are doing now? I can't afford $400 a box, so I am going to have to come off them. I plan to get help from my docs, but so far the pain clinic has not called me back. Very hard to get them to return calls. Hope you are doing well. Please let me know how your withdrawal went.
gleeber
5 Jan 2015
Hi, I have taken off my `10mg brutran patch 3days ago and today feel horrendous , really depressed and crying all the time I guess from reading some of the previous questions and answers I came off them too quickly and perhaps this is a normal reaction I sure hope it passes soon, I think i should phone my doc tommo and see what she says . Anyone else have the same reaction as i am having thanks in advance/
Thor283
5 Jan 2015
Feeling depressed and crying are typical opiate withdrawal symptoms. Which means it's normal. One problem with a patch is how do you come off it slower, I'm not sure. For this reason I'd say call your Doc tomorrow. She may know a good way.
I'd guess that you can put the same patch back on. Leave it on 6 hours and then take it off again. Try keeping it on only 6 hours a day. This is just a guess. The Doc may know a better way.
bake33
22 Feb 2015
Same thing here, took 10mg patch off after week 4, then got snowed in for a week. Hopefully will restart tomorrow. Flu like symtoms, upset stomach, diarrea, headaches, dizzyness, no sleep. Pretty rough. I will make sure to get my prescription ahead of time from now on. Oh, depression here to, though it is one possible side effect while on the patch, it got worse after I stopped. I feel like might be on the downhill side now but yesterday was the worse, stayed in bed all day except for frequen bathroom visits.
Thor283
23 Feb 2015
Actually if you can force yourself out of bed and walk around that helps minimize the withdrawal symptoms. It may be almost impossible if you live where the frigid air is. But even walking around your rooms, or house, is better than staying immobile. Opiate withdrawal is one of the worse things there is. Sometimes we need them. But if I ever get off them again, I'll take Tylenol and Aspirin rather than these drugs.
slambo
22 Aug 2015
trying to burn off 20 mg patch and 200 mgs of Nucenta at the same time.Into 3rd day. Very fluish with some leg cramping so far.
dragonfly1969
5 Dec 2015
Wow, some of these comments are really old , but maybe this can help others. Butrans comes in lower doses. There are 7.5mcg and a 5mcg patch to wean down. My pain specialist told me this week that butrans can actually be cut in half and not alter its extended release. Told me to tape the cut edge w/paper tape on my skin to seal cut edge. I was given 10 mcg patches and asked for a decrease and didn't want to waste extras. yOU CAN NOT CUT OTHERS LIKE FENTANYL /DURAGESIC AND DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT YOUR DOCTORS CONSENT PERIOD, WITH ANY MEDICINE. MY DOC IS FROM A PAIN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OPEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS.. I have not tried a cut patch yet to report on it, but I hope it will help others to know of lower dosing options. I decided to wear a 10 mcg for a few extra days to see if maybe the effects would linger,at a reduced dose, and not put my new one on yet. All I had was another 10 mcg and didn't want it that high again. Doc was closed to get lower dose.
A bad choice! It did not linger and I had withdrawals from 10 mcg dose that made me honestly think my heart was stopping/skipping/ ineffective. I could feel my heart & chest quiver like the rest of my body! Not catch my breath and near fainted. Flu symptoms and sheer exhaustion. This was less than 48 hours of new patch being due. Please be very careful and wise respecting this, and any other medicine.. It's not our Mommas aspirin for sure. Ask your doctor about cutting patches first if you have extra or are ready to wean down. Good luck all and may your pain be controlled!.
mmanista
7 Dec 2015
Good Greif, I am in trouble as I have chronic pain from Spinal fusion and both my feet collapsed... I wear braces and need a triple arthrodesis on both feet. Just got fired from my job as my one year date was approching tomorrow 12/8/15. My employers knew i was going for FMLA. The rehab time for each foot is 4-5 months... So they fired me crossing their "T's" and dotting their "I's". anyway... going to see my regular doctor as I have no insurance now and I am on BRUTRANS 20mcg patches... Patches without insurance are $560.00.
twoeyes
22 Aug 2016
I too have come off butrans 10mg 5 days now as I decided to use the new medi-pen which for the pain of spinal osteoporosis and arthritis is working very well,withdrawals at night mostly waking every 2 hrs or so feeling flu like symptoms and urinating a lot ,I don't usually get up at night ,oh and the twitching legs--I am 81 and been on patches for about a year
Blairsgirl
5 June 2018
I am on day 2 without my patch been on them for bout 6 years n i feel horrible i feel like my arms n leg muscles are contracting very restless this sucks so does anyone know how long withdraw last
LaurieShay
12 Feb 2012
Buprenorphine is a long acting medication which means you may not feel the worst of the withdrawals for 3 to 5 days after stopping. You may experience body aches, flu-like symptoms with the restlessness. Best to inform the doc of the itching and sleep problems and maybe the doc will have a better alternative. The tramadol will help ease the withdrawal but be careful you don't take more than prescribed and be aware that it can be addictive too.
mckaya5
13 Feb 2012
thankyou for your reply... i am infact feeling the way you have described..i am hoping to go with the flow and just use the co-codamol and live with it... i suppose i just get fed up with having chronic pain and the fact that it isnt going to disappear... thanks again
LaurieShay
13 Feb 2012
Hang in there and you should be feeling somewhat better soon. The co codamol should help some, just be careful to not overdo.
Jeanjane
10 Nov 2014
I have been taking Percocet for 3 years. Weaned myself off while using the 15 mcg patch. I am 72 hours off of the patch now and am miserable! My dr had said it shouldn't be too bad to quit them. Do you think I should try to find a dr for help as I have gone south for the winter. Anyone know how long this will last?
LaurieShay
10 Nov 2014
Hang in there. The next week is going to be rough, then will gradually get better. Not much to do except go back on the patch and wean slower. You may feel like hell, but it will pass if you can hang in there.
Jeanjane
10 Nov 2014
Thank you Laurie. If I titration down to the 5 mg patch will I still go through this when I stop it?
LaurieShay
10 Nov 2014
Yes, it is quite likely if you discontinue at 5mgs you will still experience some withdrawal. Not as much as stopping from the higher amount, but still some.
Thor283
12 Feb 2012
Yes I think you should tell your Doc. Explain to him why you want to stop using it. I hope he helps you with this.
There shouldn't be much withdrawal from 5 mcg and only 6 months. That's also the lowest dose patch there is. The only kind of slow withdrawal I know of with a patch would be to use it as 1 day on, and 1 day off. After 2 weeks do 1 day on, 2 days off. On week 3 make it 1 day on, 3 days off. Do this or some variation of this. When you see you can keep leaving it off, then do so.
I'm not sure what you mean by are you doing yourself harm, what kind of harm?
mckaya5
13 Feb 2012
hi thanks for reply... think i was half asleep when i wrote am i doing myself harm... i probably just meant will i increase the withdrawal effects... i took the patch off and do feel a bit restless, especially my legs during the night..you know that sort of feeling where your legs are still trying to walk and you are lying down... sorry, dont think i am explaining it properly... i do feel more sore, but expected that... anyone got a magic wand... hope you keep well and thankyou for your respone..it has helped me a lot.
Thor283
13 Feb 2012
They call it restless leg syndrome, RLS or rls. It's a very common withdrawal symptoms. Baclofen or Robaxin help this. You need a script, and this is why you should tell the Doc, so he knows why you want a muscle relaxer. Good luck.
slambo
22 Aug 2015
Stepping down off 200 mgs a day of Nyucenta and 20 mg Butran patch - third day now and feeling very fluish. Whew!
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pain, back pain, sleep disorders, buprenorphine, withdrawal, sleep, butrans
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