Belbuca for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 5)

• Sil...
• September 12, 2019

"I want to add my support for this medicine, Belbuca. I have been part of the 'get off of schedule II meds' situation going on right now, as my PM doc is scared of losing her license. She is trying to be proactive in moving some patients that she could off of the schedule II's and onto a lower schedule pain medicine. I commend her for this, as we still have some time right now to do this instead of being forced to. Not to mention, my intestines have issues absorbing pills due to the many surgeries I have had... so the cheek patch is a definite benefit for me. I have been titrating upward to the top dose, now at 900 mcgs every 12 hours. I have noticed that it isn't perfect, but certainly can hold its own. It takes away a good portion of the pain for roughly 8ish hours (supposed to be 12, but realistically for me is 8). At that point, I will try to use another med (maybe tramadol will be that one) to keep me calm until I can take my next Belbuca."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2023

"This is month 2 on Belbuca. There are a lot of misconceptions. My experience. The pain relief is not the best, but you also have to remember that you won’t feel it kick in like you do with oxy, but it is still working. Another thing is after being on opioids for so long, your pain tolerance is not that great. There is pain in life. We just have to be selective when we resort to opioids. I agree it doesn’t work a full 12 hours, more likely, 8 hours is a more realistic expectation. Make sure you get meds for breakthrough pain unless you are using them to get off oxy. The goal is to keep the little square on your cheek until the yellow dissolves. So if you feel it folding up, you can tell by touching it with your tongue. If the entire thing comes out, if there is still yellow on the other side, put it back. If your mouth is dry, take a sip of something sweet so your saliva glands start working, and try putting it on your cheek again. You can pretty much tell if the medication dissolves."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2016

"Pretty much a revised low-abuse pain medicine that doesn't work. Maybe the few that have gotten relief are having a placebo effect. Ibuprofen, in my opinion, is more effective. Garbage, I would like a refund, waste of time."

• n2f...
• April 21, 2017

"I have been given the Butrans patches, and then I was taken off them due to an allergic reaction with them. Then I was put onto the 150 mcg of the Belbuca. I was on that for months, and I was being honest with the doctor and told them that it wasn't helping with my pain, so they upped it to the 300 mcg and left me on it for 2 months, and still no relief. I just had a visit this month, and I was just upped again, and once again my unused meds are being flushed in front of me because I go to a pain clinic and am now taking 450 mcg, and needless to say, this junk still is not working. I have had shot after shot and have even had surgery. I don't know what else to do. All I want is relief, is that too much to ask? They claim this is the only thing they have."

• Mat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

"I have ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis. Have been on pain meds since 1998. I have atrial fibrillation, so the doc wanted me off methadone. I have been taking five 5 mg methadone a day with four 20 mg oxy for breakthrough. Like everyone else, it used to be a lot higher. Doc had me try the 600 mcg Belbuca. It made me go into rapid withdrawal, and I haven’t felt right since. Husband called 911 because my heartbeat went way high, and I passed out. I have always reacted to meds differently from most people. Just be careful and start a low dose. Sad thing is that my pain went away before it happened."

• Mr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

"After reading these reviews, I'm scared to start taking Belbuca. I have a C6 spinal cord injury. Chronic pain in arms, hands, and neck. I have tried oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Morphabond. I am currently taking Lyrica, baclofen, and midodrine for low blood pressure. Hopefully, the Belbuca will work, but I'm already dizzy from the Lyrica and low blood pressure. My pain level is a constant 8 pretty much every day. I'm skeptical about this drug, but I will try it because pain sucks. Hopefully, I won't get the side effects everyone else is having. My first dose is tomorrow morning, 600 mg every 12 hrs, hope it works. This drug is over 800 dollars a month, I paid 80 out of pocket."

• Not...
• August 23, 2016

"I have severe Ha's (headaches) daily from two bulging discs in my neck and a growth on my brain that adds to the Ha's. I have arthritis in my right knee from two knee surgeries. I started out with trying many different oral pain meds. I was tired of taking so many pills with hardly any pain relief. I asked my physician about Suboxone; she prescribed it for my pain. I was sooo happy!! No highs/lows and I felt myself again! Then, my insurance stopped covering it unless prescribed for addiction. I was prescribed Subutex 8 mg 2x/day, which worked just as well; insurance still refused payment. After a year, I was given Belbuca 450 mcg every 12 hrs; insurance paid. I'm not getting near the relief I had when on Subutex. I don't like it!!"

• JJJ...
• January 8, 2017

"Since 0 wasn't an option, I had to select 1. This medication is a waste of time and money! I suffer from chronic pain syndrome, massive muscle contractions, tumors in my spine, and severe overactive nerves, which cause trigger points from my neck to my lower back. I am so beyond miserable because the pain is excruciating! I was taking 10/325 of Percocet, but my pain management doctor wanted to take me completely off of it due to the risk of addiction, so she switched me to Belbuca a month ago, and I have no relief! It does not work! I cry and lay around all day because it hurts to move! I was started on 300 mcg, then 2 weeks later, I was bumped up to 600 mcg. I have not felt any pain relief yet. I do NOT recommend this to anyone!"

• Chi...
• September 2, 2016

"I've been on multiple different pain meds for chronic spine issues. The pain doctor decided to switch me to this new pain medicine with promising results. This is my third dose, and stomach pain and nausea begin 45 minutes after every single dose. It seems to subside a little towards the eighth hour or so. This medicine has zero effect on pain, it just creates more by adding the stomach pain. This medicine is being pushed because it has a low potential for abuse thanks to the junkies. That's fine, but make sure it works before you release it. All of the complaints about this drug will make it a short-lived one. Doctors will push it hard in the beginning, but patients will push back. Complete garbage, and a waste of money. Thanks, Endo Pharmaceuticals, for the stomach pain."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2023

"I am new to Belbuca. I have neurofibromatosis. It affects the nerves and can cause severe pain when it surrounds the nerves in places in the body. I was on fentanyl 100 mcg and 15 mg of oxycodone. I got the Belbuca and have not had the painful withdrawal that is associated with fentanyl, and it can last 7 to 10 days. The best thing for me after being on fentanyl for 10 years."

• rev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2023

"I've used Belbuca buccal patch for about a year or so. I use 450 mcg twice daily. Twice I've been taken off Belbuca, and each time the chronic pain sites started making themselves well known. I used to use hydrocodone tablets with 800 mg of ibuprofen dosing together. That did a pretty good job, but pain management was vacillating. Belbuca offered a consistent dose of medication and controlled most chronic pains well. There are always breakthrough pains, and it is a hassle not being able to take hydrocodone for that pain. I use my 800 mg ibuprofen with CBD/THC 1:1 ratio dosing to control the breakthrough pain. I have seizure-like events (brain communication internal malfunction), and the CBD/THC really helps with that, too - so bonus. I experience constant trouble getting Belbuca. Because of politicians who know little, opiates are tough to get, but Belbuca is more of a struggle to get than hydrocodone. Every month, many phone calls. I am thankful for the Belbuca and CBD/THC."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2018

"I was having a hard time finding pain medicine I could tolerate with my back pain. My pain levels were getting real bad, so my doctor put me on Belbuca. It really helped. The only issue I had was the plastic sticking to my teeth."

• NDP...
• August 1, 2016

"This medication is hard to open. Almost impossible. It doesn't last 12 hours. I am still in pain. I am on a low dose and I take it twice a day. I have had no relief. Last week, I went through two injections to my hips and lower back. I have been dealing with my lower back since '06 due to a car accident. I've had two back surgeries. I have been on all kinds of pain medications. I don't know what to do. I don't like how the medication makes me feel. It's too expensive, even with insurance. There is no way I can afford this medication. Without the coupon, I would have paid $120.00. I go to my pain doctor on Tuesday. I am hoping that I am taken off this and put on something else. I would not recommend this medication to anyone. Not happy at all."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

"Not only did it not really do anything for my chronic pain made worse by a car accident where I broke the left side of my body, but I was on it for 5 days and lost 8 lbs due to nausea and vomiting. I'm one day off of it and still nauseous, can't eat, can barely drink. I'm so miserable. Thank goodness I also have Oxycodone, which is making me nauseous as well thanks to the Belbuca."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2022

"I've used this for 2 weeks, it has been a horrible experience. Patches stopped sticking due to heat, so my pain guy (I refuse to call these 'guys' doctors) prescribed Belbuca (pretty sure that's Latin for 'placebo'). So now, 2 weeks into non-medicated severe pain, I have to ride it out until my next appointment in 2 weeks. Save yourself the month of pain and frustration. Do not accept this garbage from your doctor. It says to put the yellow side against your cheek, but the white side is far stickier, so it sticks to your teeth, not your cheek. Out of 28 I've used, I got a bit of relief for a few hours 3 or 4 times, should last 12 hours. It's a major pain to use, and if you accidentally swallow it, it is dangerous. 1600% more expensive than any comparable medication."

• Jad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2021

"I have had 25 surgeries in my 23 years, and my back has rods completely down it. The doctors told me I need another surgery because the rods are moving closer together, which will paralyze me and cause me more pain. I have been in pain my whole life, I don't know what it's like to be pain-free. Before, the doctors had me on hydrocodone, but I've had so many stomach surgeries I puked them all up, so they put me on Percocet three times a day, and it worked. It improved my quality of life, and I was able to function. Then my doctor switched me to Belbuca, and I've been on it for a year now, and it does not work at all. My doctors won't listen to me because they think I'm too young to be in as much pain as I say I'm in. I swear this medical profession has just gotten so horrible, it's like they don't even want to help people who are actually in pain and just want to improve their quality of life and be somewhat normal. Why is this even an option and on the market?"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2016

"If I could rate this medication as a zero, I would. Virtually no pain relief, only nausea, intermittent diarrhea, headaches, and vertigo. It does not stick to the inside of your cheek, as every time you swallow, it moves around and either sticks to your teeth or you swallow it. Horrible, horrible medication. Films often crack in half by the time you can finally pry them out of the foil, and they are so small that if you have any sort of tremor, as I do, they often fall out of my fingers. In my opinion, they need to scrap the whole thing and start over. Horrible."

• Be ...
• August 22, 2017

"I tried the 75 mcg, no relief, and the doctor refused to give breakthrough pain meds, told me to use OTC meds, alternate Tylenol and Advil every 2 hours for the first month. But she finally gave me ten pain pills for the first month. So the end of the month, I go to 150 mcg and get a copay help card. Well, after three days of runaround, they tell me the card only works for the first month. If the pharmacy puts it in right, my script had a $79.99 copay, which I cannot afford. Tried to ask why they advertise help with copay, yet they don't really offer help. So instead of paying $30 for the second month, I had to pay full copay, so just make sure you can afford it before you start it. Oh, and no, the film doesn't actually help, as the 150s actually bunch and do not melt."

• Inp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2022

"Been on 15 mg Oxycodone and 45 mg slow-release morphine for 5 years. Dr. started me on 900 mcg Belbuca BID after titrating up. It doesn't work to relieve my pain, and my life is now confined to bed or an easy chair. I was very active before, walking, fishing, just enjoying my last days far better before being put on Belbuca."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2022

"My new pain doctor took me off morphine that was working with no side effects and put me on 450 mg Belbuca. Pain fully back at 6 hours, strange headache and light stomach pain. Just started 600 mg Friday. At this dose, I’m doubled over with gastric pain 30 minutes after the dose. Headache and loose bowels. Strangely, no relief at higher dosage. I’m better off not taking it at all."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2022

"I have a rare disease called Still's disease that's been, for the most part, controlled with getting infusions of a biological drug every 4 weeks and taking Norco with muscle relaxers as needed during flares. Well, about 2 weeks ago, I ended up in the hospital because I passed out due to a blood clot and also broke my right leg in several places, which required surgical intervention. It was a nightmare in the hospital for them to get my pain under control because of these new opioid guidelines. Anyway, I finally was released and was doing okay on 7.5 of Percocet every 6 hours for pain as needed. When I saw my PM doctor, he put me on Belbuca 150 mg, with Percocet for breakthrough pain. I felt awful! Had horrible nausea, headaches. My heart was skipping beats, I felt like a zombie. I was so dizzy that I was afraid I would fall. My husband said I was talking crazy. I don't recommend this drug to anyone. It was really scary, and I can't imagine feeling like that all the time."

• Ken...
• April 4, 2023

"I have been taking Belbuca for three years now. Before that, I used to take morphine sulfate and sleeping pills, but I had to stop due to severe withdrawal symptoms. My memory was also affected, and I even forgot where I was in a store. My doctor prescribed Belbuca to me, but it doesn't do anything for my pain. When I was on morphine, I could walk with the help of two canes, but now I'm in a wheelchair. I stopped taking Belbuca because I only used it at night to avoid withdrawal symptoms and sleep. It's been three nights without it, and I'm still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I have decided not to take any more pain meds and have started using a marijuana vape at night only to sleep. It's cheap and has been helpful."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2024

"Was on oxycodone for 15 years for chronic long nerve/pain. Trying Belbuca 150 mcg film. Belbuca works from 6 to almost 12 hours per film. Breakthrough pain can be handled by oxycodone or a crumble or two of the pill (under tongue) form of buprenorphine. Juggling things around until we get it right for me. I am liking the film so far. It does take care of my pain for longer time spans than the oxycodone does. I hope to stay at a low dose level as there are both good and bad side effects. I do not get constipated. Some nausea, which I hope will disappear with time. Does screw up my sleep a bit. I am quite pleased to be at a pain level that works for me. The conversion from oxycodone to this was not that bad. I could not deal with the pain without upping into larger doses of my former pain med. This Belbuca has been good so far. Not perfect, yet very good for pain. There is always a trade-off relief vs side effects. I am only going into month 2. So far...so good."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2016

"Have been in chronic pain for years due to head, neck, Ts, Ls, and S damage. This is one of the most annoying delivery types ever thought up by the ever-failing pharmaceuticals. Gross taste, and yes, too much ends up swallowed, as all pain patients have dry mouth due to everything we've had to take. Fail! It works only on some of my pain, it aggravated headaches to full-on migraines daily, and did nothing but inflame my worst area. Nausea, yes, bowel pain and dysfunction, miserable for anyone with an intestinal issue. Why is this being pushed so soon? We all know new meds are never safe. Would love for the big 3s to get out of my doctor's care. I'm going to fight back and insist my doctor be smarter than this, save me side effects yet to be seen."

• Zig...
• July 13, 2016

"'I was recently placed on this medication for chronic pain due to a cyst on my lower spine. All the comments are true. Medication packet: you will need scissors, wet buccal area of mouth, and it doesn't adhere as directed, doesn't dissolve, sticks to teeth, and I end up swallowing it. As for the pain, it remains. Very expensive with no RX coverage for Belbuca. The phone number on the card and brochure from my doctor is inaccurate, and the one-month free trial and reduced rate don't apply to me. Tried to get renewal from the office, but they are strict on pickup dates for RXs, claimed I didn't call for renewal, and once I was halfway home, oh here it is. The pharmacy did not even carry it. I had to go back. So what do I do? I had most of the side effects and withdrawal."