Butrans and Blisters: What Users Say

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 8, 2014

For Pain "Had back surgery in 2000. 3 rods, 6 screws, and bone put in L4 L5 S1. Had severe pain for 12 years. No sleep (3 1/2 to 5 hours a night). No energy, seldom in a good mood because of the pain. Sometimes down for 3 weeks at a time. Began Butrans 10 mcg last year and man, what a difference. First week was getting 7 hours of sleep and pain level went from 10 to 1 or 2. It has been that way for the last 11 months. Now getting blisters and rash at the application site. Going to see the doctor this week. Hope he doesn't take me off. Really not looking forward to the return of a painful life."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2011

For Pain "Was using Butrans 20 dose. Chronic joint pain since childhood. Was using Hydrocodone and Gabapentin. Patch was amazing at controlling pain from day 1. Lost 5 lbs due to stomach uneasiness, loss of appetite. I had no marks at patch sites. At 7 weeks, every spot where a patch had been used erupted in blisters. It was very odd and now 2 weeks later the red spots are finally receding. Pain control 100%, stomach and bowel issues manageable."

• KDH...
• May 16, 2014

For Chronic Pain "Chronic back pain/three back surgeries. Medicine is only mildly useful. I have breakthrough pain every time I have to walk more than two or three minutes. I was told I shouldn't need anything besides this medicine, but that is NOT true. I am also having a skin reaction at the patch site. Before being given this medicine, I reminded my doctor that I have a problem with most bandage adhesives (only paper tape works), but she said this wouldn't be a problem. Wrong... I am getting blisters."

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2015

For Pain "I've been using this patch for 2 and a half months. It helps my pain a little, but I feel that this stuff is a joke. I started at the 5 mcg dose and am now on the 15 mcg dose. My pain management doctor refuses to try something else. I stay nauseated and constipated. I get rash and blistering at the patch sites as well. It's all the bad side effects of pain medicine without the benefit of helping pain. The only good part is that it weakens considerably after 2-3 days, so I get to eat some. It's worthless as a pain reliever for me."

• Veg...
• January 30, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Great improvement with the patch. I have joint pain and deterioration of the spine, and my mobility has come back to where I can now do household tasks, go out to events, dining, and visiting friends. Started with 5 mcg and gradually increased to 15 mcg. The side effects have been rough to deal with. First, the itching skin and then blistering. Swollen ankles, night sweats. Some of this is worse than others. But how can I get this level of relief with something else? I will find out about Kenalog spray recommended by another writer here. Swollen ankles, elevate and ice. Night sweats, do not sleep on the patch. I keep hoping my body will adjust to the adhesive and medication after time. I will keep using Butrans."

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2022

For Chronic Pain "I have chronic muscle and nerve pain, and in consultation with my pain doc, started Butrans patch 5 mg. I had no reduction in pain, so I upped the dosage to a 10 mg patch. Still no reduction in pain. Also, when I removed the 5 mg patch, I had blisters. For myself, I do not feel anything with this drug in my system. Not sure it's worth going to a higher dosage."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Allergic reaction where the patch was. Red, blistering, and itching. Usually by the 3rd day."