Butrans and Nausea: What Users Say

• dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2013

For Pain "When the doctor gave me these patches, I had a 'yeah right' attitude. I am stunned! I applied the first patch and 3 days later, I had significant pain relief! I just applied my 2nd patch and I am able to resume doing a lot of things I haven't done in years. I had side effects at first: sleepiness, shakiness, and severe nausea, but they passed within the first week. I am amazed and pleased at the effectiveness of these patches."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2012

For Pain "Fantastic, at first. I received relief from fibro pain throughout my body and some rheumatoid arthritis pain. (Oddly, I did experience a new pain in the very center of my lower back after beginning Butrans). Once I increased to 20 mcg, after 2 days of applying the new patch, I would vomit, have nausea and headache. Then, my depression got so bad, almost to the point of hospitalization. Butrans did help with my pain, but the side effects were just too much."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 2, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I've now been on a 15 mcg Butrans patch for 6 months with some good relief for permanent nerve damage in both legs. However, I've noticed that the patch basically becomes non-effective on day 5, and I start having withdrawals. I'm 22 years old and drive daily with the patch. I only notice tiredness after 11 pm, so it suits my working life fine. I'm going to my doctor to talk about getting put on a 20 mcg patch and a 5-day change. Constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite have been side effects for me, but it hands down beats any oral tablet. I'd rather be on a patch as opposed to taking tablets due to liver damage over long-term usage. For nerve damage, amitriptyline was the best relief I've ever had with brilliant sleep and pain relief. However, I experienced fibrillation and irregular heartbeats, so I had to come off them. Stay safe and always consult with your doctor or medical person in charge."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2012

For Pain "The patch started off as a great alternative to the other options, but I quickly had too many issues with it to continue using it. It constantly peels off, leaves big red itchy bumps, loses its effectiveness after about 4 days, makes me dizzy, nauseous, light-headed, races my heart, and gives me headaches. Too bad because it really killed the pain. Never mind the cost."

• heb...
• November 10, 2011

For Pain "I have been on Butrans patch for about 6 months. Started on 5mg, then 10mg after a few months, and then 20mg. I had several side effects although it did relieve my pain. Just the past two days, I had to go off of the patch because my side effects were very worse being on the 20mg. The side effects I have experienced since I started Butrans 6 months ago are: In the beginning, very itchy all over, not just at the patch placement site... that did go away after about 3 weeks. Severe horrible constipation... I mean horrible... severe appetite loss. Although I needed to lose the 27 pounds that I have lost since taking Butrans, I am a worrywart, so I worry it could be something more severe, but I think it's the patch. Severe nausea too."

• 201...
• February 16, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I have been on Butrans patch for 2 1/2 years for back pain, DDD, cervical, lumbar herniated discs, scoliosis, stenosis, fractured tailbone, osteoarthritis. My insurance changed to United Healthcare Jan. 1, 2018. During that time it would not cover Butrans patch cost $679. Insurance forced me to try Belbucca film. Tried it stuck to my teeth, take 2 hrs to dissolve. This drug made me so sick. I had 1 week of lying in bed, weak, chills, some nausea. The doctor told me to stop meds. So he called in my Butrans patch on February 12th. I fought for 2 whole days, making 36 total phone calls between the doctor, UHC, insurance. By the end of the day on Feb 14th, I had been so sick from Belbucca and not having my Butrans patch I had to go pick up my prescription of Butrans patch at the cost of $679. On 20 mg and it’s the best med I have used that works. Why deny my coverage?"

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I put this patch on on Friday. At first, I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I had to take a Zofran and the feeling went away. It seemed like the pain relief was almost immediate, it was a 7.25 mcg/hr patch. Keep in mind that I've been taking other pain meds since 2004 for fibromyalgia, and I had stopped them the day before in anticipation of this patch. I woke up in quite a bit of pain on Saturday and took a Norco, and with that and moving around, I felt fine. I had to take a Zofran Saturday, Sunday, and today for nauseousness, but other than that, I feel fine and the pain is gone. It has only been 3 days, but if it keeps working like this, I'm sticking with the patch. Very happy so far."

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I put this patch on on Friday. At first, I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I had to take a Zofran and the feeling went away. It seemed like the pain relief was almost immediate, it was a 7.25 mcg/hr patch. Keep in mind that I've been taking other pain meds since 2004 for fibromyalgia, and I had stopped them the day before in anticipation of this patch. I woke up in quite a bit of pain on Saturday and took a Norco, and with that and moving around, I felt fine. I had to take a Zofran Saturday, Sunday, and today for nauseousness, but other than that, I feel fine and the pain is gone. It has only been 3 days, but if it keeps working like this, I'm sticking with the patch. Very happy so far."

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

For Pain "I started off on 5 mg, they had no effect, so GP upped it to 10 mg. By the second day, the pain had reduced substantially, and things felt good. I've suffered for eight years with sacroiliac pain (S1), herniated discs (L4/5/6) at the base. Just had a successful total hip op. However, I've had to come off them due to the very bad side effects: nausea, crawling itchy feeling under the skin, unable to sit in the sun, and if I did, I suffered greatly, irritability, very low mood, and worst of all, hot flushes. I'm back to my old self now. When peeps start telling you you've changed, it's no joke, and I was very relieved to get them out of my system. Having said that, I know they work for some."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2015

For Pain "I have a broken tailbone and an L4 fracture, didn't want pain pills so Dr. prescribed Butrans. Within 1 hour of putting the 5 mg patch on, I was dizzy and lightheaded. I went to bed and woke up still in pain and still dizzy. Day 2 nausea kicked in and still dizzy, by after I had to call Dr. because I had a bad headache and was very nauseated. Took Dramamine and it helped a little. Day 3 - I felt very out of it when I woke up, by 11 am, I was extremely nauseated, dizzy, and shaking. Took a Dramamine and ate lunch, this did not help, I felt horrible at work. I took the patch off at 12 noon and had to leave work. I am home and it's 6 hours later, shaking has stopped, still very nauseated and dizzy. Very upset because the back pain had almost been totally gone."

• 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."

• Fib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2014

For Chronic Pain "My doctor first prescribed these for me at the 10 mg dosage as many of her fibromyalgia patients did well on them. When I first started to use them, the side effects were awful: headaches, lightheadedness, dizzy spells that came on out of the blue, severe nausea. But after the first patch, the symptoms seemed to ease when I would place the patches on my thigh or arm. Then by the 2nd box, I noticed they weren't doing anything for the pain. So my doctor upped the amount to 20 mg. I started to take the first of those patches this week. Side effects were tripled. After going for a 4-mile run, I came home and felt like I was going to pass out. This turned into my vomiting violently for 20 minutes. Don't know that I'll continue; pain has dulled."

• 50o...
• April 30, 2017

For Chronic Pain "On it for a month, and I'm having bad side effects. Extreme restless arms and legs, enough that I can't sleep in the same bed as my husband. Slight headache, nausea, extreme fatigue... can't function, and my pain is okay, as long as I don't do any gardening or heavy housework. Right now, I can barely make dinner. I'm so very tired all the time. I had to go on this med because we just retired, and my Medicare drug insurance will not pay for what worked so well before... then there was a quality of life... now I'm not doing so well."

• She...
• September 20, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I've been on Butrans 10 mcg since July. Today I noticed that my shirt, right where I had the patch, was wet. I checked the patch and I could see a liquid seeping from the patch. With today being Saturday, I couldn't reach my doctor, so I got ready and went to the pharmacy. I guess the way I was feeling could be described as being extremely 'high' and very jittery! Also, my head hurt and I was nauseous! The pharmacist told me to remove the patch right away, and she gave me a piece of paper to stick it on and a zipper bag to close it up in. She said I was getting the full week-long dose all at once, so I was in jeopardy of overdosing if I wouldn't have caught it sooner! I don't know if I want to put another one on!"

• Les...
• May 3, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have a bulging disc in my lower neck and a herniated disc in my lower back. My pain level is very high. Percocet started to not work, and I was put on the Butrans patch, 20 milligrams. Within 36 hours, I was so nauseous that I was vomiting. And when I wasn't vomiting, I was in a constant state of wanting to vomit. It also created great depression and jerky movements in my body when I was trying to sleep. I would not recommend this medication for someone who has a weak stomach. It did help with my pain, but the side effects were too great to stay on the patch."

• pok...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Just started the 5/hr, a little less than 24 hours ago. Not sure, but think I may be noticing a minimum amount of relief, but bumped up with another 5/hr on my own after the first 12 hours because it is the lowest dose AND checking with pharmacists that know my long history of dosages of narcotics and it being the weekend, so my PM doctor is only available for emergencies. Basically, my fibro muscle pain feels slightly less but has not touched my back, neck, knees, or nerve pain YET. I am hoping, though, since it is early still, according to other readings on here. I have nothing to use for breakthrough, so I'm really missing the 30-60 mg total daily intake of oxycodone that this is supposed to replace with better results. Noticed bad NAUSEA! Jittery the first 1-2 hours when applied."

• Plu...
• March 8, 2018

For Pain "I have been on Percocet 10/325 for a couple of years now for back pain. Well, I decided to tell my pain med doctor that I wanted to get off them because you hear so many horror stories about this drug. Plus, it would sometimes make me sick and my head feel foggy, but it worked wonders for pain. So, the doctor put me on the BUTRANS patch 10mcg plus 5mg Percocet. I had the patch on for 4 days, and my pain in my back was terrible! I never felt this much pain before, plus it was making me sick. So, I called the doctor, and of course can’t get me in for another 2 weeks. So, I have been taking the Percocet but sometimes take 2, which I know is not good because of the acetaminophen in them. The doctor called me in some nausea meds, which help a lot when taking Percocet. Not sure about the patch because I took it off. I am thinking about putting another one on and just getting through the pain. Does anyone know if you say you want off the percs, but other meds are not working, will the doctor put you back on percs?"

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2022

For Chronic Pain "My doctor died, and the new doctor decided to put me on this medication. It does not control my pain, and it also makes me nauseous and sleepy. It is very upsetting when I tried to tell the new doctor about this after being on it for over a week with no relief."

• ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Butrans causes depression, anxiety, dizziness, nausea. Do not get on this medication."