Butrans and Pain: What Users Say

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2020

For Chronic Pain "The nice thing about buprenorphine patch is you don't have to take pills. But I have had more patches that don't stick on than do stick. Usually, I need tape to make it stay on. I have lost patches without knowing and then I have nothing on for pain. My doctor started me on the lowest dose, 5 mcg, for naive opioid users. I wasn't naive to opioids, and he knew that. I was forced off all pain medication for about a week. It was torture - the pain. Then having to use the lowest dose for 2 months. He finally went up to 10 mcg. It isn't relieving my pain. I went back after 2 months. I asked about increasing. My doctor said see you in 3 months - with no adjustments. I have been in horrible pain, substituting otc pain medication around the clock. I feel as my doctor wants to please the DEA more than help me. When I go back, I will give him the opinion of taking me off, leaving his practice if I must because I have done nothing but suffer from the time I started buprenorphine."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2016

For Pain "I need to update my previous post. I tried the patch about a year ago, but hadn't been completely off all other narcotics at the time of application, so I went through a horrible withdrawal. I decided to give it another chance because of all the good reviews. This time I abstained from all narcotics for 16 hours before applying the patch. I had a lot of pain for about 48 hours after application, but I'm about 60 hours in now & feeling much less pain than I ever did on Percocets. I still have some pain, but I'm only on the 7.5 & will probably have to go up to at least a 10 to feel very little pain. I haven't taken a pain pill in several days. I feel clear-headed & hopeful about the future. I'm so happy I gave the patch another chance!"

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I tried the Butrans patch after many years of being on oxy or hydrocodone. The first week was great. The very first night, I actually slept and woke up refreshed, which I realized hadn't happened in years. After that, it was a nightmare! The 2nd week, I began to notice I was in more pain than I was before I started the Butrans patch, and my right hand was waking me up about 3:30 am numb and feeling on fire, and I fought with that until I had to get up and go to work. I wasn't sure what was going on. By the 3rd week, both my hands were waking me up numb and feeling on fire around 1:30 every night! I was exhausted and in much more pain than ever! I took the patch off, and my symptoms are slowly subsiding. DO NOT TAKE THIS MED!!!!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2013

For Chronic Pain "Was started on the 20... good for 2 weeks, and then I got really dragged out... until I could get to the doctor. I would take it off for a couple of hours and put it back on... just changed me to the 10, but this one isn't enough... had to take Lortab with it for the first time... will call and have her add the 5. My concern is the summer when I hike and swim... have to take it off as I might get too much medicine. Kind of defeats the purpose as I hurt when I am active."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2020

For Pain "On my second patch of Butrans 10 mgs. Honestly, I could sit and cry, it’s not helping at all. I will be phoning my doctor and the hospital tomorrow. I’m devastated that I’m in more pain than with other medication they are trying to replace, down from 6 tramadol to 3 per day. Just want to rip the patch off and take the tramadol."

• Las...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I have been on Butran patches for 4 years, and it works great. I take an oxycodone with it just to help with the chronic pain. I remember when I was off for a few weeks. Man, I tell you, I had bad withdrawals. I could not walk, I felt so much pain. I was rushed to the ER, and they basically had to give me high doses of medicine to get me to feeling well, and that didn't last long. I eventually had to go back to the patches to make it all right, but I must say they work, though, you just have to stay on them."

• Jak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2014

For Pain "I have not been on it longer than 2 days yet. I have a week's patch at 20 mg. I have results, but I'm still in some pain. My doctor has told me to use a further 10 mg patch! I will add this on Monday and write again."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I was on tramadol for 3 years, and that didn't work. I was also taking Gabapentin for fibromyalgia. I started on the patch, 5 mg, then 10 mg. The 7-day patch helped a little for 3 days, then became very itchy and very sore and gave me an allergic reaction to my skin, raising it, going red and tender for 2 weeks after the patch was removed."