Butrans User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Apa...
• May 1, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have been on Butrans for 3 days. On day 2, I woke up pain-free. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and herniated disks L4-S1. I have been receiving injections in my spine for a year and a half and taking Norco 10 every 4 hours, combined with muscle relaxers. I am a nurse, and I work on my feet 36 hours a week. I have felt better the last 2 days than I have felt in a long time. My husband is very active, as I was before my back injury-running, weights, rowing-and today, for the first time in a very long time, I asked him to take me hiking. I feel like Butrans is a lifesaver! But again, it's only day 3, so far no side effects!!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Another very important thing! You MUST be well into withdrawal if you are being moved off another strong opioid such as fentanyl, oxycodone, etc. Otherwise, it will precipitate an even worse withdrawal! I was not made aware of this and my switching from 140 mg oxycodone to a 70 mcg patch, which gave me FAR worse withdrawals than I ever experienced coming off the massive amounts of opioids I'd been on before. That was a walk in the park compared to transitioning to the buprenorphine because I was told just to stop the oxycodone and start the patches, without being in withdrawal first. I NEVER want to go through that again and I'd hate for anyone else to either. And although everyone varies, it actually takes around 2 weeks to fully build up in your system, I was told this only after I ended up in A&E after 3 days, and by then my pain was totally out of control. You should be given buprenorphine subs during this 'settling in' period. Ironically, all of this info I found on the NHS's OWN guidance on the usage of buprenorphine, intended for health professionals."

• Ano...
• May 27, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I've been a chronic pain patient for about ten years. Tried Vicodin, Percocet, Fentanyl, and Tramadol separately and combined with just marginal results. My body always felt off taking these meds. Stomach issues, aches that weren't there before. The best results I've got with pills were Suboxone or Subutex and felt good about the opportunity to FINALLY try Butrans patches. The 10mcg Butrans patch really made a positive difference with my body chemistry. No problems with the adhesive, no weird body feelings, just sweet relief. When I forgot to change the patch after seven days and the medication wore off... I could really feel what the Butrans patch was doing for me."

• med...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2023

For Chronic Pain "Gave to an elderly patient, and it was horrible! She's been on it for over a month and is a completely different person, it's ruined her life. She no longer makes any sense and talks constantly to the point where her voice is raw. She is combative at times, which she never was before. It has done nothing at all for her pain. I wish to God they had never prescribed this pain patch. They wanted Fentanyl, but the pharmacy refused. Do not let your elderly loved ones take this medication! It is not safe. I don't care what the company claims."

• Hum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2014

For Chronic Pain "Excellent pain relief, but the side effects made it impossible to continue using it. My dosage was 10mcg. Severe hypersensitivity reactions within two weeks and had to go to ER three times and doctor twice, because of horrible allergic reactions: facial swelling, throat swelling and raw to the point of barely able to swallow and unable to speak, blood pressure and pulse skyrocketed, had to use Epi pen twice in 24-hours, scary. If a person doesn't have side effects with the patch, the pain relief is excellent. If a person has potentially life-threatening side effects, as I did, the fact that the patch is providing pain relief is irrelevant."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2013

For Chronic Pain "Butrans 20mg gave me my life back. The side effects are nothing compared to how I feel now being on this patch. Don't have the drowsy side effects that all the pills give a person. Now every so often I get what the doctor calls breakthrough pain, then I take pills like Norco, Metaxalone, Indomethacin, etc. Honestly, I take Indomethacin every night before bedtime, love those also. All I know is before the patches, I was on the couch all day every day."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2011

For Pain "I was put on this medication by a new doctor who didn't like that I was on fentanyl patches. I was put on the 10 mg to start. The first couple of weeks everything was great, no pain. But then I started having severe muscle and joint pain. Since I have Lupus and Sjogren's, I am used to joint pain, but this was worse than normal. I tried taking the patch off, and the muscle aches stopped, but the other pain I had was worse. My doctor thinks I need to take a higher dose, so I tried the 20 mg. It made me so sleepy I couldn't keep my eyes open. I wonder if any other people have had the side effect of severe muscle aches. I wish I could find something to make it stop."

• plo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2016

For Pain "Was on another drug, fentanyl, for many years. Was put on BUTRANS because tests never showed enough fentanyl in my blood from 2002 to 2016, with no abuse record. I would forget to put my patch on on time and was punished by my physician by being put on BUTRANS PATCH. It is not effective in the least, also, it caused more problems when I went to the ER in extreme pain for another matter. It scared their doctors from treating my pain at all because even though this is a quote pain management drug, it is also a substance abuse control agent used in detoxing patients off of opioid narcotics. That means every doctor you meet while BUTRANS is on your chart will not effectively treat you for pain, you're likely not to be treated at all."

• Eri...
• June 1, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I've had 2 surgeries, nerve stimulant, injections, nerve burns, Physical Therapy, chiro, acupuncture, and every medicine made. With 4 kids, I have to be able to drive, think and function. I have severe sciatica, hip & back pain. I am bone on bone with a rupture at L3/L4 and after the failed nerve stimulation my only option is fusion from L3 to S1 - NOT an option. I started Butrans about 6 months ago on 10 and moved to 20. I change every 5 days - my doctor wrote it that way - it wears off after 5. My pain breaks through some - but I have Norco which is less effective on the patch. It has to be put on carefully, precisely, & it itches, creates a slight rash and it occasionally comes off but I can't live without it. I don't feel high, I just feel relief."

• bio...
• February 14, 2013

For Chronic Pain "After more than a year of asking for extended relief (and moving up to 60mg Percocet with 40mg Flexeril), I was barely able to cook a meal, take a shower, anything that required standing. I was skeptical at first, but (hopefully I'm not jinxing myself), the addition of the Butrans patch for me has been life-changing. I often skip my oral doses, and I cooked two Christmas dinners. I cleaned my house, and right now I'm painting a bathroom and bedroom, a few hours at a time."

• Tur...
• February 27, 2011

For Pain "The patch seems to be helping. I was given the 10mg and think that my doctor is going to bump it up to 20mg as I still need to take about 6-8 10mg Norco during the day and night also. I am hoping to up the patch dose and lessen the Norco dose. I haven't had any side effects from the patch, not one thing. They stay in place for the full 7 days and are very easy to use. The only real downside is the cost, even with a $40 coupon from my doctor it cost $50 for 4 patches. I will try the 20 mg and see if the $50 a month is worth it."

• Jam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 6, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Butrans saved my life and enabled me to function with severe chronic pain, type 1 diabetes, and fibromyalgia. Been on max 20 mcg/hr for several years now. Have terrible sensitivity to patch adhesive, so spray Flovent (puffer) on skin prior to applying patch and all good! Ask your doc for off-label use of Flovent if you get severe itch - I was scratching my skin raw."

• AYe...
• June 9, 2016

For Pain "I have taken Norco on and off for my neck and back pain for years. My stomach produces too much stomach acid, and so I developed stomach problems and can no longer take those types of prescriptions orally. I couldn't take enough Norco all of the time to keep the pain under control without it making me sick anyway. Butrans came along, and now the pain is consistently under control and no stomach problems."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2020

For Chronic Pain "After I was put on the Butrans patch, I couldn’t sleep longer than 5 hours, and I have chronic fatigue syndrome, which normally requires at least 9 hours of sleep. Even though it didn’t help my pain, I continued using it, thinking it’s one of those meds that takes time to work. By the third week, I had a seizure."

• fre...
• March 20, 2011

For Pain "The Butrans Patch so far is working great, it sticks and it is controlling my pain at the 10mg level. I take tramadol for breakthrough pain which works as it is not a narcotic. One downfall is the patch does not last 7 days. What I do is, on the 5th or 6th day before I go to sleep I put on my new patch and take the old patch off the next day. You must be on the right dose, be able to afford such expensive medication and except they don't last a full 7 days. I still have to not sit, stand or lay too long so that is just part of my life dealing with pain."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2011

For Pain "I've been on the patch for the last four months. It has been the best medication I have been on. Had a spinal fusion L-5 S-1 in 07, it was a failed surgery. I've been on every medication you can think of. This patch stays in place for the whole seven days. I also use gabapentin, diclofenac, and Lortab. I like it that it does not make you feel like you are out of it. I can function normally all week long."

• Anonymous
• September 22, 2011

For Pain "I have suffered from really sore muscles as the patch wears off. My neck feels like I have whiplash, and my upper back and shoulders feel stiff and hurt. I'm always well aware when it's time to change the patch. The problem is that the muscle pain starts to get really bad on the 5th day. Because of the 4 patch per month limit, I have to wait. Vicodin makes me feel loopy, and Tramadol makes me feel completely out of it. I will be speaking with my doctor to see what he recommends I do. I, too, have rashes at the patch site as mentioned by many others, and the itching can get quite embarrassing as I don't realize I'm standing at the meat counter at the grocery store scratching my belly until someone starts to stare."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2020

For Pain "Doc started me on Butrans patch 10 mg after stopping oxycodone 11 per day for occipital neuralgia since 2007. Headache pain is 24/7, and oxycodone no longer worked. Unfortunately, after the third patch, my blood pressure was running low, 89/56, and my breathing would be shallow. I've been off the patch for over 24 hours, and breathing is almost back to normal, as well as blood pressure. Anyone else have these issues?"

• Tiw...
• February 18, 2013

For Chronic Pain "Butrans works. I have a hard time finding medicines that work, but plainly put, this works. It does come with a price, however, the patches are sometimes hard to keep on, showering becomes a true chore, the NextCare patches (to cover and waterproof the Butrans patch) are expensive and only last a few days. I wore Butrans for almost a year and in some places, it has scarred me - leaving an outline of the patch on my skin. Also, the patch can itch MADLY in some places. Finally, you must choose your location PERFECTLY or the patch will 'bubble' up or develop waves where the medicine is not making contact with your skin. Again, this patch works."

• Lol...
• September 11, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I loved this at first. I was able to leave it on for the full 7 days. The longer I left it on, my skin started to itch. Now, still trying to use it because it works so well, I can only leave it on for about 3 days before my skin is totally broken out. I am so disappointed because I'd rather not take pills."

• Jus...
• December 29, 2014

For Chronic Pain "My pain doctor suggested Butrans. Butrans works for me. It takes my pain level down to 3 or 4, and that is manageable for me. The only problem I have with the patch is I am allergic to the adhesive. I have to use a spray steroid prior to placing the patch. So far, it has worked. No itching or welts. I have a hard time getting it approved through both my insurances. It takes a couple of days to finally get it approved. I rarely have to take my breakthrough pain meds, and I like that."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I used the generic Butrans patch for 3 weeks due to my insurance co-pays. Each week, after 24 hours of applying the patch, the adhesive broke loose from the skin, and the patch was rendered useless. I eventually taped the patch to my arm but did not receive the full effect of the patch's medication. My pain increased significantly during this time. I contacted the company three times and sent photos, but the company representative did not resolve the issue. I now use only the brand name Butrans and pay a higher co-pay. I feel that the company should, at least, reimburse me for the defective patches."

• Rus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 22, 2018

For Chronic Pain "After spending 4 years taking pills of hydrocodone and morphine for my chronic back pain and worrying whether I would not wake up from sleep, I expressed this concern to my new pain management doctor, who referred the Butrans patch. I started with 5 mcg and am now at 20 mcg after a year. I went through the side effects, from migraines to severe itching, and persevered, I learned to use Benadryl, and the migraines were gone after 3 months. My pain is now considerably less, from (9 to 2-4). I feel a lot better, and yes, I still have some effects, but they are nothing compared to the terrible withdrawal effects of pills and the fact I am still alive for my children and grandchildren."

• Fri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I started the Butrans patch in place of oral tramadol, two 50 mg four times daily after many years. I followed the leaflet to the tee. Almost immediately I had become exhausted. After waking, my breathing became labored, and the patch site started itching uncontrollably. Worried and anxious, I hadn't slept all night. After 24 hours, I called my physician about my symptoms. Now, I have a rash and am dosing myself with Benadryl for the next several days. This drug was a nightmare without the slumber."