Buprenorphine for Pain User Reviews (Page 3)

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

Buprenorphine "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?"

• bad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2016

Buprenorphine "I've had back pain for 10 years from being an automobile mechanic. I had a fusion L3 TOS1. I'm also an addict. I've been on and abused every pain med there is, so my tolerance is very high. I've found with Butrans it keeps my pain away but no buzz, so I don't abuse it. It's not as effective as fentanyl, but it's decent."

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2012

Buprenorphine "I had spinal fusion on 1 disc over 13 years ago. Maybe I should have done the 3 as recommended by one of the 3 opinions because I've had chronic pain ever since. Still 3 cervical herniations and 3 lumbar. I was on Vicodin and Robaxin and the need increased over time I guess due to tolerance. I was miserable. I finally gave up and decided to live with the pain. I didn't see a doctor for 5 years. Last year I just couldn't do it anymore. I found the right doctor. I feel human again. 10 mg patches work alright with Percocet, but they don't work because Butrans has something in it that counteracts narcotics. I do get joint pain in my arms (weird). May need to go to 20mg since Percs don't work. On Neurontin for nerve pain. Gained 10 pounds but eat less. ???"

• Jea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2017

Buprenorphine "Took this for undiagnosed joint and abdominal pain. It helped a little, but even on the 20 mcg, I still have a lot of breakthrough pain. Then I put a patch on two days ago. Woke up today with a horrible burning at the patch location. It was so bad, I had to remove it. The skin underneath was bright red and 'burnt' looking. It was red both under the adhesive area and under the part where the medication is released. Not sure if I can keep using."

• Anonymous
• September 27, 2011

Buprenorphine "I have been using Butrans for 2 months now. I have scoliosis, cervical, and lumbar bulging discs. I do get relief from the patches, but it doesn't take the pain completely away. I am also prescribed Vicodin for breakthrough pain episodes. My main complaint is HEADACHES! I have been having the worst headaches, so I discontinued the patch for the past week and a half. I am going to resume it today. I will let you know if it's the patch or something else. I am hoping I can continue with the Butrans because it does give me relief."

• G-S...
• August 6, 2015

Buprenorphine "I love my Butrans patch!!! And it has relieved more than half of my pain, and I know this because I only have to take less than half of my painkillers now that I am on the patch! I change my patch every Saturday, but if I miss 24 hours, my pain starts to reside again. If you are not a heavy drinker, I would advise trying this patch!!!"

• six...
• July 8, 2011

Buprenorphine "I have had chronic left shoulder pain for the past 4 years. I tried massage therapy, chiropractic care, physical therapy, etc. I have been taking 4 doses of Tylenol and Motrin for 4 years. Finally, I got my doctor to give me something to help. I have been on the 5 mcg patch for 4 days and have been absolutely pain-free since. The only side effect has been that it itches sometimes at the application site. I can deal with the itching since I am absolutely pain-free after struggling for the past 4 years."

• Bac...
• July 2, 2017

Buprenorphine "I have had 3 major back surgeries in 6 years. Last surgery fused me at 3 levels. Taken hydrocodone for years, was becoming seriously addicted before last surgery. 2 years after last surgery in Nov. 2014, back, hip, and leg pain started to return. My pain management doctor suggested Butrans patches, 10 mcg/hour every 7 days a new patch. 10 mcg was too strong, slept all the time, so switched to 5 mcg. Didn't sleep but had no noticeable pain relief. Upped dosage to 7.5 mcg/hour patch and have decent pain relief, still need hydrocodone 5 mg for breakthrough pain occasionally. I have been on the patches for almost 5 months. Now experiencing joint and muscle pain in arms, wrists, and knees. Hate to give up the patch but still sleepy all the time, no energy."

• Anonymous
• September 4, 2011

Buprenorphine "I've been using the Butrans patches for the past 6 months. In the beginning, everything was wonderful, and breakthrough pain was nonexistent. I then began having more pain, and my doctor put me on Norco 10/325 3 times daily. It was then that I developed rashes, itchiness, and an intolerance to both medications, which my doctor said isn't that uncommon. Now I'm on 20 mcg/hr, and life is good again."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2017

Buprenorphine "I have been on this patch for almost 3 weeks. I noticed stomach pain in the beginning, and it's been steadily getting worse. I went to the ER thinking it was gallstones. Nope. So I took the patch off and will be following up with my family doctor. This patch took away 60%-85% of my pain, but the stomach pains are so bad it's just not worth it."

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

Buprenorphine "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

Buprenorphine "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."

• Opi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2017

Buprenorphine "After having had bilateral hip arthritis for over 16 years with osteopenia and a herniated disc at 4 locations (L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1), but found OTC drugs (Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Meloxicam) not really effective. Found physical therapy comforting on lumbar discs but not at all on arthritis. I have been coping with increasing pain since 2016. My primary care physician sent me to a pain intervention specialist who prescribed me 25 mcg Butrans patches (out of pocket and very expensive) with Tramadol 50 mg to catch up with in 7 days. It's been over 3 days on Butrans with absolutely no effect at all. Very disappointed. I am calling my doc first thing on Monday morning."

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

Buprenorphine "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."

• Khe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2022

Buprenorphine "My pain intervention physician changed my medication from Oxycodone 10 mg to this buccal pain patch. I have used dermal patches such as Duragesic in the past years, but it didn't absorb well. I told my doctor, and he said that this Belbuca of a mid dose should work better. Well... this medication is such a joke! I have had 4 back surgeries since 2009. But the pain I needed relief from was recent weeks of a bilateral total knees done at the same time! Since being pulled off my years of Oxy use, I was just pulled off (withdrawals or not)! This buccal film that this new medication releases medication is a very poor way for absorption to control pain. The little patch either didn't stick inside my cheek, or stuck to the outside of my teeth, or just stuck to my finger! This was the worst pain relief med I have ever taken. ZERO pain relief! Plus my Oxy withdrawals that I experienced post-recent total knees and back pain. Thank you, government, for actually caring about us real patients with pain."

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 17, 2020

Buprenorphine "I have found zero success from Butrans Translucent Films. This is after suffering now 6 months taking this junk as directed. Currently taking 600 mcg. The only reason I have stayed on this medication this long is the doctors continue to tell me they have to step up medication to tolerance. This next appointment will be my last."

• lee...
• December 6, 2011

Buprenorphine "I was put on the 10 mg... it kind of helped with the pain, but I feel dragged down from it, and people keep telling me and asking me if I was tired or sick. I'm young, well, 34, and I have 2 children, 7 and 17, and I'm not wanting to do too much these days because of it."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2020

Buprenorphine "The humiliation of having to do a urine drug test for most of my DR visits (2020 - government). But now I'm thankful because the Butrans patch was NOT showing up in my urine for 2 months in a row. I had complained to the doctor each month that I was still in a lot of pain. The third month, he finally confirmed the medicine from the Butrans patch was definitely not in my body and changed medication. The patch sat on top of my skin, the medicine part wasn't touching my skin. It did work the first 2 months and did take my pain away. I don't know if the formula changed."

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

Buprenorphine "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."

• pai...
• August 25, 2019

"My pain specialist switched me to this when the morphine stopped being as effective. I was in tears today - I got zero relief. The FDA sat on their fat rear ends and didn't do their jobs and allowed a dangerous product to be put on the market. I now live in agony! If that wasn't bad enough, the CDC screwed my life up even worse by their 'recommendations' of no more than 90 mm a day of an opiate. Doctors and patients are not causing the opioid epidemic, illegal drugs are. They go after patients who had nothing to do with the illegal opioid problem."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2011

Buprenorphine "I just started using the patch yesterday, and after sleeping, I saw that the patch was starting to come off. I had to put medical tape all around the patch to keep it on, but even the tape is folding up. I am not sure that this patch will last longer than 2 days. I am afraid to take a shower because I think the thing is going to come right off."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 30, 2023

Buprenorphine "Been on 10 mcg patch for 15 years. It was a total miracle for me right away! Prior to this, I was taking 90 hydros a month. But this worked many times better than the hydros ever did. After being on this for so many years, I have two major observations to make: 1) For some reason, there’s a significant percentage of pain patients this won’t work for at all. I was always amazed to hear anyone say this didn’t work for them, but I personally know people who said that to me. So I guess it’s either a home run or a flop. 2) This second issue really pisses me off. As many other reviewers have stated, this sh** doesn’t last 7 days! It’s over by day 5. And my last two pain docs were oblivious to this fact. If you are a pain doc, how in the world were you not taught this shortcoming on day 1 of medical school? And how did the manufacturer get away with its claims of it lasting 7 days? Docs need to have a plan for this poop out!"

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2016

Buprenorphine "Been on this for 4 months now, and it has brought relief that I hadn't had in years. I have too many issues to name. My dose was upped this month to 7.5. I found that after about 5 days, the patch is wearing off. Last month, the doctor changed the rx to every 5 days instead of 7, but this presented a bit of a problem with insurance filling it. Since there's only 4 in a box, I had to go back on day 20 to fill again (with additional copy). Still, every 5 days was better, but I did still have breakthrough pain. The problem for me was that the doctor changed me from 4 times a day tramadol to 3 times a day, so I still had issues. This is my 2nd week on a higher dose and back to 4 times a day tram. The patch is good, but I have a rash/itch at the application site and constipation that I didn't have with Norco."

• Anonymous
• July 12, 2008

Buprenorphine "I was injured in 1986 in a serious accident and had several back and neck surgeries afterward. The residual pain was unbearable, and after being out of touch with the world for 5 or 6 years, one of my doctors asked me to try Buprenex when I refused to start on OxyContin. I remain on the same dosage today, and I have my life back. No longer do I stay in a stupor all day. Buprenex controls my pain, yet it does not rob my memory and brain as the other medicines had done. Thank you for Buprenex."

• Tom...
• September 22, 2015

"I am 47 years old, and a recovering addict. Around 1999, I hurt my lower back and began taking opioid-based medications. As the years went by, I required stronger and stronger opioid medications in order to relieve the pain. I’m talking over 365 pills a month. It had gotten out of control. So, I put myself into rehab in order to get off opioids altogether. But unfortunately, the pain still existed. So, I relapsed because I couldn’t handle the pain. Once again, I put myself into rehab. But this time, I was prescribed a buprenorphine-based medication, and it was a godsend! I have been taking a buprenorphine-based medication for about 5 years now, and it controls my pain without needing to increase the dosage. I take one to two doses a day, and I feel great!"