Buprenorphine and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Ann...
• October 5, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I have multiple genetic conditions that cause chronic pain. I was on Norco 10 mg for 5(ish) years, then got switched to Percocet 7.5 mg for 8 months. I got so tired of planning my days around medication dosing, so I asked my pain management doctor about giving me something XR so that I wasn’t taking a pill, having it kick in after an hour, work for 3-4 hours, and wearing off. I honestly thought they were going to give XR Oxy or hydrocodone, but my PM really surprised me when she said Butrans/Buprenorphine. She gave me 10 mcg/hr Buprenorphine patches. I didn’t expect much out of it and really thought it was going to be a joke. The first 36 hours were bad, but after that I am getting good pain relief. The only side effects I have are headache and a little nausea. Anyway, my pain has gone from an 8-9 daily down to 3-4. I do still have “flares” and need breakthrough meds at times, but I’m only taking maybe 2 pills per week. I would definitely recommend."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "Run. Run far, far away! The first shot was rough, with a HORRIBLE headache that caused me to think I was having a stroke and lots of vomiting. This lasted about four days. I was convinced to take another. That was three weeks ago, and I have never regretted a decision more. I have been violently ill the ENTIRE TIME! A headache that will not go away at all and hurts so bad I can barely see and have tunnel vision. I vomit nonstop and can't hold food or drinks down. IV fluids several times already. I am lightheaded and run into walls nonstop. I have never been this physically sick in my 42 years of life. Multiple ER visits to be told it's the shot and nothing can be done. My doc refuses to help and tells me it's in my mind. Nonstop pain at my injection site. I was on Suboxone for two years and had zero issues. I have never regretted anything in my life more than taking this shot! PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH! I am appalled at all I have now read and seen. FYI, this is MY experience. May not be yours."

• Shl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2020

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I am on my 6th day since my 1st 300 mg injection of Sublocade. I am starting to feel much better now, but I do have to supplement 4 mg per day of Suboxone to ease the withdrawal symptoms, and yes, I have been in withdrawal. I was previously a 10-year user of Suboxone, 8 mg per day straight for the last 6 months. I have had some side effects: headache, nausea, bad anxiety, but I believe it is going to work with time, possibly get me off altogether. Feeling better with time."

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I've been on 10 mg of oxycodone every 4 hours for 7 1/2 years. This month, my doctor prescribed buprenorphine patches to better control my pain. I put the patch on at 4 pm on Saturday, at 4 am Sunday, I woke up with my body on fire and the worst pain I've ever experienced. I had chemical burns all over my torso, my heart rate was all over the place, the headache was unbelievable, and it's now been 4 days, and the side effects keep coming. Still tired, horrible stomach pains, uncontrolled diarrhea, and a general overall feeling of being torn apart from the inside out. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, no matter the reason. This medicine is awful!"

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2022

For Chronic Pain "I started buprenorphine over 3 months ago. I was praying to God for this medication to work for me. I tried both the transdermal method, but the medication did not last 7 days, 5 days at best. I then switched to the buccal method even though there is a dental warning on this product. This method is a real pain in the neck. You have to dedicate 30 minutes of time twice a day for the medication to dissolve. They don’t stay in place, and you are left with a ball of slime in your mouth. I personally experienced several side effects, including, but not limited to the following: severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain. This medication did not help with my pain. I will go back to oxycodone. At least I have some quality of life while taking it."

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2022

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I take it for back pain, it has definitely helped the nerve pain I feel. I've been on it for 2 years now. At first, it did give me a mild headache, but that went away after my body acclimated to it. The positive is it lasts long, so I don't have to take pills every four hours."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2018

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I'm thinking of getting the Sublocade shot. The doctor is pushing for it a little too hard, too. That concerns me. He told me that it stays in the system for months when I said I was worried if I missed the next shot. That it gradually decreases but has been found 4-5 after the first dose. I suffer from a lot of headaches, and I'm in school and am worried I will get the shot and will have a headache. I can't get rid of other negative symptoms. I have been on Suboxone pills since February."

• FFs...
• June 1, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I’ve been on Suboxone for over 20 years. Down to 2 mg per day. These days I just use it to take the edge off... but I’m really sick of it, TBH. Although I like the buzz I get from it, I’m tired of having to take it all the time. I don’t really get very sick from withdrawals, but it is uncomfortable, with the usual sweats, cramps, and headaches. I’m hoping this will make it easier. I saw all your success stories, so I figured what’s the worst that could happen? They started me on 64 mg Subudole. They said it’s similar to Sublocade but smaller doses for lower mg addicts. The dose definitely hurts (ouch!), but it goes away within 10 min. ATM I feel okay a few hours later. I definitely still have a buzz, so all good so far. I just want to live life free of this crap for once. Also, I’m on Effexor, which I’ve been able to get down to 75 mg, but I’m not going to lower that until I’m off subs completely. So far, so good."

• Ano...
• August 27, 2011

For Opioid Use Disorder "Former non-IV opiate user, high doses, had major issues after detox/rehab due to residual damage to receptors in the brain. Started on Suboxone, but was unfortunately sensitive to the naloxone included to prevent abuse (for me, it caused headaches, low blood pressure, and nervousness, which all abated after switching to Subutex [buprenorphine]). Doctor asked if I would try Subutex before resorting to a methadone clinic (for some people, especially IV users, I believe it is a great tool... but not for me). I obliged, and suddenly my dose didn't need to be as high (from the ceiling around 32mg down to 28, then 24), and negative side effects all but ceased. And all of this with no real 'buzz' like I'd experienced from methadone in the past."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2022

For Chronic Pain "My experience with four (4) once-per-week patches of 10 mcg has been frustrating. And follows 10 years of increasing opioid use (#120 Percocet/mo by Nov 2021 - and I was still miserable. I'd gotten some relief with 'Prednisone' too, but doctors won't keep me on it w/o a diagnosis, pos vasculitis or neuro sarcoidosis. I refused a brain tissue biopsy. My initial relief topped at 50%, and mostly spinal complaints. But it seemed each subsequent patch grew less effective, ending at 30% relief. I had almost no relief from headaches, head pain, soft tissue, and peripheral neuropathy. I was also issued #45 Percocet. But I now believe the Percocet 'add' is part of the problem. It is reported to reduce the effectiveness of the Butrans patch. So it seems I either have Butrans raised to 20 mcg & d/c opioids, or d/c the patch & retry opioids. Anyone else have this same experience? Thanks."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2022

For Chronic Pain "My experience with four (4) once-per-week patches of 10 mcg has been frustrating. And follows 10 years of increasing opioid use (#120 Percocet/mo by Nov 2021 - and I was still miserable. I'd gotten some relief with 'Prednisone' too, but doctors won't keep me on it w/o a diagnosis, pos vasculitis or neuro sarcoidosis. I refused a brain tissue biopsy. My initial relief topped at 50%, and mostly spinal complaints. But it seemed each subsequent patch grew less effective, ending at 30% relief. I had almost no relief from headaches, head pain, soft tissue, and peripheral neuropathy. I was also issued #45 Percocet. But I now believe the Percocet 'add' is part of the problem. It is reported to reduce the effectiveness of the Butrans patch. So it seems I either have Butrans raised to 20 mcg & d/c opioids, or d/c the patch & retry opioids. Anyone else have this same experience? Thanks."

• Dia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2021

For Chronic Pain "In 2018, I used a 20 mg Buprenorphine patch instead of a 50 mg Fentanyl patch. Then I started taking 2 mg Buprenorphine tablets 2x a day. I did physical therapy, which did improve my hip and back pain, but did not totally alleviate my pain. It worked well on being able to focus and my cognitive abilities. However, in the summer of 2021, I started having bad stomach problems and depression that I felt was chemically induced. I started tapering off and got down to 1/4 a pill 2x a day. I transferred to the patch, but I experienced bad headaches, and it was not enough pain relief. I have tapered off other pain medicines much easier to get off them. I worry that I am going to be stuck taking this medicine forever. I am going to ask my doctor today if there is another alternative to using this medication. I remember that getting off of generic Percocet (oxycodone) was much easier when I went through some cancer pain. Be wary of long-term use of this medication."

• ano...
• September 15, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "My very first time I tried a very small crumb of Subutex 8 mg, and that one small crumb gave me an extreme amount of energy the first couple of times taking it. Now when I take just a small amount, I get very dizzy on it, I've nodded out on it, and at night I cannot hold my eyes open. I would have to sleep it off, only to wake up with a terrible headache! I'd rather take Suboxone strips in low doses, Suboxone does not do any of this to me. Maybe it's just me, and my body cannot tolerate this med."

• bmi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2023

For Chronic Pain "It's very helpful. My dosage was recently increased to 600 mg from 450 mg due to chronic body pain from fibromyalgia. My headaches and neck pain are excruciating and debilitating. I also take 1000 mg acetaminophen every 8 hrs. I still experience severe pain constantly."

• big...
• January 14, 2019

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Does not work. I've been on it for 2 weeks, it gives me bad headaches. I'm a pain patient who has been on oxycodone 30 mg for 7 years."

• Qua...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Not effective for me. I think it's a placebo. I experience severe headaches. Was really not effective for them."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Side effects - disturb sleep, headaches, doesn’t control pain very well. Coming off opioids works pretty good."

• Ken...
• January 4, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Lack of appetite. Lethargic. Mild constipation. Mild headache. Very little energy. Reduced acute pain to dull ache."

• Bup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2021

For Chronic Pain "Awful headaches. Insomnia, no pain relief. Of no use whatsoever."