Buprenorphine and Itching: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Rar...
• June 11, 2011

Buprenorphine for Pain "So far, I have been on the Butrans patch for about 2 weeks. I have a rare genetic disorder called Familial Mediterranean Fever. Basically, my body can't stop normal body inflammation, and hormones, physical exertion, and strong emotions can make the inflammation worse, and that is an attack. The pain is unbelievable. I've been on Vicodin for the chronic pain and for the pain when I have an attack for 3 years. After being on Norco for 8 months, they just weren't doing it for me anymore during my attacks. My doctor started me on the 10 mg Butrans patches along with my normal amount of Norco pills. Right now, I can only say that it helps along with the pills (3-4 a day). But they itch really bad, I get a rash at the site, and I have problems peeing."

• Alf...
• May 27, 2011

Buprenorphine for Pain "Very effective for pain relief. For me, the itching and long-lasting (up to a month after use) red squares in all areas where the patch has been applied are serious setbacks. Several solutions have been suggested, but none of them have helped. Because of the itching and the efforts to reduce it, the patches tend to fall off. It seems I scratch the area at night and dislodge the patch. Any abnormal stress in my life tends to aggravate these side effects. But, as stated, they work for pain relief."

• Sof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2020

For Pain "Horrible experience. I’ve never had an opioid addiction but was aware it could be also used as a painkiller. I used the buprenorphine strips for pain in my arm after I had minor surgery done. At first, the effects were positive. I felt very sleepy and euphoric, but also because I had taken it at night. Once I woke up in the morning, I started to experience all the side effects that came with it. Shaking, sweating, muscle tightening, itching, vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations, headache, nausea, twitching, dry mouth, hard breathing, and heart racing all in 24 hours. I don’t recommend this drug for pain, other than that, I’ve read many good things about it."

• sev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2023

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have had osteoarthritis lumbar and cervical for the past 30 years with no significant pain relief. I saw a pain management team who at first refused all opioids but was finally prescribed Butrans 5 transfer patch. Remove the foil package and hold the patch in your hands to warm it up for at least 30 seconds. You're warming the glue on the patch up, nothing else. Make sure wherever you're placing the patch has been thoroughly cleaned beforehand. Once it's on, you cannot remove it for 7 days. The intense itching was irritating. I used a back scratcher to gently scratch around the patch. I started to feel sick on day 4, then I had an intense headache. I now have to take an anti-sickness tablet every day to stop feeling sick. I have no pain at all because of this little patch. I can now start to walk a bit more."

• Azp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2015

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I saw in the comments that someone had an allergic reaction. I thought it was interesting. After 10 weeks of wearing the patch, I developed some itching around the edges. The next week, I had intense itching as if bitten by mosquitoes. I removed the patch and tried one more patch. The reaction started after 2 days, mild itching to a very discrete raised red patch the exact size of the patch. I don't know if it's the patch or the medication, but I will have to discontinue use. Too bad since it really worked well at alleviating my pain at night."

• Sho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I switched from Butrans patch (which caused some itching and did not seem to last past day six) to Belbuca. I am on day 4 and have no pain relief. I have severe diabetic neuropathy and the Butrans made the pain manageable, especially at night. The film does not completely dissolve, I do not recommend trying this medication unless you have some sort of backup medication for pain relief."

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

Buprenorphine 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."

• Vgo...
• July 23, 2015

Buprenorphine for Pain "I just started this yesterday, so I will continue to update on it. My low score doesn't indicate that it isn't working for me, just that it has not yet had a chance to. So far, though, I have been up the entire night itching. Not at the application site, but all over, just like I do when I'm coming down from morphine or other anesthesia after surgery. I hope that this passes because I'm very optimistic that this will work for me. My doctor just switched me to Butrans yesterday to replace Norco and baclofen because my breakthrough pain was just getting so frequent and so severe that the other drugs were worthless. Reading everybody else's stories, though, makes me feel very optimistic about Butrans."

• Tra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 22, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Patch worked great at first. Now I'm on the 20 mcg, and the itching is killing me. Now I am having a hard time urinating after being on this patch for over 3 years. Guess I will have to be in pain again. Don't get me wrong, at first, this was amazing, but it's just not giving me the relief I need. Had to start using more breakthrough meds."

• cla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Works most of the time, but I still take Tylenol 3 for breakthrough pain. Works better when placed on the upper body. Tried it on legs and butt and had lesser effect. Worst part about Butrans patch: the plastic medication patch is square. It digs into your skin. By day 2, I start to itch from the jabbing. When I remove it, I have 4 puncture wounds from each corner. Make it round!"

• sup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I was prescribed Suboxone, buprenorphine, for chronic pain in 2004. When the patch, Butrans, came along, I was given that, but it itched too much. Recently, I moved to an area that virtually has no idea that buprenorphine is great for pain relief. After much suffering, I found someone who would prescribe it for such, but my insurance also is behind the times and so after a few $200 copays, I heard about Belbuca, so I tried it. After a couple of doses, I figured out the best way to open the pouch, and for the most part, it dissolved fine. The problem is it's just too weak. The highest dose didn't cut it for me. I gave it up and accepted the generic sublingual tablets of buprenorphine, which are covered by my insurance. They are fine."

• Rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2025

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I’ve never had a reaction to a medication before the Brixadi one-month injection. The day I received the injection, the back of my neck started itching. By day two, I had a severe allergic rash on my neck, back, and chest. I’m on week three with this same rash, and it has been an extremely difficult and uncomfortable several weeks. This experience has taught me never to get another injection that lasts longer than one day. Once it’s given, there’s no taking it back."

• Six...
• November 22, 2011

Buprenorphine "Update from my comments on July 11. I have since been bumped up to 10 mcg, and it seems to be handling the pain very well. I am starting to experience that the patch seems to lose strength at about day 5 (that is why the Doc bumped me up to 10 mcg). Might have to pay another visit to see about 20 mcg. Have most of the same symptoms as everyone else... extreme itching at sites, etc. BUT, I am still very pleased with the results of the patch as opposed to taking multiple pills."

• ewi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have been on the patches for about four months, and they really help. I have mild itching at the site and have little or no side effects. Sometimes I have a little dizziness. This may be due to the initial application being a little stronger upon the initial application. They are costly, so ask your doctor for a discount card."

• Klo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2015

For Pain "My doctor prescribed buprenorphine in tablet form for pain. Prescribed 8 mg, but that's way too strong. Hard to break into fours. Anyone else take it in tablet form, and if so, any side effects? I seem to have some body itch?"

• Ecc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "First, I want to say pain medicines come in different chemical structures, like a mechanic may have 8 tools to remove and replace a 10 mm nut. Sometimes a common tool will work, sometimes a specialty one is needed. I’m not saying those who this medicine has worked for are liars, nor am I saying that those it does not work for are lying. If one shoe fit all, we would not have sizes 1-14. (I am only speaking of my view and opinion on the medicine, try it and judge it with an open mind. Everyone, you may find it’s a diamond or a turd, but everyone is different, that’s what makes us unique.) I was given the Butrans patch, 10 and 15 mcg/h, for relief. The only thing I got was a rash and itching from medical tape glue. I was put on Belbuca after 2 weeks on the patch and spent a month on the 150 and 300 mcg/h doses, and still no relief from it. To me, Belbuca and Butrans are GARBAGE to push on us, just to clear doctors' consciences so they think they are doing no harm."

• Ecc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2021

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have chronic pain from DDD combined with lousy back surgery. I asked for an increase in the pain meds I was on (MS Contin 15 mg, oxycodone 5 mg) being it was not effective anymore. Well, the next thing I’m told this glorious story about Butrans. I said, ok, I’ll try it with the thought I can go back if it don’t work. Well, the patch's glue made me itch like I had lice under it, and I was up to 15 micrograms. So, I said, can you please put me back? I’d rather have the poor pain management than the Butrans. They put me on the Belbuca and I’m up to 300 mg now of it. They seem to be insistent on keeping me on this stuff that doesn't help me worth a damn. Take it from me, don’t try it, even if your pain is under-managed, you will be sorry."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "Just had my 1st Sublocade injection a few days ago. It burned so bad going in, it felt like fire under my skin. That afternoon, I was leaning over my armrest in my car to pay for my food and briefly hit my injection site, it felt like I was injected all over again, intense burning. It has been 3 days, and I have not had any cravings nor withdrawal symptoms. If you can stand to overlook the pain from the injection site, redness, itching, and burning from the medication, then it is a pretty good alternative to taking the pills or film every day. I have a way to go before fully sold, but I will update you after my 3rd injection, I will be on the maintenance dose. So I pray it all works out because I would like to use Sublocade to come off Suboxone for good within a year or two, if all goes well. Not worrying about having to take my Suboxone every day, having it “out of sight, out of mind” can be a game changer, if it holds up and I don’t experience any major side effects or withdrawals."

• Aro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2012

For Chronic Pain "Chronic low back pain for 4 years after a car accident. Finally, my doc tried me on this product, and it is an absolute life-changer for me. I take the 10 microgram/h strength and change it every 5 days. The 'glue' on this patch makes my skin itch like crazy, so now I trim off all the edges where the glue is and apply only the medicated section with a Tegaderm bandage. It keeps it on very well, and I don't have a reaction on my skin at all. It dropped my pain level from an average 6 to an average 4/10. I still take Tylenol 3 for breakthrough pain a couple of times a day, but on the whole, life is so much better for me with this medicine."

• Mel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 25, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I have chronic nerve pain in my face (TMJ?). In the beginning, the patch was great! Now the generic buprenorphine patch won't stay attached no matter what I do! I always cleanse the site with alcohol and apply allergy nasal spray (to help with itching), and as soon as I break out into a little sweat, it's falling off! I live in Texas, so sweat is inevitable. Very frustrating!!"

• Fak...
• May 10, 2015

For Chronic Pain "To the person who had itching and raised surface around the buprenorphine patch. I had the same problem, and it turned out to be that I was allergic to the glue that held the patch on. Silicon is the culprit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

For Chronic Pain "Worst med I have ever been prescribed! Too many side effects. Personally experienced itching, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, neuropathy in hands and feet, loss of coordination, and dizziness. I was prescribed ondansetron and baclofen for nausea, vomiting, and for spasms just to continue to take the buprenorphine. Initial Rx 8 mg 4x per day titrated down to 2 mg, then 1 mg when side effects began. Off buprenorphine, side effects clearing with the notable exception of the neuropathy! No more need for ondansetron or baclofen, no nausea, vomiting, or spasms. Back on Morphine IR 15 mg 3x per day. Not working well for severe to extreme chronic pain due to near-fatal MVA cervical and lumbar damage. Need to be back on MS Contin. This worked before for pain management. (The opioid epidemic and CDC recommendations did not take into account the non-abuser of opioids and who benefitted from them) caused these medical problems! For me, buprenorphine was not good. I think Rx needs to be individualized."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2017

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Allergic reaction where the patch was. Red, blistering, and itching. Usually by the 3rd day."