Buprenorphine and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I put this patch on on Friday. At first, I felt dizzy and nauseous, so I had to take a Zofran and the feeling went away. It seemed like the pain relief was almost immediate, it was a 7.25 mcg/hr patch. Keep in mind that I've been taking other pain meds since 2004 for fibromyalgia, and I had stopped them the day before in anticipation of this patch. I woke up in quite a bit of pain on Saturday and took a Norco, and with that and moving around, I felt fine. I had to take a Zofran Saturday, Sunday, and today for nauseousness, but other than that, I feel fine and the pain is gone. It has only been 3 days, but if it keeps working like this, I'm sticking with the patch. Very happy so far."

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

Buprenorphine for Pain "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 for Pain "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."

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

Buprenorphine for Pain "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."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2018

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have chronic pancreatitis. I was prescribed Belbuca 300. It did help somewhat for my pain. Although the side effects were awful. I was trading pain for some kind of lethargic, very sick state. At work, I was told to get more sleep, although I slept 10 hours plus. I was nauseated, dizzy, with mild pain. When I told my doctor, he said it was normal. So I continued for 30 days. I just couldn't take it. I asked him if there was anything else. He said no. For me, he wanted me to take a higher dosage. I couldn't agree. I need to go to work, I need something else, not being lethargic!"

• Fib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2014

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "My doctor first prescribed these for me at the 10 mg dosage as many of her fibromyalgia patients did well on them. When I first started to use them, the side effects were awful: headaches, lightheadedness, dizzy spells that came on out of the blue, severe nausea. But after the first patch, the symptoms seemed to ease when I would place the patches on my thigh or arm. Then by the 2nd box, I noticed they weren't doing anything for the pain. So my doctor upped the amount to 20 mg. I started to take the first of those patches this week. Side effects were tripled. After going for a 4-mile run, I came home and felt like I was going to pass out. This turned into my vomiting violently for 20 minutes. Don't know that I'll continue; pain has dulled."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2019

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I have been on two 8 mg Suboxone for about 10 years. Weaning off and going through withdrawal has always been my biggest hurdle to quitting. My doctor mentioned this shot to me. Said minimal side effects and coming off the shot is nothing like strips. I had my first shot yesterday and felt fine, but day 2 and I feel awful. The worst stomach pain, nausea, and headache. I sure hope this goes away. The idea of not having to worry about taking meds every day is a Godsend."

• Chi...
• September 2, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I've been on multiple different pain meds for chronic spine issues. The pain doctor decided to switch me to this new pain medicine with promising results. This is my third dose, and stomach pain and nausea begin 45 minutes after every single dose. It seems to subside a little towards the eighth hour or so. This medicine has zero effect on pain, it just creates more by adding the stomach pain. This medicine is being pushed because it has a low potential for abuse thanks to the junkies. That's fine, but make sure it works before you release it. All of the complaints about this drug will make it a short-lived one. Doctors will push it hard in the beginning, but patients will push back. Complete garbage, and a waste of money. Thanks, Endo Pharmaceuticals, for the stomach pain."

• 50o...
• April 30, 2017

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "On it for a month, and I'm having bad side effects. Extreme restless arms and legs, enough that I can't sleep in the same bed as my husband. Slight headache, nausea, extreme fatigue... can't function, and my pain is okay, as long as I don't do any gardening or heavy housework. Right now, I can barely make dinner. I'm so very tired all the time. I had to go on this med because we just retired, and my Medicare drug insurance will not pay for what worked so well before... then there was a quality of life... now I'm not doing so well."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Not only did it not really do anything for my chronic pain made worse by a car accident where I broke the left side of my body, but I was on it for 5 days and lost 8 lbs due to nausea and vomiting. I'm one day off of it and still nauseous, can't eat, can barely drink. I'm so miserable. Thank goodness I also have Oxycodone, which is making me nauseous as well thanks to the Belbuca."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "If I could rate this medication as a zero, I would. Virtually no pain relief, only nausea, intermittent diarrhea, headaches, and vertigo. It does not stick to the inside of your cheek, as every time you swallow, it moves around and either sticks to your teeth or you swallow it. Horrible, horrible medication. Films often crack in half by the time you can finally pry them out of the foil, and they are so small that if you have any sort of tremor, as I do, they often fall out of my fingers. In my opinion, they need to scrap the whole thing and start over. Horrible."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2024

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Was on oxycodone for 15 years for chronic long nerve/pain. Trying Belbuca 150 mcg film. Belbuca works from 6 to almost 12 hours per film. Breakthrough pain can be handled by oxycodone or a crumble or two of the pill (under tongue) form of buprenorphine. Juggling things around until we get it right for me. I am liking the film so far. It does take care of my pain for longer time spans than the oxycodone does. I hope to stay at a low dose level as there are both good and bad side effects. I do not get constipated. Some nausea, which I hope will disappear with time. Does screw up my sleep a bit. I am quite pleased to be at a pain level that works for me. The conversion from oxycodone to this was not that bad. I could not deal with the pain without upping into larger doses of my former pain med. This Belbuca has been good so far. Not perfect, yet very good for pain. There is always a trade-off relief vs side effects. I am only going into month 2. So far...so good."

• She...
• September 20, 2015

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I've been on Butrans 10 mcg since July. Today I noticed that my shirt, right where I had the patch, was wet. I checked the patch and I could see a liquid seeping from the patch. With today being Saturday, I couldn't reach my doctor, so I got ready and went to the pharmacy. I guess the way I was feeling could be described as being extremely 'high' and very jittery! Also, my head hurt and I was nauseous! The pharmacist told me to remove the patch right away, and she gave me a piece of paper to stick it on and a zipper bag to close it up in. She said I was getting the full week-long dose all at once, so I was in jeopardy of overdosing if I wouldn't have caught it sooner! I don't know if I want to put another one on!"

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2022

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have a rare disease called Still's disease that's been, for the most part, controlled with getting infusions of a biological drug every 4 weeks and taking Norco with muscle relaxers as needed during flares. Well, about 2 weeks ago, I ended up in the hospital because I passed out due to a blood clot and also broke my right leg in several places, which required surgical intervention. It was a nightmare in the hospital for them to get my pain under control because of these new opioid guidelines. Anyway, I finally was released and was doing okay on 7.5 of Percocet every 6 hours for pain as needed. When I saw my PM doctor, he put me on Belbuca 150 mg, with Percocet for breakthrough pain. I felt awful! Had horrible nausea, headaches. My heart was skipping beats, I felt like a zombie. I was so dizzy that I was afraid I would fall. My husband said I was talking crazy. I don't recommend this drug to anyone. It was really scary, and I can't imagine feeling like that all the time."

• Les...
• May 3, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have a bulging disc in my lower neck and a herniated disc in my lower back. My pain level is very high. Percocet started to not work, and I was put on the Butrans patch, 20 milligrams. Within 36 hours, I was so nauseous that I was vomiting. And when I wasn't vomiting, I was in a constant state of wanting to vomit. It also created great depression and jerky movements in my body when I was trying to sleep. I would not recommend this medication for someone who has a weak stomach. It did help with my pain, but the side effects were too great to stay on the patch."

• Mas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2020

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I am about 72 hours post-initial 300 mg Sublocade shot. The needle itself is painless, but the medication does hurt going in. As a previous Vivitrol patient, I expected the same results and quickly learned the difference in the two, pain-wise. For me, it definitely gives you an opiate-type high, something I wasn’t expecting, and I was very nauseous, even when previously on (2) 8 mg pills per day. The high lasted a couple of days, but now on my third day, I am starting to feel withdrawal symptoms. I woke up feeling like I am used to feeling this morning. It’s not extreme, just fatigued throughout the day. I may need to supplement a few mg per day. As for the injection, you are left with a big lump. (I am a very thin person, and it’s extremely noticeable.) I was unaware and thought it was abnormal until I read these reviews. It’s very serious, as it affects your life directly. Thanks for the input from everyone else."

• pai...
• April 19, 2012

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I suffered with chronic pain for 10 years. Used fentanyl pain patches and codeine number 4. Did very well until the heat and my hormones made the patch secrete in crazy ways, making me sick for about 9 months. I wanted off these patches and was referred to great doctors, and started the Subutex 8 mg and have been a new person since it began. I did have to increase one half pill after about 6 months. Does your body get used to the Subutex, or is my body changing? I'm also menopausal, depressed, and Subutex seems to help with these issues also."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Have been in chronic pain for years due to head, neck, Ts, Ls, and S damage. This is one of the most annoying delivery types ever thought up by the ever-failing pharmaceuticals. Gross taste, and yes, too much ends up swallowed, as all pain patients have dry mouth due to everything we've had to take. Fail! It works only on some of my pain, it aggravated headaches to full-on migraines daily, and did nothing but inflame my worst area. Nausea, yes, bowel pain and dysfunction, miserable for anyone with an intestinal issue. Why is this being pushed so soon? We all know new meds are never safe. Would love for the big 3s to get out of my doctor's care. I'm going to fight back and insist my doctor be smarter than this, save me side effects yet to be seen."

• 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."

• Fio...
• March 31, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I was prescribed this medication for RSD chronic pain. I've been on this medication for approximately two and a half weeks now. The nausea is awful, vomiting, the feeling of being seasick 24 hours a day. I recalled my pain management doctor and explained the side effects of this. I was told I would have to stay on at the full 30 days. I had to recall a few days later to get prescribed a pill for nausea. After two doses of that, I still vomited. I am now on the second day with the nausea medication and a Belbuca. Hopefully, today is better. Most times, the dissolving film does not dissolve completely. Almost 75% of the patches I have taken so far left what looked to be like a small piece of gum either stuck to my teeth or the side of the inside of my cheek."

• Fio...
• March 31, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I was prescribed this medication for RSD chronic pain. I've been on this medication for approximately two and a half weeks now. The nausea is awful, vomiting, the feeling of being seasick 24 hours a day. I recalled my pain management doctor and explained the side effects of this. I was told I would have to stay on at the full 30 days. I had to recall a few days later to get prescribed a pill for nausea. After two doses of that, I still vomited. I am now on the second day with the nausea medication and a Belbuca. Hopefully, today is better. Most times, the dissolving film does not dissolve completely. Almost 75% of the patches I have taken so far left what looked to be like a small piece of gum either stuck to my teeth or the side of the inside of my cheek."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2019

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I tried to ask my doctor the equivalent of Suboxone to Sublocade... I guess there isn’t an answer. After being on Suboxone for the past 2 years, I felt I was suddenly pushed into this by my doctor. They’ve been giving it to all their other clients. I heard, “everyone feels great on it,” and I thought, hey, it’d be nice to not have to take it daily. (2/8 mg films once daily) It left a rock in my stomach from the actual injection (which wasn’t too bad (with the novocaine)). So, fast forward, it’s about my 3rd week on it. I just woke up and have no desire whatsoever to get out of bed. When I do get up, I feel like puking (not in a good way), and the nausea has been every single day along with very annoying headaches. Not sure why it’s so expensive? Likely because it is new."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2023

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I had my fourth 300 mg shot yesterday and feel awful: nauseated and badly constipated. I will not be getting any more shots because it did not work for me at all. I might even lose my job because I was too sick to go to work. I have been on Suboxone strips for 13 years and am dying to get off, but I will most likely be on it for my whole life. It's all about the money. Remember that they are not trying to cure anyone. The reason I say this is that buprenorphine, which is sold alone in tablets, works better than Suboxone with no naloxone and only costs $30.00 for a month's supply, whereas Suboxone strips cost hundreds of dollars. The VA medical board told doctors to stop prescribing it about 4 years ago and the only way to get this cheap medication is to be pregnant or allergic to naloxone. It's a 50-50 shot with Sublocade. It did not work for me, and I am stopping. No more for me. It makes me feel like rubbish."

• pok...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Just started the 5/hr, a little less than 24 hours ago. Not sure, but think I may be noticing a minimum amount of relief, but bumped up with another 5/hr on my own after the first 12 hours because it is the lowest dose AND checking with pharmacists that know my long history of dosages of narcotics and it being the weekend, so my PM doctor is only available for emergencies. Basically, my fibro muscle pain feels slightly less but has not touched my back, neck, knees, or nerve pain YET. I am hoping, though, since it is early still, according to other readings on here. I have nothing to use for breakthrough, so I'm really missing the 30-60 mg total daily intake of oxycodone that this is supposed to replace with better results. Noticed bad NAUSEA! Jittery the first 1-2 hours when applied."

• Fio...
• April 10, 2016

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I have been on this for almost a full month and can't wait to get off of it. The nausea has been awful, I was prescribed Zofran, which did nothing, and then was prescribed Phenergan. It made it bearable. This has felt like being seasick 24/7. My pain management doctor will not change me to something new until I see him again. If he doesn't take me off of this, I will be looking for a new doctor."