Butorphanol and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• THE...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 24, 2014

For Pain "For migraine pain = BEST = obliterates an attack. Side effects = Severe = dizzy and sedated, tolerance develops rapidly with any repetitious use. I take Stadol to abort only the most severe migraine attacks, about 10 doses per year. I can take it, but only if I have absolutely NO responsibilities for the following 4 hours. Stadol has helped me avoid a trip to the ER numerous times. It's one of those 'break glass in case of emergency' type medicines for me. It works EXTREMELY fast, starting in less than 2 minutes."

• Anonymous
• March 15, 2011

For Pain "Stadol, along with Vistaril, are the best combination on the planet for my migraines. When I get one that will not respond to the other medicines I am supposed to try first, and if I can convince the ever-suspicious doctors and my local emergency room that not everyone is a drug seeker and some of us REALLY DO have REAL pain issues, this is usually what they give me. When I have one that bad, all I want to do is sleep through it anyway, and the Stadol alone kind of makes me drowsy but ambitious. But the Vistaril makes me relaxed and sleepy, so I don't wake up to some kind of half-done project that I neither recognize nor remember. Plus, I almost NEVER wake up with a migraine again."

• sli...
• June 17, 2008

For Pain "Stadol works great for migraines. The only bothersome side effect that I've noticed is that after you take it, it doesn't make you really sleepy, but you still feel like you have to close your eyes. Otherwise, this drug is a lifesaver for migraine sufferers."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2020

For Labor Pain "They gave me this while I was in labor. I was only 2 cm dilated, but my contractions were starting to get unbearable. I asked for pain medicine, so they gave me Stadol. They told me it would make me a little drowsy, which is an understatement. I was falling asleep quickly against my will within minutes. I told my fiancé to call the nurse because I thought the medicine was going to finish me. I would have been okay with it if it had relieved the pain, but it did not. I felt everything and was well aware of my surroundings but could not open my eyes or respond. I felt like I was trapped inside of my body and could not even advocate for myself."

• Til...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2020

For Labor Pain "They gave me this when I was at about 4-5 centimeters. I went into labor at midnight, so I was on 0 hours of sleep and was in terrible pain. They put this in my IV, and it was amazing. They told me I’d feel drunk, and I did. I then got an amazing 5-hour nap, which was well needed, considering I was in labor for 21 hours."

• Dai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2016

For Pain "Omg, I was given Stadol in my arm where my IV was to start. I went to the ER for throwing up and throat burning, and the right side of my throat was closing up like swollen and on fire. They took blood, a pee test, and came back with Zofran in my IV and had me drink this cocktail stuff that had lidocaine in it. Made my throat burn worse. I think they gave me WAY too much of Stadol. Weirdest feeling ever! Felt like I was flipping backwards, my body was being pulled, forcing my whole body, brain, and eyes. Felt so panicky, freaked out, the worst drunk feeling ever. I would NOT recommend this to anyone. Coming down from that scary high. Still can't stand up by myself. Do not take it. I would rather have the pain than have to take this again."

• Sos...
• August 20, 2019

For Labor Pain "I was given Stadol for labor pain management. While it helped me not to feel connected to the pain, I didn’t like how it made me feel instantly. It forced me into a drowsy state. I couldn’t sleep and began having trouble breathing. Following my delivery, I spent the first night crying because I couldn’t sleep and became paranoid and scared that I’d stop breathing in the middle of the night. Not only did I not sleep, but the few times I dozed off, it started off with a hallucination. It has been 5 days since I gave birth, and I’m still having trouble sleeping at night. If any of you moms can give me some tips on what helped you wean this thing out of your system, please do. Thank you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2022

For Labor Pain "It never took away any labor pain. It only made me feel messed up. And made me keep falling asleep."