Butorphanol and Hallucinations: What Users Say

• Ble...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2019

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "I was induced at 6 a.m. I was told at 6 p.m. that I was no longer dilating but now constricting. I had suffered with back pain and was given an epidural, which apparently curled, and another one was inserted, with no relief from pain. Then the anesthesiologist put Stadol in my IV, and I FLIPPED OUT. I became completely paranoid and disoriented. My tongue was swelling. I was trying to tell them no more but was having trouble talking. They gave it to me 3 times during my labor. I eventually had a c-section around midnight. It caused me to become delusional. I even thought the hospital had done something to my baby, was convinced the heartbeat from the heart monitor was not my baby’s heartbeat. When taken in for surgery, I reached up and pulled the drape down, then they finally gassed me. I have to list Stadol on my list of allergies. HORRIFIC drug that I wouldn’t want anyone to run the risk of experiencing negative side effects. Not worth it!"

• Ble...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2019

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "I was induced at 6 a.m. I was told at 6 p.m. that I was no longer dilating but now constricting. I had suffered with back pain and was given an epidural, which apparently curled, and another one was inserted, with no relief from pain. Then the anesthesiologist put Stadol in my IV, and I FLIPPED OUT. I became completely paranoid and disoriented. My tongue was swelling. I was trying to tell them no more but was having trouble talking. They gave it to me 3 times during my labor. I eventually had a c-section around midnight. It caused me to become delusional. I even thought the hospital had done something to my baby, was convinced the heartbeat from the heart monitor was not my baby’s heartbeat. When taken in for surgery, I reached up and pulled the drape down, then they finally gassed me. I have to list Stadol on my list of allergies. HORRIFIC drug that I wouldn’t want anyone to run the risk of experiencing negative side effects. Not worth it!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2020

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "Gave birth last night. I was given Stadol before the epidural to help with labor pains. I was in a lot of pain, so I thought it would help. It did. But I also tripped for hours. It took 2 minutes for me to feel effects. My eyes rolled into the back of my head. I could not open my eyes, and apparently, I didn't for about 2 hours. I hallucinated, couldn't breathe. Kept forgetting to breathe. Horrible experience. She said it's rare, and she's never seen anyone react like I did, so I must just be sensitive to it, but it was the worst experience. Definitely didn't feel the pain, though, as I was much too high."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2021

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "It was pleasant at first, very euphoric. But then I began to hallucinate. I was convinced it was 1994 and I was my own mother. But the contractions were still just as painful, and because I was out of my mind, I could not prepare for them or breathe through them or anything. It was a very bad experience."

• Avi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2021

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "I had an intolerance to this drug, and it was horrible. And immediate! I became delusional and paranoid within a minute of it being put into my IV. I then became very sick and continued to vomit through my mouth and nose for 6 hours. My eyes kept rolling back in my head as if I was going to pass out, but with the constant vomiting, I knew I could not fall asleep. I was given Stadol to alleviate pain caused by Pitocin (induced labor). I've no idea if it helped with that, for it just gave me all new horrible symptoms (nausea, stomach and throat pain from constant vomiting, the worst delusions I've ever had)."

• Sos...
• August 20, 2019

Butorphanol 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."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "Was given Stadol by the anesthesiologist. Was told it was for pain and distraction. When it kicked in, I started to hallucinate. My mother was in the room with me holding my hand, and I explained that I saw deer, and the entire room looked like it was wrapped in shiny plaid wrapping paper. The anesthesiologist said it was normal to see things, then explained the next steps and had me sign papers, which I was not in any state to do. I’m glad that I didn’t freak out from the hallucinations, but it did NOTHING for my pain. I felt every contraction with the addition of hallucinations."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2021

For Labor Pain "I was given Stadol 20 years ago during my labor with my son. I ended up hallucinating for three to four hours and becoming paranoid. I feared the hospital was going to take the baby from me, I didn't know who my husband was, and I was afraid I would have my driver's license taken away and I wouldn't be able to work. It was horrible, and I kept this all to myself in my drug haze/paranoid/hallucinatory purgatory. I lost hours of time and 'came to' when I was signing my name to receive an epidural. In my drug haze, I had discussed getting an epidural, but I don't remember any of it. I was just so glad to have my sanity back that I didn't care. I literally was so grateful to not be insane that I invited my mother-in-law to stay for the birth nine hours later. I feel horrible that I subjected my newborn son to this drug, and it was one of the most vivid and horrific experiences of my life that I still remember 20 years later."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2021

For Labor Pain "I was given Stadol 20 years ago during my labor with my son. I ended up hallucinating for three to four hours and becoming paranoid. I feared the hospital was going to take the baby from me, I didn't know who my husband was, and I was afraid I would have my driver's license taken away and I wouldn't be able to work. It was horrible, and I kept this all to myself in my drug haze/paranoid/hallucinatory purgatory. I lost hours of time and 'came to' when I was signing my name to receive an epidural. In my drug haze, I had discussed getting an epidural, but I don't remember any of it. I was just so glad to have my sanity back that I didn't care. I literally was so grateful to not be insane that I invited my mother-in-law to stay for the birth nine hours later. I feel horrible that I subjected my newborn son to this drug, and it was one of the most vivid and horrific experiences of my life that I still remember 20 years later."

• All...
• January 26, 2023

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "As soon as they pushed it into my IV, I was immediately extremely dizzy and hallucinating. Can’t say it relieved my pain, but I was so distracted by the hallucinations that the pain was not in the forefront of my mind. Hallucinated rainbow circles bouncing around the room and had the “spins,” as if I were way too drunk. It wore off within 1-2 hours. Generally unhelpful for my labor pain, but not a completely negative experience. Just not what I needed or was expecting."

• nun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2021

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "Had this drug with my first child's delivery for labor pains and felt as if I was injected with heroin! I couldn't breathe, like literally had to tell myself to breathe and had hallucinations like images were floating and had the image of being smeared along with a huge pumpkin."

• Anonymous
• August 30, 2011

Butorphanol for Labor Pain "They gave me Stadol when I was in labor with my son. It made me hallucinate badly."