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Does anyone have any experience with Butrans Patch

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Posted 6/17/2011 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Community:  I am new to the board and wanted to intoduce myself by asking a question.

 

I recently was given Brutans Patch 20mcg.  I found that the adhesive was terrible and the meds wore off before the end of the 7 day dose period.

 

I asked my doctor to return me to Butrans 10mcg and it seems to work better than the stronger dose......(strange).

 

Does anyone have any experience with the Butrans Patch??  Please share your story..

 

Lower back arthritis

L4 L5  herniated disc

 

Meds:  Butrans Patch 10mcg      Percocets 7.5/325

Posted 6/17/2011 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Sugar,

Welcome to the board.  :)

I've used pain patches; but not the butran.  I have had funky things w/ meds happen, though - where a lower strength lasts longer, etc.  Also, I don't know if there are different manufacturers that make the butran patch - that can play a part, too.

I know the patch has been talked about here before.  You might want to use the search button (above, right hand side) and search the site.  Hopefully, someone else will come along and have experience w/ it.

But I wanted to welcome you here....

--Tina

Posted 6/17/2011 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sugar and Welcome!

I'm glad you found us and we have a number of people who use pain patches of differing brands. One thing that many people have found helpful is to use a product called Tegaderm to hold on the pain patch. Sometimes doctors or pharmacists give them out as free samples when someone is prescribed pain patches. They are basically a large, waterproof bandage that stick! They go on over the patch and protect the site as well as preventing them from coming off.

I believe they are available at most major pharmacies. It's not something rare or exotic. You should be able to ask at the pharmacy counter and they'll find them for you. It's an OTC item. You can get them online also.

Hope this helps~
Chutz
Posted 6/17/2011 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sugar. I haven't been on the Butrans patch, but I do use the Fentanyl patch. I get the Tegaderm product to put over the patches, so they stick much better. I buy them at Walgreens in the Band-Aid section. Do make sure to get the one that says Tegaderm because I accidentally grabbed the wrong thing and had to return it. I have also ordered them off of Ebay before too. They are cheaper on there. They work really well.

Welcome and I hope this helps you some. You take care. I hope you're having a low pain night.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 6/17/2011 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sugar NJ, I had Butrans patches for renal pain & hated them! The drug is an opiate & an opiate antagoniser which is crazy! hence it nulled the effect of the other opiates I was taking & put me in withdrawal! Fentanyl patches were equally unhelpful for me as they are slow release & renal pain needs fast release meds. I doubt if this is any help as it's just my personal expereience.
Posted 6/17/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your replies!! I am glad I found this forum. This is great!!!
Posted 6/17/2011 1:30 PM (GMT 0)

        Morning Sugar!

           Cute name! wink    I wanted to extend a Welcome to you as well, although I don't have any experience with the patches. I think the members here have covered your question pretty well!

            Please feel free to visit the "Chronic Pain 101" located at the top of the page....as it's full of helpfull information, and I think you will enjoy reading it.

      Feel free to visit us often, and get to know the members. They are all warm and supportive.

          Again Welcome!

    SE wink

Posted 6/17/2011 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sugar...Welcome to HW:)..


Sorry to hear that you are having pain...

Going to ask a few questions if you don't mind..

I am SO glad that you switched back to the 10mcg patch...The 20mcg is the absolute highest dose and your Dr. started you on this?

It's meant to start with 5mcg and then go from there....I don't want to scare you...but if you have only been taking things like Percocet before this.....and then put on the Butrans patch at 20mcg...that could have been extremely dangerous...

It is also very strange that he is also still prescribing you Percocet along with this...

This medcine...as mentioned by Allys...is an opiate antognist...it is also the main ingredient (Buprenorphine) in Suboxone or Subutex....which are primarily used for help with substance abuse...

I know that both Suboxone and Butrans also help with pain..and are prescribed 'off label' for pain as some people on here are on this....but taking it with Percocet is going to counteract that narcotic...so that the Percocet will not work properly as an opiod...

In people with substance abuse issues..(not saying you)....that's why people are put on Suboxone or Subutex...then if they try to sneak in a narcotic...it won't work and make them sick...

Again..I know that some Dr.s will use these for pain so not saying someone on it is having issues at all....just that you need to ask your Dr. why would he prescribe Percocet at the same time?

This is why you are probably having more pain control with the 10mcg...because the lesser the Butran...the more chance for the Percocet to work as I said...they go against one another..

Are you being treated by a PM Dr. who is trained as an Anesthesiologist?

I promise I am not trying to be rude...I am just very worried about you as this Dr. is prescribing things much differently than most...I don't want you to get sick...

Are you also seeing an Orthopedic or Neurosurgeon to get help with your herniated disc? Have you tried injections to help directly with that pain? Or if you also have nerve pain issues down your legs...did they try nerve pain meds like Lyrica, Cymbalta and Neurontin?

Obviously I am not a Dr. or Nurse...but I am friends with my PM Dr. and he has talked with me over the years about so many different medicines and what it's like for him on that side of the coin...so I'm going on what I know about this medicine...

It's certainly between you and your Dr. to discuss and for you to make sure you are getting the very best care you can!...

We are happy you found us here at HW...there are a wonderful group of people that can empathize with your pain..

Sorry for so many questions...I am the HW worry wart LOL...

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 6/17/2011 1:34:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/17/2011 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi sugar

welcome to our forum. so glad to meet you.

I was on the butran patch 10mg. It didnt help relieve the pain I was having. but my patch stayed on for 7 days.

I hope this helps you. Keep us informed as to how you are doing.

Betsey
Posted 6/22/2011 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
SnowBunny: Your post was very informative. THank you!!

I was started on the 5 then moved to the 10 then 20mcg and now back to 10. I am suprised to read that Butrans is like Suboxone. I go to a PM and he is labeled one of the best in NJ. He has expanded his practice and I notice a lot of things falling by the waist side. I will share this info with my PM. It now makes since that the lower doses work better with the percocet.

Thank you all!!
Sugar
Posted 7/13/2011 7:05 PM (GMT 0)

I am new here and this is actually my first post, however I feel that I need to clear something up.  As well as being a Pain Management Patient--I am also a nurse.


I am on Butrans 15mcg/hr as well as Percocet 5/325mg BID/PRN.  The active ingrediant in Butrans is Buprenorphine which is the same as Suboxone, HOWEVER it does not have Naloxone in it which is what is used in Suboxone as the "anti-abuse" part of it.


Buprenorphine has been around for a long time being used as a pain medication, however it was not available in the US as a transdermal medication until this year. 

Perhaps I am sensitive to this issue because I think my Pain Management is a fantastic doctor that I would refer anyone in the world to.  It does not make the dr incompetent because he prescribed both medications.  There is a ceiling effect that takes place while you are on narcotics.  The difference with Butrans is that the ceiling effect is reached sooner so you actually need less breakthrough medications. 

I understand that every one is different and every reaction to medications is different.  I did not want anyone to be under the impression that because someone is on Butrans as well as another Narcotic, that their PM Dr. is doing something incorrectly. 

Sorry for sounding defensive.

Posted 7/13/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)

       Hello HezzyWag!

             You are very welcome here! wink

       While I see that you are responding to the topic at hand here, I would also like to see you start a new topic, and introduce yourself to the membership. We find that not all members will see you, if they happen to skip this post, and we want to make sure all members get a chance to welcome you here.

      So,... with that in mind, would you please select the button at the top of our home page named "Start New Topic" and please introduce yourself there! I think you will find that the members are very warm here, and will indeed welcome you.

       If I, or any of the members can answer any of your questions, we will be more than happy to do so. We can also use you're experience and support as well. Also,...many of our members are nurses, and we value their experience too! wink      

 See you there!...and by all means continue with the discussion on this topic as you please.

      Thanks!

     SE wink

Posted 7/13/2011 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Butrans and loved it! I started on the 5 and went up to the ten and my pain was in control. Due to my insurance not covering it the price ($300) per month was more than i could handle so i had to switch to a patch covered by my insurance.

Butrans was a continual coverage for me, worked all day and night for the full 7 days with no peaks and valleys. As soon as my insurance picks it up I am sure going back to it!!


Maria
Posted 7/14/2011 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Sugar

I had been placed on the Butrans patch 10 mg during my first month of chronic pain control.  After 3 days I couldnt stand the pain at all so my doc told me to take off the existing patch and place 2 new butan patches.  My patches stayed on.  The pain control wasnt adequate for me when I used the butran patch ...but that is just me.

I hope you found this helpful.

Welcome to HWF...Nice to meet you.

Betsey

Posted 9/13/2011 8:04 AM (GMT 0)
As HezzyWag stated, BuTrans is a very good product.  I suffer from scar tissue attached to my spinal cord from a ruptured disc injury and severly deteriorated discs in lumbar region.  I have tried many, many pain killers to manage both my everyday chronic pain to my painful severe nerve pain.  Because of my injury, i have to deal with these 2 types of pain.  Everything i tried to manage pain, from 8mg Dilaudid every 2-4 hrs, to taking 40mg Oxycontin every 4 hrs, nothing seemed to help me manage 30% or more. 

I was prescribed BuTrans last February and started off with the 5mcg/hr patch for 2 weeks.  During these 2 weeks i was directed to continue to take 8mg Dilaudid every 2-4 hrs.  After the 2 weeks, i was moved to 10mcg/hr, and refilled on my Dilaudid, only this time, i noticed that i was only needing it every 4-6 hours, and sometimes less often.  I am now on the 20mcg/hr and i only take Dilaudid when i have severe breakthrough pain.  The Dilaudid works because BuTrans is a partial agonist. 

BuTrans has been the only drug to get my pain to a managable level where i can continue to work my job to support my family.  I have a long life ahead of me at only 27 years old.  I have a wife and a 2 year old son who depend on me.  I work 10 hr shifts and need the best i can get.  BuTrans has been exactly that.

Good Luck Everyone.

Posted 1/18/2013 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,My name is Robbin and I was recently prescribed the 10mg butrans patch. I have not put the patch on quite yet...a lil nervous. I had a sympathetic block a month ago and boy was that a mistake. For some reason this time the injections just worked against me. My foot drop came back. my leg and foot swelled up for for a lil over two weeks. Went thru my whole month of pain killers in three weeks. Went back to Dr who is a . pm and changed my meds from Norco 10/325 to Percocet 10/325 and the butrans patch besides lyrica, anti inflammatory, lidoderm patches, muscle relaxer.

I was on the Norco for three yrs...I think I became immune.

Here are my conditions: I have had three lamectomy with metal fusion, one anterior cage.. Reflux sympathetic dystrophy as well as Chronic Adhesive Arachnoiditis. Which are two incurable nerve damage disease. SI dysfunction, Sacrillitis, hip and ball joint problem, burning numbness in my whole left leg all the way into my toes. New symptom...after injections...my toes now curl over each other even though I cannot even move them. My RSD is kinda strange...for one in my leg (from my hip all the w a y down) and secondly its frozen...stays at 22 to 28 degrees even in the summertime.
Incredibly painful.

I have tried multiple times physical therapies, pool therapies, I honestly feel like I'm at the end of my rope.

I am a wife, and a mother. I am only 38 yrs old and my body feels 90.

I Live in Michigan and have top docs here...
Anyone have suggestions?

Post Edited (robbinbuck) : 1/18/2013 8:13:19 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2013 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Robin & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Robin since you are a new member I am going to ask you to start your own intro thread that way all of the members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. You can copy & paste this as your intro post.

Thanks......Susie
Posted 1/26/2013 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and Welcome!
I am on Butrans 2omg I find it to work well I have almost been on it for a year. Through trial and error I do find the best spot for me is on this inside of my upper arm right below the underarm. It sticks well and I do not get a rash there. I also have a BT med if needed.
Good Luck, feel better
Posted 11/16/2013 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, This site has been very helpful! I would love some input as it seems my dr may not have informed me properly- I have been taking percocet 10 mg 3-5 x a day (3 ruptured discs, w tears, stenosis/ among other issues; back, hip & torn hamstring)- he just prescribed Butram 10 mg patches for me to transition into. The pharmacist just told me that I should expect to go into withdrawls. Has anyone experienced this? Is it just me or is it crazy that my dr failed to mention this? How severe will this be, if at all? I've only gone through withdrawls one other time from running out of pain meds too soon (from vicodin- they were not strong enough so I was taking more than prescribed), needless to say, it was very unpleasant. Any help would be greatly appreciated. - so sorry that all of you have to live like this too! Thanks in advance for any help :)
Posted 11/16/2013 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome Samae to the chronic pain forum at HW. You may want to start a new thread of your own, posing your question in the subject line. This threads kinda old and you will see a lot more responses on a new post and we like to welcome new members too!

Im currently using butrans but only as a buffer as I stopped the methadone I had been on for 13 yrs! Yes I still had some w/d symptoms but nothing compared to the times I stopped or lowered my dose using nothing!

Butrans contains a medication that's a partial opiate antagonist and for this reason some people have mild withdrawal symptoms. They shouldn't be too bad nor last more than a day or two.

Good luck and welcome!
Posted 11/16/2013 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
IMO that is bad information from the pharmacist. It is understandable based on the chemistry of the drug but in application it is just not the way the drug behaves.

Buprenorphine is an opioid agonist and partial antagonist. In the level you receive while on the transdermal patch, the part of the medication that would cause withdrawal symptoms, the antagonist, is so low it really has little to no overall effect.

I was prescribed Butrans at 10 mcg and after two weeks my doctor moved me up to the 20 mcg patch. Along with the patch he prescribed 5 mg oxycodone for bt pain.

I found I had to cover them with the Tegaderm to keep them stuck in place but I believe that is because I sweat a lot and shower every day. The pain relief was excellent and honestly it was the best drug I've been on. My only problem with Butrans was that I never got seven days of pain relief, typically only five.

Ultimately, I was taken off butrans due to the five day life which was a sign that the drug level provided by the 20 mcg patch was too low. My PM doc would not prescribe it to change the patch every five days as that would be an off label use and that does not fly for docs that are under the microscope of scrutiny for their prescribing habits.

Good luck it, I hope it works well for you. Your Dx profile is very similar to mine so I think it should but of course we are all different when it comes to pain meds.
Posted 11/16/2013 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on butrans 20mcg before I switched to fentanyl the butrans didn't last the full 7 days so I didn't like it, the fentanyl works muchhh better
Posted 11/18/2013 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
well you did just say you had to take more than he wrote it for because it wasn't working for you, so in there eyes you should have a few weeks left and wont let you fill the same exact med after just filling one a couple weeks ago from a different doctor.
Posted 11/18/2013 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
The first time you apply Butrans, it can take as long as 72 hours (3 days) to reach a therapeutic level. After that, changing the patch every seven days should maintain that same level without interruption of pain relief.

I'm not sure the best way to resolve the problem with the percocets. Hopefully others here can chime in with good advise.
Posted 6/24/2014 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new to this site from Ireland
I have been on Butrans 30mg since 2009 after having a bad accident from a fall from an attic in the fall I broke nine bones in my back fractured my skull broke my collar bone in tree places recently dropped down to 20mg at the start of the year then to 10 mg since April I am now of the Butrans patch a week
Was wondering if their is anyone out their has any idea of how long the withdrawal symptoms last
Like twitching in bed at night also the feeling of being very hot & body jerking getting very little sleep at night
Thanking you all in advance
Philip

Post Edited (Philip1914) : 6/24/2014 4:45:46 PM (GMT-6)

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