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Butrans Patch (buprenorphine) question

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Posted 3/9/2012 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

My friend has just been prescribed the Butrans Patch for his chronic pain (he also has RLS for which he takes opioids too).

For some time he and I have been talking about his moving to a time-release med and he finally brought it up with his PM, who decided on the Butrans Patch.

For both pain and RLS, he has been using Hydrocodone (10-20mg/day) and Tramadol (50-100mg/day) and is wondering if the Buprenorphine will block or significantly diminish their efficacy as BT medication.

According to Wikipedia: "buprenorphine blocks the activity of other opiates" and he asked that I post this question to see whether those using the patch have found it to have this "blockade effect".

Thanks.
Posted 3/10/2012 7:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cogito

I used these patches when I first saw a pain specialist and got good relief from them. One day though I had severe breakthrough pain and a doctor prescribed endone which is oxycodone immediate release in Australia. I asked him if I should keep the patch on and he said yes and said I could still wear the patch while I took the BT meds. The pharmacist said the same thing. And the breakthrough meds worked very well even with the patch and that day is probably the worst pain I`ve ever been in. I imagine other BT meds would work too, though I`m not certain. I know that suboxone (I think that`s what it`s called, the pill form of buprenorphine) is supposed to block the `high`of other opiates and is given to addicts for withdrawal. I think it`s more the high that will be blocked than the pills working on pain relief but the doctor will know which ones can be taken at the same time as the patches. Anyway I don`t know much about it but I hope this helps a bit and your friend gets relief.

Take care.

Love Di xx

Posted 3/10/2012 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
From what I have read, the dose of buprenorphine needs to be high in order for it to block other opiates.
Posted 3/10/2012 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Flower,

I was kind of wondering how breakthrough meds could be taken with the "patch". It dose make sense that because the patch is a time released low dosing of the medication that its not enough to create a significant blockaid effect.

I would still think the dosing of break through pain meds would be limited though since bupre is fairly potent even at lower doses?

PS - I had considered requesting a trail of it when I was having a long lasting pain spike. However, I have a sleeping issue (sleep walking to put it mildly) and I feel it could interfere with said condition. I have to becareful not to take my current medication too close to bedtime for this reason.

Has anyone using this noticed an effect on their sleep?

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