HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Percocet vs Oxycodone vs Butrans Patch for crohn's and back pain

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic locked
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/5/2013 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

I'm so annoyed, confused and upset. I could really use some direction. I have crohn's disease and lower herniated discs. I have been on percocet for the past 6 years. I would take 10mg. 5 to six times a day. It worked pretty much. I could live a "so called" normal pain manged life. The only issue was not being able to sleep through the night without waking in pain and that I learned to live with. I have now started going to a pain management doctor and he has changed my meds. I am now on oxycodone 15mg 3 times a day. He wanted me to go on the Butrans 5mg patch but I am nervous. So I asked if I could do the 15mg oxycodone for 4 times a day until I could see him again to discuss. This worked fine except I do not feel as good as I did on the percocet and am now a bit more tired. I'm so annoyed with the perocet stigma when I had a pain management that worked and doctors or government have a problem because of those that abuse. So I go back to the doctor and asked if I can stay on the 4 oxcodone a day and he wants me to try the patch. Life is hard enough having to worry about carrying pills with you all the time. Going on vacations or just last minute weekend getaways. Now I need to have 2 narcotics. One of my questions, is the Butrans patch better then the oxycodone? Why not just let me stay on the pills. I read for the patch that you can't take hot showers or baths, suana. I think if you sweat or get it hot it releases more medication then it's suppose to. Add the fact that I have 3 children and pets. If they accidental touch the patch they can OD also!!! I also wear a lot of low cut shirts in the summer. Please understand that on the percocet I was what I call fully functioning!!! Gym, theme parks, water parks, shopping, standing to cook, eating without pain or the poops. I was very lucky!!! Now I am struggling mentally with trying the patch due to my lifestyle and I feel forced to try it because 3 oxycodone do not let me feel "normal". I am thinking of changing doctors but afraid my current doctor of 2 weeks and 1st pain management will find out. And what do I say to the new doctor, I prefer percocet or oxycodone, really!!! Please provide me with advice. I am open to suggestions on what I should do!!! Thank you in advance. (PS: My 1st message board post ever).
Posted 10/5/2013 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Aqua to the HW forums. Sorry to see your dealing with these issues and many of us have dealt with the same thing.
Im afraid you wont like my answer but here goes. Drs now have to write your meds for "severe " chronic pain. Both percocet and oxycodone are what we call short acting or BT meds. Writing just those meds alone without a long acting med such as Butrans is a no no as the SA meds alone fail to carry consistent smooth coverage for up to 12-24 hrs and Butrans and fentenyl for days. These meds were designed for long term pain. SA meds are designed for acute pain that comes in the form of break through.

Im afraid you've not got a choice and after that many years he has to get you over to a long acting med.

If you refuse you could be taken off the others completely. The FDA continues to make new laws that are supposed to help prevent abuse but we are usually the ones inconvenienced by them.

Sorry and the Butrans has shown success in pm patients so maybe you'll get better, constant relief.

Again welcome.
Posted 10/5/2013 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in a similar boat. Execpt...no LA med. My doc just cut the amount of short acting meds down by almost half. 4-5 Norco to 3. Threw in two muscle relaxers and said, "Try taking them during the day...even though you take them to sleep."

ETA:

Hope the Butran patch does help you in the long run though! :)
Posted 10/5/2013 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Vickie, Thank you so much for the information. I have no real knowledge about the medications except my own experience. If I need to go on a long acting med, do you know if they have long acting meds that come in pill forms? This is just such a strange area. If my doctor explained this to me about the long term, I would only be half as nervous about the patch. Just so nervous about the heat and OD aspect of the patch. This would also have lead to me asking him the questions. When I did quickly mention the extra pill a day over the patch and my reasoning for the heat OD aspect. He said to take the patch off and put it back on twice a week. The paperwork for the patch said that was a "no-no"! I didn't want to question the situation again for fear of him thinking I was questioning him. Again all advice and education to me is very welcome!!!
Posted 10/5/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
The Butrans didn't help me much but my PCP was writing it and wouldn't increase the strength.The biggest problem I had was that you get 4 patches for the month.The patch only seemed to last 4 1/2 days.

I don't think it's a substitute for the oxocodone.

Good luck with everything,
Rick
Posted 10/5/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
They do have LA in pill form...Opana? Or...Oxycontin? I think?

I would suggest asking him about them...but I wouldn't get specific with names. Just tell him what you told us...worried about the patch, children, heat, etc. Hopefully he'll offer something else.
Posted 10/5/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Josh,

Thanks for replying. My husband also wondered if I should do a muscle relaxer at night. Instead of taking the patch. He takes one for his for nerve pain when needed and it knocks him out. I really wanted to stay on 1 medication and am really nervous, when I have no reason to be, when talking to my new PM doctor because our relationship is new and I don't want him to think I am questioning him. Good luck to you as well. I wish I had advice to give. All I can say is stay strong and positive. This issue is causing me stress and I don't wish that on anyone.
Posted 10/5/2013 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Aqua you may find the LA med is all you need. It will be 12,24 hr med with the exception that some Drs will write a 12 hr med for every 8 instead of allowing it to completely run its course, adding the next one at the 8 hr mark overlapping.

There are many LA meds but your budget and insurance may play a role in which is better.

Oxycontin
MS contin
Nucynta
Exalgo
Fentenyl (patch)
Methadone
Opana
Butrans

Those are not all but the ones we see most often. You can go to drugdigest.com and check them all out.

I would let the Dr know your reasons for not wanting to use the Butrans, obviously folks who swim daily, work outdoors in the heat, overly sweat are going to have more problems keeping it on.

You must also be cautious disposing of the old patch if you have small children.


A muscle relaxer can certainly help, not sure alone it would be enough to cover the oxy.

Hopefully your Dr will go along with you to devise a plan that works for you and he can live with.
Posted 10/7/2013 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
I had great hope for the patches started off on 5 mg and now up to 30mg and to be honest I notice no difference .ive just been last week for more x rays ct scan and bone scan on my lower back and lumber area.

this is for a second opinion with another dr so hopefully he might be able to find something that works . I know other friends on butans and it works great for them . the only prob ive had is I had a really hot batch a few months ago forgetting about the patches and the next morning I felt really dizzy and nauseas for a few hours . im in south Australia and it gets really hot here during the summer and haven't had any probs in that regard . as for kids or pets just touching them and od I don't think that happens .

good luck with them and I hope they work for you better than me

cheers dean

Posted 3/3/2014 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I need help does anybody know how to make my butrans stick . I've tried covering them with band aid gets too wet and that seems to make me itch more
Posted 3/4/2014 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I answered your question over in your original introduction thread as not to bring this dead thread back to life. The original poster hasn't returned since last October.

Post Edited (Litespeed97) : 3/3/2014 9:31:45 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/4/2014 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
This is an older thread & the original poster is no longer active here at the forum. I will lock this & if anyone wants to discuss this further please make a new thread. Thanks.
Posted 3/7/2014 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
I just started on the Butrans patch yesterday. The 5m. I was very nervous not knowing it it was going to make me nauseous or knock me on my butt. I have horrid migraines and back pain (stenosis) every day. I am hoping that at some point I will know the patch is there. I think it will take me being on a much higher dose. I am taking oxycodone with it now. And of course all of my other medications which is a long list. Makes me nervous.
Posted 3/7/2014 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello se13larue & welcome to the forum. Please note that you have posted on an older thread & the original poster is no longer active here at the forum.

If you would, we ask that you start a new intro post and ask any questions you would like. By posting on this older thread not many people will see your post.

Also, we have a search feature at the top of the page, if you will type in Butrans patches you will find a lot of posts about Butrans as it has been discussed a lot.

I will lock this thread & look for your intro post. To make a new post, look to the left here, click on Post New Topic, type in a heading and click enter & then type away. Thanks.
✚ New Topic locked