New pain patch coming out in 2011

Hey Everyone,

I thought this was awesome so I thought I would share with everyone!!! about a week ago the FDA just approved a Buprenorphine patch called "Butrans" for moderate to severe  chronic pain from Purdue Pharmas. Buprenorphine is the same ingredient in Suboxone/Subutex which I use for pain. It lasts for 7 days, and best of all it's only a scheadule 3 medication which means it can be written with refills!!! They expect it to come out in early 2011. It's only FDA approved for pain, and NOT for dependence/addiction like Suboxone/Subutex is (eventhough I take it off label for chronic pain cause it works wonderful for me). I know as soon as this patch hits the shelves, I'm gonna ask my doctor about me trying it. It'll be wonderful to not have to worry about any pain medication for 7 days.

I just thought I would share since I know we're always looking for more choices for pain control, and I thought it was wonderful that we will finally have ANOTHER choice in the patches instead of JUST fentanyl, and it is not scheaduled 2, where we always have to get a new written prescription every month and it cant have refills and it can't be called or faxed in, which for some of us I know is a pain, especially since I know some of us see out of town doctors or don't drive or are in too much pain to drive.

Well anyways, you can read up about it on the Purdue Pharma websight.

-Kitty

 

I hear you on that Chutz, I could hardly make the fentanyl patches stick for more then one day, thats one of the reasons why I never stayed on them for that long. And I tried all diffrent kind of tapes to make them stick, but I still had probelms, and it made me nervous as my daughter likes to crawl into bed with me and I was scared that they would come off while I was sleeping and get stuck on her, as it wasnt unusual for me to find them stuck to my PJs in the morning. The websight did say that skin reactions was one of the main side effects, but i think that goes for any patch type medication. I know I've heard many people complain about them falling off and having to use another patch and running out early. I remember the first time I used the fentanyl patches, I went through a box really fast til my doctor found a tape that somewhat worked....but I know I still want to try these new patches since buprenorphine has been a life saver for me, but the pills that you put under your tongue tastes really nasty, so it would be nice to get my taste back...

-kitty

One of best ways to get patches to stick is to buy a dressing called Tegaderm. It is actually the clear plastic that is placed over an IV site to keep it in place. We all know well that stuff sticks. You do have be careful when peeling it off as sometimes it would take a tiny bit of skin with it. I had no problem with that because they were totally water proof and worth it. I cut mine in half since they were of fair size and these were bought OTC at the drugstore.

My doctor gave this patch last week, oh boy, does it knock me out....lowest dose...also the nausea.

I thought it being a patch would be easier on the system....I had to take the patch off...

Any other experiences?..

Thanks

Carmen

Hi Carmen since you posted on a very old thread I suggest that you make a new post here about this patch so more people will see it and can respond. Otherwise I am afraid it will get overlooked and no one will see this.

Thanks.