Has anybody tried or heard of Butrans???

My doctor just prescribed me a pain patch called Butrans.  I am a little scared to start it.  Also my insurance wants a priorauthorization so I probably wont be starting it until next week sometime.  I just wondered what anybody knows about this medication before I start it.  I am kind of scared of a pain patch.  The patch is suppose to last a week, but from what I read on another forum, it fizzles out after four or five days. 

Hugs, Karen

I can still take norco. But he only gave me half of the norco prescription, so if the patch doesn't work, I can go back on that. I will just have to ask for more. I am really hesitant about this. But want to give it a fair try. I just don't understand how a patch can last that long and what if it gives me too much medication at any particular time. Decisions...

Hugs, Karen

I found an entry for it on drugs.com (http://www.drugs.com/butrans.html)
Ive never heard of it, myself, and I dont know how gung-ho I would be to start a pain patch. I hope you can come to a decision without too much agonizing. Good luck!

I looked this up and here is what I found. 

 

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/butrans-patch.html

I know there are some members using other pain patches so you might give it a try.  I think it's the Fentanyl patches most use on this forum.

 

Sherrine

 

I can't do patches because I do have an allergy to the adhesive in bandages.  I need to use a skin barrier to help with my ostomy appliance.  But, with pain patches I think the barrier might prevent the medicine from being absorbed.

 

You can always stop the patch if you do have difficulty with it.  Just pull that baby off!  LOL  I hope it works for you.

 

Sherrine

Hello everyone. This is my first time here so I want to introduce myself and wish everyone the best of luck and care for your needs.

I am thirty years old and was diagnosed with FM eight years ago. Test after test, medicine after medicine. Meanwhile, being told I am probably just imagining it or that i am depressed. Been to several doctors and in and out of hospital for break through pain. I've seen different specialists and tried many therapies and was not successful. I've tried Neurontin, Cymbalta, Savella, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety meds, pain meds from OTC Tylenol to advil, Relafen, Celebrex, Toradol, narcotics like Vicodin and Norco. Norco seemed to take the most edge off during peak pain. Ultram helped tolerate everyday pain. With all the meds and fibrofog, I never felt clear. Always fog brain which can be frustrating. I went to this doctor for about 3 years and she listens and see what I go through and works with me to make daily life better for me. Last week she started me on Butrans 5mcg, a weekly patch. And I have never felt this great in eight years. my boyfriend and son has even notice how I lighten up and can see that I am very alert and move about without so much grimace as I used to. With FM, my pain is worse when I wake and I usually take caffiene and Norco to help jumpstart my day. But since the patch and how it releases consistent doses if medicine, I wake up feeling like I am ready to get going! I am so grateful to feel like this and to not have that pain that debilitated my daily life activities and even affect me emotionally.
Everyone is different and reacts different with meds but I figure I could give my two cents in for anyone looking for opinions and feedback. The patch has been around for quite sometime in other countries and was just approved here in the states. The only real side effects I have is dry mouth. The site you apply the patch can get a little itchy but I haven't gotten a bad rash. I found the patch not last for 7 days but can see it wears off slowly around day 6. I am on my second patch and still feeling great. I'm willing to keep trying this so long as it keeps helping me. I'm glad I'm not having to constantly pop pills every four hours. I hope there is a remedy out there for everyone. And everyone is different so it takes trial and error and can be frustrating. Hopefully, the search isn't too far away. I wish the best to you all and hope you will find "magic potion".

Ak Angel: Thanks for the welcome. I'm glad you found your remedy. I'm sure it wasn't an easy journey for you. I was on the verge of giving up and I was to the point when all I did was lay in bed and only got out of bed when I absolutely needed to. The last week, week and half has changed my life drastically like you said. I started going on forums and it sure does help to know that there are others out there and to know that there are answers. Thanks to all!

karen- just reading your post on the patch again. I am on medicare and they dont want to pay for my medication. They said you can take percocet or stronger ones. My Dr. was so mad. The problem is the butran or subutex is so less addicting. You require so less. I have been paying out of pocket for mine. I have found it at costco for $169 and not including the Dr. I thought when i got on medicare I would get a brake. I am not sure what I am gong to do because I have a big dependency isssue with the other narcotics. my Dr. doesn't like methodone. Methodone is so cheap, but I see people getting adddicted easily to them. I have got mad and tried to stop the subutex slowely. My pain became so severe that it cost me a huge ER visit. I have chronic pain also from a severe neck injury. Do you have medicare?

My insurance company wanted the priorauthorization. Which baffled me because the company gave me a coupon for a free trial. But my insurance co wanted me to try two out of three drugs first, fentynal, methadone and morphine, which I have never been prescribed any of those. But I am going to ask for endocet. It is stronger than percocet but not real strong. It is stronger then the norco I take. I take six a day. I thought it would be nice to have something stronger that I don't have to take as much of. My husband takes 15 mg of oxycodone, but I have tried them and they make me constipated, so I think that they are too strong. But when my pain is bad, it helps.

I am glad that your insurance pays for it. I do agree that it is probably less addicting than other medications. I am glad that it works for you. Do keep us posted on it.

AKangel, I don't have medicare, but I have blue cross. That is why I was so surprised that they wouldn't cover it. But I am going to work on something else. Just hate asking the doc for stronger meds. But I have had a lot of pain lately that my meds dont seem to work on. Many fronts coming through with the weather we have had. Hot one day, cold and rainy the next.

I hope that you all are having a good day, and thank you so much for the responses.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Izzy5,

I hope that the patch works for you. Do keep us posted as to how it goes. I didnt' get to try the patch after all. The doctor put me on percocet. It seems to be working so far. I thought it would be much stronger than what I was taking, but it is just somewhat stronger. But it really helps a lot.

I am anxious to see how the patch works for you. Keep us posted.

Hugs, Karen

I was on 320 mg of oxy meds a day for a failed knee replacement. Finally could no longer stand it. Went down to 60 mg a day of oxys and then entered clinic where Suboxone was used. When I "graduated" they told me to stay on Suboxone for my knee pain. Stayed on three 8-2's for a couple years but whenever I got active knee pain came back. So I went to Pain Management. Have tried all kinds of meds. Hydromorphone 4 mg did not work well; couldn't take Tramadol because I take Effexor and the combo Fentanyl with oxycodone for break through did not work all that well...it seemed like my tolerance from prior years returned very quickly...also ,like before, these meds depressed me. So now I am on 30 mcg Butans with two 8 mg subutex per day for breakthrough. Realize this is less buprenorphine than I was originally prescribed.

I am so pissed off with these doctors and my insurance co which will not cover Subutex. Is expensive. Not sure what to do. these pain doctors are supposed to know what they are doing but have betrayed their ignorance so often.

I know this thread is old. But i desperately need some advice and help. I am a 21 year old male who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, among other things. I have been suffering through it for almost 15 years......75% of my life i have been feeling like dirt. Its a very odd case, extremely rare for such a young person, and male to suffer from it. It might even be some unknown, unrecognized condition. But as far as I know, i have fibro. Every symptom of it i have experienced throughout my life, in very extreme circumstances. I am almost 22, and I feel like I'm 95 with rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, Alzheimer's, and extremely old bones. I feel like I have about 600 lbs of weight on my shoulders every day, and my legs anymore just about cant even hold my body up. I have heard of this Butrans patch and have researched it quite a bit, along with fibromyalgia. Books, internet articles, talking to dozens upon dozens of doctors. I have insurance from the state, disability. But it wont cover visits to pain clinics, which is what every single doctor and professional has told me to go to. I'm afraid of going to one, because I really, really don't want to spend the rest of my life on something like methadone. But I have heard sooo many good things about this patch, everywhere I look, everyone saying its changed their life. I don't know what to do, my life is literally falling apart. I should be out hunting and hiking and working in the yard like I used to be able to, but I cant even hardly get the energy to put my darn pants on in the morning. Takes 20 minutes just for me to go to the bathroom if i have to sit down, just to sit down and get back up. I am depressed, sure. But mostly just extremely frustrated and anxious about everything in my life. I don't want to have to take pills for the rest of my life, but I am BEYOND tired of feeling this way. I cant, just can not take it anymore. Does anyone have any advice on how to find a doctor who can prescribe this to me. I have taken every kind of drug possible for this, to no avail. This is just about my last option. And I, I hope beyond measure that it will help, even just a tiny little bit.

Hi, Feeling Old, and welcome! I'm so glad you found us and joined in. I can help you with fibro questions but I don't know anything about the Butrans patch..BUT, if you post your questions about it in the Chronic Pain forum, I'm sure you wil get some help. One of the mods in that forum uses Butrans and I'm sure she can answer some of your questions. Her name is nvrthesame98.

Be sure to come back with your fibro questions. We have wonderful members who love to help one another and, as a bonus, we really do care about each other. I'm looking forward to getting to know you so hurry back.

Sherrine