Generic Name: Butrans for Chronic Pain (buprenorphine)
Butrans for Chronic Pain Reviews
"The nice thing about buprenorphine patch is you don't have to take pills. But I have had more patches that don't stick on than do stick. Usually, I need tape to make it stay on. I have lost patches without knowing and then I have nothing on for pain. My doctor started me on the lowest dose, 5 mcg, for naive opioid users. I wasn't naive to opioids, and he knew that. I was forced off all pain medication for about a week. It was torture - the pain. Then having to use the lowest dose for 2 months. He finally went up to 10 mcg. It isn't relieving my pain. I went back after 2 months. I asked about increasing. My doctor said see you in 3 months - with no adjustments. I have been in horrible pain, substituting otc pain medication around the clock. I feel as my doctor wants to please the DEA more than help me. When I go back, I will give him the opinion of taking me off, leaving his practice if I must because I have done nothing but suffer from the time I started buprenorphine."
"I’ve dealt with chronic upper level back pain for 13 years and have had two back surgeries. Throughout most of this time I’ve been maintained on hydrocodone but developed problems with tolerance, and I very much suspect I’ve also developed hyperalgesia, which is when long-term use of opioids makes you more sensitive to pain in general. I was at the point of barely being able to function. I found Butrans about two years ago. It's totally turned me around. I went from pain and fatigue level of 8 down to 1-2. The Butrans patch is nothing short of a miracle. Butrans helps with not just pain and fatigue but also with my depression. I’ve been on the same dose of Butrans patch of 10mcg for two years now, so I’ve not had tolerance issues, which I’ve read Butrans is unique in that way of not having tolerance build-up problems. No side effects whatsoever either. My life would be pure hell without it. Relieves pain way better than any narcotic I’ve been on."
"I was scared to try this but saw these reviews... I want to thank you all for easing my mind! I finally tried Butrans and am so thankful this exists. I have been on pain medication for a couple of years. I was so tired of the constant ups and downs that seemed to come in shorter and shorter intervals. This patch works great! I'm in less pain, sleep better, and am finally getting off the couch and doing some things."
"Been on Percocet 10mg/325 for 4 years. I withdrew off of them, and the doctor prescribed me the Butrans 5mg patch. I've had it on for about 24 hours, and so far, I worked a 12-hour shift with pain I can tolerate. I read it can take longer to get into your system. I had to get the generic, and when I shower, I cover it. I used alcohol to clean the skin before applying. So far, I'm liking it, but it does itch. Better than building up a tolerance to Percocet like I was. I suffer from arthritis from my neck to back, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease throughout my entire back, bone spurs in my spine, and fibromyalgia. I'm 28 years old. Went through heaps of drama to get the patch with pre-authorizations and finding a pharmacy that had it in stock."
"I've been on Percocet & Morphine for years. I chose to get off the Morphine myself. My doc prescribed the Butrans 10mg patch. It is now day 7, and for the first time in years, I have slept through the night. I feel more motivated, and most of all, engaged. I took my dog for a walk last night for the first time in a long time. Just small changes I've noticed, but most of all in my mood. I cannot express enough how I feel, this is going to change my life. With the deaths of opioid abuse rising, I don't want to be a part of that statistic. I do not want to continue the pain pills any longer because I can be honest here and say I'm addicted, and I need to change that vicious cycle. I am looking at future back surgery but will address that road when I get to it. But, in the meantime, being only on day 7, I can tell you that although it may take a couple of days for it to work, give it a chance. So far, this medication just may be the silver lining I've been waiting for."
"I am a nurse and I am also a med student. I have been in chronic pain for 5 years. My average daily pain without meds is 9/10. I did 5 rounds of shots, the 2nd round almost destroyed my life and my pain had new manifestations. Tried chiropractic, great for 90 days then decline. Finally one day the pharmacist surprised me with Butrans. I didn't even know they sent it over! I put it on and within 3 hours I recognized I was in pain, but I just didn't care about the pain. The next morning and from then on I have been completely pain-free! It's like nothing I've experienced before. I'm not foggy like with other drugs, I actually feel mentally sharper and my performance supports that, but I'm literally not experiencing pain! I HIGHLY recommend it!"
"My wife has suffered from chronic pain for years. We have been through the regular pain management routines that physicians are trained to perform, for example, injections, pain pills, physical therapy, muscle relaxers. Butrans gave our family life again. I forgot she was sick. It also helped with her depression and mental illness. You will build a tolerance to it as years pass and it seems to start losing strength around the fifth day. It is definitely worth trying. Expensive without insurance though."
"Butrans changed my daily living. I loved what it's done for me so much that I have 2 other friends suffering and their doctors have them on it now too. The only thing I don't like is the prickly itchy feeling but, after reading some of these reviews I may talk to my doctor about their suggestions. Also, I find that after the first 3 days I have had little to no side effects. I am sometimes able to push my days out to 8 as long as I don't overdo the week. Otherwise, I am ready by midday of the 6th day and will often change it the very eve so that by my 7th day I'm back up and running. Hope this review helps, I know when I went on it, the reviews were helpful to me. Thanks Butrans for my life! If you have pain, Butrans works."
"I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) and was in severe pain in my arms and legs. Tried a high dose of tramadol for a year until the pain didn’t respond at all. Pain scale was 8-9. Prescribed Butrans, and my pain was down to 3 on the 2nd day and a 2 on day 3. By day six, the pain crept back to 5. Started a new patch, and the pain reduced to 2 again by the end of the first day. This medication is a MIRACLE for me! I have my life back."
"I've now been on a 15 mcg Butrans patch for 6 months with some good relief for permanent nerve damage in both legs. However, I've noticed that the patch basically becomes non-effective on day 5, and I start having withdrawals. I'm 22 years old and drive daily with the patch. I only notice tiredness after 11 PM, so it suits my working life fine. I'm going to my doctor to talk about getting put on a 20 mcg patch and a 5-day change. Constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite have been side effects for me, but it hands down beats any oral tablet. I'd rather be on a patch as opposed to taking tablets due to liver damage over long-term usage. For nerve damage, amitriptyline was the best relief I've ever had with brilliant sleep and pain relief. However, I experienced fibrillation and irregular heartbeats, so I had to come off them. Stay safe and always consult with your doctor or medical person in charge."
"DON'T GET THIS PATCH!!!!! My pain doctor removed me from 40 mg extended relief oxycodone and IR morphine 30 mg to 10 mcg Butrans patch. I went into heavy withdrawals, and the patch caused a migraine 24/7. I was told that the patch would keep me from withdrawing, and that wasn't true! Even after my withdrawals got better, the patch still didn't work on my pain. And the side effects of headache, diarrhea, stomach aches are just not worth it!!!"
"I have had chronic low back pain for 3 years. I have tried 30 injections, spinal cord stimulator, PT, oral meds, tens unit, etc. The Butrans patch is the 1st time I have had consistent relief ever! My pain without medicines is 8-9. I have pinched nerves that give me pain down both legs. I tried the 5, 10, & 20 patch. All dosages lost effectiveness at the 5-day mark leaving me 2.5 days without relief. We finally found a 20mcg patch changed every 5 days is the magic dose. My pain levels stay between a 3 to 5. I have my life back and the only side effects I have is drowsiness. I sleep 4 or 5 hours a day plus a full night sleep!"
"I was started on the Butrans 5 mcg patches, those took the dreadful pains away completely for 4 days. Then the pains crept back in. I was then given the 10 mcg patches. I had noticed a form of migraine on using these patches, but I came aware this happened only after I had milk or eaten anything containing milk. I tried a few non-cow's milks, with a similar effect. On trying lactose-free milks and foods, I never got another bad headache. Lots of 'free from' foods are available these days, a great help indeed. Maybe others who have noticed bad headaches would be helped with this, what I found out. Also, of course, there are the lactose-free foods and foods with no milk at all that can be used."
"I have been taking hydrocodone for 28 years due to a gunshot. I have nerve damage and severe pain in both legs from mid-thigh down to my toes. I was skeptical when my doctor recommended I transfer from hydrocodone to Butrans, but I am so glad I agreed to make the change. What a difference! It has been life-changing, and I can actually do routine daily activities with minimal pain. I wish I had started this years ago. Finally, my legs feel normal again."
"For the last 7 years I've had chronic lower back pain due to L4-L5, L5-S1 bulging discs and Arthritis. I'm only 30 years old. I've had 12 Epidural injections that gave me no Relief. Seen over 12 back/pain doctors and was told PT and NSAIDs would be the way to go. All the doctors were wrong. I was in pain day and night. It never got better and kept me from having a normal life with my family. I have two girls ages 6, 14. My PA told me to find a pain management center. For the next month, I lived in pain. The pain was so bad some days. I finally got into a pain DR. They started me on Butrans 10mg patch and Percocet 7.5/325, it's changed my LIFE! I'm pain-free for the first time in 7 years. Patch works in 3 days!"
"Another very important thing! You MUST be well into withdrawal if you are being moved off another strong opioid such as fentanyl, oxycodone, etc. Otherwise, it will precipitate an even worse withdrawal! I was not made aware of this and my switching from 140 mg oxycodone to a 70 mcg patch, which gave me FAR worse withdrawals than I ever experienced coming off the massive amounts of opioids I'd been on before. That was a walk in the park compared to transitioning to the buprenorphine because I was told just to stop the oxycodone and start the patches, without being in withdrawal first. I NEVER want to go through that again and I'd hate for anyone else to either. And although everyone varies, it actually takes around 2 weeks to fully build up in your system, I was told this only after I ended up in A&E after 3 days, and by then my pain was totally out of control. You should be given buprenorphine subs during this 'settling in' period. Ironically, all of this info I found on the NHS's OWN guidance on the usage of buprenorphine, intended for health professionals."
"I too have had very good results, as well as the typical side effects. The itching at the patch site drove me crazy to the point I could not use the patch. UNTIL... my doctor prescribed KENALOG spray to spray on before putting on the patch. Works wonders... you might want to give it a try. Insurance pays for it too. Good luck and sorry about your pain."
"Have been on Percocet for about twenty years. Chronic low back and neck pain, leg pain, arthritis, bulging discs, and impinged nerves. I have just learned to deal with it. A new doctor gave me Butrans and put on a patch last night. Felt an immediate rush, similar to the feeling I have gotten when receiving IV morphine at the hospital. Worried if it dispensed all the drug at once? However, I slept pain-free for the first time in about 25 years, and I'm at work now. Have not yet started my day, but I noticed I got in and out of the car easily and walked to the building without much pain for the first time ever. I am hoping it doesn't wear off quickly and have concerns that it will eventually stop working. In 2007, I was on a fentanyl patch for several years, and it stopped working over time."
"After I was put on the Butrans patch, I couldn’t sleep longer than 5 hours, and I have chronic fatigue syndrome, which normally requires at least 9 hours of sleep. Even though it didn’t help my pain, I continued using it, thinking it’s one of those meds that takes time to work. By the third week, I had a seizure."
"I have chronic back pain that started from a skydiving accident, and have been in pain ever since. I tried so many medications and nothing worked. When I got Oxycodone long-acting and breakthrough Flexeril, my pain was reduced to 5/10. Come the evening, the pain got so bad that I needed to take more oxy. I just got this patch on Monday (March 4, 2013), on the 5th dose. It took about 3 days to become effective. I woke up on Wednesday and had no pain. I thought it was just a coincidence. Thursday comes, Friday, and still pain-free. I actually stopped taking my long-acting Oxycodone today. So I will see how the next few days will be once the medicine is out of my system. But I'm sure everything will still be pain-free. I love this patch!"
"Have used patches (20 mcg/hour) for over 10 years after trying many other drugs. I was in so much pain that I felt like taking my own life. I am still in some pain, but it is so much more bearable. Wonderful drug."
"This patch has made a SIGNIFICANT difference in my stamina. Even though I do still experience pain, it takes longer to get to intolerable, but mostly, my recovery from a taxing day is significantly less. I take far fewer pills and was even able to stop taking Ambien. I would recommend this to ANYONE who is truly looking for a better way to take care of their pain without all the opiates. Give it time, allow it to work, and if you're taking a bunch of narcotics, it may take a little time for your body to adjust to the patch and its delivery of medication. Your body's tolerance is likely very high. But, if you can make it through an adjustment period, there's a good chance this can work for you, too!"
"Gave to an elderly patient and it was horrible! She's been on it for over a month and is a completely different person, it's ruined her life. She no longer makes any sense, and talks constantly to the point where her voice is raw. She is combative at times which she never was before. It has done nothing at all for her pain. I wish to God they had never prescribed this pain patch. They wanted Fentanyl but the pharmacy refused. Do not let your elderly loved ones take this medication! It is not safe. I don't care what the company claims."
"I have been on Butrans for 3 days. On day 2, I woke up pain-free. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and herniated disks L4-S1. I have been receiving injections in my spine for a year and a half and taking Norco 10 every 4 hours, combined with muscle relaxers. I am a nurse, and I work on my feet 36 hours a week. I have felt better the last 2 days than I have felt in a long time. My husband is very active, as I was before my back injury—running, weights, rowing—and today, for the first time in a very long time, I asked him to take me hiking. I feel like Butrans is a lifesaver! But again, it's only day 3, so far no side effects!!"
"Butrans 20mg gave me my life back. The side effects are nothing compared to how I feel now being on this patch. Don't have the drowsy side effects that all the pills give a person. Now every so often I get what the doctor calls breakthrough pain, then I take pills like Norco, Metaxalone, Indomethacin, etc. Honestly, I take Indomethacin every night before bedtime, love those also. All I know is before the patches, I was on the couch all day every day."
More about Butrans (buprenorphine)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (229)
- Latest FDA alerts (4)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Generic availability
- Support group
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Butrans drug information
Other brands
Belbuca, Subutex, Sublocade, Brixadi, ... +2 more
Professional resources
- Butrans Patch prescribing information
- Buprenorphine (AHFS Monograph)
Other brands
Belbuca, Sublocade, Brixadi, Buprenex, Probuphine
Related treatment guides
- Chronic Pain
- Pain
