How long does it take butrans patch to reach it's full potential in pain managment?

I've just started the 10mcgs butrans 7 day patch, first application was around 3:40pm on the 21st. It's now the 23rd and I'm still in pain. I have severe spinal stenosis with herniated discs that impede my sciatic nerve and the nerve is the biggest issue right now. It's 2:28 pm right now on the 2nd day and I'm just hoping it will kick in. No changes so far other than some slight irritation on the application site. I'll keep updated as the days progress. I'm also taking 10mg hydrocodone twice daily, I'm just hoping it kicks in soon. I wake up three times a night in pain. I'm wanting to get the surgery to shave off the herniations but they're putting me through every hoop and tons of medication's instead of actually granting me the surgery. Im 33 years old, been dealing with this since 27. I have three boys. I just want some relief and to not need my cane to walk or be stuck in bed

I know that it helped me four to six hours after applying the patch. I was taking Lortab 10 with no relief so after a few hours I had more relief from the patch than the pills.

I been on it for 2 weeks and my back pain is unbearable! Called the doc and can’t get me in for another week... she did give me some pain meds but those are all gone! I been on Percocet for about 2 years and decided to try and get off them, cause I hear so many horror stories about them, always took my usual dosage never anymore extra. Well that was the wrong thing to do, my pain was so much more manageable with them, I am hoping doc put me back on them, cause they really did work for my pain!

Hi i started the patch a month ago .dr start me on 5mg and quickly bump it to 20 mg .because i was getting no relief .i wore the 20 mg patch after the 3 days was getting relief then a second patch it became better i wake up most oain gone.please give it time it is so worth it .i have slip dics plus arthritis in my lower back was in a lot of pain as well as lung cancer patient .i also am taking mobic 7.5 with it now .the 2 together is great .hang in there !!

I'm on the 15mg patch. Been on it for almost 2 months. Before I started the butrans patch didn't matter what I took my back and leg where in constant pain. I put the 1st patch on about 6 hours later I could tell it was too strong. So I cut it in half... few weeks into it I also noticed that the pain relive was only about 4 days. So now I put the other half on about 3or4 days after the first half was applied keep on both halves 7 days each they really have been the only thing getting me out of bed and being an active mother again. I have 3 small boys so glad the doctor gave me this. I also take tremadol for break threw but I only have to take it in the morning that's when my pain is the worst .

I just started the 10 so I will come back and answer after 7 days

I am a new butrans patch user. I've only had it on for 2.5 days. I have felt absolutely nothing so far. NO pain relief at all.

It took my patch 36 hours to start working... it hit me hard and I had no pain in the next three days. I seemed to use it up within three days and had no pain relief until putting the patch on again and waiting for about 30 hours to work. My pharmacist said it sounds like you are using it all up and he asked me if I had ever abused narcotics. I have in my early 20s. He said people who have have more opioid receptors and they are harder to treat with patches. He told me I should try going on 5 mcg patch... keep it on and 3.5 days later put another 5 mcg patch on... letting them overlap. Anyone heard of this?

I just put mine an hour ago and I'm. Already feeling some relief i suffere from chronic back pain. For past 8years i had surgery on my lumber spine L4L5 and i also suffer from chronic pain in my stomach from scar tissue. From surgeries i must admit up to now first time i feel pain free i hope this last long. I did feel lighthead a little bit and some itching so i took some Benadryl and that seems to help a bit i dont want to be on pain meds cause there so addictive n i been all types from percocet lortab Vicodin ext. Hopefuly like i said earlier this will work well for me il keep you posted on my out come.

Everyones experience seems to be different. I began butrams patch a week ago. I definitely had relief w/in three days and could feel the effects almost immediately- with in 10-15 minutes I felt a little out of it "high" for lack of a better description. By the 2nd day (w/in 12 hours of application) my pain was lessened. I have been on Vicodin 7.5 for 6+ years plus Soma & Xanax. I had to take a Vicodin the 2nd day but didnt take any from day 3 until earlier today (day 7) I just applied my second patch about an hour ago.

I am like you and have been on it for a week with no relief, I went to the ER and they have me a shot of Demerol and I called my pain specialist and he is ordering me some breakthrough pains also I would suggest that since it can take up to a month for full relief.

Hi cjkay & welcome! Some Butrans users have had pain relief before 3 days. If it's already been a week for you, I'd suggest contacting your doctor. Your dosage might have to be adjusted. There are 3 different strengths & sizes of this patch. The doctor could also ascertain that the selected patch site is optimal. Many people on this patch also take some other pain medications for breakthrough pain.

cjkay, please check in the medications browser at the top of this page. It shows that with 6 users' reviews the rating was 8.1 out of 10. It's excellent that you joined the butrans support group. This should be very helpful to you.

I'm so sorry for your pain cjkay. The contributors here on this website are very caring & helpful. Please keep us posted, we'd like to try to help you. We truly do care.

Good luck to you! All the best! from Wendy :)

Hi CJ,
I'm like you, been on this for about a week and my pain levels are inconsistent. I'm okay in the morning but my pain is greater in afternoon/evenings despite being on the patch for 6 days now. I am determined though to give this thing the full 2 week trial. I read somewhere else (can't remember but it was a drug info site) that it can take that long to achieve consistent relief when first starting out on it. I am so thankful I have some breakthrough pain medicine available to me. You may want to contact your doctor and ask for this.

Hi, it takes 3 days for the buprenorphine to build up in your system, so it is then that you should feel the mot pain relief. As long as you keep up the use of the patch and change it every 7 days you should continue to receive a steady supply of analgesic at consistent levels