Butrans and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2012

For Pain "Fantastic, at first. I received relief from fibro pain throughout my body and some rheumatoid arthritis pain. (Oddly, I did experience a new pain in the very center of my lower back after beginning Butrans). Once I increased to 20 mcg, after 2 days of applying the new patch, I would vomit, have nausea and headache. Then, my depression got so bad, almost to the point of hospitalization. Butrans did help with my pain, but the side effects were just too much."

• Mar...
• October 9, 2017

For Chronic Pain "On pain patch for 3 years and lowered from 10 mg to 5 mg. Did this to stop the use of this drug. It works great for about the first year, then other issues start. Poor sleep, withdrawal after the 5th day, won't last 7 days. When I stopped it, I had legs and arms spasming to the point of not walking, also lack of energy, and tired for about three weeks, depression, lack of interest in anything. Don't start if you can avoid it."

• Mar...
• October 9, 2017

For Chronic Pain "On pain patch for 3 years and lowered from 10 mg to 5 mg. Did this to stop the use of this drug. It works great for about the first year, then other issues start. Poor sleep, withdrawal after the 5th day, won't last 7 days. When I stopped it, I had legs and arms spasming to the point of not walking, also lack of energy, and tired for about three weeks, depression, lack of interest in anything. Don't start if you can avoid it."

• wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have chronic Lyme disease, which has caused chronic pain. The doctors have tried just about everything, but nothing seems to help. I was on 125 mcgs of fentanyl with 32 mgs of Dilaudid and still in full-blown pain 24/7. I was detoxed off the fentanyl with Suboxone (not a pleasant experience), and the hope was the Suboxone would address my pain, but it didn't. The doctor seemed to think the BuTrans patch 20 mg might help, so I started on it six days ago. I don't feel a huge difference pain-wise, but I have had nonstop headaches and a total lack of motivation to do even the smallest of tasks. I really don't know if I should continue on it, whether the headaches will slowly subside, or if I should tear the patch off so I don't have to go through withdrawal."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2022

For Chronic Pain "I have been taking Dilaudid in pill form for a while now. That worked wonders for my back pain, but I wanted something with a longer duration for pain around the clock without taking too many pills. My doc put me on Butrans. I’ve had the patch on for 5 days now. It’s not helping the pain as well as Dilaudid, plus it’s giving me very bad anxiety and depression, also headaches, and I’m not sleeping well. I think I’m going to go back on my pills because Butrans is making me feel too weird."

• Lay...
• August 18, 2021

For Chronic Pain "Was started on Bulbuca 450 mcg 6 months ago, it was the film patch for inside the mouth. First of all, it started decaying my teeth, so Dr. converted me over to the patch for the skin. I started out on 10 mcg, and it did not touch my pain, and I started withdrawing badly. Went back in after 2 weeks, and I was moved up to 15 mcg, and same results. Up to 20 mcg, and holy moly, I started feeling like I had the flu, couldn't get comfortable, was on the toilet 15-20 times a day. Then, the 3rd day after the new patch was on, things subsided. But now on the 5th day, not much pain control and sweating, and back on the toilet, with body aches. It doesn't last the 7 days like it says and took 3 days once moved up to 20 mcg, it barely gave me minimum pain relief. I have severe nerve damage in the sacral from preexisting surgery. This is not anything like Belbuca film or close to it. I do not recommend this Butrans patch at all. I am back to suffering. It's for low pain maybe, but otherwise, it's junk. Be aware."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2023

For Chronic Pain "I was started on 5 mcg Butrans for chronic low back pain due to severe degenerative disc disease, L5 S1 bone-on-bone discs, bilateral pars defects, and spondylolisthesis. I wish I’d said no to this drug when it was offered to me after countless painful visits to the hospital for my uncontrolled back pain. What doctors don’t tell you is that it interferes with your thyroid function, which causes a whole other set of problems. Not only will you get severely addicted to this medication and have a hard time getting off of it, you’ll have issues with: mood, sleep, depression, anxiety, appetite, weight issues, feeling cold all the time, and worst of all, building a low tolerance for pain. I will NOT do my back surgery unless I’m off this horrible patch. I was at 7.5 mcg for a while, but I’m down to 5 mcg now, still very potent. Buprenorphine is 20-100 times as strong as morphine. I am trying to find a way to get off this evil medication with little to no help from my pain management doctor."

• ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Butrans causes depression, anxiety, dizziness, nausea. Do not get on this medication."