Butrans User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Daniweb
• June 24, 2011

For Pain "My pain management doctor put me on Butrans patches about 6 weeks ago, a 5 mg dose. The first box of four was a lifesaver. No more agony at work. Able to sleep. Did more in two weekends than I had in two years. I'm hoping to bump up to the 10 mg dose soon to cut down on my Norco. I have had chronic pain for many years and have been through many medicines, including Oxycontin. This patch is the best so far."

• Tina
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2020

For Chronic Pain "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."

• Manee
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2020

For Chronic Pain "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!!!"

• Canda...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2014

For Chronic Pain "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!"

• Anonymous
• December 28, 2011

For Pain "The best medicine I have taken so far for the control of sacroiliac joint pain. I have been on OxyContin, Percocet and this patch works better. The side effects are tolerable. My only complaints are severe bloating and constipation. You really have to stay on top of taking a laxative or you will be in bad shape. But you cannot beat the pain control. The patch enables me to work full-time at a professional job and remain comfortable."

• Biobot
• April 4, 2012

For Pain "It works great for about 3 days. It's supposed to last 7 days. By great, I mean it dramatically reduces pain (from 9-2) for about 5 hrs/day. Then the pain gradually increases. One good thing is that I don't wake up in pain when the patch is working."

• McV
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2019

For Chronic Pain "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."

• Belle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2016

For Pain "I need to update my previous post. I tried the patch about a year ago, but hadn't been completely off all other narcotics at the time of application, so I went through a horrible withdrawal. I decided to give it another chance because of all the good reviews. This time I abstained from all narcotics for 16 hours before applying the patch. I had a lot of pain for about 48 hours after application, but I'm about 60 hours in now & feeling much less pain than I ever did on Percocets. I still have some pain, but I'm only on the 7.5 & will probably have to go up to at least a 10 to feel very little pain. I haven't taken a pain pill in several days. I feel clear-headed & hopeful about the future. I'm so happy I gave the patch another chance!"

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2012

For Pain "I had severe back and neck pain for 4 years, been to neurologist, surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists with no relief or quality of life. I don't even know how I was working. My dr put me on the Butrans patch and my pain decreased a lot. I had no side effects for 8 months. Now I have severe itching and burning at the site and itching all over, to the point I want to pull it off."

• Texas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 11, 2016

For Pain "It works pretty well for me until it starts to wear off on the 5th-7th day. I think there should be 5 patches given a month instead of 4 per 28 days. Or the manufacturer needs to improve the quality and lasting power of each patch. I do have to admit without this medication, I would be unable to have a normal life. My pain level would be about an 8 on average without it, and thank goodness I was referred to my doctor by my orthopedic surgeon. I occasionally have a little itch under the patch when it gets wet. I hate that it is not more waterproof. I believe this is part of the reason they lose their strength. I do have Norco to supplement my pain relief, but if the patches would hold their potency, I wouldn't have to use the Norco."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2011

For Pain "I had lower back surgery several years ago. I ended up getting scar tissue build up within my spine, which has caused ongoing back and leg pain. I've tried all the 'normal' methods of relief... TENS unit, back injections, nerve burn, physical therapy, etc. Nothing seemed to work except narcotic pain medicines. I was taking 10/325 Norco pills for pain management, but I'm not a big pill type person so when I asked my PCP if there was anything else, she suggested the Butrans patch. I tried the 5mcg patch, but it wasn't very effective. I stepped up to the 10mcg patch and all is good now. I rarely need to take a Norco (maybe 2-3 a week for breakthrough pain), but overall this patch has been VERY helpful. It does not make me feel high."

• TerriW
• July 10, 2011

For Pain "For 20 years I had been taking pain medicines (from Vicodin to Norco) for acute pain (blown-out knee, two knee replacements, torn rotator cuff) to chronic back pain due to 4 herniated discs and a chronic fracture at T11-T12. It got to the point where taking 6-7 Norco 10/325 a day didn't keep me comfortable. My ortho sent me to a pain management clinic at the local hospital where they switched me over to Butrans. I was started on the 10 mg which helped, but I was still in discomfort. The following visit I was switched to the 20 mg. I am very satisfied with the level and continuity of pain relief. What a Godsend! My only complaint is that the patch seems to lose its effectiveness by Day 5 or 6."

• Pearl...
• November 15, 2015

For Pain "I have been on the Butrans Patch (20) for three weeks. The results have exceeded my hopes after years of enduring chronic pain related to Fibromyalgia. The relentless pain in my neck and back while sleeping has been reduced at least 90%. I am able to make my bed, bathe, cook, and do laundry most days. I am more tired than normal, which is probably attributed to my increase in activity each day. The negatives so far include moderate agitation and mild itching and irritation at the location site."

• MissyCT
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2013

For Chronic Pain "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!"

• goheels
• June 15, 2011

For Pain "I have taken Norco in increasing doses (though not above what my doctor recommended) since 2004. Over the years, I have tried a dozen or more medicines for my back pain, which is due to an L5/S1 herniation, and the only ones that have worked were Hydrocodone and Oxycodone - until the Butrans patch. I started on the 5 mg patch for a month, which cut my Norco intake in half. I was then upped to the 10 mg patch, which has reduced my Norco to about a pill a day for breakthrough pain. It really helps, and I'm sleeping through the night for the first time in years since my medicines aren't wearing off at 2 AM. Admittedly, I've only been on this for 6 weeks, but I am highly optimistic based on my early results."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2019

For Chronic Pain "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."

• ELLA
• June 17, 2015

For Pain "I had a good experience overall with the Butrans 15mg patches. Suffered from a bad car wreck leaving me with severe occipital nerve pain, migraines, bulging disc in my neck and back. Damage to L5, S1 in a fall and fibromyalgia. I tried so many meds, was a guinea pig for trial and error. Tried every pain med that was available and found I was allergic to all but two. After 10 plus years of being in pain, I was finally able to get out of bed in the morning and sleep through the night. I could function without the drowsiness or loopy feeling pills left behind. I would recommend this to anyone in chronic pain, not part-time pain. The only side effects I encountered were 2 years later and are itchy, redness, and blistering-like rash at the application site."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2012

For Pain "The patch started off as a great alternative to the other options, but I quickly had too many issues with it to continue using it. It constantly peels off, leaves big red itchy bumps, loses its effectiveness after about 4 days, makes me dizzy, nauseous, light-headed, races my heart, and gives me headaches. Too bad because it really killed the pain. Never mind the cost."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2011

For Pain "Was using Butrans 20 dose. Chronic joint pain since childhood. Was using Hydrocodone and Gabapentin. Patch was amazing at controlling pain from day 1. Lost 5 lbs due to stomach uneasiness, loss of appetite. I had no marks at patch sites. At 7 weeks, every spot where a patch had been used erupted in blisters. It was very odd and now 2 weeks later the red spots are finally receding. Pain control 100%, stomach and bowel issues manageable."

• Elaine...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 13, 2013

For Chronic Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• January 20, 2012

For Pain "I have found this medication to be very successful for me. I started on the 20 mcg/hr patch because of post-op nerve pain continually waking me throughout the night (with all the results a lack of sleep has on you both physically and mentally). Through the use of the patches, I have been able to finally sleep the night through and reduce other medicines (Lortab/Flexeril/Klonopin) and stop one other completely. It is a low enough dose that doesn't make you all loopy while still strong enough to have a long-term effect on my arch-nemesis and yours, pain. Even if my insurance didn't pay for it, it is the one medicine I would still purchase out of pocket."

• snerd
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2013

For Chronic 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."

• James_A
• March 8, 2013

For Chronic Pain "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!"

• Deb
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2020

For Chronic Pain "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."

• Micke
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2018

For Chronic Pain "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."