I have recently been placed on Butrans transdermal patch...

Treatment and medication
1

I have recently been placed on Butrans transdermal patches for chronic pain caused by Cervical Spondolysis. Doc started me on what looks to be a very low dosage of 5mg patches, and has today doubled the dosage to 10mg weekly patches.

Upon replacing a patch I felt a sudden rush of tiredness hit me within 90 minutes of sticking the patch on, but after the initial 'hit', the patches don't seem to be having much effect on the pain. I have been taking other pain relief as well including Tramadol, Acupan, Diazapan, paracetamol, etc, but I was specifically told to avoid any medication that contains codeine (co-codamol, codeine phosphate, etc) as it reacts adversely with the buprenorphine, and also to avoid ibuprofen as well.

I will probably be on the 10mg patches for a month at least to see how they go but I have a feeling that the dose will need increasong again after the 4 weeks.

This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience

2

Hi,

I have been taking the tamgesic tablets on and off since december for chronic back pain. When I first took them they made me really drowzy and high as well as vommitting. Howver once I altered the dose and took 1 and then the 2nd approx 3 hrs later it worked much better. I still find they are too strong for when I am at work but take the soluble version of tramadol then instead. I've found that it has been trial and error to find the best pain management and am now waiting to have an injection into my spine to try and resolve it.

I hope this helps!!

Carla x

3

Hi

i have problems with my knees for about 25 years now and have tried many coctail of drugs but found not much works, at the moment i am on 52 mg of the patch but when need to i go up to 72 mg plus i take the tablet form at the same time, as you can gather i am in server pain all the time with pain in my knees and back and both lower legs i have asked the to chop my left leg off but they declined, as it would leave me with one shorter than the other (ha ha ha ) all you have to do is try to stay possative all the time and not think of it, i know it is hard when you fall over all the time, in my case but just try

see you

The Knee Specalist

4

My 10mg transdermal patch - week one had immediate good pain relief. Week two I repositioned from thigh to upper arm - again good pain control. But this third week, positioned on mid back - it is doing nothing, almost as though the medication is not there. I had it replaced on the thigh and worry that the re-application may have adverse effects. What I wonder is this: how can the patient be confident that the patch is actually doing its work? Quality control on pills can be effectively applied but how do the manufacturers test the patches? Anyone in a position of knowledge?

I had lower spine pain control injection carried out twenty years ago - and it lasted that long! So far my GP just wants the patches to be tried.

5

You are supposed to put the patches on the upper body - look at the leaflet -either on your upper back, chest or upper arm, so maybe that's why it doesn't seem to do much on your thigh.

Butrans patches are my 'wonder drug'. I changed to them from cocodamol and noticed an amazing difference in my energy levels, constipation, etc. I honestly felt like a new woman. I realise that my experiences are not shared by everyone but I just wanted to share my experience to show that not all are bad.

The thing about positioning the patches is really important though, so do try different sites. Because I can only tolerate them on my arms I use one high up near my shoulder, one further down towards where a short sleeved top would come and then the same on the opposite arm to give me a four week rotation.

6

I was prescribed Butrans 10 patches yesterday for arthritis in my hips/knees.

Previously I was using Co-Codomol 30/500 for years, last October, my doctor started me on Dtrans, initially 12.5 and then the 25microgramme patch, which was very effective for a while.

Unfortunately, I became allergic? to something in the Dtrans, and my skin would flake (I also have eczema), and it didn`t matter where I stuck them on they wouldn`t stay on, and hence I wasn`t getting any pain relief at all.

My doctor (who I must admit has been very understanding) suggested I try the Butrans 10.

The advantage I`ve noticed is that the patch is much bigger and flexible, and seems to be more secure.

However, although I was told that I wouldn`t be able to assess the effectiveness for approximately 3 days, I have noticed that the side effects, itching, insomnia, dizziness etc. are more pronounced than those I experience whilst the Dtrans was working, and little pain relief as yet.

As I was up all night I did a bit of searching, and from what I can gather, Butrans seem to be roughly half the strength of Dtrans, and apparently less effective via transdermal patches (Buprenophine vs Fentanyl).

I expect that 10 microgrammes may not work, but although my GP has said they can be increased to 20microgrammes, I`m worried that may just double the unwanted side effects.

I feel that somehow I`ve taken a backwards step.

7

Does anyone know if its ok to take percocet with butrans patch? thank u

8

jules222 It's not recommended as I don't think you'll feel the Percocet (Oxycodone),, you tell us if you are feeling it or not