BuTrans Patches - side effects - thinking of stopping taking them

Hello Eunice

I'm not sure if you are still on this site, but thought I would write a comment. 

Just over two years ago whilst driving my car I was hit passenger side by a lady who failed to stop at the junction at the top of our lane.

I suffered a grade III whiplash, severe pain to my right ribs, chest, shoulders, back, hips, left arm, ankles and wrists.

Physiotheraphy didn't help, only aggravated, so was prescribed 60mg CoCodamol x 4 per day and amitryptalene, but I couldn't function at all on a day to day basis and after being rushed to hopsital due to severe pain in my right side rib area, was prescribed 20mg 7 day Butrans patches instead

I have been on Butrans for over 12 months and they have had little effect with the pain.

After seeing the last specialist in London, who advised that he believes my central nervous system has been damaged and there is little to be done other than a residential  pain management course, pain pshycotherapy and a course of new drugs (which I'm not at all convinced about). So I have decided to come off the Butrans and go cold turkey.

I have no real idea what to expect because my pain is so great, the side effects seem negligible - apart from restless sleep.

I'm day two now. Last night was a restless sleep, I have mild flu like symptoms (a little hot with chills) and feel a little bit low (but have been since the accident as my life and mobility has completely changed).

I'm expecting my pain to become more severe and overtake me - but regarding further withdrawal symptoms I don't know what to expect.

It would be really helpful if you could please advise what you experienced.

I hope after all this time you are much improved and look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you so much.

Katie

 

Hi to all of you out there..

I was on BuTrans patch nearly for 2 years I am on 30 mg now combined with morphine pills too and some other medicine. Due to my pain in back, neck and headaches.

I was searching online to see if there is people out there like me. I can relate to most of the stuff that you all have experienced.

I took my patch off today and stopped rest of the pills too. It is my first night so I am hoping that it will go quick 😐.

One thing is that doctors fail to tell you that taking all this will take away pain in short run but in return it will change you completely to someone you no longer recognise .

I will let you all know how I get along I guess all you know what I will be going through

Hi to you all,

I have just found this thread and been reading what you all say with interest. I have been (or should say had been ) on 10mg Butrans patches for 2 and half years for severe pain due to fibromyalgia and other problems. I realised a while ago that they did not seem to be working as well for me. Fed up of feeling crap and want my life back so 2 days ago I decided to take the patch off and am now going through the "cold turkey" ! What a nightmare. Feeling sick, dizzy, no sleep... yesterday I spent most of the day crying and felt I couldnt cope. I felt suicidal. I dont want to ask the doctor for other meds so I really need to get through this on my own. How ? I honestly don't know. I hope as the days pass it will get easier.

Hi Eunice, im 37, i was on 20mg patch for bout 8 months, gradually cut down, to 10mg and then 5mg now off all meds for over a week now. When will the withdrawals stop. Im goin out of my mind, feeling sick all the time, heart rate racing at bout 120, low blood pressure 89/52 ish all the time, v sweaty, restless legs, have to keep moving when im lying down, and generally feeling unwell....

I had a micro-lumbar disdectomy surgery bout 4 weeks on my right side of L5/S1 left side now playing up. BUT never again will i go back on those patches. I was also on Lycria 300mg and Tramadol 300mg daily along with patch. Dont know wat other meds i can take??? Dr. gave me Liberium to help with withdrawals but there for people coming of alcohol and i dont even drink.... Hope ur on the mind... Loved reading all of the above. Regards...

Hello Eunice

​Not sure if you are still on here. But been reading through as I have been put on the patches three weeks ago. As yet I have not had any side effects, but reading everyones comments it has put me off using them. I have been on Oramorph 5mg every 4 hours for the last three years. And on recently changing my doctor, I were called in and she asked why on earth had I been on Oramorph for so long and using it 4 times daily!! My reply was I am not a dr that is what I were given and they kept issuing it. It really makes me wonder if I sould take drugs prescribed after that episode. It would be great if you read this, and hopefully get back to me as I am now concerned about the damn patches!!

No layperson has the ability to give guidance. You must discuss it with your specialist advisers.

given the seriousness of your problems, and the combination of medication:

(1) You cannot say whether stopping the Bu-Trans will make any difference, other than perhaps increasing the pain

(2) They say you should not just stop taking a medicine without supervision.

talk to the doctors.

Eunice reading your history gave me so much encouragement but Im so terrfified im on 15mg patches for a year. I dont sleep. Right now IM so sick to my stomach racinng heart as I got a fever today that caused my face to fire up red its Florida I had window3s open and it got hot so I turned it all down and put on the AC and closed windows. Im still recovering from the heat. Putting the patch off and on anxious, so tired I want to lay my head down but scared to fall asleep. I want so very bad to stop. But I take care of my husband and whole family and go to work daily, how would I live through it I cant even lift my head withot my patches and hold up my own neck ad I have degenerates disease in my neck and the bones in the back of my neck are just about gone I need a rod and I just havent had the surey, Im debating on hving the surgery this year Im so terrified to have surgery on my neck. 

All your stories are very inspirational and encouraging, so I am glad I have found this forum subject.

I came off 5 & 10mg of patches 3 days ago after being on them for a few months. My legs and kidneys hurt, constantly aching and stabbing pains. I have MGUS but apart from that I am pushed form piller to post, consultant to consultant. But know one knows whats wrong. All I get told is there is nothing they can do, try another specilist.

very few weeks I try to come off these patches to see if what the pain is like without them. I get to a point where I cant stand it and slap another one on. This time I'm not going to especially after reading this. I asked the chemist if there were withdrawel syptoms and was told no. My legs have still been bad whilst on them but the kidney pain was gone. The pain came back this morning in my kidneys, my leg pain is the same ish maybe slightly worse.

I have got depressed in the past and I am not going to take something that can induce that black hole feeling, so I suppose its gitted teeth time and work through it. Apart from reducing the pain I havnt had any side affects from the patches and I thouht they were great, but I am not risking having seen everyones experience and my intuition is telling me to stop them.

I am having an MRI on my brain in two weeks to see if I have MS, but I know its not that. I have had an MRI on my back (all clear) so maybe when they see my brain is ok they will listen to me and do one on my legs.

Thank you for all the information everyone has posted it has been really helpful.

xx

Hi Eunice,

I am sorry that you are suffering so much. I have been on the Butrans patch 2 times. The first time I decided to stop and I lowered my patch from 10 mcg to 5 mcg. I suffered withdraw each time I lowered the mcg. I do not recommend that you stop the Butrans patch abruptly, because your body wiill go into withdraw, which is beyond unpleasant, and in your health situation, this would be dangerous.

I have several different problems such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, herniated disc's, and osteoarthritis. The Butrans patch was offered to me after several different approaches to relieve my pain failed - such as physical therapy, medications, and epidural injections 😒 My pain has progressed and it seems like the pain always finds a way to out smart my medication 😈

I am also on an antidepressant called Cymbalta, which has been approved for pain, and Gabapentim. I have been told that Elavil, which is an antidepressant is an excellent pain reliever. There are many classes of medications that relieve pain, and sometimes a cocktail medication approach is needed...

I am fortunate to be under the care of good doctors. It is important to work with doctors in a team approach - so every doctor can see the global picture of what is going on with you, by viewing the information from other doctors, and by phone.

If you continue to feel like 💩 don't give up! I have been struggling with my pain condition for a LONG time, and have been made to feel that it's all in my head, stress related, crazy . Chronic pain is really hard to treat. You are your only advocate, and just because the hospital doctors have told you there is nothing wrong with you, or your test results are negative, keep moving toward answers. Medication is trial and error.

I wish you the best of luck!

Lee