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Dr going to try something finally

I talked to the dr on wednesday they took like 15 x-rays and found nothing they put me on prednisone 2 pillls 1 time a day.  she said if that dont help she is going to put me on a patch?!?  she said its not like fentynal or moriphine.  she said its more like viciodn. she said its a new drug and was wonderful if anyone else has used it?  Please help i need more info... oh yeah she said i change the patch 1 time a week.
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82861 tn?1333453911
Butrans contains buprenorphine alone, which in pill form is marketed as Subutex.  Buprenorphine with naloxone is Suboxone.  The Butrans patch does not contain naloxone so yes, breakthrough meds can be used with it.  

The naloxone component in Suboxone prevents the pill from being crushed and injected.  Naloxone also occupies certain opiate receptors and won't allow other opiates to take up residence.  That means any additional opiates don't have much if any affect if taken with Suboxone.

Butrans is every bit as habit forming as the fentanyl patch or morphine or any other potent narcotic.  You will experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly decide to stop using it.  It is also a schedule II narcotic just like fentanyl, morphine, and dilaudid for example.  It should not be given to an opiate-naive patient.  You should work your way through less potent medications like vicodin first.  
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Avatar universal
still in pain no change in anything still have no idea what patch she is talking about?  I cant wait till theropy I sooo hope it helps.  I dont want to be on any more drugs they suck!

tuckamore:  i guess that drug wouldnt be a good idea for me.  I have been diagnosed as bipolar, anxiety, add, narcolepsy, restless leg, high bp, high cholosteral, diabeties, and fibromylgia.  so i already take alot of meds:  Geodon, celexa, Klohopin, vyvanse,  xyrem (GHB), requip,crestor, metformin, then i also take fish oil and b12.  So i got about all the things u listed as already covered.
FML!
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547368 tn?1440541785
Thanks Atonicat for providing such good information. I didn't research it... Shame on me!! I know I have watched the medical community get closer and closer to using Suboxone for pain management. I can tell you that several months ago Suboxone's own site said it was not to be used for pain management. So I am not sure of the rational here but need to find the time to research it in detail and discuss this with my colleagues.
  
No other opiate can be used with the new Butrans Patch.... as it's formula has not changed... it still cancels out all opiates.  Indeed the site says, "Butrans Patch may cause withdrawal symptoms.."

The following are not to be used while on the Butrans Patch:
"Benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), cimetidine, narcotic pain medicine (eg, codeine), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), skeletal muscle relaxants (eg, cyclobenzaprine), or sodium oxybate ( GHB) because the risk of severe drowsiness, severe breathing problems, and seizures may be increased.."

~Tuck
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547368 tn?1440541785
Hi Julie,

I am sorry to hear you do not have a diagnosis. I haven't heard of a patch that you only change once a week. Obviously I don't know everything... far from it. I would doubt that any opiate would last a week so this patch is in all likelihood not an opiate which if I understand correctly would be a good thing for you..

According to your mid May post on the Addiction Forum you have struggled seriously with opiates in the past and continue to have strong cravings. You stated you were taking GHB... very dangerous and I do believe it is illegal. I am not street drug literate. You also stated, Begin Quote "i'm horrible i would probably take anything that wouldnt kill me." End Quote. I am so concerned for you.

I urge you to be cautious....and avoid any prescription, habit forming medications that would include a Vicodin like substance.. Be sure your physicians know your issues and what you are ingesting. Please continue talking with the members of the Addition Substance Abuse Forum. They can best guide you.

I wish you well and hope you will find a resolution to your pain issues... for you, opiates may not be the solution.

Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck

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1508881 tn?1313114901
The only 7 day patch I know of is the Butrans patch. Buprenorphine (butrans) is Suboxone. It's normally used for addiction recovery but it looks like they're using it in low doses for pain management in the patch. This is what I found on it from Wikipedia.

"Available buprenorphine formulations include a 5, 10 and 20 mcg per hour, 7-day patch, marketed as Butrans in the U.S.A. by Purdue Pharma and indicated for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain in patients requiring a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic for an extended period of time.

Depending on the application form, buprenorphine is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain (pain that has outlasted its use to prevent injury and after three months) or for peri-operative analgesia. For the treatment of chronic pain, the transdermal formulations (Which was recently released in January 2011, It is available in 5mcg(micrograms per hour), 10mcg, 20mcg,Trans dermal patches[25]) are preferred, which can be used both for chronic cancer pain as well as chronic non-malignant pain, such as musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. The intravenous formulation is mainly used in postoperative pain (for example, as patient controlled analgesia (PCA)) and the sublingual formulation is, for example, used as breakthrough medication for patients with basic transdermal treatment. Advantages of buprenorphine in the treatment of chronic pain are, from a clinical perspective, its relatively long half-life, the option of sublingual and transdermal application and the excellent safety profile (ceiling effect for respiratory depression, lack of immunosuppressive effect, low pharmacokinetic interaction potential, no accumulation in renal impairment). Although not enough western literature is available, use of inj. buprenorphine in 'spinal' anaesthesia is rising in countries like India. Up to 150 micrograms of the drug (0.5 ml) of the preservative free solution is added to the local anaesthetic bupivacaine, and a smoother analgesia is obtained with the benefit of the patient remaining pain-free until up to eight to ten hours of the spinal being given."
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Avatar universal
now she says she wants to wait to see if theropy work she changes her mind all the time i just want some pain relief i dont care what it is tramadol i take 6 50mg just to start to help.  I also take 800mg advil 3-4 times a day the pain is aweful.... I know she think i just want the drugs NOT true i want NO PAIN i dont care how i get it
Julie
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Avatar universal
Hi julie1224,

I'm so glad that your Doctor took the x-rays but I know that you are frustrated that they didn't find an answer to your problems.  :(

I don't have any information about a "new" patch that is similar to Vicodin that is out.  I couldn't find anything when I googled it.  You might call your Pharmacist and ask him/her about it as they are up-to-date on every new med that is coming out.  Did your doctor tell you what the name of the "new" patch is?  If she did would you mind letting us know?  It sounds really promising for people that don't need the strength of the Fentanyl (which I'm on) and don't want to have to worry about taking the pills every few hours!!

I'll be looking for your updates..........Sherry  :)
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