Belbuca Patch

[debbluebird]

Has anyone ever tried this patch? It's buprenorphine in a patch form.
Thanks

[buglegs]

A few years ago I was taking buprenorphine for lower back problems after failure of (2) spinal stimulators.. I was prescribed the "Belbuca Patch" that dissolves between the cheek and gum, work great for about 2-years, didn't have to take any type of dopamine agonist during this period for RLS, almost like I never had RLS and it controlled my back pain. The problem: Always in a zombie like state just laying in bed, depressed, withdrawn from everyone and everything, no life in me just gloom and doom...After taking this killer drug for 2-years I started having serious side effects such as panic attacks, depression, anxiety, claustrophobia, stomach problems but never had any dental problems but I'm sure that would have come eventually but I got off that medication altogether, rough withdrawals and had to restart taking Requip for my RLS until stopping that this past April 2024. I guess it boils down to whether its worth the problems or risk vs enduring or finding other means of relief...

[debbluebird]

Thank you

[badnights]

A few years ago I was taking buprenorphine for lower back problems after failure of (2) spinal stimulators.. I was prescribed the "Belbuca Patch" that dissolves between the cheek and gum, work great for about 2-years, didn't have to take any type of dopamine agonist during this period for RLS, almost like I never had RLS and it controlled my back pain. The problem: Always in a zombie like state just laying in bed, depressed, withdrawn from everyone and everything, no life in me just gloom and doom...After taking this killer drug for 2-years I started having serious side effects such as panic attacks, depression, anxiety, claustrophobia, stomach problems but never had any dental problems but I'm sure that would have come eventually but I got off that medication altogether, rough withdrawals and had to restart taking Requip for my RLS until stopping that this past April 2024. I guess it boils down to whether its worth the problems or risk vs enduring or finding other means of relief...

I wish we had better emoticons. I would give you a big-hug. That must have been horrible. So sad you had to go thru that.

[ViewsAskew]

A few years ago I was taking buprenorphine for lower back problems after failure of (2) spinal stimulators.. I was prescribed the "Belbuca Patch" that dissolves between the cheek and gum, work great for about 2-years, didn't have to take any type of dopamine agonist during this period for RLS, almost like I never had RLS and it controlled my back pain. The problem: Always in a zombie like state just laying in bed, depressed, withdrawn from everyone and everything, no life in me just gloom and doom...After taking this killer drug for 2-years I started having serious side effects such as panic attacks, depression, anxiety, claustrophobia, stomach problems but never had any dental problems but I'm sure that would have come eventually but I got off that medication altogether, rough withdrawals and had to restart taking Requip for my RLS until stopping that this past April 2024. I guess it boils down to whether its worth the problems or risk vs enduring or finding other means of relief...

People have no idea what many of us go through. I am so sorry you had to go through that.

[Stainless]

A concierge doctor to me he could get me on that patch when I brought up the FDA warning about tooth decay. I was curious if a patch would have that issue. In Florida the law reads doc can prescribe Buprenorphine because o 2023 waiver to opioid prescription law but a doctor has to have an exemption. I have no idea how hard this is to get this exemption and is I'm sure is mostly directed at pain, which many don't believe RLS or its spinoffs create. The more I think about it the more concern the patch might just be another avenue to the teeth. Bad news after lower jaw radiation.

BTW I surfed this morning for the first time in 2 years after throat cancer chemo and radiation. I just bounced back from a TIA 3 weeks ago. Something changed with RLS and I feel incredible. I'll leave it at that.

[beckycolorado]

Has anyone ever tried this patch? It's buprenorphine in a patch form.
Thanks

I use Suboxone sublingual, not the patch. Many have discussed issues with tooth decay. I think when Suboxone was first introduced, the manufacturers didn't discuss proper oral hygiene. I talked to my dentist and this is my protocol: I rinse my mouth gently after the film is dissolved (20-30 minutes after I take it). An hour later I brush my teeth. My dentist also gave me a dental rinse I use twice a day. And I floss daily. I haven't had any problems with my teeth. When I first started on it, I contacted one of the RLS board members who is also on Suboxone and had been for about 5-6 years and she had not experienced any tooth decay. Hope this helps.

[badnights]

I use Suboxone sublingual, not the patch. Many have discussed issues with tooth decay. I think when Suboxone was first introduced, the manufacturers didn't discuss proper oral hygiene. I talked to my dentist and this is my protocol: I rinse my mouth gently after the film is dissolved (20-30 minutes after I take it). An hour later I brush my teeth. My dentist also gave me a dental rinse I use twice a day. And I floss daily. I haven't had any problems with my teeth. When I first started on it, I contacted one of the RLS board members who is also on Suboxone and had been for about 5-6 years and she had not experienced any tooth decay. Hope this helps.

Excellent observation and advice. Thank you!

[srgraves01]

I took buprenorphine twice. The first time I took the 2 mg sublingual. The pills were tiny. But it was the most powerful drug I have ever taken. I was able to take it once every three days and I would use my power plate vibration platform the other days. Some times I would sleep until 3PM but after that I was almost normal and i did work on our house. But after several months I had problems throwing up. I cut the dose in half. But after about a month I had the same problem again. So I had too stop it. During that time I noticed the muscles in my hips start to tighten more. I would have to massage them out. This was in 2018. In 2019 I saw Dr B and he gave me the option of the Belbuca films. He gradually ramped me up on the films to 2 mg. I took them for about a year over time my hip muscles became tighter and tighter and I had to spend more and more time on the power plate. After a while I asked him to switch me to something else because I had to spend so much time on the power plate massaging my hip muscles. Plus the films were very expensive.

[beckycolorado]

I took buprenorphine twice. The first time I took the 2 mg sublingual. The pills were tiny. But it was the most powerful drug I have ever taken. I was able to take it once every three days and I would use my power plate vibration platform the other days. Some times I would sleep until 3PM but after that I was almost normal and i did work on our house. But after several months I had problems throwing up. I cut the dose in half. But after about a month I had the same problem again. So I had too stop it. During that time I noticed the muscles in my hips start to tighten more. I would have to massage them out. This was in 2018. In 2019 I saw Dr B and he gave me the option of the Belbuca films. He gradually ramped me up on the films to 2 mg. I took them for about a year over time my hip muscles became tighter and tighter and I had to spend more and more time on the power plate. After a while I asked him to switch me to something else because I had to spend so much time on the power plate massaging my hip muscles. Plus the films were very expensive.

Can I ask what medication Dr. B switched you to? Are you satisfied with your current medication?

[srgraves01]

He switched me to methadone. I however had a similar experience with that after a year. I now take codeine sulfate 60 mg 3 times a day. I get used to medications so I have to take a drug holiday. I take gabapentin and iron on my drug holiday. I used to take alprazolam too. But the state I moved to won't let me take alprazolam while i am being prescribed codeine. I have to say a strongly disagree with this rule.

[srgraves01]

I should also add that I take 300 mg gabapentin at times with the codeine sulfate. It makes the codeine work better. I read this online and it works for me.
Steve

[badnights]

He switched me to methadone. I however had a similar experience with that after a year. I now take codeine sulfate 60 mg 3 times a day. I get used to medications so I have to take a drug holiday. I take gabapentin and iron on my drug holiday. I used to take alprazolam too. But the state I moved to won't let me take alprazolam while i am being prescribed codeine. I have to say a strongly disagree with this rule.

Can you work it somehow so that you end a prescription of codeine before picking up one of alprazolam? to make it clear that you're not actually taking them at the same time? just thinking out loud....