Belbuca Patch
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:07 pm
Has anyone ever tried this patch? It's buprenorphine in a patch form.
Thanks
Thanks
To enhance the quality of life for individuals with RLS/WED and their families.
http://bb.rls.org/
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.buglegs wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 11:23 pm 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 The problem: Always in a zombie like state just laying in bed, depressed, withdrawn from everyone and everything, no life in me just gloom and doom...After taking this killer drug for 2-years I started having serious side effects such as panic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.buglegs wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 11:23 pm 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 The problem: Always in a zombie like state just laying in bed, depressed, withdrawn from everyone and everything, no life in me just gloom and doom...After taking this killer drug for 2-years I started having serious side effects such as panic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 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.debbluebird wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 8:07 pm Has anyone ever tried this patch? It's buprenorphine in a patch form.
Thanks
Excellent observation and advice. Thank you!beckycolorado wrote: 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.
Can I ask what medication Dr. B switched you to? Are you satisfied with your current medication?srgraves01 wrote: Sat Mar 29, 2025 1:12 am 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 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....srgraves01 wrote: Thu Apr 03, 2025 5:20 pm 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.