Using the Buprenorphine (Butrans) Patch

Using the Buprenorphine (Butrans) Patch


Buprenorphine is an opioid medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain. This may be prescribed if you have not had relief from other pain medicines. Buprenorphine comes as a patch that allows the drug to be absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream to provide pain relief throughout your entire body. Talk to your health care provider about the benefits and risks of using this medicine.

The buprenorphine patch provides general, steady pain relief across your body. Your provider may also prescribe a short acting pain relief medicine to use with the patch if you are still having some pain from time to time. Short acting means it works faster, but does not last as long.

When the patch is first applied, it will take a few hours to days for you to start feeling pain relief. If after a few days the buprenorphine patch is not treating your pain well enough, or you are using your short acting pain relief medicine more than 3 times per day, tell your provider.

How to use the buprenorphine patch

Before placing the patch:

  • Wash your hands well with soap and water.
  • Make sure the patch is in its protective pouch and not damaged in any way before placing it on your skin. Only remove the patch from its pouch when you are ready to use it.
  • Do not cut patches or use damaged patches.
  • Do not shave before putting on a patch. Instead, clip hair as close to the skin as possible.

Placing the patch:

  • Remove the patch from its protective pouch. Remove the large portion of the protective liner and place the patch on your skin. Take off the rest of the protective layer and press the patch down firmly for at least 15 seconds. Make sure it sticks well, especially along the edges. You may use first aid tape or a see through adhesive dressing, such as Tegaderm, if needed.
  • Avoid placing patches on damaged, oily, or irritated skin.
  • Place the patch on 1 of these areas of your body: upper chest, upper back, upper arm, or the side of the chest.
Mand facing front, not shirt, with medicine patch on left side of chestMan shown from the back, with no shirt, and medicine patch on upper right shoulder blade area Mand show fromm the side with no shirt, wearing medicaine patch on outside of upper armMan shown from side with medicne patch on bare skin of side of chest
  • Washing your hands well with soap and water after placing the patch.

Changing or removing patch:

  • Change the patch every 7 days at about the same time of day.
  • Rotate among at least 3 areas from the options shown above.
  • If the patch falls off before 1 week of use or if you are instructed to take it off for a procedure, dispose of the patch safely (as explained below) and apply a new patch to a different area. Let your provider know this has happened. Change the new patch 1 week (7 days) after applying it.

Wearing more than 1 patch:

  • Do NOT wear more than 1 buprenorphine patch at a time unless instructed to do so by your provider. If needed, apply 2 patches side by side in the same area. When changing, remember to remove and replace both patches at the same time.

Man shown from the back with no shirt, wearing 2 medicine patches on his shoulder side-by-side

While wearing buprenorphine patches

  • Avoid heating the patch. Do not expose the patch to heat sources, such as a heating pad, electric blanket, sauna, or hot tub.
  • Avoid tight coverings. Do not wear tight clothing over the patch.
  • Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how buprenorphine affects you.
  • Avoid alcohol and products that contain alcohol to reduce the risk of overdosing.
  • Call 911 if your loved one has any of these signs or symptoms of overdose, including:
    • Not breathing or less than 1 breath every 5 seconds
    • Pale and clammy skin
    • Lips, fingers, or toes look gray or blue in color
    • Heart beat or pulse is slow or has stopped
    • Snoring, gurgling, or choking sounds
    • Does not respond to shaking or rubbing your knuckles over breast bone in center of chest

Storing and disposing of buprenorphine patches

  • Store patches away from children. Do not let them see you put patches on, or hear you call the patches "Band-Aids," "stickers," or "tattoos". This could attract children and encourage them to mimic your actions.
  • Safely get rid of used or unneeded patches by using the Patch-Disposal Unit or by folding the sticky sides together and flushing them down the toilet. The Patch-Disposal Unit can be thrown away in the regular trash.

When to call your provider

  • Let your provider know if you develop a fever that lasts more than 24 hours.
  • Please contact your provider if any of the following symptoms are severe and do not improve:
    • Itchiness, redness, or rash where the patch is applied
    • Sleepiness/tiredness
    • Constipation
    • Nausea/vomiting
    • Dizziness or headache

Long term pain management

If the use of this medicine is planned for your pain management, your provider may offer naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opioids in the event of an accidental overdose or if too much medicine was taken. Naloxone is available in Ohio without a prescription, including at The Ohio State University Outpatient Pharmacy locations. The pharmacy can provide training to you and your family on how to use this nasal spray. For more information about the use of naloxone, talk to your provider.
 

Adapted from Lexi-Drugs and National Libraries of Medicine.
 

© 2019 - October 9, 2023, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. For more health information call the Library for Health Information at 614-293-3707 or email: health-info@osu.edu.