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Pain management

Buprenorphine patches

Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

Welcome to The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust pain management service. This leaflet will provide you and your relatives with information about a medication called buprenorphine. It includes what it is for, how it is taken and its benefits and risks.

This leaflet is not meant to replace discussion between you and your doctor, but as a guide to be used in conjunction with what is discussed.

What are buprenorphine patches?

Buprenorphine is a strong painkiller which is prescribed for moderately severe pain. It is a form of pain relief known medically as an opioid. It works on your nervous system and brain to reduce the way you feel pain.

We use it in the form of patches. Brand names of the patches include Transtec or BuTrans. The patches are adhesive and are usually worn on the upper body, often the arm, chest or back. They release painkiller slowly and evenly over several days.

What are the benefits?

Buprenorphine patches are used to treat moderate to severe pain that has not responded to basic painkillers.

What are the risks?

Buphrenorphine can cause side effects. These may include a rash, nausea, being sick, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation or diarrhoea. Less commonly, it may cause confusion and breathing difficulties.  Please read the leaflet enclosed with your medication.

You must be careful if you are driving or operating machinery while wearing the patches and for up to 24 hours after stopping them, due to possible side effects of dizziness or drowsiness. Drinking alcohol while wearing the patch can make you feel drowsy.

IMPORTANT – do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel drowsy.

How do I take it?

The patch should be applied to flat, non-hairy, clean and dry skin where there are no scars. Please note: you must keep patch away from direct heat.

There are several patch strengths available (5 mcg, 10 mcg, 20 mcg 35 mcg, 52.5 mcg and 70 mcg).  Your consultant will recommend the best strength for you, depending on your previous doses of painkillers and your medical condition.

It can take up to 12 hours to have pain relief from the patch. You can continue to take your current pain relief medication during this time. Your consultant will give you advice about this.

Your patch will need to stay in place for three days (for Transtec) or seven days (for BuTrans).  There are some painkilling medications that you can take as well as having the patch.

Please note:

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Used patches still contain some buprenorphine, so jeep used patches away from children.

What if I have problems?

You can contact the clinical nurse specialists in the pain management team (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) by:

Out of these hours, you will need to contact your GP or NHS 111.

Can I find out more?

The following website has more information about managing pain:

British Pain Society

https://www.britishpainsociety.org/british-pain-society-publications/patient-publications/

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Candice Baker, Ruth Carter, Kumar Vasappa. Date reviewed: December 2022. Review date: September 2025. Version: 4.  DGH ref: DGH/PIL/01230