Have been put on 5mg Butran patches but they don't seem effective even after 2 weeks, any info please.

[siskin]

Have had Ra 19 yrs.Have had to stop anti inflamatories as caused duodenal ulcer.

[mattcass]

Hi siskin,Nice to meet you, Do you mind if I ask you what anti-inflams you were on that caused your ulcer,Mattcass

[siskin in reply to mattcass]

Hi mattcass, 75 mg slow release Diclofenac. for about 7 yrs. Didn't know I had a problem but after a hip replacement in June last yr. kept vomiting so had endoscopy which found the ulcer.

[mattcass in reply to siskin]

Hi siskin, Thank you for our reply I am on 75mgs diclofenic daily for the last 6 months my Rheumy wants me off them as they can cause ulcers, but my GP says my stomach is well protected as i have been on Omeprazole 40mg for 7 years and tey will help with my RA pain.Matt

[siskin in reply to mattcass]

Hi mattcass, I found the Diclo. did help the pain but I think my system had got used to them. As to stomach probs. you don't really know who to believe do you.. siskin.

[m1a2c3]

I was on these patches 20 mg s found I was happy but not out of pain or safe , see your doctor they may not suit you , good luck

[siskin in reply to m1a2c3]

Thank you

[kizzy12]

hi ..i was put on those as well but was told i would probably have to increase the strength over time....have gone up to 20 but still dont feel they make any difference x

[siskin in reply to kizzy12]

I must admit that is what I fear, where do you go from there I wonder

[m1a2c3 in reply to siskin]

I was given mst morphine tablets and have been fine with them

[siskin in reply to m1a2c3]

Hi m1a2c3 Have to smile your log in name reminds me of an 11+ question "Which is next in the sequence?" In the post above you wrote "given mst morphine tablets" what is mst please?

[m1a2c3 in reply to siskin]

hi siskin , glad you like the name lol, MST , there modified release capsules , its morphine that last for 12 hours at a time . I have two 10 mg x twice a day , i fine there no prob at all ,makes my bowels a little slow though !

[siskin in reply to m1a2c3]

Thank you for that, will have a word with GP. I find Del Monte Pure Pineapple juice can help with the bowel prob. There are cheaper varieties but don't seem so effective, Del Monte seems more concentrated. .

[m1a2c3 in reply to siskin]

there are lots of things that can help but my bowels are just too slow , bran flakes help as blue berry juice

[siskin in reply to m1a2c3]

Bran flakes didn't work for me, have not tried blueberry juice, will get some to try, but please try pineapple juice there is a lot of fibre in it and you have to give the carton a good shake as it settles to the bottom (no not a pun). It may not do the job for you or you might not like pineapple but I swear by it. I have had the stationary conctrete mixer feeling for many. years, irrespective of any drugs I have taken.

[m1a2c3 in reply to siskin]

ill give it a go ,gin and tonic also works for me too but not really a good idea while on all these meds , bran does work for me , some times you just need to a change . thanks

[Weelamb]

I was on 10's they didn't work for me either am now on longtec&severdol but am sick as a dog

[siskin in reply to Weelamb]

Weelamb what are longtec&severdol please?

[Beegee]

Hi: I'm also on Brutin Patches (20mg.) have been for five years. As I recall it took about four weeks before I felt any benefits.

[siskin in reply to Beegee]

Ah hope here Beegee only just put on 3rd patch yesterday.

[earthwitch]

I personally don't think any pain killers are as effective as good old NSAIDs when you have an inflammatory arthritis. NSAIDs get at the cause of the pain by reducing inflammation, whereas just taking other pain killers doesn't deal with the underlying cause. Are you not on any DMARDs though? They are even better than antiinflammatories, as potentially they modify the disease so you don't get the inflammation. Maybe its time to have a good talk with your rheumatologist about a new treatment plan.

[Hidden in reply to earthwitch]

However long term use of NSAID,s can cause horrendous gastric problems! I have used both morphine and lignocaine patches for My rheumatoid arthritis with amazing effect.....have you tried patches?

[siskin in reply to Hidden]

Yes it is the Butrans patches I have just started on, perhaps have not given them enough time.

[Hidden in reply to siskin]

Sorry Siskin....was asking earthwitch if she had tried patches.....i do some you get some relief soon x

[siskin in reply to earthwitch]

Hi earthwitch, rheumy wrote to Gp about DMARDS at a previous appt. last Nov. but when I said about them at appt. begining Jan. she said no, as CRP had dropped to 7 after being put on prednisolone. So DMARDS not needed. Cynically I guess Butrans are cheaper than DMARDS. Have a sneaky suspicion this may be an age discrimination as I am 76 in June..

[m1a2c3 in reply to earthwitch]

earthwitch what are DMARDs , please

[Hidden]

Think I would have another chat with your GP ....look again at your treatment plan, maybe start again and explore other options. I started using morphine patches, the effect was immediate , then changed to Lignocaine when tags improved and again my body responded positively......please re look at your pain meds with your GP...new plan might be just what you need

[siskin in reply to Hidden]

Hi Poppylady 1 Thank you for response please see response to earthwitch above I will look up Lignocaine and ask about that.

[Weelamb]

Longtec&severdol is morphine

[siskin in reply to Weelamb]

Wow Weelamb that was a quick response. How does that differ from Butrans?

[Weelamb]

Butran's didn't do anything 4me pain wise , they said morphine was the next step as I have tried a few drugs in the past wit no result, last chance saloon 4me they make me very sick tbh, I feel like the walkin dead @times &im only 36. X