This artical is my experience being the carer of somone on norspan patches.
I have a bachelors in chemistry, bio and biochemistry, but i am not claiming to be a doctor in anyway.
A Norspan patch, buprenorphine. (sometimes has different brand names)
Im gonna start by saying that patches are not the greatest way for medications to be delivered, especially when its an addictive drug.
Doctors are very controlled when it comes to opiods and certain other drugs, and are very strict when it comes to them and regulate them as much as possible. I completely understand, as they could lose their job. We have all heard the bad side of opiods thoughout our lives.
Unfortunately they cant give pills of the exact same medication because they are used by addicts.
Its silly because addicts can still abuse patches, just not as easy, unfortunately the people that need the painkilling effects are the ones who suffer.
My mum has Fibromyalgia amoung other conditions. Each patch is designed to last one week. She is given two patches every two weeks, and the doctors are very strict when it comes to dosing and will not give it to her any earlier.
Patches are the worst way to give out opiods, they are supposed to deliver the exact same amount of the drug for one week, which is completely impossibble, they say not to get them wet, or apply heat because it causes more of the drug to be released.
But its impossible to stop this from happening. She will go to the shops or shower and will sweat or get it wet and more of the drug is released. She will be pain free for a day or two and then start to feel pain and suffer opiod withdrawal.
The withdrawals are just as bad as heroine or oxycodone.
Its heartbreaking to see any of your family or loved ones in pain and i really hate the use of patches.
I watch my mum in contant pain, she will be ok for 2-3 days a week in stages and the other days, she’s in crippling pain and sweating and shaking like a heroin addict.
If she lived in a room or bubble thats the same temperature and conditions for the week straight, without moving or showering at all, there might be a chance the patches work.
But living in a bubble isnt possible. Keeping the patches dry and the same temperature for a week straight isnt possible, if she rolls onto the side the patch is on while asleep, the patches will not work as supposed to.
Doctors dont always know best and if they do, they are restricted and find it hard to help people, even when well informed.
They can also cause yours skin to go red raw but thats the least of whats wrong with patches.
