Instructions for Use

Butrans® (BYOO-trans) CIII
(buprenorphine)
Transdermal System

Be sure that you read, understand, and follow these Instructions for Use before you use Butrans. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Before Applying Butrans:

• Do not use soap, alcohol, lotions, oils, or other products to remove any leftover medicine gel from a patch because this may cause more Butrans to pass through the skin.
• Each patch is sealed in its own protective pouch. Do not remove a patch from the pouch until you are ready to use it.
• Do not use a patch if the seal on the protective pouch is broken or if the patch is cut, damaged or changed in any way.
• Butrans patches are available in 3 different strengths and patch sizes. Make sure you have the right strength patch that has been prescribed for you.

Where to apply Butrans:

• Butrans should be applied to the upper outer arm, upper chest, upper back, or the side of the chest (See Figure 1). These 4 sites (located on both sides of the body) provide 8 possible Butrans application sites. You should change the skin site where you apply Butrans each week, making sure that at least 3 weeks (21 days) pass before you re-use the same skin site.

                                                                            Figure 1

• Apply Butrans to a hairless or nearly hairless skin site. If needed, you can clip the hair at the skin site (See Figure 2). Do not shave the area. The skin site should not be irritated. Use only water to clean the application site. You should not use soaps, alcohol, oils, lotions, or abrasive devices. Allow the skin to dry before you apply the patch.

                Figure 2

• The skin site should be free of cuts and irritation (rashes, swelling, redness, or other skin problems).

When to apply a new patch:

• When you apply a new patch, write down the date and time that the patch is applied. Use this to remember when the patch should be removed.
• Change the patch at the same time of day, one week (exactly 7 days) after you apply it.
• After removing and disposing of the patch, write down the time it was removed and how it was disposed.

How to apply Butrans:

• If you are wearing a patch, remember to remove it before applying a new one.
• Each patch is sealed in its own protective pouch.
• Use scissors to cut open the pouch along the dotted line (See Figure 3) and remove the patch. Do not remove the patch from the pouch until you are ready to use it. Do not use patches that have been cut or damaged in any way.

                Figure 3

• Hold the patch with the protective liner facing you.
• Gently bend the patch (See Figures 4a and 4b) along the faint line and slowly peel the larger portion of the liner, which covers the sticky surface of the patch.

                Figure 4a

                Figure 4b

• Do not touch the sticky side of the patch with your fingers.
• Using the smaller portion of the protective liner as a handle (See Figure 5), apply the sticky side of the patch to one of the 8 body locations described above (see Where to apply Butrans?).

                Figure 5

• While still holding the sticky side down, gently fold back the smaller portion of the patch. Grasp an edge of the remaining protective liner and slowly peel it off (See Figure 6).

                Figure 6

• Press the entire patch firmly into place with the palm (See Figure 7) of your hand over the patch, for about 15 seconds. Do not rub the patch.

                Figure 7

• Make sure that the patch firmly sticks to the skin.
• Go over the edges with your fingers to assure good contact around the patch.
• Always wash your hands after applying or handling a patch.
• After the patch is applied, write down the date and time that the patch is applied. Use this to remember when the patch should be removed.

If the patch falls off right away after applying, throw it away and put a new one on at a different skin site (see Disposing of Butrans Patch).

If a patch falls off, do not touch the sticky side of the patch with your fingers. A new patch should be applied to a different site. Patches that fall off should not be re-applied. They must be thrown away correctly.

If the edges of the Butrans patch start to loosen:

• Apply first aid tape only to the edges of the patch.
• If problems with the patch not sticking continue, cover the patch with special see-through adhesive dressings (for example Bioclusive or Tegaderm).
  • Remove the backing from the transparent adhesive dressing and place it carefully and completely over the Butrans patch, smoothing it over the patch and your skin.
• Never cover a Butrans patch with any other bandage or tape. It should only be covered with a special see-through adhesive dressing. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the kinds of dressing that should be used.

If your patch falls off later, but before 1 week (7 days) of use, throw it away properly (see Disposing of a Butrans Patch) and apply a new patch at a different skin site. Be sure to let your doctor know that this has happened. Do not replace the new patch until 1 week (7 days) after you put it on (or as directed by your doctor).

Disposing of Butrans Patch:

Butrans patches must be disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or using the Patch-Disposal Unit.

To flush your Butrans patches down the toilet:
Remove your Butrans patch, fold the sticky sides of a used patch together (See Figure 8) and flush it down the toilet right away.

                Figure 8

When disposing of unused Butrans patches you no longer need, remove the leftover patches from their protective pouch and remove the protective liner. Fold the patches in half with the sticky sides together, and flush the patches down the toilet.

Do not flush the pouch or the protective liner down the toilet. These items can be thrown away in the trash.

If you prefer not to flush the used patch down the toilet, you must use the Patch-Disposal Unit provided to you to discard the patch.

Never put used Butrans patches in the trash without first sealing them in the Patch-Disposal Unit.

To dispose of Butrans patches in household trash using the Patch-Disposal Unit:
Remove your patch and follow the directions printed on the Patch-Disposal Unit (See Figure 9) or see complete instructions below. Use one Patch-Disposal Unit for each patch.

                Figure 9

1. Peel back the disposal unit liner to show the sticky surface (See Figure 10).

                Figure 10

2. Place the sticky side of the used or unused patch to the indicated area on the disposal unit (See Figure 11).

                Figure 11

3. Close the disposal unit by folding the sticky sides together (See Figure 12). Press firmly and smoothly over the entire disposal unit so that the patch is sealed within.

                Figure 12

4. The closed disposal unit, with the patch sealed inside may be thrown away in the trash (See Figure 13).

                Figure 13

Do not put unused patches in household trash without first sealing them in the Patch-Disposal Unit.

Always remove the leftover patches from their protective pouch and remove the protective liner. The pouch and liner can be disposed of separately in the trash and should not be sealed in the Patch-Disposal Unit.

Distributed by:
A-S Medication Solutions
Libertyville, IL 60048

Issued: July 2012

©2012, Purdue Pharma L.P.

Bioclusive is a trademark of Systagenix Wound Management (US), Inc.
Tegaderm is a trademark of 3M.