Is There A Generic For Brand Name Oxycontin Extended Release? (Page 2)
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The cost is way too high. I though generic oxycontin was coming back. Does anyone have an update?

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well, it's now July, 2015, so since your post was in 2013 & then you mentioned Jan. 2014-- just where is your info coming from???

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Based upon my own experience, I can tell you that Medicare does NOT give you any price break whatsoever! Whatever you "pay" at the pharmacy goes against your "out of pocket" expense and, when you've reached that threshhold you'll have to pay for it on your own. I didn't understand this before but now I've realized why it's so important to shop for the best price possible so it will take you longer to reach the dreaded Medicare DONUT HOLE where you'll remain (and have to virtually pay the entire amount on you're own) until you're in your plan's catastrophic coverage level. At that point, depending on your Medicare Advantage plan, they'll start covering a good portion of the drug's expenses. In the past, I've hit the DH after only 2-3 months and, last year, never got our of it so price shopping is imperative if you want more time before you go into it and less time while in it. Hope this helps.

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I just recently picked up my prescription for OxyContin 80 mg and I am with everyone else in regards to the cost. It was over$1000.00 and that does not cover the other numerous medications I have to take and pay for. I am going to be eligible for Medicare effective October 1st. Does anyone know if Medicare offers a prescription break on Oxicontin? I would appreciate any input any of you may have or could direct me to some resources yo egg more information? Thanks for your help! From one suffer to another! Take good care!

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Thank you so much for your comment and the information. I will sign the petition and hopefully there be more. I am so sorry about your pain problems . Mine are alot like yours. My meds. last week came to $1200.00 for only 2 medications. Next week I will pay again a high cost not to suffer.It is so unfair. You will be in my prayers. God Bless And Thank you again.

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@Marty1 I'm so sorry to read what you went through. I'm sad to say that I'm in the same exact boat. My prescription insurance policy recently changed and I'm now being held responsible for 60% of the cost of the drug. That's a whopping $900 a month! It's sickening! My husband and I can no longer afford to pay our mortgage payments. Unfortunately, I cannot stop taking the drug either because my ridiculously high pain levels are now effecting my adrenaline and cortisol levels, as well as my heart and blood pressure. I was also subsequently diagnosed with cardiac adrenal pain syndrome. Not to sound like a drama queen or anything but I could die without the drug and suffer from a heart attack or stroke. Cardiac Adrenal Pain Syndrome is really that serious. According to news reports, the FDA removed all generic forms of the drug because of petitions and complaints. These petitions are complaints were all written by the families of drug addicts, families whose relatives began to knowingly and illegally abuse this drug. I have empathy for these families but don't understand why they don't realize that their relatives are just going to switch to and abuse another drug, like H. Addicts will always find a way to use and abuse. If the news reports and studies are accurate, these addicts already found a way to abuse the new, abuse-deterrent formula of Oxycontin! The other 75% just switched to MSContin, oxycodone, morphine, and H. I, myself, had a family member who was addicted to H, Oxycontin, Alcohol, and Benzodiazepines. That's why I empathize with these families. I also empathize with the addicts. No one would want to be in their shoes. Most of them began to use to numb themselves after they experienced an extremely painful and traumatic event in their lives.

Even though some of them knew exactly what they were doing when they first began to use and abuse, others didn't. I was painfully effected by the actions of a family member, who had a terribly drug and alcohol addiction, as well. But I also know that addicts will always find a way to use and abuse. I also know: when there's a great demand for something, there will always be a supply. If the doctors are pharmacies aren't supplying these drugs, the drug dealers will. This is especially disconcerting but the responsibility lies within the addict, not the doctor's who are responsibly prescribing these drugs (the key word here being "responsibly") and the FDA and DEA. Why are we continuously being punished because of the illegal actions of drug addicts who refuse to get any help? Maybe those of us, who suffer daily from agonizing and debilitating pain, are not making our voices and complaints heard loud enough by the FDA and DEA? That needs to change. The war on drugs essentially became a war on pain patients, some of which are cancer and hospice patients! This is reprehensible, unethical, and unjust and must also change! I recently signed a petition at Change.org regarding this matter and I sincerely hope that it'll make a difference. I found this petition after I joined a support and advocacy group for pain patients. Here's the address to that support and advocacy group: chronicintractablepainandyou.net . The petition can be found at the following address if anyone wishes to sign it: change.org/petitions/cipay-s-real-medications-4-real-pain-sufferers. I also hate to be the bearer of bad news but I recently contacted the pharmaceutical, Actavis, to ask them when their projected launch date was and they didn't even begin to manufacture the drug yet! When is the FDA going to stop Purdue Pharma from monopolizing the market for this drug??? I think it's ridiculous that they received an entirely new patent for the abuse-deterrent version of Oxycontin. Their patent has lasted longer than than most drug patents ever have. Purdue Pharma also doesn't offer any prescription assistance to the individuals who are under-insured, only the uninsured. In order for patients to be eligible for the program, they must: be a resident of the United States, not have any prescription drug coverage, and earn an annual income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Most of us blue collar and middle-classed families do not qualify for this assistance but that doesn't mean that we can afford a drug that cost thousands of dollars a month!

That also doesn't mean that we should just be left to suffer without any pain control either. I, myself, am allergic to all morphine-based drugs and have a tremendous amount of difficulty breathing on them. If I took a single dose of morphine, my throat would begin to close up and I'd break out in hives all over my body. Oxycontin is the only drug that I can tolerate and is the only drug that reduces my stage two hypertension, which is secondary to or caused by my intractable pain. My beta blockers help to reduce my heart-rate but the Oxycontin prevents my heart from becoming tachycardic as well. It also prevents me from suffering from arrhythmias. At this point, I'm not sure what to do but I plan on contacting the FDA and my congressmen and women regarding this matter because we need an adequate amount of pain control in this country for the pain patients who desperately need it just to function on a minimal level and survive. I doubt my voice alone will make a difference but I think a petition with thousands of signatures might. That being said, I encourage every pain patient to sign the aforementioned petition (above). Best of luck to you, Marty1 and to everyone else, who's in a similar situation. I really hope that Actavis will begin to manufacture and release a generic version of the drug in the near future.

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Actually a generic will be coming out ~ possibly as soon as January 1st.
Actavis won the battle with Perdue (who wanted to retain their monopoly on oxycontin)

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Actually a generic oxycontin will be coming out soon.
Actavis won the battle with Purdue wanting to retain it’s monopoly on extended release oxycodone. The generic may come out as soon as January 1st, 2014.

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I have a problem with morphine, for some reason it cause my oxygen stats to go way down. I have COPD and emphysema. I have breathing problems. Oxycontin ER is the only pills that seem to not affect my breathing. Wierd But true. When I had back surgery last year. I was in intensive care for 9 days. They couldn't get my pain undercontrol and my breathing was so bad I nearly died. I'm scared of morphine now. I take high doses of oxycontin and I take oxycodone immediate release for break thru pain. I went off all of it for 3 months,so the doctor to get my dosage lower. I thought I would die from the pain. I didn't have many withdrawal symptoms. Just pain. Been on oxycontin for about 15 years. No problem except the cost. I'm not even going to go there on how much I pay. It is robbery! How generic comes back before I have to sell everything I own. It is sooooo wrong People who need it have to be punished because of drug addicts! Really not FAIR! But no one cares. P.S. Sorry for spelling errors. Getting old can't remember a darn thing. I am in my 60's Alot of things seem to break down,not only my memory...I wish the best for everyone.Mzmarty

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Hi, Marty!

No, there isn't a generic and under the current regulations there won't be one any time soon.

Since it is such a highly abused medication that has an extremely high rate of addiction, theft and diversion, the generics were removed from the market to help keep better control of the supply. If there is only one manufacturer, then it is much easier to know exactly how much has been manufactured, where it's being stored, where it's being shipped and etc.

If you need a cheaper medication for pain control that is still time released, you may want to ask your doctor about trying MS Contin, it is a time released formulation of Morphine and there are generics of it available.

Since it is also a narcotic, it is another that has the potential to be habit forming and it may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth and drowsiness.

Learn more MS Contin details here.

Are there any other questions or concerns?

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