Morphine Sulfate - Generic For Avinza (Page 4)
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I was in an auto accident 8/21/96 and ever since then I have been dealing with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). For the last 11 yrs I have been on Avinza 270 mg (2 120mg, 1 30mg once a day) by King Pharmaceutical and now my ins company is insisting that a generic is made and sold in the US by Acatavis Elizabeth. I cannot see anything current that it has been released. There is a legal suit between King and Acatavis because it states a generic cannot be released until 11/2017. Generics do not work for me and right now I'm fighting it, but would like to know if it is true about Avinza being made and sold in the US by Actavis. Please let me know if you're able to, I would surely appreciate it. Thank you!

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Hello Yanni,
You got more information from them than I did. I was told the backorder story.
With no options, I went to my pain doc and got a new script for OxyCodone, since I use roxicodone for breakthrough pain already, thinking was it's not going to cause the awful side effects like all other long acting meds did. Just began taking it so not sure how well it will work . thanks for info on Embeda.
Tina

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A little more information I found regarding Avinza. I found an article on yahoo finance that addresses why Pfizer has discontinued Avinza and also talks about Embeda, which is another one of their extended release morphine products.

I don't know how to upload this article to this site. If this site will allow this to post, I am giving the exact path I used to find this article. Start at yahoo's search engine, and in the big search box type "yahoo finance article about embeda", then click on the first search result which says "FDA Approves Abuse Deterrent Labeling for..."

Read the entire article, but if you want to fast track, read the sixth paragraph and you will see why they have decided to discontinue Avinza.

I hope that this will go through and help everybody who is fed up with hearing that Avinza is on long term back order.

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Hello Lorraine, Tina, and anybody else who is searching for information regarding Avinza. I was so tired of hearing the Avinza is on long term back order that I decided to contact Pfizer (they bought King Pharma) via an email link on their website. Much to my surprise, I received a letter in the mail in which they provided a phone number and asked me to call them regarding my question. So I did and was only on hold for about two minutes and I was able to talk a pharmacist.

I am very sorry to report that Brand Avinza is no longer being produced, and not for a certain time period, FOREVER! Pfizer does not make the generic version. I rolled the dice and asked what, if anything is similar, and was told to talk with my Doctor. He also told me that there have been press releases out since last year indicating that this was coming. Makes you wonder who the pharmacies contact and get told long term back order. I am very sorry to report this information, but at least now we know that we have to tolerate the generic, or talk to our Dr.'s about switching.

I did come across a newer medicine from Pfizer called Embeda that seems to be very similar to the Avinza. From what I can tell, I think it has an ingredient that prevents the morphine sulfate from activating if the beads are crushed by abuser's. I do know that the Embeda is only available in the brand, but I don't know when their patent expires. Patent's don't seem to matter anyhow, the Avinza patent wasn't supposed to expire until late 2017. I see my pain Dr. very soon and I will be talking this over with him. I will be sure to pass on what he has to say. Anybody else feel like we are out on an island with this chronic pain? Stay strong, when you get to the point that it can't get any worse, it has to get better.

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Hi Tina, thank you for your input. I've been on this generic now for two months and it's getting worse. I'm always in pain, it does nothing for it and it makes me extremely tired. If I fall asleep, I'm comatose. Sometimes my heart beats so slow and hard I can hear it, feel it and it seems like it's going to beat right out of my chest. I was told Avinza was no longer being manufactured, but everytime I get the generic filled my pharmacy puts Avinza meds paperwork on it, very confusing. The narcotics are terrible when it comes to constipation also, and that's changed, not as bad, so I know the meds are not what they claim. Is there anything we can do to have King Pharmaceutical bring back the Avinza. I'm at witts end, as I'm sure everyone else is! Prayers and God Bless to anyone who is going thru this.

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Hello, Yanni & Lorraine, I, too, am unable to get Avinza brand. Last month my pharmacy filled script with generic with my consent. Today, they had nothing, telling me it's " on backorder" and they have no other information. Mostly homebound, With multiple chronic pain conditions, getting Avinza is a priority. Nothing else works, and yes, my docs have tried everything. When we found. Avinza to work in 2005, it was a lifechanger. Only once since then did we experiment with Opana; it was a disaster.
My heart goes out to you and Everyone who suffers .
No one can understand until they fall prey to pain. Prayers for a quick return of Avinza.
Tina in Florida

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Hi and I know exactly what you mean!!! I've been on 270 mg of Avinza since 2003 and now this is the second month I'm on the generic version. I was told by my pharmacy that King Pharmaceuticals is no longer manufacturing Avinza. The generic doesn't work for me either. I have been in so much pain since I've been on it. I'm very depressed because I don't know where to turn. Everything is generic that I'm on and it's horrible. Please if Avinza comes back on the market or if we haven't been told the truth about it let me know! Good luck and let's hope and pray we can get it again!

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Anyone having trouble getting Avinza brand? I have been on Avinza brand 240mg (2 ea 120mg capsules) daily since 2008. Since the beginning of April 2015, my pharmacy is having trouble getting the brand name. They are being told that it is on back order.

Because the Avinza has worked much better for me than other pain meds, I am not at all interested in experimenting with other meds if the brand Avinza will be available again. While hoping that the brand is still going to be manufactured, I am taking the generic. I can tell you that for me, the brand is far better. The generic release is not as smooth as the brand and it doesn't seem to last as long as the brand, which requires more break through meds.

I live in Central Pa and have contacted all local pharmacies and none of them are able to get the brand Avinza from their supplier's. Does anybody know if the brand is still going to be manufactured since the generic was approved? If so, do you have any idea when it will be available again?

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Hi Verwon, thank you for your response to my question. So far, I'm still on Avinza, but paying brand penalty for the drug. The problem with filling the generic and the insurance companies don't seem to care, is if it doesn't work you cannot fill the regular brand for one month. In my case, and I'm sure in many, many other cases, I depend on the Avinza to control my pain so I can function as normal as possible; if the generic doesn't work or work as well, there's a problem. Taking one day at a time. Thanks again!

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Hi Chip, how are you making out on the generic Avinza? I apologize for not responding sooner, but had problems with my computer. With my insurance I have to pay a brand penalty along with co-ins, so I pay $140.00, but will no doubt go up in Jan. 2015 another 50.00. I'm still afraid to try the generic, because once the script is filled for a month you're obligated to take it and cannot fill brand name. Also, since generic has been on the market, King Pharm. no longer provides a coupon to get $30.00 off. I hope it's working for you, please let me know! Take care and good luck!

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Thank you so much for the information. I now have a much better understanding of Avinza!

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King (Tenn. company) has held the patent on Avinza for years: Avinza is the only manufacturer that uses fumaric acid to control the extended release of the morphine sulfate. Fumaric acid is found in breads, to make drinks tart, etc. and is a safe food additive, although at very large doses is unsafe. (Thus, Kadien brand of morphine sulfate extended release bragged theirs could be given at higher doses; but it is indeed different from Avinza in its release)

Fumaric acid is used in Avinza's beads to change the ph balance of the beads so different beads dissolve slowly at various ph levels and various times in the intestinal tract. It isn't released at all in the stomach. Thus, the medicine is released slowly over 24 hours. It is one of the safest morphine sulfate ER because most other brands release up to 30% of meds in first hour! Especially synthetic morphine sulfates like Oxycontin.Thus, the inactive ingredient in Avinza, fumaric acid, is what the patent is for. King (Avinza) purchased the design for the ER formula.

According to patients, Activa's morphine sulfate ER, Kadien 24 hour release and its generics don't last 24 hours. They are pellets & don't use fumaric acid to release at various PH levels. Patients say Activa's Kadien & generic Kadien release more meds than they should sooner, making people feel more drug effects & having more breakthrough pain, and needing to take more doses.

Activa has argued in court that they filed first to make Avinza in 2007, and thus may now make a generic. Their generic was approved this year after a major insurance provider refused to cover Avinza. The "active" ingrediant -- morphine sulfate ER-- comes in the same doses, however I am researching now to find out if the generic includes the same "inactive" -- yet imperative to working properly at releasing the medicine -- ingredient to control ph release levels as brand name Avinza -- fumaric acid on beads.

I'll let you know what i find out.

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Lorraine,
I also was informed by my Pharmacy that since there is now a generic form of this medicine, they will not cover the Avinza. Its something like $137 vs. $7 for my cost. Evidently, there was some kind of settlement on the patent resulting from a merger. I just started the generic today. I sure hope it works, for both of our sake. Will try to let you know.

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Hello, Lorraine! How are you?

The databases are showing that a generic for it was approved by the FDA last year and is available. Your insurance company will likely require that you try it to see if it works for you.

This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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