New Opana Is Out Now - March 15 (Page 4)
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I got my new Opana Prescription this week and it is the new formulation. The old ones were six sided and the new one is round.

The new formulation, that the FDA approved, is supposed to be the same quality as the old Opana we are used to. I hope so.

I am going to include the links to the articles that discuss this at the bottom, the latest article is directly from the makers of Opana and is from February.

The old stock of Opana is all supposed to be gone from the shelves by now and the pharmacists are all supposed to be using the new formulation.

Let us know here how you think the new stuff is working for you. Is it the same as the old stuff? IS there a coating on the new stuff that changes its effectiveness like the way the new formulation of Oxycontin did when it came out in 2010? Let us know.

Mine only started a few days ago so it is too early to say. It is the Opana long acting. They had to change it to stop people from crushing and abusing them.

Let us see if it works.

here are the article links;

This one is from Endo Pharmaceutical directly, the company that makes the drug;

Crush-Resistant Formulation of Opana ER® Approved by the FDA

Here is the second one ;

Endo Announces FDA Approval of a New Formulation of Opana® ER Designed To Be Crush-Resistant

Hope it helps everyone!

Peace, Keith

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i take them to n they make my stomach hurt really bad the new ones i will hav to change to something else to now it took me a long time to even find the old opannas

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Just to follow up from my post last week on 4/3/2012, I went to my appt with my Dr on 4/4/2012 to try to get switched to the Opana IR's. Luckily, my Dr was well aware of the situation and sympathetic to my plight. I had done my part by finding a pharmacy that had IR's on hand, so he wrote for the IR's, only 10 less than I am used to getting for cross tolerance I am guessing, but I felt lucky to get what I could. The IR's are working out much better, but they do work differently than the ER's of course. With a little patience, you can get yourself back to normal again. My Dr was genuinely upset with Endo for what they have done, and I do appreciate his situation, I just wish if he had known this was happening, he would have given me some kind of warning. But, I am sure he was afraid of the placebo effect, and wanted to see how it played out. If anyone is having trouble, switching to the IR's is a good plan for now. I am not sure if they have plans to monkey with that formula as well. My concern now is that all the ER folks will be switching to the IR's and that will make them hard to get. I have already alerted my pharmacist that I will be bringing in a prescription for the IR's, the amount and the exact date I need them. He said he will make sure he can fill it...I sure do hope so...

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Thank you all! I truly thought I was losing my mind. I picked up the new Opana prescription a few days ago. I am in withdrawal, I'm hostile, and getting about a fourth of the pain relief. So frustrating. My doctor is on vacation this week, so I'm going to have to wait it out.. What a crime. It was a really great medicine before this ...

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the new opana sucks a** that much i know i have 30s and i cant do s*** with them at all! ive done tried breaking them down and everything and nothing works its just a big blob of gel no matter what you do, i dont know what they did to the new opanas but they f***ed up big time. i use to snort the stop signs and these you cant do that with and that sucks lol they are going to lose out on a s*** load of money im going to get switched to hydromorphone instead bc you can atleast do what you want with thoes and they work a hell of a lot better than the new opanas do if i was anyone i would do the same thing!

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My husband said i was suddenly being mean too after getting the NEW OPANA ER. Dr changed my rx to something other than opana........ and now i realize i WAS being very mean.
OPANA ER manufacturer should be ashamed.

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CausaMortis, I completely aree with your post! I have also noticed that the time for this med to work is a hell of lot longer then the old ones? So, when the new opana starts to work it like getting a quarter of the med, right? You don't the full amount for some reason? Now, what really pisses me off is this or MY co-pay!! Well of course my co-pay is what it is BUT when it comes to meds like this or the oxys? Yea they wont pay for it-NOTHING! Im NOT paying full price any longer for my opana if it's going to make me sick! Im going to ask my pain doc to put me back on the 100MCs of fenteynal (spelling?)_ patches. My co-pay covers it!!! If you decided to go on the patches? And you have insurance? Ask for the 75 to 100MC patches, if you want to get away from the New Opana. Have a great evening/moring.

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INmorePain,
First let me say how sorry I am as well to others here for your pain-I'm sorry your suffering.
Unreal yet another person effected by the new Opana! I have been TRYING to deal with the new change of opana myself. I just got my new script about a week an a half ago, the 30 ER's. I too have had the upset stomach, been shaky, jittery? My husband said I have been "sharp" with him? LOL what else is new. But just want to tell you, not sure if it's me but does seem like it's subsiding?(spelling?) I think if you give the new formula a chance it may help. I also agree that it does NOT seem to help with the pain? It does BUT it dosent!? Just seems like it's "cheaper" If I can say that? Version of opana? Good luck finding this s*** in GENERIC! No way! lol.
OH DUH! LOL. I WAS on fentyl patches at one time and think I may ask my PM doc for them again . I have to say, for me-the patches worked pretty good. Why was I taken off? Due to hot flashes-summer time, combanation I guess? Then he put me on the opana-it worked great! Until they f***ed with it! (excuss my french)
Anywho-really hope you the best.
Have a great Easter!!

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Well, I have been dealing with chronic pain for many, many years. Not only back pain but also fibro and the worst, CRPS. I was on oxycontin when they switched formulations on that and that made me sick and it lost pain-relieving strength so my doc switched me to Opana. I was thrilled, it worked very well!

Then they went and did the same thing here. I had hopes it would be different. Different company, different process. I was hoping mainly I guess because I didn't, and still don't, know what I would or could switch to next for pain relief. But after the first week of the switch the problems started, like most of you have reported.

It started about a week out and it started with stomach issues; cramping and nausea. Then came some problems with dizziness. Then came the lessening of pain relief. Within two weeks of starting the new opana it was all like this. That was around the middle of March I guess.

I have ruled out all of my other meds, changes in my pain issues, weather, etc. It all points only to the opana re-formulation. I hope my Doc has some ideas on what to try next because there aren't many opiod agonists out there that work well.

Good luck everyone. Hope you find some relief.

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This month I received the new version of Opana ER. I've been taking 3 of the 40 mg ERs for years, and suddenly they were changed without any real warning. Opana ERs have been the best pain med I've ever been prescribed (and I've taken a wide variety of them). I understand that Endo wants to protect itself from class action suits by families of people who OD by shooting it up or chewing them or whatever, but they are also hurting those taking them as prescribed for legitimate pain management. Here's what I've noticed regarding the differences between the old and new versions...

The old ones usually took about 45 minutes to start working and another 30 minutes to reach full strength. It would stay at that level for about 6 hours and then would rapidly drop off in terms of pain relief. It would go from working at full-strength to having no effect in the span of 30 minutes (on average). I rarely experienced mental cloudiness, unusual fatigue, nausea, or anything else like that.

The new version takes longer to start working (about 85 minutes give or take, compared to the old version's 45 minutes), then maybe 30 more minutes to reach full-strength. The new version only gets to about half the level of pain relief at its full strength compared to the old version. The new ERs do tend to last a couple of hours longer and drop off much more gradually. However, this new version feels like it's tearing my stomach up. About two hours after taking one of the new ones, my stomach starts hurting pretty badly and continues for hours.

So in addition to taking longer to start working, they only seem to be half as effective while causing stomach pain. I'm going to try to see my doctor next week to see what alternatives are available, though there's not much I haven't already tried. Endo took a perfectly good medication and messed it up. It was the best pain med I've taken -- not necessarily the strongest, but strong AND without much in the way of side effects. So now I guess it's back to the drawing board.

--C

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I would ask for Fentnyal (spelling?) patches. Ask your pharmacy to order the Milan brand patches. IMO they work pretty good. Was on them then doc put me on OCs, then opana. But if the opana is making you sick, I would recommend the patches. Good Luck

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They r changing all of the opanas to new formula. Also went to get my opana 10 mg immediate release filled when I took in my 40 ers and couldn't get the 10s filled at all becuz they have been discontinued until may due to changing the formula. Also am getting nauseas from the 40s and filed a complaint with Endo. They r trying to say its the same blah blah bs as the old formula. Good luck everyone.

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Hi, I experianced the same effect that you did on this new opana. Shaky, annoyed ect.. My husband said I was being "mean"? Say what? lol. I have so much pain I dont need anymore problems-I swear I don't. I think if I stay on this new opana I'll end up getting a divorce! Him divorcing me! That happens and I promise you this...I will SUE Endo for ruining my life! Because it's endo that changed this med because of drug abusers and Im having problems taking it-AND now mental issues..WTF?

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The new 10mg don't work like the old ones did. How many do u have to take for them to work?

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I had to go back to my Dr in tears today. I gave the new Opana's a 6 day try and it was awful.
He put me on Oxycontin and I have never taken it before, not a high dose.
The new medicine (oxycintin) says OP on one side, are these generic?? They were given to me from pharmacist in the original Oxycontin bottle, but why do they say "OP"?
Thanks for information, I am concerned about taking a medicine that has such a stigma attached.
The other alternative is a medicine called "MS contin"

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I am a pain patient for CRPS. I am virtually panicking on the basis of what happened last month. I tried to switch to Oxycontin from Opana, because the Opana was making me a bit tired. I had taken Oxy in the past. However I had to go back to Opana after a day as the new type of OP oxy made had more side effects, ie nausea, fatigue and was less effective on pain. If that was the case with the OP, will I be likewise effected by the new Opana? I do not know what to do, as I already take a fair amount of 30 mg oxy IR. Is the only solution to take all IR pills?

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I just got my script filled on Monday 4/2/2012, and it was the new Opana ER 10mg. I had NO IDEA they were changing. I had no warning from the Dr or Pharmacy. I took 1, an hour later, my stomach was a little tight, and it was not as effective for my pain. I waited a couple more hours so I could take another, and that finally knocked down my pain, BUT within an hour, my stomach was in a big, searing cramp. Thats when I hit the internet and found out they changed the formula. I went to the pharmacist to see if I could get more info, she had no idea. The rep told her it was just a color and shape change. I am devastated. This was the only drug Ive found that eliminated pain that didnt leave me in a cloud. I was pain free and lucid. I made an emergency appt with my Dr tomorrow to beg him to switch me to IR's, its my only hope. Does anyone know if they changed the IR's? I honestly do not know what I will do if he wont switch me. I can't live like this, and I shouldnt have to. From what I understand, the driving force behind this is that they can extend their patent because of this change. That means no generics, and major money for Endo. Greed has just hurt a lot of people. I am sorry for all. Any info on IR's appreciated.

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Just FYI that the new opana ers suck just like oxycontins. I was on oxycontin 60s until they changed the formula and it no longer worked. My dr had to change all his patients to opana which worked wonderful. Just got my new opanas four days ago and am experiencing withdrawals now. Cannot believe after Endo made all this money off of people who used to take oxycontins that they would be stupid enuf to change it also. Going to be getting on another med so I don't waste money on new opanas and hope Endo loses money for changing formula and leaving people screwed. Does anyone know how to get coating off? Even tried chewing and still in pain and feel awful.

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Does anyone know what is in the "plastic" that people are talking about? I have so many allergies to normal things and something isn't agreeing with me.
I got my prescription filled yesterday. Opana ER 20mg x 3/day. I take them as directed and intact. They are not working and I am throwing each one up about 15 minutes after taking them so of course pain is unbearable and withdrawal is in full swing along with a horrible headache.
What medicine would I ask my Dr to change me too? I don't know what is comparable.
Thank you

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I am very sorry for you guys and gals that have chronic pain all the time...I am a very hard worker and have abused my body with roofing and other physical labor..I have a high tolerance to pain but I do buy opiates or trade work when possible because they are so expensive....its easier now to buy them on the street than pay a doctor though but ppl are getting very greedy..I just want to stress that its not about ppl "abusing" them as much as it is ppl in higher places making dumb selfish inconsiderate decisions...we were born with receptors in our brain for opiates it should not be this much of a struggle or as expensive as it comes from the poppy plant(infanite supply) to get them and have a descent day...hope people smarten up for your sake please understand people make dumb decisions everyone that buys on the street is not at fault...I watch my lady cringe in pain half the month every month..in tears many times..I took her to the er b4 waited from 10pm to 7am the doctor left after multiple tests without notice or results..the nurse had to make a couple calls to figure put what "dub" was dysfunctional uteral bleeding...wtf and she has a high white blood cell count...she was billed for 3000 dollars and she was prescribed something along the lines of generic toradol(torolac?) Ill deal with my pain I can't stand to see her suffer...I hear canada has better healthcare plan to suit everyones budget..I hate to leave though..thankyou for reading hope you all agree with me..everything can be abused from tv to mcdonalds to water if u have a problem with a substance get help and accept your ignorance..depression..that its YOUR fault mostly..again thank you all for reading God bless and help us all..good luck to u that do not believe in such

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DO NOT FILL YOUR OPANA SCRIPS ANYMORE THE NEW 1s DO NOT HELP PAIN AT ALL!!!!!!

ENDO AKA OPANA.... YOU HAVE JUST LOST MY $$$ I TAKE OPANA ER 20MG 2Xs/DAY & OPANA ER 40MG 3Xs/DAY & W/O INSURANCE IT COST ME 1280.00 & 480.00 JUST FOR THESE 2 SCRIPS. WITH THE NEW FORMULATION THEY DO NOT HELP MY PAIN @ ALL! I HAVE LUPUS & I AM IN CONSTANT PAIN EVERYDAY & IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AS I AM JUST GETTING SOME RELEIF ENDO WILL BE BANKRUPT WITHIN 3MOS BC IM NOT PAYING FOR OPANAS ANYMORE BC THEY DO NOT WORK ANYMORE.

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