Roxane Subutex (westward/hikma) (Top voted first)

So for a couple years now my Roxane/westward/hikma pills have been super inconsistent or just flat out felt like 2mgs instead of 8mgs. Sometimes they work sometimes they do almost nothing. It started in about the end of 2015. I think i was taking them before 2015 but never looked at the brand until i started having withdrawals out of nowhere. It was like a completely different med. So for almost 2 years i have been having issues. I'm fed up and i have changed brands but always only had partial fills and back to the roxane/westward/hikma brand. Anyone else notice any differences in this brand?

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Hello,

This definitely sounds like a problem! Every generic is supposed to stay within an error window of 20% of the brand name drug so going through withdraws is absolutely a problem.

Just to be absolutely sure you're positive that the pills you have been receiving the last 2 years are the same? By this I mean the imprints have remained the same, the dosages on the pill bottle remain the same and nothing out of the ordinary seems to be varying from one prescription to the next. Also are you returning to the same pharmacy every single time or have you tried swapping pharmacies? Have you also looked into making sure you are storing your drugs properly?

While it may seem odd to ask these questions I do so because I want to make sure that you are looking at all the possibilities. If a drug is not handled and stored properly it could definitely lose some of it's potency (such as getting them wet, storing in hot or humid cabinets etc.). You mentioned that you were happy with them sometimes but other times not at all. There are a lot of factors when considering your bodies ability to absorb medication.

I don't want to discredit you and say that the pills/brand is not the problem I simply wanted to provide you with other possible scenarios so that you have a better scope of the situation. I really hope the new brand works for you. Best of luck.

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What do the pills look like? I've been on subutex and suboxone for 8 years now. I was on suboxone when they still made the orange stop sign shaped ones and then i was still on them when they quit making them and they came out with round orange ones with an imprint of a half moon. Now i got switched to subutex which i only know 3 kinds. They make the round 54 411 white pills, the orange football shaped ones with an imprinted half moon and they got these little white ones which i wont take, i hate them as they dont feel like 8mg. They say there's no cut in them. That's why they're so tiny but i gotta take 2 to compare to a regular white 54 411 subutex.

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Re: Kevin (# 1)

I got taken off my morphine timed release meds because of all the hype about the opiate crisis. I have serious very painful illnesses. Multiple sclerosis, failed spinal surgery, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, just to name a few of the things wrong with me. There are eight people I know all of them taking Suboxone. Buprenorphine has been used as a pain medication for a long time. However nobody wants to except me as a new patient in order to get on the Suboxone for chronic pain. I am not a drug attic, I am physically dependent on opiates for my very quality of life. I have now been suffering almost 2 years trying to find a clinic or a doctor that will put me on Suboxone. I am not one of those people that are red flagged in their medical chart or anything like that. However I am a Medicare patient. One Pain Clinic here in my town who is supposed to be one of the leading Pain Clinic’s for miles and miles around actually told me that they could not except me as a patient because they didn’t think that I would be a good fit for their program. However a very close friend of mine in her early 20s has been jumping around from clinic to clinic staying on her Suboxone. When one drug treatment program runs out she switches to another. I see all these people taking Suboxone, some do to opioid One Pain Clinic here in my town who is supposed to be one of the leading Pain Clinic’s for miles and miles around actually told me that they could not except me as a patient because they didn’t think that I would be a good fit for their program. However a very close friend of mine in her early 20s has been jumping around from clinic to clinic staying on her Suboxone. When one drug treatment program runs out she switches to another. I see all these people taking Suboxone, some due to opioid abuse or abuse of other street drugs. And I literally have not been able to get a Suboxone clinic to open their doors to me and welcome me as a patient. The other reason I was given was you have too many medical illnesses and medical problems. It seems the only way I am going to be able to get into a Suboxone clinic is if I pretend I am a street drug attic. This causes me such huge anxiety and depression because I’m in so much pain I can barely get through the day. I’m suffering and I need someone to help me find a place to treat this horrible chronic pain. I have tried three Pain Clinic, One told me that because I had fibromyalgia nothing else mattered and all I needed was an antidepressant and all my pain would disappear. God. Another told me their program consisted only of yoga and exercise and cardio stuff all which I cannot do. Somebody could you please just give me some advice or just say a prayer that somebody will take me in. This opioid crisis me literally forced me to just end things myself and I don’t want to do that. Any advice would be so appreciated. Thank you

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I only know 3 types of subutex. The small round white ones which suck, the bigger round white 54 411 subutex and the orange football shaped subutex that have a half moon on the one side. Do they make more than those 3 subutex?

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Re: Bobby (# 2)

I spoke to Rhodes Purdue customer service yesterday and they said they have ample supply. It's only whether the pharmacy is willing to contact their wholesaler to order it. That's the issue not availability. I am in San Francisco area and calling around. But in person is the only way due to robberies. Over the phone doesn't work here.

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Re: Janeway (# 5)

Tell the dr. You want to detox using buprenorphine. Subutex or suboxone..I can tell you from great experience using both of them number one subutex is WAY cheaper than suboxone..and it also feels differently..its better feeling.. if you keep asking for it for pain use they will put you on the patch. And they are buprenorphine but a a way smaller dosage compared to subs...I have been on subutex since 2007...so if you ask for subs to detox you most definitely will not be turned down..but ack for subutex is better it has no naloxone in it

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Re: Davidjw1 (# 13)

Well I went to the Dr. today and she contacted Pharmaca Pharmacy to order my Buprenorphine since they carry the Westward Hikma 54 411 tablets. I am also happy to say they accept drug discount cards. So if anyone is looking for the 54 411 Westward 8mg Bupes contact them Pharmaca, they are nationwide. No more CVS or Walgreens for me.

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Re: Tylor (# 19)

Yes, I take 8mg buprenorphine x 4 daily... for one thing its way cheaper and I personally get the best effects from using it.. Where suboxone is more money and they have suggested is 2 x 8mg daily, but it's not up to the pharmacy or your insurance to decide how much you get...and my dr..wants me on 4 x 8mg a day. At first my insurance said they will only cover 3 a day. So they sent the dr. a prior authorization to sign and send back to the pharmacy..I just did this 2 weeks ago again because I changed pharmacies.

I have been taking subs since 2007 and I have always taken 4 a day. Only once did I have to find a new dr. He said he only gives 3 per day.. So I said ok... 8 months later I have found a dr who is fresh out of college. She told me everyone has a different metabolism, so some need basically a different dose based on what their treatment is. i.e. how long did one abuse and so on... I actually had a dr visit way back. And he said first "If you're here for buprenorphine I only give one per person"... I said this will not work....so now my new doc gives me 4 per day, my adderall 20mg x 3 day. And she just prescribed me elavil which I have never tried before. But read alot of blogs about it working....

How come you just don't take subutex? Because of the price difference? Not to mention it's almost a completely different feeling from it. That naloxone is nasty. If your dr will not prescribe it, well then it's time to find a new doc... All I did when I make my appointments because what 13 years of this.. I call tell the secretary the most important meds you're concerned with if you like make the appointment. Don't wast your money and time not knowing what to outcome will be.

And if anyone else is reading this, a new generic buprenorphine 8mg came out. Purdue makes them, Rhodes is the distributor. So they are small round white with markings RP B8 (NDC 42858-502). Wow, they are great. I started on the original brand subutex, and god they were the best, so now subutex by Rhodes. Get them, I've taken every generic out there. Oh, not to mention, but subutex has more buprenorphine in it than suboxone. It says 8.64mg equivalent to 8mg. Now one brand Mylan has 8.624mg bup equalvent to 8mg..doesn't say that on suboxone... only 8mg.. So who wouldn't prefer subutex?

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Re: Charlene (# 14)

Where are you located? I have contacted almost every local non chain pharmacy and they cannot seem to get them. My concern if I did get them and they are that much better. Then what happens when I cant get the rp b8s? I have to settle/suffer a month at least or more until they get them again? Not worth the risk. I have had too many different manufacturers these past 6 months. I found a Pharmaca pharmacy that regularly get Westward/Hikma. I would love to get Rhodes Purdue if it would be consistent. I too get 120 8mg Subutex/Buprenorphine a month paying cash with GoodRx discount is $219. I'm in San Francisco Oakland area and no luck after hours and days of searching.

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Re: megalosdog (# 8)

Picking up my Roxanne/Westward tomorrow. Had a month from hell with Sun 460's tongue and tummy torture. Amongst other horrible side effects. First time in two years felt like using every day. Those Hi Tech were pretty lousy for me too from Costco and Safeway. Very weak . So I am happy to have found the Westward again. I had them a few months back and really liked them but CV ass only had one bottle and since won't order anything but Sun anymore. No more Mylan either. I'm done with the chain pharmacies especially Wal not so smart not accepting discount coupons anymore.

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Re: Charlene (# 24)

One thing I found out that chain pharmacies don't seem to help you with getting the brand you prefer. Each one has their own suppliers. All the Walmarts have the same kind of subs, at least by me, I found out. The small shops want your business so they are more likely to help someone out.

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Re: Tracy (# 37)

Isn't it crazy? I tried to lower my pain meds after knee replacements thinking I didn't need as much. But it wasn't enough and I was stuck waiting all month for a change. I'm too old to keep losing a month at a time of my life with this greed and nonsense. Government doesn't care unless you're wealthy or in power.

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Re: Tylor (# 17)

Wow you are wrong on so many things i dont know where to start. I've been on subutex for over a decade now. Maybe what you say was true in your case, but you're using a broad brush to paint your picture. I started first on subutex, i remember my doctor saying to me "you don't have track marks and you don't seem like the type to try and inject your medication".

I was on mad amounts of opiates... 100mcg/hr fentanyl patches with either oxycodone or hydromorphone for breakthrough pain. I didn't get sent to rehab. I had my first visit, drug tested, talked a lot. Then I had to go home for 72 hours with cold turkey. Returned to my next visit 3 days later and had to take my first dose there at the clinic until it took effect.

Buprenorphine was never meant for alcoholics, period! That's just stupid. It's been a pain medication for over 70 years.

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Re: Bobby (# 2)

Last month I got stuck with the activist orange 8mg bup...I haven't had to take them for along time.. it by the time I got out of the drs office my small mom n pop pharmacy was closed..so I to the 3 day of taking them i noticed night sweats and mild withdrawal symptoms. And it was bad even with nausea..i emailed my dr..she gave me clonidine and nausea medicine...i also found out that my normal pharmacy i told them to order the new Rhodes subs. And wow I was shocked they got them in the next day...but I'm into this script for now. So im patiently waiting for my next month's new script..because my mom n ppl pharmacy has either hikma or Rhodes. Two great generics hummm what should I choose I think.....I absolutely can't wait. I have 2 and half weeks to go with my actavis brand

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I have taken westward for 2 months and then I received the new hikma brand..I didn't notice a difference in them I liked them alot...I have taken buprenorphine since 2007 starting with the brand name..I now told my pharmacy to order the new generic Rhodes..on another blog ppl are just raving about them...believe or not after taking subs I have only tried Teva brand the tiny while ones..and the orange activist..to me they are the worst I got stuck with these on my last script so I can't wait for next month I will either choose hikma or Rhodes..but I have never had any problems with hikma at qll... someone did tell me yes they changed names and a few inactive ingredients that them.. when ever I get stuck with q different generic I find myself going into withdrawal the first week or so..

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Re: Janeway (# 5)

My sister ran into the same problem and she doesn't have half the things wrong with her as you do. To go on Suboxone she had to pretend to be an addict. At least in her mind she was pretending but between you and me and whoever else reads this which I'm sure it won't be her she is an addict. She abused every drug she ever got and that's the reason she kept losing them. At the same time they're legitimate chronic pain patients like you and I and fear of losing our meds are actually losing them and they don't seem to care at all. I don't know what they think they're doing but they're not helping anyone. I've already heard of suicides occurring because pain patients couldn't see any point in living with no quality of life left. Please, please do not do anything like that. I will surely pray for you. Don't give up. I wish I could give you more advice but I think I know about as much as you do at this point.

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I've been getting them for about 5 years and I don't think I've ever had an issue with Roxanne, nor anyone that I know. I have however, had can issue with that "high-tech" brand trash, and now I'm getting some made by "Rhodes" that ain't much to scream about either. Question for you-are you using anything else on top of these? If yes, then there's your answer.

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Re: Janeway (# 5)

I read half ur post and im replying to help u out. Instead of telling your dr u use suboxone for pain pills dont do that. Tell them u got addicted to opioids or pain pills and would like to take something to get off them bc u can cooperate with working and paying bills, and if u have to, tell them its hard to take care of everything when ur always getting withdrawals. Some dr's will make u go to a rehab for 3 days b4 they put u on their program but stop telling the dr u take them for pain bc their not used for pain. I know ppl that take them for pain bc they work but they're for opioid withdrawals so u gotta make it look like u got addicted to pain pills and u wanna get off them but the withdrawals are so bad.

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Charlene, can i ask u a question? What are the rhodes? Are they suboxone or subutex and what do they look like? I might ask my pharmacy to order me them if they're a new kind coming out.

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Re: Tylor (# 11)

They are subutex. The NDC # 42858-502-03 is for the 8mg Rb b8 and the 2mg NDC# is 42858-501-03 for the white to off-white marked Rb b2. I forgot to check if Rhodes has anything to do with suboxone because I don't take that one...but if you go to that site btodrems.com it has all the suboxone and subutex details listed and any information one would want to know. In all buprenorphine the main ingredient differs from one to the other. Most will say I think 8.64mg bup equivalent to 8mg. There are 2 that say only 8mg, that being the sun brand and the actavis orange half moon... They have 7 generics of bup..actavis has 8mg , hi tech has 8.64, hikma 8.64, Mylan 8.624 Rhodes 8.64, sun 8mg and teva 8.64 all say equivalent to 8mg. The only ones around me in Florida have sun, actavis, hikma and sun. I was shocked to notice I believe it was kaylan that actually had the highest amount of bup. I hope you find it. Let me know how you make out. Good luck.

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