Will Oxycontin Be Changed Back To Original Formula (Page 19)

is Oxycontin going back to their old formula? OC instead of OP.

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Hi Raf, I agree with Michelle, you will get nowhere without a good pain specialist and yes, it's expensive but you don't go very often. He/she will communicate with your GP re your medication and then your GP will be given an 'authority to prescribe' monthly for you based on the pain specialists recommendations.

Also, Centrelink will advance anyone on a pension $500 every six months I think, from which a small payment is deducted fortnightly until paid back from the pension payments so that may be an option for you if applicable. Do borrow the money if you have to. Medicare will pay some back and tell the pain specialist receptionist if your on a pension as they may reduce the fee for you. As for public pain clinics, the wait is up to two years. Private is the way to go to get things done quickly.

Re the reformulation - the thing that is making the med not work properly and making people get bad side effects is called 'Polyethylene Oxide' It's the stuff that makes the tabs hard as stone. This chemical is not in the generic oxycontin.

Re the discussion about PBS or private generics, Dox and Michelle - you both could be right! It was suggested to me that it may depend upon the medication 'number' the chemist enters when doing the script, if he puts the number for the reformulated oxycontin it will come up as on the PBS but if he puts the number for the generic it will come up as private at the present time. Confusing, yes! I intend to ring Sandoz on Monday and get the facts if at all possible.

From the research I have done, it seems the generics are a lot cheaper, even on private script, at about a third of the cost of a normal private script for oxy (not a PBS script - you can get either) so that's not too bad. I will ring the PBS and ask them directly about this 'PBS or private' question and post what I find out to help inform us all of the facts.

Raf, your medication can be ordered in for you from you usual pharmacy, order it before you need it, you don't need the actual script to order in, just to know what the script is going to say. Do ask what day and time they will be in. Do ensure they will be waiting for you to get when you have your script in hand. Always good to go to the same pharmacy every time. Get to know your pharmacist. Good Luck.

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Dox, nothing against you mate but im not putting the details of my pharmacy on here, why cant they ring the PBS -human services authority, i really find it very strange people are having problems with this. Its pretty straight forward, speak with your doctor & pharmacist, if they cant help get them to call Sandoz &/or PBS & find out whats going on. If you still have no luck {edited for privacy} i would be happy to take your pharmacists & doctors name/number to mine & get you help that way Dox. I hope you understand why im not willing to put my health professionals details out, i have no problems & im not going to have any junkies here hassling or robbing my pharmacy.

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You are illegally getting an old supply then as the sandoz brand are not on the pbs yet my pharmiacist have rang sandoz and Medicare pbs it is not on there a set you have to pay full price for them my pharmicist and Dr asked for your pharmacists phone number as they want to ring and get this so called info your giving out directly off them
As they have done everything possible they Dont magically make them go on the pbs themselves

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Dox, I don't think you are really 'hearing' Michelle. She has been doing her best to try and help you. She is not getting anything illegally and it's unfair to say that to her when she has been so helpful and patient with you. There really is no problem here. If you are right, just pay for them! See my post to Raf below if you haven't read it yet, I give a possible reason for the difference of opinion.

Who is right or wrong is irrelevant. We are trying to help each other here. This site is good because we are anonymous and private details are not allowed, that makes me feel safe on this site.

I think you are feeling very upset because you ended up getting more MS Contin and I know how drowsy they make a person feel. You wish you had been able to get the generic. But first, get the authority fixed and as I said in an earlier post, this could take time. At present you are not even prescribed your old medication. Changing back should be your main focus.

Do you have a good pain specialist? I ask this because the way you explained your prior dosage is unusual. A pain specialist would more likely put you on 60mg Oxycontin eight hourly with no immediate acting at all. If your pain was fully covered then you would not need additional slow release unless also got breakthrough pain. You said you were on 170mg Oxycontin per day in total before you went on to the MS Contin so 3 x 60mg would be almost the same. Very few people get 12 hours from the slow release so taking them more frequently can alleviate the need for the quick acting. Your mood would be more stable this way, without the 'ups and downs' of mixing the two types.

Before worrying about the cost of the meds you want to be on, focus on getting the order changed, without this nothing is going to happen. Once you have it, you can ring around. Research online and you will see them, with all the prices, and they are not that expensive to pay for privately. As I mention in my previous post, they are only about one third of the price of a usual private Oxycontin script.

Try to remain calm and know you will get all this sorted out in time, just hang in there and please, apologize to Michelle who has been nothing but helpful. Remember, she is very ill unwell. I am sure you would not want to cause her any stress. Please be Kind and careful, using your words as they are 'tools' which can help, or hinder. Be well. Best regards.

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Whatever Dox, ive tried helping you ive offered my help the only way im doing it. Good luck, wish you well. My pharmacist would never do anything illegal, it sounds very strange to me that you are having problems. Maybe your doctor & pharmacist know more than i do & dont want you on the original formula! The medication is in Sandoz packaging, nothing like mundipharma & the meds dont look the same as orginal oxycontin, im not wasting anymore time with you Dox, I dont have any of the problems you are having. This makes me think theres more to the story.

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Sorry, but this does not sound like a pharmacist talking but a drug user/dealer. I am in the US and have NEVER come across a pharmacist who would tell people how to get around the barrier in the OP OxyContin! You won't list the name of your pharmacy, etc, because you could lose your job and license but you can tell people how to extract the oxy out of the op pill? Sorry, I am not judging or being snotty, but this is definitely not sounding right at all! Be very careful! How do you think the drug controllers (FDA) here and the DEA would react to your post here? I Could tell you exactly what would happen on US soil but I'm sure you already know. Your suggestions are not helping the true chronic pain patients that prefer to be on the up & up with their doctors/specialists and treatment plans. Just a thought I wanted to share!

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Who in the hell prescribes OxyContin and fentanyl at the same time? They are both long acting meds and, unless your doc is a dealer, getting kick backs ( money for prescribing them) or doesn't care about your life or his license, he would NOT rx OxyContin and fentanyl together! I do apologize if there are people legitimately and legally on those together but that is a dangerous combination. I have been a nurse for over 24 years and have never seen that combo prescribed together! Only one or the other with an IR for breakthrough pain. HELP ME OUT HERE, ALL, HAS ANYONE ELSE EVER HEARD OF COMBINING FENTANYL AND OXYCONTIN IN THE SAME PATIENT AT THE SAME TIME? Just curious. Some things I'm reading just seem too far fetched for my training and experience. I've never even had an end of life patient on these 2 meds together. Maybe other countries are different but the "country" doesn't reduce the dangerous facts!

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Jane, I agree with you on the "pharmacist" but, as a nurse, I have to disagree on the effectiveness of the OP vs OC OxyContin. There is a substance like plastic in the OP's and the body does not metabolize that substance. It is proven that they are not as effective at pain control as the original formula hence the need to increase patients immediate release/fast as ting opiates. In the US, we are having a problem with a specific generic manufacturer and hydrocodone and oxycodone products. They are not working for pain and causing severe side effects including narcotic withdrawl. Search oxycodone or hydrocodone complaints on this forum alone and you will find many complaints to this! Many, if not most, of us have contacted the pharmaceutical company and the FDA ( food & drug administration) with these complaints. There are also petitions going around to be signed. As a nurse, I am the first person a patient complains to before seeing the doctor. I do believe them, too. Unless it was an actual allergy to a med, you are not going to find 50+ people complaining of the same exact side effects. Just thought I would let you know what I know and have been dealing with for at least a year and a half! It's not pretty.....

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Michelle, are you in the US or is the original OxyContin only available outside of the US? I have a friend who is on them and he is in so much pain all the time. The new ones just don't work at all! I've heard of sandoz but I don't know if their oxy is available here. I'm in Minnesota (USA) and would love to give my friend some good news! That is one med I am allergic to and I found that out right before my back surgery. It is the main med my surgeon uses! Thank God I found out before so I didn't have to suffer allergic reaction while suffering post op! Lol. Anyway....if ANYONE can tell me if these OC's are available here, I would much appreciate it!
Thanks in advance.

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Thanx Jay For seeing ive tried to help Dox & others. Your comments about how the script is put through sounds like it could be the answer. Ive had my pain specialist for about 10 years & before that i went to a private one. even with long waiting lists for public, its possible to get in if you are in teal trouble with pain. I had 3 different pain docs offer to take me on last year, one of which sat in intensive care with me for 9 hours trying to get my pain under control with IV meds when i was unable to have tablets. Its a very valid point about Doxs medication regime - you are on so much break through meds & obviously not enough long acting. I take Oxycontin 3 times a day & no breakthrough meds. Im on a very high dose, but i dont have any other options, ive done all the surgery & other treatments possible with no success. I keep my pain under control with my doctors help & take as good care of myself as i can, the other thing is keeping active & busy as possible. I cant work a normal job, but Im trying to set myself up doing digital art, crowd funding is my only way of acheiving this but not easy. I also volunteer & run a charity as well as being involved with saving endangered animals (elephants, tigers, rhino, lions etc) from poaching & trophy hunting. I know you think you are in to much pain to do anything but its the opposite, the more active you keep yourself the less your pain will keep you down. Having nothing to take the focus off leaves you with your whole life revolving around pain & medication-clockwatching & often addictive behaviour. My GP is an addictions specialist, he was my doctor before he chose that route of expertise. Its really great, he has known me since i was a teen & his specialty is great benefit to me. He is well known for what he does so has great repore with human & medication authority so I get imediate authority for increases etc. he would be the first to stop addictive behaviour, ive seen him do it with patients from other doctors, who havnt had the best care when being prescribed these dangerous meds. I hope this helps anyone having issues with pain, control & not getting help they need. These & other opiate medications are very dangerous & no one should be self medicating or relying on GP for treatment alone, short term oxynorm is ok but when patients need long term opiates you need 1GP, abpain specialist & even using the same pharmacy is helpful. Good luck Dox & others, i know what pain does to people & one of the hardest things to do is wake up each morning when the pain hits you like a sledgehammer, i dont wish it on anyone. Its cruel & its personal, family & friends dont understand (even though they try really hard to) & even a lot of doctors/other healthcare workers dont get it & become frustrated with you. There is help out there though, find those who can help you. You may not like the right choices for your health & wellbeing, but in the long run its your life thats in jeopardy. Good GP's & Pain Specialists know whats the best course of treatment for you, it may be an increase of long acting meds or a combination of medications. It may be nerve blocks, accupuncture, spinal cord stimulation or other treatment, but they will find whats right for you. Thats what a pain specialist will do, opiates aren't the course of pain treatment, they really should be the last course when all others have failed. Take what you want from my experience & Jay has some really great advice/information if you look at his posts, dont ever give up hope-we see so many advances in medicine every day there is help.

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Hey Tracy, i agree with you, im on bery high dose of oxycontin (all under very careful supervision of pain specialist & GP, but my case is rare, there just aren't any other options for me & i will die from this but its very slow thankfully) & i would be very concerned if my doctors said we're putting you on fentanyl at the same time. In fact that was my next step, if they hadn't have brought out the old formula of oxy i would have had to go on fentanyl- & hated the idea, its an extremely dangerous drug & i dont believe any real doctor would mix the two unless it was at very end stage & they couldnt get enough relief but still find even that hard to believe. Also the wannabe pharmacist- sounds suss & would be hauled of to jail if caught doing what he says. Sorry Tracy, im in Australia & our government made the good call to bring in generic old formula oxy when purdue/mundipharmas patent ran out here. They lobbied against it but the government decided to pit that power in the hands of our doctors & pharmacists. A doctor can choose whether or not to give the generic or new formula to a patient & chemists dont have to stock the generic its their choice (many wont stock it because of robberys) but i have a great pharmacist who has seen the effects of the new formula on me & she gets it in for me only, of course she would do so for other customers that needed it also, but they haven't so far. I found an artical in the US about all this & the pain clinic did trials. They found the patients on high doses were the ones affected badly, the reactions & side effects were quite extreme. Im really sorry for your friend, i suffered from bad headaches, stomach pain & uncontrolled pain, i hope your friend has other options they can try. Im bery allergic to many meds so it was not viable for me to change tablets, hence looking at fentanyl. Hope this info helps, cheers.

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Hi Michelle. How do you stay so positive & so strong? I don't pray as much as I should but I will for you. I hope your time is lengthened out so that you can do & accomplish everything & anything you desire to do.

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Hey Christine, ive had many years to come to terms with my disease. I've always been a positive person though & don't dwell on bad stuff, there's always someone worse of. One thing I do, is volunteer with my dog in a therapy program for sick kids. Kids are so resilient, they can be in huge amount of pain & feeling so sick but still have a smile on their face. Doing the things that make you happy is important, & try not to think of what you've lost & unable to do anymore. Keeping busy is important, I know everyones limited by pain here, but find things to pass the time, read a good book, paint, catch up with tv shows you recorded anything that takes your mind off the pain. Meditation & yoga/palaties can be helpful too, they strengthen the body & mind (don't push it to far though, build up slowly) if you need to talk or ask anything feel free to, I'll always do my best to help. Take care everyone

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you are incorrect with your assessment. We are not aware of anyone seeing any difference in the old pill and the new pill. Only the drug abusive folks see the difference with a glob. That is why they changed to the plastic.

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Enjoy Life please, thats not true. I am a completely legitimate patient with highly reputable GP (who specialises in addiction & has helped thousands of addicts beat their disease) & a top pain specialist, both who would never prescribe this medication to drug seekers. I hate being on this medication, & went through years of hell trying everything before having to give in & go onto it. It is true I found a pain clinic that had done a study about the new & old formula, they found the patients on higher dosage were affected with headaches, increased pain & new pain in stomach. Please don't lump everyone into the same group, its very offensive, I have not & never will abuse these medications in any way. The silicone doesn't always metabolise properly & is often found in stools, the delivery of the drug relys on the whole tablet dissolving in the patients system, so how can the whole dose be given. If you read through this all, im sure some people are addicts, its pretty obvious but many are genuine & some are carers of sick elderly who are having problems with new formula, not addicts seeking a fix. I hope you reevaluate your opinion about this, & see not all people are addicts.

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It's therapeutic

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Hey Michelle and other posters. I was e-mailed by my pharmaceutical media contact a few weeks ago. They gave me some great news! Sandoz Oxycodone will officially be listed on PBS as of 1/12/2014.

I personally have been paying $350 a month. However it has been worth every cent. Not only am I getting the full effects and time duration of the Sandoz brand, I have been able to cut my dose down also. My dose had gone up a bit with the OP's, trying to find the right amount.

Anyway good news for everyone's back pocket. Take care.

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Hey John D great news! Im doing better with Sandoz old formula also. I get it on the PBS now, but as you & others have said you haven't been, so Im glad you will have that available to you now. I still don't understand why its been ok for me & don't think there will ever be a reason given. For the people who have been on this forum & don't believe our claims of problems from the new Oxycontin formula, you are very narrow minded & its very degrading to say someones a drug addict because they are having problems with a medication. Everybody is different & not every component of a medication is going to agree with or work on every person. I have allergies & problems from side effects of many medications. There are very few opiate medications that I can take because of reactions ranging from rashes & vomiting to anaphylaxis & full blown seizures. The original formula of Oxycontin was the one tablet i could take without side effects, & when the new formula was the only thing available I was having awful side effects, obviously from the chemical compound its made from. I find it very offensive to be told im a drug seeker because of this, i have never abused any form of drug & would be ecstatic to be given a cure for my disease that would allow me to have my life back & not have to take these horrible meds. Thank you Australian governing bodies for understanding this & providing us with an alternative & not letting the real drug addicts make it even harder on legitimate patients. See ya Medschat Forum, happy to say I dont need this anymore. -cheers

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HI IM David and prescribed our NEW PLACEBO :::: Well hallalloolla to u my friend i thought i was the only person on this planet that kept sugar companies extremely happy ::: UNLIKE US WHO SUFFER CHRONIC PAIN SUGAR JUST DOES NOT WORK. Good luck n take care.

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I hadn't read this topic in a while. Just posted when I had news. Was bored today and yeah... what can ya do I guess. I won't justify myself to no-one on my use and why etc.

When they changed to the OP's I had just had my Thyroid removed due to cancer. I was having trouble adapting to thyroxine and getting my levels correct. It went on or 6 months before I got the right dose and it stopped going under active. I was going through that when they changed to OP's. Was 3 of the worst months of my life. I have my own Business and the destruction in most aspects of my life from this period are still felt today.

My Thyroid is Tip top now and well the generics do their job so its great. However I am still recovering from that period. I am hoping tomorrow is the end of some troubles and not the beginning and from there things can only get better.

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