Will Oxycontin Be Changed Back To Original Formula (Page 27)

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

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When I was given the new OxyContin I became very sick with gluten symptoms but had no clue it was these tablets. I eventually discovered that they are made on the same equipment that has wheat put through it. As a coeliac this is cross contamination and as bad as eating gluten. Other coeliacs beware! I now take the sandoz brand which is gluten free and have had no problems with these.

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Hi people, hope all are doing ok... I was told by my pharmacist the the heath department (im in Vic, dont know if its Australia wide or just here) are checking into how many people are using the Sandoz Oxycontin & why. They only get the Sandoz in for me at this chemist so she sent them a letter explaining why i dont use the OP. I hope this is to research the effects OP are having on people & realize the option of Sandoz is needed for those of us that had problems with OP formula. Interested to hear if other pharmacists have also been contacted about this. Cheers, take care everyone.

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Hi Jeanie, I just read your post and I do sympathize with you, however you must get a new doctor. If you cannot do the 100 kl drive, catch a bus or maybe get a friend or relative to drive you. Find a private pain specialist in the closest major city to you and make an appointment. Drive, bus it, fly...truly, if I were in your position I would consider moving to a place you can have the care you need. There is absolutely no reason why anyone with chronic pain cannot be prescribed the Sandoz generic Oxycontin. You doctor is causing you more problems than helping you and it sounds as if he has a monopoly on health care in your home town and can use his position of 'power' to push his own agenda. If there is a group of you all in the same boat, you could form and group and contact the medical authorites for help and assistance. I know this takes energy but a group would also give you an outlet for your frustrations. Maybe consider forming a support group yourself? There really is power in numbers. It is hard alone but groups of motivated people can move mountains! Really give it some thought and come up with a way to find a new, caring doctor or pain specialist (I would advise you seek a pain specialist in a major city) and get the medication you need. This would completely change your life back to how it was before. You only get one life and it is too precious to waste so do everything you can do to take care of your own needs and get this sorted out. Get your life back and take action. Hope this caring message motivates you Jeanie.
Cheers!

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Hey Jeanie, i agree with Jay.... You need to take control over your own life & not let this doctor monopolize your healthcare & what must be others in your town. I gather your in the US, so things will differ slightly to our Australian practices...but as a general rule things are similar. You say you cant go to another doctor as you live in a small town, well you need to get to another town to see a good doctor & be referred to a pain specialist...you will get more help when you have a care plan in place with them both working together. If you don't drive, get a friend or relative take you or take a train or bus...where theres a will, theres always a way. I travel that distance to my GP & twice that to my pain specialist....there are plenty of others in closer proximity but my GP has known me all my life & my pain spec has been the same one ive had since falling ill 14yrs ago. They know everything- i have consistency of care showing im a genuine patient, along with them knowing everything ive tried before & since making the step to take narcotic pain medication (this was a total last resort for me) i know its hard Jeanie, but if it makes such a drastic difference in your life you must take matters into your own hands. I agree you can also form a group with others in your town not getting proper care, but this will be a longer process...the first thing you need is to get onto a different care program with a gp & pain spec. Here we have permits when on a long term treatment for these medications, you only need to get a script once a month & when sorted out only need to see pain specialist for treatment & every six months or so for check up. You must have some system in the US that allows you to collect a monthly script....the once a month trip of 100m would be nothing, if it helps you get back to the way you were on previous medication. I really hope you put this & Jays advice into action....as she said you only get one life, its up to YOU how you Live it. Best of luck Jeanie, keep us posted.

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Hi Jay & Michelle, Thank You for all of the advice but I already exhausted all those avenues. First, I live in an extremely rural area where there are no trains or buses. I do drive but I don't like driving long distances so I usally have someone else drive me. As I stated, the closest small city where there are other doctors & a pain clinic is approximately 100+ miles. I have been to that pain clinic but I needed my GP's referral to go there. He faxed the Pain clinic my referral with a note that said, "Please get this patient off of all narcotic pain meds". So, they too treated me like a drug seeking drug addict too. He does this to ALL his acute or chronic pain patients. He has been taken to court by 2 or 3 patients for this very reason but the judges in our area like this doctor & feel the same as he does. It was in the newspaper during one of the trials that the judge stated that he understood how this doctor was battling a war on drug addiction with his own patients within his practice. I nearly flipped when I read it but...it really is par for the course around these parts of the USA. And, we have no original formula in the US of course so, we're stuck that way too. It's a losing battle here. Just sit & wait to die because no one is going to help us & we have all tried.

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I feel for you Jeanie, its obviously not easy & with the problems caused by drug addicts its made it even harder by the sounds of it. I think you need to look at things in a different way though, i cant remember what you take the pain medication for sorry? If your life has changed so dramatically, & your feeling like you are just waiting to die... can you not move somewhere else? Do some research & find an area with good healthcare facilities & options. As i said i cant remember your medical history but there are other pain relief options to Oxycontin, you may find changing to another type of pain reliever helps you get control of your pain again. There are always options, esp if you dont have a terminal disease...you may just need to change a few things in your life to achieve good results. It also sounds like you could benefit from talking to a psychologist that understands chronic pain. There are many beneficial treatments they can also help with..it may sound stupid but meditation & relaxation techniques really help when combined with the right medication & also other treatments like acupuncture & physical therapy (with a therapist who understands your injury/disease). Again if they dont have these in your area, move somewhere that does or get a friend/relative to drive you. Sitting waiting to die is not an option, you have to help yourself.....im sorry if i sound mean, im not trying to be....i just want you to get the help you need.

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Well said Michelle.... Come on Jeanie, life is worth fighting for...fight for the change you deserve. I have a problem. I thought I found a great doctor that understands my pain and therefore understands why I take 3x80 mg OXYCONTIN, 2 x 75mg lyrica and panadol oestro on a daily basis. Well not so, he said to me on my last visit that because I am taking three different medications to combat my back pain that the governing bodies will not stand for that for to long therefore I will have to go on the methadone. Omg no no no. A doctor 10 years ago took me off methadone onto the OXYCONTIN because methadone wasn't helping. I was put on the methadone originally for pain and found myself among drug addicts trying to buy my take home doses, asking me if I use it intravenously etc etc. It was horrible, not to mention I couldn't stay awake....I'm worried I might have to find another doctor but concerned that changing doctor will look like I'm doctor shopping. Why can't I find a doctor that will just be happy to treat me normally and once a month write my scripts for the combination of drugs that work for me, that keep me functioning as a normal, pain controlled, member of the community?

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Hi Sandy, there should be conflict of interest between the three meds. Lyrica is a anti-seizure medication that can help with chronic pain but you can knock if off if you want to as it will make you feel very tired, over time it accumulates. The Panadol Osteo you get 'over the counter' so don't need a script, so only the Oxycontin is of interest to them and three 80mg is quite reasonable. Try and opt to stay on this, even without the Lyrica if you have too (which seems a bit nuts to me...) DO NOT let them change you to Methadone. I too, know what you are talking about. Tell them you have been on it in the past and you are 'allergic' to it, that it made you feel awful and that you are settled nicely on the current dose of Oxy and you never want any increase but are happy on this current dose. That should satisfy the powers that be. Good luck. Why not tell your nice doctor how stressed this made you feel and see if he will reassure you it will all be OK. Do you see a pain specialist? Might be a good idea then they have to follow his directions. Good Luck.
Cheers
ps...I agree that Jeanie should do all in her power to help herself, you, myself and Michelle are all trying to help her find the strength within needed.

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Hey Sandy, i agree with Jay....Lyrica can help with the pain, but leave you feeling very sleepy...if you need it maybe just take it at night, also have you read the side effects that can happen (wanting to kill yourself, is the one that got me....although it must be a rare effect) ive had all of those pregabilan, gabipentan etc. over the years....just stopped taking the Lyrica that i went back on after surgery recently. If you dont have a pain specialist, you need to get one....they are the doctors who truly understand not only pain but the medications & treatments available If you have a pain specialists authority, your GP really cant argue against it & when you do the permit yearly its better to have the input from a pain specialist. Also if you cant resolve issues with your doctor, the pain specialist can help explain this to not only a new GP but also governing bodies. So long as everything you do is above board & with plenty of paperwork to back you up, showing your transfer of care from one doctor to another it should be fine. I believe people doctor shopping are those going from one doctor to another at the same time asking for these medications? Ive been extremely fortunate to have the same GP who has known me all my life & the same pain specialist throughout my illness, & they both are caring & very respected in their fields. Jeanie i hope you have taken on board our thoughts & are able to find some strength to get the help needed to make you more comfortable & maybe help your injury/disease. Cheers everyone!

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Hi everyone, its been a while and I have had another setback. My cousin committed suicide recently. Being told to get over it has made me very sensitive and always puts me in a bad mood. My legs are always being either poked by red hot pokers or that dull ache that never goes away. I have started to notice the color on my feet change and I am losing sensation. However, the pin pricks don't go away.

I am changing doctors n chemists. I am sick of the dirty looks they give me and oh they have to make it such a long process. They have to call the doctor which I know annoys him.

I still go to the pain clinic and they have told me finding another doctor would be hard. But I have had enough of mean people. Does anyone know of any good doctors in sydney?

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Hi Kamir, it sounds to me as if your having spinal problems, the issues you mention, pins and needles and change in colour are both nerve and circulation problems. The pins and needles happen when a nerve is either irritated or trapped sending pain down the legs, especially the sciatic nerve. Have you injured your back? Had a fall or noticed back pain? Change in colour is very worrying, it means your legs are not getting adequate blood supply. Of course some of these issues can also happen in 'withdrawal' the feeling of crawling, or creeping feelings like 'restless leg syndrome' is common. Have you decreased your medication?
Also, having such a terrible trauma in your life will accentuate everything you feel, if you are angry (being actually very 'sad' in a man, being expressed as anger as it is more socially appropriate...) everything will feel worse. Can you see someone who can help you? I think a change of doctor is a good idea. I could tell you some good pain specialists in Queensland but not in Sydney, maybe someone else might know? I do wish you all the best. Try to distract yourself if you can and not spend to much time dwelling on the past, after all, we cannot change it, however, we can change our future. Take care of yourself. Cheers!

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Thank you Jay. I am seeing someone. But I guess I would heal faster if I didn't keep hearing "just get over it".

The skin on my feet has started to darken plus it seems I have lost a lot of elasticity. Which is odd cos skin everywhere else is taut and terrific. I am getting pain that shoots from my foot to my back in 0 to 1s. I freeze n have to take a breath.

The pain specialist suggested trying to reduce meds so I have been trying but feeling worse for it. I am so tired of it all. My mother is great, she keeps telling me I have to stay alive? Otherwise who spend my inheritance. She is very cute n funny. My doctor suggested I try methadone. Since, I was on oxycontin. I was horrified, that will just pair me with the junkies. That's also why I am changing doctors. The chemist in surry hills are so rude. The dirty looks they give you. You know they are talking about it. It really annoys me. I hope one day they really get hurt and know what it feels like on the other side of the counter.

Sorry it if sounds like a rant but I know at least everyone here knows how I feel.

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I personally have not taken Oxytocin however I have taken Opana I did not know they were changing it to plastic at the time and start getting real bad heartburn.. the only time I have ever had heat burn was when I was pregnant...and I was NOT pregnant.. I asked the Dr at the time if anything changed looking to rule out what was going on.. he didn't even tell me and told me must be my age!!! I was insulted so when I did my own research and found out what and why.. since I was young,nieve and NOT and addict I was infuriated I talked to nurse and found out about oxymorphone sadly at time Tennessee was trying not to carry it or lieing and never mentioned it also my insurance named it a generic at time which would have saved me 100's of dollars. When I finally found it 2 months later all heartburn was gone and potentially any other horrible side affect the plastic would have caused. Truly pothetic what true non addicted medically necessary patients have had to suffer through. First thing I pull up researching Mutiple Sclerosis is to stay away from stress at all cost! Thanks to this bs just to remain walking as long as possible I endure daily stress that I shouldn't have to endure!

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This Crackdown on Narcotics a few years ago was supposedly started in order to "Save Lives"!? It's actually Backfiring! It's going to increasingly Kill Good Americans in Debilitating Chronic Pain! When Doctors all over say "NO" to those with Unbearable Pain....they are committing Suicide, vegetating in Bed, or turning to the streets where every dose is unpredictable. It can be weak one time, and BOOM,.. Twice as Strong the Next! So you eventually Die. Many in REAL Debilitating Chronic Pain cannot get Proper Medication & Treatment because of the RIDICULOUS, INHUMANE Strictness of Narcotics because People who Do NOT even Know what REAL PAIN IS have abused them for years! Now the Government wants to treat All of us like Children...and say," Well, Kids, Somebody broke the Vase. Since I don't know which of you did it, I'll just PUNISH ALL OF YOU!" How stupid! We are ALL ADULTS here. And we're NOT talking about Broken Vases! We're talking about BROKEN LIVES! People in Real Chronic Pain just want to be able to get out of bed in the mornings, Dress, maybe do something a little productive, Cook a meal, etc. Just THESE THINGS are SO DIFFICULT even when you are a young Person in your 30's or 40's, if you have Untreated Chronic Pain.

I am fortunate. I finally had Back surgery and only need low Meds. But the Medications do not have enough strength for me to do more than Shower, eat, dress, barely Shop for half hour, then Rush home back to Bed. Even after a 3 level successful Fusion, I still have Pain ALL OVER!! My bones aged faster than the rest of my Body it seems. My Back felt 90 when I was only 40!. I was never afraid to go thru the Changes we all do from Cradle to Grave. But NOW,..I must dread the Aspect of Aging...because Citizens in America are being forced to AGE IN PAIN... INSTEAD Of GRACEFULLY...as we once did....very sad.

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I absolutely agree with the last guest's comment insofar as Purdue`s reasoning behind the reformulation of their original extended release Oxycontin! They were indeed going to lose their stronghold on that market so they had to come up with some stupid change in the formulation so they could keep their control on this market! It's all about how much money they were able to bribe the officials in order to maintain their market share and all very well calculated. To hell with those in pain!

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You are all correct. Cancer patients and others with severe pain should not have to suffer because some are drug addicts. Very poor decision. This "addiction-phobia" mentality is nuts and makes innocent people suffer.

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For me methadone was THE best medication for chronic pain. Especially for nerve related pain. For me I have peripheral neuropathy. Or PN. So painful. Started in my feet then slowly spread to hands. Then feel and legs then hands and arms. With shooting almost electrical type pain. I had to quit taking it tho. They added something it to that gave me heart burn too. Funny. Used to be the second I put the methadone tablets in my mouth, they dissolved INSTANTLY. I has to have a glass of water right there ready. Or I could taste it. Then I started getting bad heart burn and the pain wasn't being addressed. Plus my heart started racing. Took me a few months to put it together. But one day I was taking it and thought huh, that's weird it doesn't dissolve instantly like I uses too. Some days it would some not. I remembered that when I got my last refill I dumped it in with the previous months bottle. Still had some left over. So then I got to looking at them. The ones that didn't dissolve were taller, thicker and whiter and tasted kind of bitter. So I separated all those from the ones that dissolved and looked and tasted like they should have. Turns out even tho the new refill was made by same company, they were the ones that were making me sick. Heart burn, a weird heart burn too, racing heart and not treating pain hardly at all. At some point they changed the methadone formula. It almost sound like they put the same stuff in the old methadone formula that they put in the new OxyContin formula, so it would not dissolve. I don't know. Just a guess. But ever since then I can't take it anymore. But PLEASE you might try methadone, it is long acting naturally. Not cuz they make it that way. Also people don't realize that methadone was created in World War One for pain control. The army medics ran out of morphing and created methadone!! It was not created to treat opiate addicts. I didn't know that either. But they were looking for something that was inexpensive to produce and had long term pain coverage. It was till the late 1960s when viet nam vets started coming home after being addicted to opiates that they took recreationally while fighting over there. 2 drs in New York got the great idea to try treating these vetrans with methadone to help get off the other opiates. It was experimental. But it worked to a degree. Methadone gets a bad name. I thought the same till I my dr had me try it. I was kind of afraid of it. He have me methadone and them 5 mg oxycodone for break they pain. Turns out I didn't even need the break through medicine because the methadone worked so well. It gave me back my life. Until they changed the formula. Most people don't seem to be affected by it like I am. But if your hurting is give it a try. Do some research on it. Anymore if you take ANY pain med your thought to be a junkie. Very very sad. Like people with chronic pain don't struggle enough. Take care.

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Hi everyone.....hate to do this, but i think its better to warn you. Recently in Victoria they have decided that anyone on high doses of Oxycontin must take the OP formula.....so im now back on the silicone crap....think i will have to change to something else as side effects are terrible. The reasoning is overdoses have gone up since the release of generic, & they blame that on the sale of oxycontin generics by patients prescribed it. My doctor tried to get an exemption but they wont do it, ive seen the lettter to vic doctors & its the guy that heads the department doing this. He wants the generic gone completely. I hope this doesnt happen with you all in other states.

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I think you have one answer, if your decreasing, some of your symptoms may be withdrawal. Do not go onto Methadone! Get another doctor as you intend to and stay on the Oxycontin, as you say if your being discriminated against now, it will be worse on Methadone. It costs the government a lot less, Methadone is extremely cheap as opposed to Oxycontin which is expensive. Methadone is a nasty drug but it has it's uses.

I am wondering about the change in colour in your feet, have you had your circulation checked out? You may have a blockage in a vein but if it is in both feet, could be a number of things including your heart so please do go and get a proper diagnosis, you can't treat it until you know what it is. The breathtaking pain you describe is common to sciatic pain, can go from the foot right up past the knee up to the buttock, does yours feel like this? It really is bad pain (I have had it several times, a nerve block worked wonders for me and cured it once). You might need a scan, preferably an MRI which will display any problems with your spine. Can you get a referral to see a specialist? Only a specialist can order an MRI.

As for people telling you to 'get over it' this is not something to 'get over' it is something to walk through, you have to feel the pain and walk on through the journey that is grief and eventually you will heal. Take no notice of those who say this, they are ignorant. Try keeping a journal it might help you get your feelings out and can be very helpful. You are in my prayers. Be strong but feel your feelings, there is nothing wrong with that, it is needed. Do take good care of yourself, please Kasmir.

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Michelle, what about getting a petition going? If you go to change.org/start-a-petition you can start one up and I will definitely be signing it, people have got laws changed using these petitions, I have signed many of them and they are effective. Look into it, your a strong woman, eloquent and informed and very ill so what have to got to loose! Give it a go, if you get lots of support something can really happen. God forbid this happens in SA. I had to take antihistamines daily when I was on the 'poison' Oxycontin, six months of hell and I point blank refuse to take a drug that makes me so ill when a good alternative is available. My heart goes out to you Michelle, I am in shock for you, just can't believe this is really happening. When will they just leave us alone to live our lives in pain without caused extra pain! Stay strong my friend and know you are not alone. Cheers! (but not feeling too cheery - going to see my pharmacist and see if he knows anything about this).

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