Xtampza Er Users Effectiveness (Page 4) (Top voted first)

I need ppl who have tried the new Xtampza er med to tell me if it works the same as oxycontin? I need to switch so I wanted to know the strength of the new med in comparison.

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I am on it after being on morphine sulphate for years. I like it and it’s working very well for me.

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Re: MR RYAN (# 106)

Thank you so much for your advice, I was trying to eat a half of an almond butter sandwich and a glass of almond milk while being nauseous so I tried just a few spoons of almond butter, it did help but I think the sandwich does give me longer coverage. My Doctor is on board with a medicine change but it's all XR meds I've never heard of just like Xtampza so I'm trying to make this work. Again I so appreciate your thoughtfulness and advice, it's been a rough road and for the first time in my 10 year pain management journey I feel like a number, not a person. Thankfully I am not quick to give up so I hope with time I am less nauseous. Hope you are doing well!

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My insurance co switched me from Oxycontin ER to Xtampza ER it was terrible. People please be advised of the possible side effects. I had the worst side effects it started with nausea then headaches then i started itching. Soon after i started having urinary problems with blood in my urine. I ended up in the ER. These were all side effects of this med. I paid 400.00 of which was non refundable. i stayed in the bed due to the side effects of the Xtampza. My dr filled out prior approval for my Oxycontin which was denied then my drs did a grievance of Which was finally approved. After i stopped it i had to take other meds for the urinary problems it caused. People if your just starting this med please be aware it contains numerous side effects which may not effect everybody but the people it does effect makes it unbearable and very scary. The sad part is that it wasn’t my doctor making me change it was my insurance company who knows nothing about me only that i pay my premiums.

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Re: BethB (# 130)

Hello Beth,
Its been a while. I just wantes to drop you a line and say hi and see how you have been. I hope that after our many discussions that my advice and experiences were able to help you in your transition. Xtampza can ve a very tricky and also stubborn medication. As most people are finding out that if you do not eat a fatty food when taking your dose its like you might as well be taking a baby Aspirin LOL! I hope you are doing well and your pain is manageable. As you know transitioning from a heavy hitter med Fentanyl to Xtampza can be very very difficult if the dosage is not correct. My transition was very rough going from 75mcg Fentanyl and starting on way way too low if a dose of Xtampza. Major withdrawls that was like getting hit by a truck. Now taking 36mg ER Xtampza 2x day and an additional break thru med 2x day as needed I'm doing pretty good, with occasional "BAD" days here and there all & all I'm leading a pretty functional life. As I have said in my many many posts fatty food is the "KEY" tobthis med. Yes It sucks because in the past I didn't eat breakfast or lunch. And basically having to change my hole life regement was a culture shock. But I would rather do this any day of the week than live in pain. With a full on spinal fusion, hip bone graph and 3 rounds of extensive back surgery and a sever case of Mursa/Staf Infection under my belt and more. I will take having to each a piece of cheese and drink a little milk with a dose of Xtampza any day over living living in the nightmare if excruciating pain that I was. It was a living hell literally. Well stay in touch, I look forward to hearing from you.

To all on this post.... my sympathy goes out to everyone and hope you all find some relief from pain some how. I truely have lived with it for years and know what it is like to beg for just 5 minutes of relief. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
Thanks for listening.

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I cut of a little top piece and empty on my tounge. Now you are correct about the instructions. I've tried it with the capsule but it takes a good hour or two longer then if I just swallow the micro beads. It was a little trial and error, but now that it's built up in my system for 7 days it's a NOTICABLE difference.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I've been on the 13.8mgs of Xtampza for over a month and before OxyContin was Reformulated, I took it for 12 years! No, the Xtampza only last a few hours; up to 6 hours but no more than. I get one 10mg Oxycodone IR that I take in the afternoon before the 6 hours are up, and it helps a lot!!

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Re: MrRyan (# 66)

I've been on Xtrampza er for about 6 or 7 months now and luckily haven't had any side effects. If you google it, you'll be able to find a list of side effects. The ones you describe aren't on the list but that doesn't mean they don't exist. It's not my place to try to figure out what might be going wrong but I'm just curious to know how long you've been on the Rx and how you take it. Instructions say to take it with food and about the same amount each time. Food first, then Rx. Or if you have trouble swallowing pills, there are instructions on how to take them when you need to open them. But be sure that you don't take it by itself, either open or whole. You should get these instructions when you fill the Rx. Since this is not getting better, but is getting worse, you really should talk to your doctor to figure out what's going on. Hopefully, it'll be a simple fix and you can get your pain under control. Oh, what a joyous day when that happens! Good luck to you and keep us posted on how it goes. We always learn something new on this board. Again, good luck and I wish you well.

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Re: Lou (# 68)

I typically eat a sandwhich i.e. roast beef an cheese on wheat then within a minute or two after i finish eating i then swallow my capsule, I drink a couple big drinks to wash down the capsule. Within 1-2 hours I can feel the medication take effect. I always stick to this system and it seems to help with the dispersal and a consistant effective time. I have tried several methods and this seems to work the best for me. I stress FOR ME. I hope this helps. I look forward to everyone's feed back.

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Re: MrRyan (# 69)

Okay, I feel like a total ***** going on about how you should be taking the Rx. I went back and read all of your posts and you answered everything and then some. Sorry for the unnecessary posts. Anyway, from what you describe on what, how much and how you take the Rx including a big drink, sounds like I should be eating more. I make a sandwich with rye bread, deli chicken and mayo. Then I eat half to go with the pill. I have a couple of dogs that insist on getting a bite so I don't get the whole thing. I definitely need to drink more. My doctor says I'm dehydrated. I have better days managing pain than others but I wonder how much is attributed to activities I overdid the day before (going to the grocery store will put me down for a couple of days) or the mental stress from others in my house. Sorry, I'm off topic again. Does your pill last from one to the next (I know you said it kicks in after an hour or two). Do you have something for break-thru? I don't. Pain dr. hasn't offered and I haven't asked for any. Would rather do without. Do you know that Xtampza er doesn't have acetaminophen in it. My primary says I don't have to take that. Could use it for break-thru. Gees, about me again. Sorry. My mind wanders. Can you tell? Sounds like you've got it all figured out except for the headaches. That's a puzzle. Ask your doctor about it. Your body might just be adjusting. Hope so. Take care.

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CJ --

Well the reason that the government is doing that is bc the damn junkies out there ruined it for us that reallyyyyyy need it for pain. I had a fusion done and my Doctor who did it told me I wasn't going need no more painkillers. He lies. All he wanted was the money for the surgery n didn't give a damn about me.

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Re: Lynx (# 75)


Your dilemma is truly heart breaking. I'm not at your level of immobility but I can no longer do the things around the house that a husband needs to door any of the outdoor activities I used to enjoy and now I have been forced to take this new Xtampza drug which like you, thousands of others are enduring pain that they SHOULD'T have to live with. I like what one of the other people posted here: "Let the people who came up with these rediculous daily limits and the new tamper free wonder drugs live a few days in our bodies with our pain and see what they think". Anyway I'm sorry you have to live with your situation but I hope things get better for you.

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Re: MrRyan (# 81)

Hello again, Ryan. I'll start with "I'm a 62 1/2 yr OLD woman" just in case anyone is curious. About your Fentynal patch, I'm glad that you're not on that anymore. With no way to control how it affects you is really not good to have to try to deal with. From what you describe, I'm surprised that anyone would prescribe it. I've heard that it's dangerous for anyone who has to come in contact with it whether it be a caregiver or medical professional. Sounds like you have an awesome pm professional who really wants the best for you. That's so important. I have no shame in telling the stupid things I do that are of no help to get me on the right track (with anything but I'll just stick to Rx subject). I told you that I really thought I should change schedule from 10:00 to more like 8:00 or even 7:00. NEVER as early as you! Thing is, I have been changing to 9:00 but usually woke up more like 8:30 or so. However, just this morning, I woke up and figured it was time to take my first pill, completed my ritual and because I just glanced at the clock, I determined that it was only 6:30! So much for a schedule, eh. So, since my schedule is blown, I've decided to aim for 8:00. My evening pill was almost always off anyway. You say consistency is so important and that makes sense plus you've already done the trial and error so I choose to learn from you. THANK YOU, SIR! Oh, you asked about his long I've been on this stuff.

I switched about 7 or 8 months ago. Had been on regular Oxycodone and switched because I had Rx for 4 pills a day but I almost never got 4th pill in. Started out at 13.5 and have gone up to 18 each pill. I think when I get my schedule straightened out, I'll be okay. Will use acetaminophen for break-thru. My last challenge is getting up at a normal person's time of day. That's gonna take some time. Been so immobile for so long (years). Oh, one more thing. My issues are mild scoliosis, DDD, spondylolisthesis (can't spell it) osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, fused bet l4 and l5 (no surgery, body did it on its own). I haven't had any surgery but have had esi's and rfa's. Neither helped. My pm guys say losing weight will help. If you could see me, you'd agree?? I'll spare you. I wish that I could wave a magic wand and completely cure you. You have such a positive attitude that I wish I had. You just sound like there's no way this is gonna do you in. Now, I think I've jabbered way too long, but. Since I'm old enough to be your grandma... Take care of yourself. Don't go even to your limit, much less over. Get your sleep. I look at the clock and know you should be asleep instead of taking care of my issues (although I really appreciate it!). Really long post. Sorry. Rest up. Let me know if you want to pick my brain or think of anything that will help anyone else on here. Shout out, people! Want to know anything, read Ryan's posts. He's so got this down to a science. Thanks for everything and take care!

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Re: BethB (# 98)

Hello Beth, I think your transition will be ok. For me personally when I switched they started me on way to Low of a dose of xtampza so I had pretty bad withdrawls but once he moved me to 36mg every 12 hours I was good to go. Over time I think you will like this better. One thing I noticed when I was on 75mcg of fentanyl I had bad crashes and fatigue and on the last day before I changed my patch I was n pain and exausted. For me it seemed like the patch worked great for the first 24hrs then tappered off and by the last day I was half sick and exausted. I like the xtampza because its more consistant. If you would, could you keep me updated. You are the first person that I have spoke with that is taking very similar dosages to what I did in the past on fentanyl and also currently xtampza. My advice to you is eat something before you take your xtampza. The fattier the food the better. I have found the more fat content the food has I get a better longer and consistant dose of pain management. Let me know if you have any questions I am happy to help. Good luck in your switch. I think you will be ok. Take care Beth. I look forward to hearing back from you.

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Re: MrRyan (# 99)

Thank you so much for your response. I will absolutely keep you updated. When you say something fatty, does it have to be a meal or would something like a half of a peanut butter sandwich be enough fat? My Dr. actually told me I didn't need to eat with it but the advice from Xtampza directly says to eat for it to work properly. I am sorry for asking such silly questions but I really am so blown away that the Dr decided to do this to me right before the holidays. I do remain hopefull that I have better pain coverage. I wasn't crashing with Fentanyl but I've been having more breakthrough pain so here I am.

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Re: CiaoBella (# 12)

Oh my! I could have added my name to your post! I'm exactly in the same boat with you. I've taken Oxytocin 80 three times a day for 10 years without needing to change a thing with dosage. It works well for me and I'm able to have a life with my family and do my normal activities. I DONT want to have to eat at given times in order to be on this medication for it to work well.
Why is it that we ALL have to make these changes? For those of us who don't misuse, abuse and do well on Oxytocin being forced to find another medication for chronic pain feels like re-inventing the wheel all over again! It took my doctor and me several trials and months of figuring out the perfect medication, strength and schedule to get the right balance for me. I am feeling powerless with these changes! They'll sleep well at night and while many will be suffering with pain.I am not looking forward to what's ahead until I am up and "rolling" again!

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Re: Feeling overwhelmed (# 103)

I have been on xtampsa for almost three months now. I started out taking two 35 mg capsules that were not working long enough. My doctor has put me on 3 per day, one every 8 hours and it works good. I was on two 40 mg oxycontins and my current dosage of xtampza feels about the same as the oxy dosage now. I would recommend taking them every 8 hours instead of every 12. Good luck, I hope they work out for you. The withdrawals will actually go away once you get the right dosage of xtampsa.

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Re: BethB (# 109)

Hello again Beth, if I may ask when does your nausea seem to come on. Is it after you take your medication, say within 2-3hrs after taking it. Or is it longer say after 8 hours after taking it the nausea starts?

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I have no idea what's available to me because as of right now I don't have a formulary list. It's obvious to me the govt wants to decrease dosages/strength and increase cost to price us out of affording pain relief. At the same time Sessions is saber rattling about marijuana being against federal law. So where to turn for pain relief? Apparently only the rich can afford it or suffer. It's all about the war on drugs which has been very lucrative for the money-addicted govt. Forcing pain mgmt & drug panels ($$$) as well. If we don't take a stand at some freaking point we suffer & they of course win. I know I can't afford this new drug because I'd be in the donut hole in a few months. This is socialized medicine at it's shiniest. We just play along. Very sad.

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Re: Db (# 8)

I just got switched too. And I'm in horrible pain. I was finally feeling better and noe I'm back to the pain I felt a year ago.

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Re: Lisa (# 20)

I am with all of you in this garbage Xtampza. Supposedly works 12 hours= BSSSS!!!! I get zero relief from it! I used to be on 40mg Oxycontin after my fusion. UHC made me switch to Xtampza Jan '17 and last February got a spinal cord stimulator implant. My doc dropped my dose of Xtampza from 36mg to 27mg since I got the implant. And ever since that drop I have gotten zero relief from it. I had to up my IR to 3 per day, sometimes more. Then this past fall its like they changed the formula because I swear its not working at all. I switched up my game plan and was taking the morning dose at 5:30am, take all 3 IRs middle of the day, take the night dose of Xtampza at 7-7:30pm because it was causing me to wake in the middle of the night going through withdrawal!!!! Well Tuesday night I took it at 7:15pm and at 3:30am woke up in bad withdrawal - felt absolutely miserable!!!!! So Im done with this crap. I hate it. I emailed my doc who I see monday and told him that I am coming off. It was supposed to mean I would take fewer pills....before the extended release I was taking 6 a day....now i still take 5 so how is that helping me??? I cut my morning pill out on my own yesterday and today and replaced it with an IR. I still took the night time one so that i could get some sleep - granted I can only sleep through the withdrawal if i knock myself out with a Lorazepam. I did fine yesterday. This morning I am having significant pain so not sure if thats just part of coming off that crap or if maybe it was covering some deeper pain that I didn't realize.

Regardless I would rather take 8 IRs a day and take them as needed than to HAVE to take this crap like clockwork. If it worked then great, but Xtampza DOES NOT WORK. Finding this site shows that after I met a really nice older lady at the airport this christmas and we got to talking about our meds and she complained about the Xtampza and I was like I have thought that for so long too! Its garbage. Im tired of insurance companies dictating my treatment. Some a**hole in a room with no medical experience making decisions on what treatment i can have based on money. Took me a year and half to fight them for a disc replacement which they still turned down and I had to get a fusion....now i have permanent nerve damage from waiting so long. But I was too stubborn to give up the fight and also didn't realize the longer i was out there without a fix the more chance it would become permanent. Anyways, best wishes to you all!! I hope we can all find an alternative but I am DONE with Xtampza!

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