Xtampza Er Users Effectiveness (Page 5) (Top voted first)
UpdatedI 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.
Re: MrRyan (# 88)
Your post is exactly how I feel about the situation. Thanks, I don't feel so isolated now. I wish I could go through life without the meds, but I wouldn't be able to do anything.
Re: chody (# 128)
Thanks for that update on headaches and nausea...I uave enough stomach issues without that nightmare also. Everyone seems so complacent to be put on alternative meds and no real explanation of WHY? Is this all FDA,CDC etc or insurance? The cost is the same, expensive like the Oxy ER. So is anyone questioning our ins companies? I am on United health care secondary, is this all insurance carriers? I think this will cause more people to go to the streets for relief, more deaths. Or is that the plan? I am sick of being PRACTICED ON and then live in pain because of it. I know its hard to find motivation to fight back when were struggling with pain every dam day but is anyone investigating any of this?
Aloha...
Re: Lou (# 135)
Aloha, I can't even find a pharmacy that carries it. This Xtampza is not any cheaper than oxycodone ER, so why the change with ins companies? I took myself down in 6 weeks to half of my doses, to a 25mcg Fentanyl patch and to 15mg Oxycontin. I have used essential oils and CBD oils to keep me somewhat relaxed and to deal with the withdrawal pain. Is everyone else's Drs taking them to 90mg per morphine dose? Is that where it ends? I heard physicians are suing for their patients' right to be out of pain. I think maybe everyone was on too much, but there doesn't seem to be a plan of how to treat people individually based on their pain and injuries or is it standard 90mg Morphine equivalency?
MR RYAN (# 136) --
Good to hear from you, Ryan. You've always been my 'go-to' dude whenever I had questions. Thanks. When I finally settled on my Rx for the Xtampza I did like you said, letting him know that I'd be needing this monthly. All went okay for about 6 months. Then this last time, all that could go wrong did go wrong. I was down to my last pill (took it that morning), appt. was on Friday. Took Rx to pharmacy to fill (I always did that). They said they only had 46 pills. I went home to check on other pharmacies. No one had any. Too late to call dr office for advice. They're about 45 minutes to get hard copy of Rx (if they would even give it to me). So I ended up doing without pills until Monday when I finally decided to take what I could get. I've sent my dr to see what to do but haven't heard back. Xtampza is the only Rx they'll approve. It's nuts. What are we supposed to do? So right now, I'm scared to death wondering what I'll do if I run out before a new supply comes in. Guess I'll be popping otc's until it gets straightened out. The Xtampza site says to call them to see availability in our area. I'm a nervous Nelly under normal circumstances and this just sends me right over the edge. I'll call my dr tomorrow like you said and get the ball rolling as best I can. I hope that the pharmacies and manufacturer get their act together soon. Don't want to deal with this every month. If they can't keep up with demand, why don't they just hire more people!? On the lighter side. On my way home from picking up the partial Rx of 46, it had gotten dark. I discovered I didn't have any headlights so I put my flashers on and drove about 10 mph depending on others' lights well enough to see. Do you pity me yet? Anyway, I'll take your advice. You've never steered me wrong yet. I don't vent too much. Sorry. But I feel better. Thank you for everything.
Hey Everyone,
It has been a while since my last post, over the last few months I have been experimenting with some different food choices and also how much food to ingest during dosage. So what I have found works very well and you don't have to eat a bunch. A simple cheese stick will work very well. I prefer to eat a cheese stick and save one small piece of it, I then drink a little milk to swallow my pill with and then eat that last bite of the cheese stick. So far this seems to work very well for me. As you may have heard me stress, the fattier the content of the food product the better. One thing I have found is that you don't want to overeat, an entire meal is almost too much food, I have found that perfect middle ground for myself by eating cheese. I personally buy a block of cheddar cheese from the deli and cut it up into small cubes. Each day I take a ziplock baggy containing a few cubes of cheese, and a small bottle of chocolate milk to work with me. So far this has been working very well. Previously I would make a sandwich and take to work but I'm not a very big eater during the day, so the cheese has worked out great for me.
Please let me know your side of this and how things as re going for all of you, what works for you, what doesn't work. This site is here so that we can all help one another get through the day while attempting to keep our pain at bay. Any feedback that you all can provide will with "NO DOUBT" HELP someone on this site. I would like to thank you all for all of your comments and conversations. I'm sure I do not speak alone when I say THANK YOU!!!! I look forward as red to hearing your replies. Thanks.
Re: Ahs1027 (# 145)
Hello Ahs. My apologies for the delay. I have been offline now for several weeks due to travel. I read your post and truly my personal opinion is "DO NOT CHANGE A THING" if you eating a pop tart helps your body absorb the medicine enough to give you 10hrs of effective relief, I would continue to do what your doing and eat a poptart at each dosage time. Everyone is different and finding what works for ones specific body makeup is the hardest challenge, it sounds like you have found what works for you. Granted I am not a doctor but only a person going through these experiences as well. All we can do is post and explain our experiences just like you did, and that post may very well help someone else. Even if someone reads a post and can take that information and apply it and they get a 1% reduction in pain, that is 1% less that they will have to deal with, after you add up several 1% someone may find themselves being 10 or 20% or higher in less pain than they were in the day before or a week ago. Thank you for posting, and I look forward to hearing how your progress is going in the times to come. Please stay in touch. Thanks.
Re: Lou (# 147)
The Xtampza patient locator can find the medication for you, it takes about 30 minutes after you call them but there is no reason to suffer through the month try it is the pharmacy doesn't have the full amount
Crap pure killer crap, after a few pills, i stopped. Vomiting upset stomach, it forced me into withdrawal.
We are being used as guinea pigs.
Re: Verwon (# 1)
Tried for month. Imho crap
Pain worsened. Upset stomach.
I also have United Healthcare. My provider changed me from Opana to Extamza and they will not cover but 62 per month. Insurance companies are using this new law as a way to not pay claims or cover certain drugs.
I am on them as well. Definitely not as effective as other extended releases I've been on. I've tried both 27 and 36 mg capsules and noticed it took longer to feel any relief not to mention it didn't even last that long.
I agree. I was on 90mg of ms contin 2x day and bc of the new dea regulations my doc had to lower it to 60mg 2x day. After being on the ms for over 7yrs it wasn't holding me over so my pm doc put me on the Xtempza. I'm lucky i had some of my ms left bc it took about a week for them to mail it to me and once i started taking it i got maybe 5 hours out of it and i got really bad headaches from it, not to mention the pharmacy didn't even know about them yet. Thankfully my doc put me back on my ms. I wouldn't take them again, they suck.
At least you seem to have a positive attitude about trying to make it work. A lot of people on here are so negative. I've been on the Xtampza er for almost three months. My switch is just from rapid release Oxycodone 7.5 four times a day. My problem was that most days I only took three a day. With the Xtampza er I have gotten in an actual schedule. I'm getting the equivalent with Xtampza er that I got with the rapid release. I've never gotten my pain level down far enough for me to have any kind of acceptable life. Last time I saw my primary she said if I don't tell him it's not working the way I wish it would, there's no way for him to know. Honestly, I'm scared to death to ask that maybe he could up the dose with all of this bad stuff going on with narcs. I have an appt. Friday and I've decided to ask him. All he can do is say no. Anyway, back to you. You've been on it for a week which is longer than a lot of people. Do you know that you're supposed to take it with food (a clarification I'm going to ask Friday, how much, fatty or not, etc). Take Rx in a schedule-I take mine at 10 am and pm. Also, do you know that Xtampza er doesn't have acetaminophen in it. When I first started this drug I always took the acetaminophen with it (four times a day to compensate). When I saw my primary, she said I didn't have to take it. I could just use that for my break-thru. At three months, I'm still trying to make this new drug work. If I was you, at a week in, I would do the same. You seem to have a good attitude about the whole change. Maybe a few changes on how you actually take it or maybe up the dose would do it. Sorry so long but I so want things to work out for everyone and maybe we just need a little help on how this drug works. Work with your doctor. They want the best for you. Hope you'll check back here and let us know how you're doing good luck.
I have 5 herniated discs, most of my joints had several surgeries over the years. I just turned 62. I am still fairly athletic. But a few months back I was dismissed from my pain clinic due to a failed U/A. Although I got clearance from an addiction specialist and another psychiatrist they would not take me back. I am now looking for a pain clinic where they still prescribe oxycodone in ny or nj in 2017.
I take mine out of the capsule. Then eat some extra sharp cheese and in about an hour, I can feel it kick in. Of course it doesn't last 12 hrs. More like 7-8, but it does seem to work after it's built up in your system for about a week. I take 2 of my 20's at a time. Which puts me at about 80 mg for 24 hrs. If I don't eat a high fat snack with it, I have noticed it doesn't work as well.
I've been on opiates for about 9 years now. I fully didn't expect the Xtampa ER to work. Fortunately so far it does.
Sorry I ment to put 18mg not 20mg. I don't want to falsely report anything to you. I was on 20 of oxy before the switch.
If you don't mind my asking. You say you take the Rx out of the capsule and eat some sharp cheese with it. The instructions that come with the Rx say to mix it with something like applesauce, yogurt, pudding if you have trouble swallowing capsule. Do you mix the Rx with something like that or just take it by itself (put it in your mouth and swallow). The instructions that come with the Rx never get specific-just say to take with food- same amount each time. Glad to know that what you do is working for you. Thanks
Thanks for the details on how you take this Rx. Not sure I'm 'brave' enough to just put it straight in my tongue. I think I could mix the contents with something like the applesauce, yogurt or something like that and then follow it with one of the high fats you suggest. I've been on this for about 3 months. I eat a half of a deli sandwich (the Mayo being my 'high fat'). Sounds like that's not enough. I was taking Oxycodone four times a day but I seldom got the fourth pill I'm on so my pm switched me to the Xtampza er which made sure I got the 4 doses in. Some days are better than others. Can't ever pinpoint why. I know that stress can affect the whole pain thing but I can't do anything about that. Oh, one thing I do know about the Xtampza is that it doesn't have acetomenophen in it so I supplement with that. And coffee. I am 'convinced' that the caffeine helps. Who knows. If I think it works, at least it's not hurting anything. The caffeine helps jump start me anyway. Sorry that I ramble on. Last time I went to my pm he said just to make sure I have something on my stomach. Nothing about high fat. I see him this afternoon. I'll run this by him. Anyway, looks like I've got some experimenting to do using your info to guide me. I appreciate all of the info you have given me. Glad to hear that you seem to be doing well with this Rx. Hope I'm as successful as you. Thanks.
Re: Cdavis (# 48)
And your post is helpful to whom and in what way? Did not help me at all.
Dmoonchild, I would like to hear what comes of your litigation against the insurance company. I know there are many people who have talked about doing such but don't know anyone who's actually done it. I certainly hope you've got a good attorney and that you can win, it would be so exciting. Again please let us know how things go. Thank you.
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