Is Generic Kadian Available Now? (Page 2)

Has the generic Kadian been approved and is it now available?identifyvea

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Has anyone who has started on this new generic noticed any difference in their pain control? I had terrible pain control on the old generic MS sustained/extended release tables and had to switch back to brand Kadian despite the higher co-pay. However, my insurance has now informed me that they will no longer pay for the brand Kadian because of the new generic. I am afraid to take this new generic because of my bad experiences with the old generic tablets. Can anyone ease my mind that I will still have the same pain control effect?

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PAPnomore, yes they are both extended release morphine sulfate, but the way they are absorbed by the body is very different. This should be evident by the fact that a tablet has to dissolve whereas Kadian just has a thin capsule filled with the tiny spheres of medication. Before being on Kadian, I was on MS Contin and I can assure you that there is a huge difference in the way my body responded to treatment. I don't know if your doctor is correct regarding the tablet releasing medication more quickly but even if he is, that's a BAD thing, in my opinion. These are long-acting opiates, I don't want it to release medication FASTER, I want it to control my pain LONGER.

I'm in the same boat as everybody. I just went to fill my Kadian last night and was told that I'd be paying a higher co-pay unless I opted for the generic. I have the same doubts as TeeTee - it makes me nervous to switch to a generic medication. I pick up the new prescription on Monday and I'll let you know if I notice any difference.

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I'm still not sure, but went thru quite an ordeal getting my rx for Kadian this week. The pharmacy charged me an exuberant amount for my rx and we had to go to heads with them about the abuse they were dishing out. I was told that there was a generic that just came out, but have not seen actual proof of this.....

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Hi - I've been on the "generic" for 2 months now, and I'll tell you - it's the exact same medication, in my case. I mean EXACT. I take 80 mg capsules, which are melon colored, and the "generic" are the same color, they say "Kadian" and 80mg. I think the manufacturer just dropped the patent, and still make the medication.

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I thought the generic was made by Watson, and the brand was developed by Aventis. I would think that Watson would not be able to use the name "kadian" without violating trademark. Could it be that your pharmacy just didn't carry the generic and so they filled it with brand but only charged you the generic co-pay? It is not unheard of though for the company that makes the brand also be the one to make the first generic with the same factory and process in order to still keep a large market-share whether brand or generic. I know this is true for the anti-depressant Effexor XR. Well, I'll be getting the generic on the 1st so I'll post whether mine looks the same as well or whether my suspicions are true as stated above.

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Hi, I have been taking Kadian for over 2 years now and I am on Worker's Compensation. Since they heard that a generic had come out for Kadian they will only cover the generic. I heard that if the doctor write "medically necessary" on the script that according to Florida law (where I live) they have to pay for the original Kadian. Does anyone know if this is true? I can't even find the generic 20mg Kadian anywhere that I live and Walgreen told me they are not even able to order it because they are only carrying the 30mg generic at this time..it can't be ordered either since it is not even in their warehouse! It wouldn't seem ethical to mandate that the doctor increase my 20mg to 30mg just to pay the generic price? Any info would really be appreciated! Thanks so much.

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It has just been so horrible here in Florida since generic Kadian started being manufactured in Nov11. I use the 60mg generic Kadian as my insurance company (Tricare) refuses to pay the rediculous cost of the brand name. The problem here in the Lakeland (central) area is that no one carries it yet. I spend days on the phone calling all of the (acceptable) pharmacies and usually have to special order in advance. The pharmacies here are really liery about inquiries over the phone so many you just have to drive to, in pain, and take the time to inquire if your meds are in stock. Last month I had to drive 120 miles out of county because of course they date prescriptions here and there's NO working ahead of time, so you are locked in to THAT date. So...what I am forced to do is go without some evening doses so I can get ahead of the game with a few extra pills ahead, then pray I find GENERIC Kadian before withdraws set in. I really hate how things are so tightly controlled here but I try to understand that there are abusers and rules to control them. Kadan has been a life saver but I will be so glad when I can finally get my body fixed enough to be able to go without ANY pain meds. God please let tat day come soon.

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Wow, my heart goes out to you both. I'm on the other end of the country, and I haven't had to drive 120 miles, but it's ridiculous that you've had to risk going into withdrawal in order to get your meds. I was irritated that insurance gave pharmacies no time to find (and order and stock) the generic before saying they wouldn't pay for the name-brand. In CA, I have to see the doc every month to get my prescription, and get it filled. I'm not able to get any advance supply, and I worry that if (God forbid) the poop hits the fan, and for some reason I'm unable to get my meds - I have no reserves. It's scary being so dependent for day-to-day pain relief.

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I live in Fla as well and I tried the route of saving Medically Necessary written on my prescription and my particular insurance company, Tricare, would not go for it at all. So in my situation, it did not work but it may be different with other insurance companies.

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I've been using geneic Kadian for 4 months now and do not notice any difference between generic nd brand name. Really strange though as the capsules are the exact same pink color and actually say Kadian on the capsule yet they are labeled as geneic Morphine Sulfate ER. Perhaps the maker is the same company ?..

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I was on the PAP with Actavis for the Kadian 100 mg 2 X's daily for about 4 years. When the program ended in Dec, My doctor prescribed MS-CONTIN (Morphine Sulfate is the generic form) 100mg 2 X's daily.. This is my 3rd dose of the Morphine Sulfate ER and I am a mess, unbelievable nausea, Sweating, mouth watering, headache, pain, feeling completely ""drunk" and "out of it" .. ALL DAY When I spoke to the pharmacist about my concerns, she said it "IS" the equivalent to Kadian but I would still have the side effects, My thought is IF MScontin is the SAME as Kadian, then Why am I having the terrible side effects?? She couldn't really explain that but she said that it would take 1 to 2 weeks for my system to adjust to it, I had started taking Kadian when I could no longer benefit from the DURAGESIC patches, and when I changed over, there were absolutely NO side effects what so ever, it was a very pleasant and undisturbed transition.however, this is to say the least HORRIBLE.... as far as the costs, I called CVS they wanted $ 275. for a 30 day supply (60 tabs) then called Walmart they quoted a WHOPPING $1,182.73 for 30 days( I bout pissed myself..LOL) then I called Walgreens, they said to join their prescription savings plan for a nominal fee of $5.00 and I could get my 30 day supply of Morphine Sulfate ER for $129.99 ...without being on their "plan" the cost was $ 272... I would like to know where the "hello" Walmart gets off charging such a ridiculous price when everyone else is pretty much wihtin a few dollars of each other??... I hope this helps anyone else.I don't know whether to "wait" this out and see if the side effects clear up or maybe get the does lowered but like I said earlier, I JUST started this prescription and if I change the dosage, then I just wasted $134 (minus 3 pills) Oh yea, and the pharmacist said you can't cut them in half so I guess we are all just SCREWED once again I feel by the drug companies, etc... ( I am a bit bitter at this point so PLEASE forgive me)

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I was given 40 kadians for my Jan. refill and told that the other twenty would be generic when they came in. Well I went into withdrawels with watsons crap and called my insurance and was told no they did not require me to change, so my wife went back to my doc and got a Kadan script and we switched Pharmacies and all isas was. Why would Walgreens tell me something my iinsurance did not require and put me through hell?
Now I deal with a small pharmacy andcan only figure that Watson was allowing Walgreens more profit and therefore screw the little guy. Well not this guy but am interested if anyone else has had a similar experience.

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From what you described, you didn't get the generic equivalent of Kadian. MS Contin ES is not Kadian. My bottle says MS Contin ES Capsule. Kadian is now available as a generic, and I don't know why your doctor wrote you a prescription for something else. It isn't the same - yours are a pill (I'm guessing) that has a time-released coating on the outside, while Kadian is a capsule with little balls inside. I used to be on OxyContin, which is a pill - and I know that it didn't last as long as Kadian. I'm not sure what the going rate for your dosage in Kadian is, but you might call around and find out - and get your doc to write you a script for Kadian.

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My post was directed to Sherrie, but ended up on top.....

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Hi 8 year! Thanks for the reply.. I know that I am not getting the generic of Kadian, I was stating that Morphine Sulfate was the Generic of MS Contin ER.... .. My doctor prescribed another med becuase I had to start paying for my meds and no insurance and this is the closest he could get me without having to go cold turkey quitting......The Pharmacist was telling me that MSContin is only the Equivalent of Kadian.. (Meaning that they both are Morphine Sulfate .. and yes mine is a pill... I checked today with the pharmacies in my area to see what the actual Generic Kadian would cost me as I have no insurance to help pay for it.... Walgreens wanted 783. for Generic Kadian and $1200. for kadian.. Walmart wanted $973. for Generic kadian for me at 100 mgs 2 x's daily.. When I asked why so high, they said "The newer the med, the higher the cost and since Generic Kadian is brand new, lets' just screw with the poor people!!! Where does Actavis come off giving less than 30 days notice to find something else to use that would not cause so much destruction. I appreciate the help that they did give me, please dont' get me wrong, but now I am faced with having to buy my meds that I CAN NOT AFFORD.. I have never had a house payment that high!! it just shows that the pharm co's are all about money and NOT people, because if they did, they would know that people can not afford to pay a price as ridiculous as that hince they are on their PAP.. but knowing the dangers of abruptly stopping this med and not offering another program to remain on is only about MONEY! So as much as I would LOVE to be back on KADIAN and back to my somewhat NORMAL life I was coping with, at $700 - $900 A month.. I don't know who could afford that, do you? It's just a fricken shame

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I just wanted to give an update. I am now on the Watson generic Kadian and it is going fine so far. It has been about 3 weeks since I have switched and I haven't experienced any withdrawal symptoms and my pain control seems about the same. My doctor did tell me that the brand company sold off some of their excess stock when the generic first became available because they new their sales would go down, so some of the generic drug companies bought the actual Kadian from Aventis and sold it as generic but it really was the brand drug. That;s why some people got the "generic" from the pharmacy that looked exactly like the brand and even said "kadian."

But, I got the real generic now and I can tell because the capsule is different. I have the 60mg capsules and they are pink and white, whereas the brand 60s were just pink. Just thought you might find that interesting.

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where you able to find a patient assistance plan for this generic ?

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Thank you Tee Tee for helping me figure out the mystery of why my supposed "generic" Kadian was the same bright color (pink), and was even stamped with the word Kadian on the capsules! I've been receiving these original formula Kadians labeled as generic now for the past three months refills. (but only paying the generic price... Haa haa). Your info about excess brand name Kadian stock being sold to the generic company--to be sold as generic--makes sense now. That is probably why I did not notice any difference when I was switched to generic by my CVS pharmacy (Lakeland, Fl). I will now be watching for the capsule color change to two tone, then I will take note of any changes that may occur in the "actual generic" Kadian, which is labeled Morphine Sulfate ER. Again thanks for helping me solve the mystery. I'll surely report in if anything changes as I m sure others are going through the switch from brand name to generic, now that it is finally available.

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Has anyone been able to find a patient assistance program for the kadian or generic.. I have no prescription insurance and can't afford to buy even the generic.. at $ 800 for 100mgs 2 x's a day... ridiculous in the pricing of this stuff!!!

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I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you have had with the generic Kadian. I sure hope that when I end up on the generic that I don't have problems and get sick with withdraw from it. I don't know where you live but in Ohio and Florida if you go to fill a script for any narcotic or opiate to be more specific they will only fill the script for the amount prescribed. In other words if you have a script for 20 mg Kadian X2 a day (60 pills) and the pharmacy only has 50 pills if you choose to fill the script you lose the other 10 pills and can not get the last 10 when another shipment comes in because it is a "controlled substance". I don't get it but that is what I have been told more than once when I needed my script filled and I had to run around to 5 or more pharmacy to try and fill it. Florida is really strict on scripts because of the "pill mills" here and only pain management doctors can write the scripts now. My doc is so over run with referrals from other docs since they can't write the scripts that they are working late into the night and even some Saturdays! BWC wants to throw a fit and only cover the generic but from my understanding the generic isn't that much cheaper than the original Kadian.

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