October 29, 2007 - 7:10pm
I take MS contin and want to hear some specifics of other Extended Release meds
I want to try something else but I think I should make an infromed decision before I go to my doctor and say " I want to try X medication because .....
So any info would help me greatly
Stuff like Cost, side effects, benifits, downsides, how much prescribed, how long they seem to work and anything you think would be useful
Would like to hear most about fentanyl and oxycontin but will also listen about others
Many thanks
~C~
October 29, 2007 - 8:03pm
#2
I take kadian, it seems to
I take kadian, it seems to be working better since the dose was upped, constipation was rough at first but..ok now...i usually take a breakthrough oxy pill between doses/ I am allowed 2...I have leftovers...I feel 10 times better then when i was on plain percocet...
I am not a Dr. I just play one on TV.
October 29, 2007 - 8:19pm
#3
Agreed 100 percent that
Agreed 100 percent that OxyContin/Oxycodone ER don't really last 12 hours. It's more like 8, so it's always good to have some type of breakthrough medication available if you're still in pain for those 4 hours. As far as side effects go, constipation (at least for me) has got to be the most bothersome and consistent one. I drink plenty of water and take Colace and it's still a problem for me, even after two years of being on OC 20mg. The itchiness seems to come and go. Many people experience some degree of nausea but luckily that's never been a problem for me. Insomnia is also a strange side effect I sometimes experience which most people find bizarre. You're tired, a bit out of it, but don't really get a good night's sleep unless you're also taking a benzo like Valium or Restoril, or a quasi-benzo like Ambien, which isn't a good mix for many people. I also think side effects definitely vary based on which "version" of OC you're taking. I've been back on the brand for months now since Watson and Endo stopped manufacturing their generics and I have a lot less really bothersome side effects from them. The Endo's used to make me really itchy. I had the Tevas once and vowed never again. Not only did they not ease the pain, I actually broke out in hives and felt terrible in general. I told my doctor and since they're unfortunately the only generic OxyContin products available anymore (well, those and DAVA/Impax, which I've heard are even worse than Teva), he just writes DAW (dispense as written/brand necessary) on my rx's. The co-pay's higher but certainly worth it.
Hope this helps! -qh
October 29, 2007 - 9:18pm
#4
I think MS Contin makes you
I think MS Contin makes you more drowsy than oxy, at least it did for me.
I'm a social worker, not a medical professional. All comments and thoughts are simply my opinion and experience.
October 29, 2007 - 9:29pm
#5
I am prescribed Oxycontin
I am prescribed Oxycontin 20mg #90 per month, that is 1 every 8 hours. I take the brand name, as I asked my doctor to write the scrip DAW and he had no problem with that after I heard the brand was far superior to the Teva I was originally taking. I also take Percocet 5/325 #60 per month for breakthrough pain.
I have experienced a number of side effects, most prevalent has been the appearance of long-lasting acne that appears on my back and upper arms. I was surprised to see such acne in those areas because it has never been there before. It has settled down lately though, which is refreshing to know. I apply acne cream and wash with Neutrogena pads every morning and evening to reduce the appearance of acne, suffice to say it works.
I would say that I experience sweating and constipation mostly after the acne, although both have become milder over time. I try to drink enough water to reduce the constipation, however that triggers sweating. Both are bearable though.
The side effects of Oxycontin are worth the relief they give me from pain, it allows me to do things in life without fear of pain or being so uncomfortable it affects my emotional well being and desires.
The ER works well, for eight hours straight, and I highly recommend it if you consult with your doctor first. Good luck, be well.
October 29, 2007 - 10:42pm
#6
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Crosseyed
thats funnie I just recently started getting the acne on my back
I used to get these red splotches on my neck and chest area it totally freaked my GF out
This is all from percocet and ms contin.
"it allows me to do things in life without fear of pain or being so uncomfortable it affects my emotional well being and desires"
I love this that explains so much I have been going through in the past six months.
I think so far I like the idea of talking to mydoc about the oxycontin
but I have said before on another post I am affraid to ask for the switch.
if anyone has some suggestions on how to phrase it by all means please do tell.
Thanks all for the replies keep em comming
~C~
October 30, 2007 - 12:21am
#7
Infantc - I know that some
Infantc - I know that some doctors can be intimidating when dealing with narcotic issues, but from my experience, honesty is really the best policy. Don't worry yourself about how to phrase suggesting another medication and certainly don't be afraid. Your doctor is there to help you relieve your pain. That should be of first and foremost importance. Since you're already on MS Contin and Percocet, I would imagine he or she doesn't have a problem prescribing strong pain medicine when needed, as so many doctors now do because of fear of the DEA and their witch hunt tactics. It seems like he/she would be open to a suggestion from you about possibly switching meds. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a patient who's legitimately suffering looking for a possible alternative to help alleviate their pain.
As I said, just be honest, tell him or her that you've done some research on OxyContin, and believe that it may help you more than the MS Contin is. It's so unfortunate that OxyContin's gotten such an unwarranted reputation because it really is a godsend to many people dealing with chronic pain. I know it has been for me. The benefits so outweigh the side effects for most of us that it's not even really an issue. Allowing you to do things in life without fear of pain affecting your emotional well-being, as Crosseyed put it, is a right that you deserve. That's the most important thing.
Please keep us posted on how things go with your doctor. Hang in there - I think you'll be fine. -qh
October 30, 2007 - 3:02am
#8
Ah yes, I know that insomnia
Ah yes, I know that insomnia bit!
October 30, 2007 - 3:08am
#9
Umm...I tried MS Contin, but
Umm...I tried MS Contin, but didnt get any relief from it. Also had bad nightmares on it. Oxycontin is good, but as said before, atleast three times a day, or a good stock of B/T meds. I like OxyIR but got tired of "chasing" the pain so I am on Duragesic....actually the Mylan generic and am really liking it!!! No mountains or valleys, just steady pain relief. I still have 15mg OxyIR for B/T which Im taking one about 3-4 times a day, less than half of what I was taking when I was only on OxyIR. Next appointment Im sure the fent patch will be increased as Im only on the 25mcg. I do like the Mylan generic though, good adhesion and good results. No desperate feeling of running for the immediate release meds because they are wearing off and the pain is rushing in.
October 30, 2007 - 8:12am
#10
Just to add to brandman's
Just to add to brandman's comment concerning the Mylan generic Duragesic patch: I recently had the discussion with my pharmacist about changing ER meds, and he mentioned the patch. The Mylan patch, in many patients' eyes are superior to the name brand, which has notorious adhesion issues. The Mylan patch is also set up a little bit differently, but gives the same results. The Mylan patch is considered a tad "safer" than the name brand Duragesic patch.
That didn't really add much, only to say that many patients actually request the Mylan instead of name brand.
gtrplayer
October 30, 2007 - 9:14am
#11
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Great I will keep that in mind I am really torn about which choose
I think hearing more about the Fentanyl patches would be helpful
look forward to seeing more posts
Thanks
~C~
October 30, 2007 - 9:39am
#12
I only know what people tell
I only know what people tell me, but agree that Oxy-contin, Morphine Sulfate ER, and MS-contin seem to work better with three times a day dosing. Some patients have reported that if they sleep in one morning, they may be having withdrawal symptoms when they wake up with Oxycontin, MS-contin, or Morphine Sulfate ER. Transdermal Fentanyl is a great idea, but absorption is variable and the patches do not always stick well espectially in hot weather. Kadian and Avinza are both morphine products that really do last 12-24 and 24 hours respectively. I have had a lot of success with Opana ER (oxymorphone), twice daily. Opana ER really lasts 12 hours, and seems to not cause too much sedation and feels less foggy, but is very pricey. Price wise, Morphine Sulfate ER is probably the least expensive followed by the transdermal fentanyl patch. If cost is the primary consideration, nothing comes close to Methadone, which although not really long acting for pain, won't cause withdrawal symptoms for more than 24 hours if you are late for a dose. Suboxone can also be used for pain and has a significant mood elevating effect, and people say they can think more clearly. I think it works best for people on relatively low doses of narcotics for pain, it needs to be dosed 3-4 times a day for pain, and their is a cieling effect at 16-32 mg/day but you can go 24 hours between doses without withdrawal.
October 30, 2007 - 10:47am
#13
ER narcotics
Infact, I have never taken morphine but from what I have read and from the post's in here I get the idea the oral oxycocodon's are quite a bit more stronger (some say 2 times) than the morphine. So going from one mg to the other you might want to ask the doctor about that. I am not a doctor or health pro-all posts by me are for discusson purposes only
October 30, 2007 - 11:56am
#14
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What is ceiling effect???
I do take my MS contin 3 times a day that does seem to help best I only take 30 mg each time and it lasts about 5-6 hours my doc must know about that
but as I said somewhere before these tend to make me lethargic and out of it
Cost is definitely a factor.
~C~
October 30, 2007 - 11:56am
#15
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And half life . for that matter
October 30, 2007 - 1:49pm
#16
With most narcotic pain
With most narcotic pain medications there is no ceiling effect, no upper limit at which you stop getting additional pain relief. Theoreticly as you build up tolerance you may need to increase your narcotic dose indefinitely. With suboxone, there is no additional pain relief effect once you get up to 16-32mg per day.
If cost is a big consideration, ask about methadone. It costs only pennies a pill.
October 30, 2007 - 7:20pm
#17
Half life
From the Reusable Learning Object website: (http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/sonet/rlos/bioproc/halflife/index.html):
The duration of action of a drug is known as its half life. This is the period of time required for the concentration or amount of drug in the body to be reduced by one-half. We usually consider the half life of a drug in relation to the amount of the drug in plasma. A drug’s plasma half-life depends on how quickly the drug is eliminated from the plasma. A drug molecule that leaves plasma may have any of several fates. It can be eliminated from the body, or it can be translocated to another body fluid compartment such as the intracellular fluid or it can be destroyed in the blood. The removal of a drug from the plasma is known as clearance and the distribution of the drug in the various body tissues is known as the volume of distribution. Both of these pharmacokinetic parameters are important in determining the half life of a drug.
I do not know about Morphine ER but the Oxycodone ER do not work for the prescribed 12 hours. My doctor seemed to know this and then gave me an option to take 3 in a 24 hr day. I also have the oxycodone IR's for breakthrough but I rarely use them,though every month I do have them filled. You never know what can happen. In the beggining I had a slight constipation problem but many people experience this. I also seem to break out with a red face a lot of the time making it look like I have been sunburned. I have Medicare D so all generics are $6.00 unless I get the brand name which is $150.00 There are times when I take the prescribed amount and seem to have scratching issues which has to do with opiates releasing more than normal histamine in the body.