January 27, 2008 - 3:07pm
I sent Endo pharmaceuticals an e-mail letting them know I think Opana is the worst pain med on the market. It is way over priced for what it did. I have two replies and two phone calls, they seemed interested.
January 28, 2008 - 11:04am
#2
That's wonderful
That's wonderful that you have had great success, I have spoken to many who have not. I went from Oxy 80mg TID to Opana 40mg TID. They lasted five hours or less until w/d and pain, blood pressure rising. I went to Fentanyl 75mcg/h and was fine. At $987. for 90 pills I would expect it to work, it is not equal to OXY or Fentanyl.
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ships smoke on the horizon.....
January 28, 2008 - 11:12am
#3
Opana regular or Opana ER?
Opana regular or Opana ER? One of the things people seem to really like about the ER is that it really lasts 12 hours, unlike their experience with Oxycontin. They are really expensive. I use a lot (relatively speaking) of fentanyl also. It too seems to be a really good drug that is less likely, but far from impossible to abuse.
January 28, 2008 - 11:19am
#4
i cannot believe that you
i cannot believe that you had to pay that high of an amount out of pocket. this may have been covered in another thread that i am not presently recalling, so forgive me if you have already addressed this question, but does your doctor know that you are paying these prices out of pocket? if your insurance is an issue then there are a lot of cheaper medicines out there that possibly should be considered as an option for you. if you are really paying that much out of pocket then i would have a serious "heart-to-heart" with your physician about what the realistic alternatives are price wise.
all thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical advice. i am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. all medical questions should be answered by a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or primary care manager.
January 28, 2008 - 10:16pm
#5
ER
I was on ER it only lasted five hours. I have never taken Oxymorphone in any other form before. I do not know if I do not metabolize it well or what the deal is. Opana is the only CII I have not had good results with? I went with an open mind.
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ships smoke on the horizon.....
January 28, 2008 - 10:21pm
#6
Deductible
I have a four thousand dollar deductible, after I hit it everything is 100%. i usually hit it in march. I just think for that kind of money it should work. I have a kid with asthma, my wife is poly-cystic, then all my pain relief and blood pressure meds, a few doc visits and I'm there.
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ships smoke on the horizon.....
January 28, 2008 - 10:40pm
#7
Are you on Medicare Part D?
EMSIG:>> Are you on Medicare Part D? I noticed you mentioned you have a $4000 deductible. On my Part D Plan, THAT amount ($4050 to be exact), happens to be the level where "Catastrophic Coverage" begins. My Plan reads as follows: "AFTER YOUR TOTAL YEARLY DRUG COSTS REACH $2510, YOU PAY 100%, UNTIL YOUR YEARLY OUT-OF-POCKET DRUG COSTS REACH $4050". That is the point you reach the "Catastrophic Coverage". Again, with MY Plan, After you reach that $4050, then you only pay: "THE GREATER OF: $2.25 co-pay, OR 5% Co-insurance, (for generics). For ALL OTHER DRUGS, The Max is $5.60 co-pay, OR 5% co-insurance. If your are NOT on Part D Medicare, maybe at least it will clear this matter up for those who are on it. I know it was confusing as heck when I first started on Part D a couple years ago. AIP
January 28, 2008 - 10:51pm
#8
Sagimore w/health savings
No, I am self employed, I have insurance through a Menonite Mutual Aid. I have to say its the best insurance I have ever had since my wife worked for the state. I know the four grand is a lot but what can you do. I feel for people without insurance, or on what you have.
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ships smoke on the horizon.....
January 29, 2008 - 6:33am
#9
I was just on a 2 week trial
I was just on a 2 week trial of Opana ER from MS Contin. I was on 60mg every 8hr of morphine and went to 40mg every 12 hr of the Opana. I can say that the pain relief was not quite as good but I had a definate reduction in side effects. As far as the 12 hr, it seemed to be fairly constant accross the 12 hrs. I also tried the ER oxy, 40mg and that didn't come close to the 12 hr time. My PMP just felt that I metabolize it very quickly and because he will not go outside manufacture guidelines he did not want to write it as an 8 hr med. As for cost, yes the Opana is expensive.
January 29, 2008 - 8:10am
#10
help paying for meds
There are several places in my state (Ky) that help pay for meds. Also some manufactures do too. Have you looked into anything like that in your area? I would start with the public assistance places also social security office' have phamplet's in the for the public's information. That is if you do need help paying the first $4g's.
January 29, 2008 - 10:01am
#11
Most prescription assistance
Most prescription assistance programs do not provide assistance for people who have some form of insurance. A $4000 yearly deductable after which you have 100% coverage is actually not a bad policy for someone with a lot of medical expenses. No deductable and 80% coverage would cost much more out of pocket in one year for a family with high medical expenses. Large deductables also mean much lower premiums. Most self-employed people, who must purchase insurance independantly have several thousand dollar deductables.
January 29, 2008 - 3:45pm
#12
I agree
I agree Dr. Lois, this is the smartest way to go. If I lower the deductible then the rise in premiums out ways the benefits. I do use the insurance, last year on Oxy 80's #90 was $850 a month plus the Lyrica, Benecar, Percoset. My wife and son's meds, I had one knee scope, two finger surgeries. I usually have two epidurals on the cervical. This doesn't even include the pc doc. The sad thing is I was never going to doctors before I was thirty (now thirty-eight). Henry David Thoreau said " a man ripens until the age of thirty, then he rots"
There is no pain you are receding. A distant ships smoke on the horizon.....
I have had really good success with Opana, especially Opana ER. It may be in part a matter of expectantions about what the drug is going to do for you or not do for you, and getting to the right dosage.