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I was on Opana 10mgER and did get some relief, but made me tired.  I am now taking the Endo 20mg oxycontin and it sucks compared to Purdue brand as far as the ER goes. --MUDEBONE--

I think most on here agree Endo generic oxy ER is not near as therapuetically effective as Purdue's original and their Watson authorized brand generics.  I can't personally compare the Opana to Oxy because I have never tried Opana, but since Opana came out their has been constant agreement (a nice change for once) that it is supposed to be 2x as strong as OC but it feels fairly equal mg for mg.  A lot of the new Opana scripts I believe have been pushed to be written by doctors, or shilled, by Endo in the inevitable war against Purdue for control over  ER opiates to control pain.  Since at the calender year end Purdue will have OC locked, Endo is trying to recoup their five-ten million in the next five years, before oxymorphine is made into generics.  In my opinion oxycodone ER is still going to be what most prefer for pain management.  So if their Opana is as bad as most are saying and has a similar ER delivery system as Endo's generic OC than I doubt we will be hearing too much more about it in the future.  My $ .02 as well.

Thats what I said, at the end of the calender year Purdue will have Oxycontin Locked up.  I believe companies only get five years on their patents.  PURDUE sales drop when they get complete control of OC?  Can't see that.  Like you said they may make their own generics, which is basically their situation with Watson but I'm not completely sure.  So how would sales drop, they would skyrocket in my opinion, wouldn't they?  I mean if you were to take all the generic sales that were going on and them add that to what their brand name product itself has generated then we are talking billions. 

I've got to say that mypain Dr. is great to me. After I was injured in a motorcycle accident two years ago we tried SEVERAL strong pain meds,but I would always run out because I have been addicited to pain meds for almost 24yrs.Never took them like I should.I was on Methadone maintainance for 12yrs prior to the bike accident.

I had taken Oxy's a bunch of times which I loved,but I knew if the Dr. started giving me those,I would stay sick all the time from running out of them so early,and so often.

Well,He ask if I wanted to try MS Contin,and I thought I had struck gold when I did! We worked up mg wise to four 60mg a day over a period of time.It seems that they just target the pain,and I don't get messed up like the Oxy's,so 120 will last a month like they ought to.

But my whole point of posting is that my tolorance is so high,and when I told my Doc that I really didn't want to keep going up,and up on my dose,he ask if I had heard of Opana. I used to be a walking PDR,but I had not heard of this one. We crossed referenced to see how much it would take to have the equivalant effect as the MS Contin,so I left his office with a 240 40mg tablets script.

They did absolutely NOTHING for me.I mean NOTHING!

After about 4 days,I went back to my Doc,and he put me back on my MS Contin.It's about the only thing will help me,and last a month like they should.I guess I'll be on them the rest of my life,but I don't care.They help me do halfway "normal" stuff,but sometimes I overdo things like walk too far etc.

I just had no results from Opana.For those that it DOES help,more power to ya! Dreamearchant

(edited by TeamPharmer) 

Opana is a form of morophine, and Oxycontin is time released oxycodone

Dont let one person sway your judgement about switching medications. You have no idea if this person was even taking there medication right. Opana (Oxymorphone) is the active metabolite of Oxycodone. If Oxycodone works for you, then Oxymorphone will also work. Now the side effects may be different, I hear its a little more sedating, but to say it does nothing or that it sucks, I cannot scientifically buy that. 

I generally give people extra breakthrough meds the month they switch from one narcotic to another, or increase their dosage after one week if they are not getting good relief.  If someone wants to change medication mid-script, I have them surrender their unused medication and write them a new script.  Insurances have never had a problem with this because it is a change in therapy, not another prescription for the same medication in one month.

...metabolite of oxycodone is NOT oxymorphone as less than 10% of the oxycodone is converted by the body into oxymorphone.

The active metablites of oxycodone are noroxycodone and noroxymorphone, not oxymorphone. Very little oxymorphone itself is actually reduced from oxycodone.

This study of the actions of oxycodone comes to the conclusion that not enough of the metabolite noroxymorphone makes it through the BBB to make an effect on the pain reilef of that metabolite to the parent drug. In fact, most of the beneficial action of oxycodone are derived from the parent compound itself. It's kind of a long read so if you want to get to the meat skip to page 16-17.

great read!

It shouldnt be such a problem for people to obtain Oxy if they need it

-Makaveli

what is opana changed to in the body,i thought i read that it was converted to something else.thank you

I AM NOT 100% sure but it is a lot easier to understand that nearly every opiate based narcotic is metabolized into morphine before (I think) passing thru the liver.  Is this basically correct Dr. Lois or anyone else?

 Atleast you have a doctor that switched you to the correct amount of Opana to be equal to what you where prescribed in Oxycontin, Opana is roughly 2x's as strong as Oxycodone. A lot of people that come here and tell there stories are way under prescribed when switched to Opana from Oxycontin. The pharmacist you talked to has to be joking. Taking even small amounts of very weak opiates/opioids for extended periods of time and even sometimes as short as 7-10 days can/will result in at the least physical dependance. A lot of doctors and psychiatrists like to establish a difference between addiction and dependance though. In my opinion even if you are only " physically dependant" if you get abruptly cut off, the "addictive" behaviors will come out. Have you ever tried other drugs? Some people like myself dont even respond well to Oxycodone or Oxymorphone (Opana) very similar related compounds. There arent that many extended release medications out there and besides Fentanyl, Opana is basically the "strongest". I still personally prefer hydrocodone over most all pain medications. I know Im bouncing around here, but where you switched to Opana because its a "stronger" drug because the 40mg Oxy wasnt working anymore? If so, you should let your doctor know that you are aware the the Opana dose you are on know is only equal to what you where on before, not stronger.

I was terrified of changing medications. I had some upcoming surgeries and my doctors were afraid they would be unable to control my pain because i was already taking so much pain medication. I have at least 3 different pain sites constantly and about 5 that come and go. i had been taking five 20mg oxycontin a day for six years with demerol for break through pain. I went to a pain center the doctor there changed my meds to two 20 mg opana er that is supposed to equal four oxycontin. He said I had to wait at least five days. I was in agony for those 5 days but I payed close attention to the difference aside from the pain relief. The opana definitly lasted longer, it didn't make me feel medicated. When I called the doctor he up my meds to two 40 mg opana er a day . that is supposed to be the same as two 80mg oxycontin. In addition to that I can take up to four 10 mg regular opana for break through pain. My pain is better controled that it has ever been . So in summary I'd have to say that taking half of the opana that you do oxycontin is untrue. However if your doctor will work with you opana can be a life saver. In addition I still do not feel medicated. As it turns out my doctor is planning to put me into a trial for the occipital neuromodulator. I've heard great things about it so far. If it works I won't need half of the meds  I take now. I'll let you know how it works out, in the mean time do some research on it. Maybe it will work for you.  Good luck

I am confused about the strength of Opana.  Everyone *says* it is twice as strong as other similar opiods, but the Endo webpage's conversion table indicates that it is .333 the strength.  They recommend multiplying your dose of OC by .333 to determine how much Opana you need.  Some of the conversions are listed as .5 so I guess it depends on what you are switching from. 

For the person who said you should get a pain pump to get off pain meds, that's great if you have pain that is concentrated in one spot.  However, if you have pain all over your body or in 5 or so locations, a pain pump will not work.  A pain pump's medication distribution is into one or two areas at most.  That does no good for a patient with numerous painful locations.

And for those who are trying to determine the difference between addiction and dependence, here is my motto:  Addicts take narcotics to escape from life, chronic pain patients take narcotics so they can participate in life.  You can easily determine which applies to you.  Having what are perceived as addictive behaviors due to running out of pain medication is NOT an indicator of addiction, that is fear of withdrawal. 

It is really sad to see patients and doctors who still don't know the difference between addiction and physical dependence.  And until we educate others about the difference, we will continue to run into care providers and others who judge us as addicts.

I just ran across this thread and felt the need to explain my own experience with pain pumps.
Starflower said: "For the person who said you should get a pain pump to get off pain meds, that's great if you have pain that is concentrated in one spot.  However, if you have pain all over your body or in 5 or so locations, a pain pump will not work.  A pain pump's medication distribution is into one or two areas at most.  That does no good for a patient with numerous painful locations."
A pain pump is designed to provide pain relief in your whole body - Not just in one or two areas. The medication(s) in the pump are sent through a catheter into the intrathecal space of your spinal column, and from there goes directly to the pain receptors of the brain. So no matter if your pain is in your back, or neuropathic pain in your legs or arms, (both of which I have), or anywhere else in your body - the pump will help because they are blocking the 'pain messages' that are sent to the receptors of the brain. Of course the doctors will usually implant a pump for a specific area (or areas), to relieve the pain where it is mainly located - the pump will still work on other areas of the body as well. So basically, a pump is for anywhere the patient is having pain - whether it's in one place - or ten. Another plus is that it cuts down on both the maintenance meds AND the B/T meds needed. AIP

I'm pretty sure they make a 1200mcg and a 800mcg dose of actique so you could try one of those to  start tapering the fentynal down

PaWl WaLl

first off, if you took a half or a quarter tablet of the sustained release that would be the problem right there. NEVER cut or break a time released pill in half, it messes up the time release mechanism. and it made you feel bad no matter what because you take half of a 5 mg oxycodone, oxycontin is WAY stronger its like taking 3 advil then just jumping in and trying a 15 mg oxycodone. you just don't do it.

I was given this drug several days ago for chronic back pain.  OMG I think it almost killed me!  I was so sick after the 3rd dose.  Vertigo really bad, terriable headache, throwing up just terriable.

 I have stopped taking it.  I know it works for some just be careful this is powerful stuff. Last dose was 2 days ago and I still don't feel good.

i have chronic pain due to a stroke from being shot in the head, my left ankle and hard are  paralyzed....i've gone to a few pain dr.'s but i am a former heroin addict off of methadone, and now i'm in EXCRUCIATING pain...my leg hurts 24/7...i usually  end up getting tar heroin and snorting it...my ? is i have a REALLY high tolerance, and my dr. is an internist not a pain specialist, but he's the only dr. that would give my 80's....now i'm considering moving up to the 160's cuz i live in a nursing home where my meds are monitored...would Opana even touch my pain? like i said i have a crazy high tolerance...my doc hasnt even heard of actiq...but i dont wanna argue with him, cuz he's so cool and liberal with his scripts..90 80's, 120 1mg xanax, and lyrica.......

any help would be appreciated

For me when I take stronger opiates I have the complete opposite problem and so does other people I know(not all but a couple other people). I experience trouble urinating not frequent urination.