Xtampza Er Users Effectiveness

I 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.

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Hello, Lynx! How are you?

It contains Oxycodone as its active ingredient, just like Oxycontin, it is a little stronger, so the comparable dose is usually a few milligrams lower than Oxycontin.

The FDA warns that it still carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth and constipation.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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Yes I am just concerned about the difference in the abuse deterrent added to the Xtampza compared to that is added to oxycontin.
When Purdue added their abuse deterrent it actually lowered the effectiveness of the med. So wondering if the new Xtampza will be effected significantly by their type of abuse deterrent. From researching it says the two meds have a different abuse deterrent, therefore I was hoping maybe xtampza has a better one that will not have a lowering of effectiveness.
Oxycontin in its original formula without the deterrent was soooo much better, it is a shame they ruined it by adding that stuff. For those of us in chronic severe pain & no hope of getting better a reliable, effective med is an absolute miracle. Can make the difference in actually being able to hold onto our lives.

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Ok, so today my Dr Gave me my usual OXYCODONE 30mg, 4 times a day, and I was taking MSCONTIN 60mg which I do not like at all! Made me very sleepy.. so he gave me a prescription for Xtampza ER 27mg. I will keep you posted on how it is tonight, but the cool part is that it saved me a lot of money, because the company offered a copay card and my first fill is nothing, zero! After that it will be $25.00. The cool part is I have a $250 deductible through my insurance, and even though it will start over in January, that card from the med company has $1,000 on it, which will pay for that deductible which is really cool! That will last until June 2017, after that it will be my copay of $40.00.. so ask you Dr about it. So here is what I know:
Xtampza ER - 9mg = 10mg Oxycodone HCL
Xstampza ER - 13.5mg = 15mg Oxycodone
Xtampza ER- 18mg = 20mg Oxycodone HCL
Xtampza ER - 27mg = 30mg Oxycodone HCL
Xtampza ER- 36mg = 40mg(which doesn't exist in Oxycodone HCL)
I haven't tried OxyContin, but I'm pretty sure it's about the same as Oxycodone IR HCL

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JJ thanks for info, personally my ins not cover so I got better with patient assistance that is FREE scripts delivered to your door by UPS cost free. Have taken it for month now but find it not as effective as the oxycontin was. It works but not as well. Funny the warning says take with food so not too high amounts in your plasma but it makes no difference to me. I was thinking if I took without food it might work better? But not so. Am so disappointed about effectiveness, yet so happy with assistance financially.
Wish I knew a way to make it more effective on my pain. The dr won't increase because of laws now won't allow him without retribution which is so wrong on so many levels so guess will need deal with extra pain. WRONG but a fact our gov has made definite...

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Please post any noted changes please for the rest of us. Thanks.

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Verwon- your info that the xtampza er is supposed to be stronger than Oxycontin is not true in my experience. Idk if it's due to my genetic make up or what but for me it is the opposite. I have tried taking with or without food but it is same either way. For me it simply is a"watered down" version of oxycontin, it simply does not take pain away. It is a shame that Purdue changed their qualifying income levels for oxycontin because I definitely would still be taking that. Due to these new gov laws and restrictions apparently it has effected drug companies too, I had been in their assistance program for over ten years then they changed the income qualification level so that I no longer am in that level. They wouldn't make any exception when I talked to the supervisors there. Bummer that I am one suffering, thanks to our greedy government.

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I went from methodone to xtampza er 27 mg twice daily and this sucks, it doesn't work well at all, I'm in constant pain and nothing relieves it, my doctor is making me try this for at least a couple of weeks. I'm counting down the days......oh yeah this headache that has come with it is just down right crazy.........

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My insurance company (United) just forced me to switch from oxycontin to xtampza er. The comparable dose doesn't work AT ALL.

Xtampza is clearly propaganda to force legitimate chronic pain sufferers to use inferior medication. Total BS. Oxycontin has worked very well for me for years at the same dose. Stop f'ing with my health and pain levels!

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These changes are forced by the CDC and federal guidelines. The insurance companies have jumped on the bandwagon as per the "opioid epidemic" it's absurd. If you need to get back on your oxycontin, then you'd have to jump through several hoops as per your insurance company in order for them to do a prior authorization and an appeal process; mind you, this process could take weeks to months.

To be fair, most of my patients with the switch have noted better efficacy than using oxycodone or oxycontin of comparable dose. The only kicker is, you have to take it with food.

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My insurance co. forced me to switch to xtampza. I opened a pill to taste the powder and it had no taste at all. I believe it should be bitter. I think it's fake. I'm gonna get a u/a to check it, unless somebody knows what it should taste like or knows a better way to check it?

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Tommy if you had Xtampza er cked pls let us know....I have found it does not work anywhere near like oxycontin. I actually cannot feel relief at all most times, whereas oxycontin absolutely hit the pain like a miracle for me when correct dosage. I have not tried taking a larger dose to see if that helps because am afraid of the deterrant in it.
Nurse A I have tried taking with or without food but makes no difference, so why do they say it must be taken with food?
I honestly would like to see if it truly is oxycodone time released or if it is a scam.
Please any one with verified info share.....

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Oh my, I am in the exact same predicament! I have been taking OXY 80s 3x a day for over 10 years and all of a sudden United Health Care decided they wont cover it anymore!! I have tried Opana, MS Contin, and now Xtampsa. I cannot believe that they are allowed to destroy lives this way. I went from being able to get out of bed and actually function back to where I was when I originally broke my back!! I will post my experience with Xtampza as I start taking it today. I am terrified and completely stressed. My anxiety is through the roof. Thanks UCH. Another life destroyed for your greed. God bless y'all who are in this same boat. I'll update my experience with Xtampza in 2 weeks.

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Lynx~your description "hold on to our lives" is perfect. That is what I do day to day...Try to hold on one more day, and now THIS. Be blessed.

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Ciaobella,
Have you ever considered switching to a longer transdermal delivery type opioid type medication rather then relying on orally based formulations??your pain management specialist has a host of modern pharmaceutical
agents Available in the treatment of severe intractable pain patients.You deserve to have your pain adequately treated.Best of luck in your journey.

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I've had to switch from oxycontin to xtampza er, & I'm struggling with it. If you take it as directed it feels like 3-3.5hours after it starts to work, but if you get 8-9 hours of relief from it, I'd be suprised. I don't! I have been very disappointed with changing.

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KenieSKobie,
Thank you for the reply. After my double fusion I was prescribed Fetnyl patches but it has been some time since I have had them. What is available transdermally? I am truly open to whatever my PM doc recommends although he hasn't mentioned longer acting transdermals. I have been on the Xtampza for a full day now and have had to increase my oxy IR (per my doctors approval!) because the Xtampza er is NOT working. In addition, it is written for twice a day MAX where I was taking oxycontin 3 times a day A Fan~how long have you been taking Xtampza ER? I am really sorry to hear it isn't helping you!. I am hoping to hear about my 3rd appeal tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Be blessed y'all and thank you again KenieS

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I'm on month #2, & it's been miserable. I gave it a fair chance, with a open mind, & the Dr dosent believe in withdrawals. He switched meds & dosing (cutting out 60mg) & doesn't seem to care. Which I'm beginning to believe is the part these Dr's don't care. I'm sure if they understood it's not the medication, it's the limited time frame that relieves a majority of the pain, to function as a regular person, is whats addicting. Sure theres people that abuse it, but its a small % of those who need it, they wouldn't be so quick to judge.

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United Healthcare force me to switch to Xtampza I was prescribed 60 pills of 27 mg er,,, it seems to me that it doesn't start working till 3 hours later after taking it,,, but i wasn't receiving any pain relief unless I took two at a time,,, and I would compare that to taking 3 Percocets

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That's just what I was looking for to know if it was safe to take two of these xtampza's at a time. One is not helping in the least. Thank you!

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I am in the same boat I totally understand and want to get involved somehow in calling the DEA the ones who make these ridiculous regulations that affects everyone especially those who have legitimate pain are not addicts and desperately need relief. I am just getting ready to start on this new form of Oxycontin and it doesn't sound encouraging I have been approved by my insurance company for the past couple of years for three 60 milligram Oxycontin a day now this doctor who is so afraid to lose her license which is ridiculous will only prescribe this new stuff. I'm just getting started

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I've been taking oxycodone for years, can I take 18 mgs of xtampza q12h h

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Re: CiaoBella (# 12)

I have not been on oxycontin for ten years; I forget what it was like; I have been on generic oxycodone for a long time; the government cut my dose in half this year; one of my docs got me oked to take xtampza 36 mg plus 15 mg of oxycodone 6 times a day, I felt it worked much better than generic; but it put me in donut hole in about 4 months; so now I am in pain again/

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Re: Db (# 8)

Xtampza is what my doc changed me to, I was on oxycodone 7 times a day with no problem, My doc recommended a test for a morphine pain pump, which gave panic attacks , I was given 4 morphine shots in the discs where my scoliosis is, why 4? He missed the first the first 3, It made me very sick, Next he decided to give me xtampza, he said it was the only time release oxycodone available; wish Oxycontin was still on market. Best in suffering friends.

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Re: Lynx (# 4)

Hi,
My pain doc was able to get my medicare to pay for xtampza, it is a horrible med, if oxycontin is still available, get that , I hate this new med.
Sam

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Re: Db (# 8)

I heard about that drug and I have an issue right now! My original doctor for the last 6 years who I absolutely loved because he was good and cared. I trusted him for all my health conditions! Because he was a great doctor and was outspoken ( which is why he's gone) they set him up!!
Now the doctor who is taking over for him, I never knew there was 2 different clinics on different sides of the state and this new doctor is running both now. Thing is he's changing everybody's medicines.

I have been on 100 mcg Fentenal patches every 72 hours and 4/ 10 mg percocet each day for breakthrough pain. And it works most of the time, at times the pain is still bad but mostly I have got my life back, until now!

He just changed me and his excuse was way back when I 1st started seeing the other good doctor he did a genetic swab test and it said Fentenal and percocet were not the right medication for me and switched me to Opana ER 10mg twice a day with 2 mg diluad 4 times a day. It didn't work and I was in so much pain and sick to.

So went back on my regular medication. Now this new doctor just did it again. Plus my insurance would not authorize it and it took me almost a week to get it. Plus cost me $70 copay instead of $2. I'm afraid if I complain to him he will switch me to that xtampza ER. Which will be worse. I don't know what to do.

Plus I was in the hospital for 7 weeks with a duodenum ulcer that accessed and perforated my stomach lining and I had to have full on abdominal surgery. So with the scar tissue and just abdominal issues anyway this new medication is supposed to cause stomach problems and constipation ( which I have to be extremely careful about) This doctor won't listen to me. Need some advice from anyone please

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Re: ThatGuy (# 167)

I don't know what the LAWS are?? Basically the CDC have put out guidelines for Docs rxing Shed 2 meds along with their opinion on prescribing combo Benzos and Soma even standard fioricet now with Opiod pain meds. In Oregon its the primary care docs that prescribe. they send u to an appt with a pain specialist who give a yea or ne on your med combo and dose per day 120 mg. MED a day for Sched 2 and its hard to find a doc that will combine benzo let alone soma I lucked out with LQTS making me ineligible for the typical subs for the sched 4 meds that actually work...but I could drop dead anyday or night because of my heart prob????? They scare Doctors into believing they will be investigated by the medical board if they dont follow these GUIDELINES. Oregon is pretty cleaned up of docs over-prescribing and perhaps selling scripts. I lost two good docs: one for not keeping good enough records, the other just didn't show up for his patient appts a LOT of the time. Total disaster the shoving ppl into these pain clinics for two decades...

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Re: evilmommy (# 177)

Call your state med board. Threaten with ADA lawsuit. Cpp need meds. Simple #patientsNOTaddicts

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I go to a pain clinic (procedure mill) and am on a minimum dose of xtampza. My "breakthrough" pain is 24/7 and I only get 2 5/325mg Vicodin a day for it...big deal! I save them up for the weekend when I see my guy so he doesn't have to see me in tears from the constant pain, only when the 12(8)hour xtampza wears off & I wait to take my next dose. Then the tempers flair, constant pain kinda does that and the meds work less & less so the pain is worse and worse. So next month I start a series of 6 procedures towards both sides getting a nerve block. Just had 2 surgeries for spacers, 1st one didn't heal right. Tired of it and then the government not trusting us and insisting on the 6 month U/A's, lol. Like being in this much pain isn't bad enough, give us too little pain meds & make us pee for them.

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Its truly a disgusting situation. Xtampza is crap IMHO. It sucks when the GUBMINT is in the exam room, and Drs are afraid to RX anything. I have heard from other CPPs that Xtampza needs to be taken with a high carb meal to be effective. I am so sick of all the BS.

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I hated it, forced upon me and wiped out my coverage in two months yet costing me $880. As a co- pay. He put me back on 40 ER oxys but they don’t seem to be doing a thing either. Careful of pricing!

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