Xtampza Er Users Effectiveness (Page 8)

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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Re: Thatguy (# 140)

It's really too bad that you had to change to Xtampza when the morphine was working. The last time I went to pm group, I talked to him about upping my Rx from 18 to 27 He didn't want to do that but he did agree to give me ONE 5mg oxy ir per day. I'm really spoiled so I would have liked to get Rx for 27 Xtampza AND another for maybe 3 a day for break thru. Did I say I am spoiled??. My idea was to have lots options for how I'm feeling from one minute to another. I can imagine everyone thinking, boy, that sounds like a drug addict. I'm not. I generally struggle with how much pain I can tolerate without taking more drugs. My pain management group keeps me grounded which I am very grateful for. I can see how things could get really out of hand if you combine a patient who is really persuasive and a doctor who gives in too easily. Since I only have one break thru a day to spend, the night time one you take isn't really an option for me. I'd rather save the oxy ir for daytime pain. If I'm having a bad night I just grab a Tylenol. I can guarantee I'm gonna have a bad day after I've been to grocery store, try to cook a little something, try to do dishes or if someone in my house stresses me. Might I add that my husband retired over 10 years ago! YUCK. Married almost 42 years. Working for him-not me so much. I digress. Sounds like taking your second dose of Xtampza a little earlier and then an IR around 9 pm works for you, I might try moving last one a little earlier and hope for the best. Maybe if I take all of posters' suggestions and try them all, I could possibly get the right combination. That would be awesome! One challenge I have to conquer is making sure pharmacy fills my Rx when I need it. That's turning out to be a little more complicated than I thought (shout out to Mr. Ryan, I'll post soon). Have you noticed I tend to write a book? Sorry it's one of my many flaws. You've given me more to consider. Thanks and sorry for the book.

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Re: MR RYAN (# 138)

Well, my dilemma got a little more complicated. I got an e-mail from the pharmacy Dept. of my insurance company. I still have questions for them. When I get it all sorted in my little pea brain, I'll fill you in. It's really interesting. Not hitting panic button cause I have a couple of weeks of Rx left. Have a good one!

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Re: Lou (# 141)

God bless u for being able to get threw the day with only one 5 mg oxy a day with the Xtampza ER! My doctor gives me 2 38 mg Xtampza with 5 15 mg roxys for break trew pain, I used to get 20's sure miss them??

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Re: Pete (# 143)

He gave me an Rx for 5 mg-30 count for a month for breakthrough as needed. I've only used 1. Got the Rx about a week ago. I'm used to giving myself permission to take Tylenol but not the oxy yet. I really appreciate the way my pain management group takes care of me. They do what's best for me. And while we don't necessarily agree (sometimes I suggest something) they might give me an alternative and explain why. I'm in good hands with them. In a way, I'm lucky. I don't have a job (too old) finally do if I'm having a bad time, it makes no difference. If it gets bad enough, I just go to bed, turn on tv and go to sleep. I'm pathetic, really. I should at least move around. Did you read the part where I'm spoiled? I keep telling myself that it could be worse. So true. The things others have to deal with - I know I couldn't deal with it. Anyway, good to connect with you. Sounds like you're doing pretty well. Take care.

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Re: MrRyan (# 87)

Hi Mr Ryan. I've been On Xtampza for 3 months now. I was switched from Oxycontin because of insurance. I've done lots of research on it and I want to see how I'm supposed to eat (especially fatty foods). So can you help me on what to eat quickly and what will do the trick? I ate a poptart yesterday with my morning dose and it took effect hardcore a few hours later and lasted for at least 10 hours! I have a very high tolerance so I was blown away. What foods do you recommend? Especially for being on the go... I work a ton of hours every week.

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Re: Lou (# 136)

I feel the anxiety as well Lou. My Dr says they made the long acting Oxy with the anti abuse for addicts who would abuse it, so why this new Xtampza? Same drug just a capsule? What makes it different from Oxy? Who is getting kick backs for prescribing it when it cost the same as long acting Oxycontin. It's not at Longs or Costco our two biggest pharmacies in Hawaii. I spent hours on the phone with my insurance company and now they are asking for my Dr to do a preauth due to no access to the medication so he can get me on a time release. It's total nonsense, again I think its Big Pharm controlling Drs and patients. If everyone just rolls over and keeps jumping their hoops they will keep it up. If I never saw another pain med it wouldn't be too soon, but it's not my reality either. For now I am on 10mg oxycodone 6x a day. I am having to watch the clock all day so my pain doesn't get away from me. Then it takes hours to get it to stop...exhausted and delirious because I can not get enough rest at night being woken up at night when it's time for another 10mg and by then it takes hours to get back to sleep. I don't drink but last night I drank a glass of wine so I could relax and not think about the next 10mg I will need in 4 hrs. After over 20 yrs of taking this crap I honestly think they "the Drs" have over-prescribed. I can get out of pain on 10mg vs the 30mg Oxy and 50 mcg Fentanyl patch these Drs had me on for years. That patch definitely made my pain worse and extreme. Otherwise why does the 10mg Oxy work now? Only problem is I do have break through pain at times and I get my Deep Blue essential oils out and start rubbing it into my pain areas. Big problem now is I don't want to think about popping a pill every 4 hours, it's insanity!

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Re: Kaila (# 146)

As I lie here I'm feeling like just giving up because no matter what I try to do to please my pain MGT group, insurance co and government people but still manage my pain the best I can it's not working. My pain mgt group won't give me more than 18 mg twice a day with one oxycodone ir 5 mg a day. Meanwhile if I can't get the rest of my original Rx to fill out the pills that weren't filled because they didn't have enough. Needed 60 but only got 46. I'll be 2 weeks short and I'm at a loss of what to do until I have my next appt. I asked him at my last appt if I could get a few extras just as a bridge because I didn't have any wiggle room. His suggestion to me was to skip a pill once in a while if I wasn't feeling too bad and that would build up a reserve. Problem is I NEVER have a bit do bad day. Inside I wanted to scream at him but I managed to hold my tongue (how, I don't know). I've tried going thru my patient portal explaining situation but no response from them. I'll either have to try calling them or just take the trip up there and hope that I can talk to him. My anxiety is going up and, therefore, my pain. Sorry for the book. I have to vent. Back to you. Guess you have a bigger problem getting your Rx since you're across the pond. Getting a pre-authorization would make them feel better about sending it over and not have to worry about its expiring. I had to do that when I first started-was at 13.5 mg. Also talked to my pharmacist to let him know that I would be getting this every month. All went okay until this last time where they were backlogged. My insurance co said I might want to find a pharm with different wholesaler. Mr. Ryan (a poster on here) suggested taking Rx to pharmacy same day as appt whether you needed it yet or not in case they had to order it. He always has good advice and is always willing to help. I'm glad to hear you're not on the Fentanyl patch. That scares me. I'm with you about the Oxycontin. Why switch to Xtampza ER. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. About the essential oil you mentioned, I'm glad you get some relief from it. I'm on so many other drugs for so many things, I think I should just stear clear of that until I run it by a doctor. As for waking up at night from pain, I do better than I did years ago. Between the pain that woke me up and kept me up, it would take me hours to get back to sleep because I would think about things past or present, get depressed, cry. So I just started leaving my tv on all night as distraction. It stays on almost 24/7. Last thing, I think, is the wine! My doctor told me probably 20 years ago that I really had no business drinking-on way too much stuff. He'd grin but I knew he meant it. How about this. We're not supposed to drink since we're on this Rx but if you have the 'need' to take a sip and you don't think it will hurt you, think about how I would really enjoy having a sip with you? Again, sorry I wrote a book. I spend a lot of time alone. Hope everything gets straightened out with your pain management. Have a good day.

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Re: Lou (# 147)

Kaila, I read over my last post to you and I messed up on my math. I said I would be two weeks shy of what I need but it's actually one week since I'm only 14 shy. Sorry. My brain cells are going south on me??. Tried calling my pain mgt group today to try to get back on track. But they're closed today due to bad weather. Go figure. Will try again tomorrow. Doubt you have snow in Hawaii. Have a good day.

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My doctor wants to switch me to this from oxycodone. I'd rather not. I need pain relief 1st thing in the morning and don't have time to eat -- can't even get out of bed, are you kidding me! Has anyone tried Kratom?

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Re: Denise (# 86)

Dont worry, the pain clinics will cut people down even more next time. My pain doctor told me the 36mg xtampza was just a smaller dose that they use, when they begin bringing people down off of high doses.
All of the pain doctors are trying to get people on lower doses. I was on 10mg oxycodone 6 ×'s a Day, all of a sudden bc of Government Regulations they put me on 13.5 Xtampza er twice a day, thats quite a drop. Im Bed Bound, but was able to do theraband exercises, now im unable to, they dont seem to care, ive been to 2 different doctors now, its getting really bad.

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Hey Everyone,

It has been a while since my last post, over the last few months I have been experimenting with some different food choices and also how much food to ingest during dosage. So what I have found works very well and you don't have to eat a bunch. A simple cheese stick will work very well. I prefer to eat a cheese stick and save one small piece of it, I then drink a little milk to swallow my pill with and then eat that last bite of the cheese stick. So far this seems to work very well for me. As you may have heard me stress, the fattier the content of the food product the better. One thing I have found is that you don't want to overeat, an entire meal is almost too much food, I have found that perfect middle ground for myself by eating cheese. I personally buy a block of cheddar cheese from the deli and cut it up into small cubes. Each day I take a ziplock baggy containing a few cubes of cheese, and a small bottle of chocolate milk to work with me. So far this has been working very well. Previously I would make a sandwich and take to work but I'm not a very big eater during the day, so the cheese has worked out great for me.

Please let me know your side of this and how things as re going for all of you, what works for you, what doesn't work. This site is here so that we can all help one another get through the day while attempting to keep our pain at bay. Any feedback that you all can provide will with "NO DOUBT" HELP someone on this site. I would like to thank you all for all of your comments and conversations. I'm sure I do not speak alone when I say THANK YOU!!!! I look forward as red to hearing your replies. Thanks.

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Re: Ahs1027 (# 145)

Hello Ahs. My apologies for the delay. I have been offline now for several weeks due to travel. I read your post and truly my personal opinion is "DO NOT CHANGE A THING" if you eating a pop tart helps your body absorb the medicine enough to give you 10hrs of effective relief, I would continue to do what your doing and eat a poptart at each dosage time. Everyone is different and finding what works for ones specific body makeup is the hardest challenge, it sounds like you have found what works for you. Granted I am not a doctor but only a person going through these experiences as well. All we can do is post and explain our experiences just like you did, and that post may very well help someone else. Even if someone reads a post and can take that information and apply it and they get a 1% reduction in pain, that is 1% less that they will have to deal with, after you add up several 1% someone may find themselves being 10 or 20% or higher in less pain than they were in the day before or a week ago. Thank you for posting, and I look forward to hearing how your progress is going in the times to come. Please stay in touch. Thanks.

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Re: Mr Ryan (# 151)

Hey Buddy, It has been quite a while since i posted last, just been lurking and reading. So I did try the Cheese method of a while, it does work. However i was reading a medical study they did with Xtampza and its not just high FAT foods, but High fat and High Calories that help they call it, HFHC intake. So with that info I started eating 2 Ego waffles with butter and syrup. Now when i wake up its extremely hard to eat. So i get up 30min earlier so that i can drink some coffee and have a minute to myself. Its a struggle first thing, but you gotta keep on. So if i need Immediate help, I take 1, 10mg oxycodone, with my coffee. Now Doctor put me originally on 27mg 2x a day. I told him this doesnt work well... He said the xtampza i 1.5 stronger than the 30mg 3x day Morphine i was on. But since i researched it and was professional in my questions and had stats to back it up. I was able to get the 36mg x 2 a day. He did give me it 3x a day but my insurance wouldn't cover that, because its a new drug. Anyways he also said that since i have been on Oxycodoe 4 x a day with the morphine i was on for a couple years my body is used to it and thats why the xtampza isnt working as well... sooo he upped it and said we can talk about maybe switching my break throughs. I have noticed that if you make yourself go through a detox a couple days a week a month (days off of course) try taking one of the xtampza and half of the break throughs and when you go back to work the next time the full doses work!

Back to my original post.. sorry for the long book here! haha. With the waffles and coffee and then not eating until lunch and having something HCHF (not a feast a small lunch) and taking the xtampza and one break through with one Baclofen and one Gabapentin it actuallys works wonders! Since i am given the Bacolef 3x a day and the gabapentin x3 a day I assume my doc wants me to take all these together. They potentiate the pain meds and i am able to take on the day and not feel messed up or anything, just feel normal with mild back/leg/arm pain that i can deal with! Have a wonderful days my friends, we can take on our pain and live a comfortable life if the powers that be, leave everything alone. Remember to research stuff and have a stats and knowledge to back up your questions to your doctor. They cant argue with facts!

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Re: Thatguy (# 153)

Ditto, do your own research before you see your doc. It also shows your own concerns about your health.

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Re: Jimbo (# 46)


It's not a u.a., it's a uds. A u.a. doesn't test your meds. A uds does. I'm a toxicology rep. It sucks what the insurance companies are doing to you guys. My dad was on oxy 80 extended release 3xs a day and 30s 4 times a day. They stopped paying for his opanas so they gave him the 80s. Then his Dr got raided (for insurance fraud) so his new Dr went from 3 80s and 4 30s (which was too much) down to 2 80s & 4 10s. Now insurance won't pay for the 80s so he's getting 2 36s twice a day. He's going to be very upset when he takes them based on these reviews. It's awful guys and I feel for you but it's the fault of the people who abuse it. They ruined it for you guys. The pill mills writing hundreds of pills to anyone with money and the people that sell and abuse it are the reason for this. It's a damn shame.

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Re: Kaila (# 137)

Because people abuse stuff and ruin it for those of you who need it. They oxy extended release formula got changed so when people tried to break it, it turns to gel but people got around that. So, unfortunately, the bad eggs are ruining it for everyone else. They will find ways around this. But it's not the insurance companies fault. It's the people that are junkies.

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Re: Charlie j (# 95)

It's not just united. With my job I've heard of it happening with United blue cross Medicare Medicaid cigna aetna freedom optimum humana off the top of my head.

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Re: Kaila (# 129)

Get mad at the junkies that abuse it and the pill mills that caused the need for formulas to prevent people from abusing it. It's hard to figure out who uses and abuses. As someone who works for the labs that test people, you can't tell most of the time. I've seen 70-year-olds on coke and cops on various substances. Teachers selling their meds. They can't just do stuff for some people and not others. For example, they can't test on suspicious people. That's discrimination. Plus 70% of people fail their tests in some way. SEVENTY PERCENT. You're blaming the wrong people.

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Re: Julia (# 102)

Because unfortunately a lot of people DO abuse the medication. It's bear impossible to determine who does and doesn't. I work for a toxicology lab and the doctor can check the pdmp and do drug panels, but drug panels are beatable. You can take your drugs 27 days out of the month and then take them correctly the last 3 and pass the drug panel. It does suck that people who don't do anything wrong get hurt by this but that's how it has to be. The country has an issue and there's no way to know who is using and who is abusing so they have to go out of their way to make formulas to try to deter abuse. But to be honest almost no other country writes for pain medication like ours. 90% of the people on pain meds here wouldn't be on them in other countries.

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Re: Lou (# 147)

The Xtampza patient locator can find the medication for you, it takes about 30 minutes after you call them but there is no reason to suffer through the month try it is the pharmacy doesn't have the full amount

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