After 10 years of taking the Oxycontin 'OC' tablets I have been devastated by this new formulation with the 'OP' on the tablet. Initially I thought i had received a 'bad batch' of medicine because i went into withdrawels while taking them as prescribed. I often noticed them floating in the toilet, so I thought perhaps they were not working due to not being digested. I had a similar problem with a generic oxycodone ER a few years ago (it was shaped like a football).
But then i also began having some significant systemic health problems, namely an unexplained urethritis that did not respond to antibiotics, and a bowel colitis that also did not respond to antibiotics. It was as if my entire system was responding to some toxin. I became horribly sick and stayed that way most of the year. The only thing that seemed to heal my new health problems was to stop taking the oxy. 'OP' tabs for a period of time. Fortunately I was able to take some old Oxycontins that i had diligently saved up over the 10 years of taking them, which allowed me these brief breaks.
After a few weeks of not taking the 'op's my symptoms would decrease and I would get better. The urethritis would heal (constant feeling of urgency to urinate and then a feeling of urinating razor blades when i would go) and so would the colitis: i would stop seeing a toilet full of blood and mucous at each bowel movement, etc.
I feel pretty hopeless because my "stash" of old oxycontins is quickly running out and morphine and methadone don't work for my chronic pain. I tried Opana, but it was not very effective for pain control and had many side effects. I was hoping and praying that Purdue would correct this horrible mistake with the new oxy pill, but it doesn't seem that is going to happen. I did contact Purdue initially, and have filled out numerous forms for them documenting my experience with the new oxy. I may have had even more bad effects from it because I take quite a large dose compared to most people.
Does anyone know if there is any hope for a better oxycontin pill any time soon, or if there are other people having significant negative responses to this new formulation. At my last doctors appointment he ended up prescribing Exalgo for me, but I have taken Dilaudid before, and I expect many side effects.
I would appreciate any insights or information anyone can share with me.

This is mentioned in the literature; it happens with some ER medications, and does not mean that they are not getting into your system.
There have been many complaints from patients about the new formulation since it came out. Most deal with efficacy, but some have been health-related. Reports should be made to your doctor, Purdue Pharma, and FDA (possibly others - ask your doctor & pharmacist).
http://www.fda.gov/safety/reportaproblem/default.htm

I wouldn't expect there to be any changes in formulation any time soon.

If you have been on a high dose for a significant time, it's possible that your adrenal hormones have been depleted/suppressed. Both chronic pain and opioid medications can have this effect. Suppression of these hormones can effect the way pain medications work in the body.

You might ask your doctor about testing these hormone levels. Treatment and restoration to normal levels can improve pain and the efficacy of pain medications by up to 50%.

Testosterone Replacement in Chronic Pain Patients
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...-pain-patients

Testosterone Replacement in Female Chronic Pain Patients
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...-pain-patients

Hormone Treatments in Chronic and Intractable Pain
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...tractable-pain

Hormone Replacements and Treatments in Chronic Pain: Update 2010
http://www.practicalpainmanagement.c...in-update-2010

Doc

I ended up finding my own post when i put "oxy Ops gave me urethritis and colitis" in my internet search! But I am pleased to see people's responses to my 'lengthy' post. I have since tried an experiment: I went off of the OPs for 2 months and took old OCs I had stashed away for a 'rainy day'. As if by magic my urethritis and colitis cleared up (I stopped having constant urgency to urinate, painful urination, abdominal pain, cramping,and huge amounts of mucous/blood in stool.)Feeling better, I slowly began taking the oxy Ops again...as my 'stash' is running low. Sure enough, within a few weeks my symptoms had all returned!! I was very dissappointed to find out that the only pain medicine that had ever worked for me was not only working adequately anymore, but it was also making me sick!!
BUT TONITE WAS THE TOPPER OF THEM ALL!! Please if any of you read this that are taking the oxy Ops please check out what I am saying for yourself!
I was giving myself a manicure, removing my old nail polish when i accidentally spilled the polish remover onto my oxy OPs that I had sitting next to where I was working on my bathroom countertop. Initially I did not realize the polish remover had spilled into the little cup-like dish with my medicine in it, so I proceeded to remove my nail polish and watch some TV. Later that night while getting ready for bed I went to take one of my oxy Ops and found they were dissolving into the nail polish remover in the little dish. But I was SHOCKED WHEN I TRIED TO RINSE AND DRY THEM OFF. THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY COVERED IN A GUMMY RUBBER...JUST LIKE CRAZY GLUE OR LIQUID RUBBER!! I kept wiping and wiping, but the horrible rubber was tough and slimy at the same time. I had 3 pills in the container, and i used 4 large paper towels and 2 large dish towels wiping the rubber off. The paper towels and dish towels are completely soaked in this rubber and there is no way to remove it other than using the acetone nail polish remover. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN MY BODY. I now know that this is what the mucousy substance was that i was finding in my stools. IT IS HORRENDOUS! And it is not a coating--as some websites are mistakenly stating--that can simply be removed using various techniques; It is all throughout the entire tablet. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try this at home; you have to see it yourself to fully comprehend the texture and tenacity of this horrible substance!! I have already devised a way to take the pill and polish remover to my doctor appointment next time, and will continue to post this warning to as many sites as possible. Please pass this around, because it may be too late for many of us when they finally "discover" this product is dangerous and was not properly tested. I have enrolled with the American Pain Foundation and will contact Purdue and the FDA as soon as I can. It will be challenging to fight this with my pain so out of control, but if this helps one person it will be worth it.
P.S. I imagine the component of my polish remover that removed the rubbery resin was acetone, so before you try to check this yourself make sure your polish remover has this ingredient--not all of them do.
I trully hope they do not screen out this post and that people can actually read it!
Sincerely, MissTT

Hi MissTT,

As I mentioned previously, there have been many reports about this medication, and I don't expect there to be any changes. IMO, the formula change was not about product safety in the first place (it took abusers/addicts all of about 5 days to figure out how to circumvent it), but about patent extension/renewal. We'll see when the original patents lapse and generic versions should again become available.

If it's any help, here's a list of what's in the medication. This may help you in finding exactly which ingredients are making you sick, and hopefully finding another medication that will address your pain without such bad side effects.
http://www.healthcentral.com/druglib...oxycontin.html

Best wishes,

Doc

I have been on Oxycontin for almost 4 years. For the past year, I have been taking the red OP 60 mg Oxycontin( by Purdue ) every 6 hrs. for a total of 240 mgs. a day. It was my understanding the new coating was to prevent addicts from breaking up the pill. ( Also, the shell might be found in the stool.) If the shell is in the stool; would it still affect our system?

I had never heard of any complaints until I read your post. Since my pain is 24/7, I guess, never noticed a difference. I do of course, have constipatation problems for which I take Phillips Milk of Magnesia daily. Because of the constapation, I actually pushed my bladder thru (had complete hysterectomy years ago) and partially came out.

I had Cystocele surgery a little over 3 years ago (bladder in Mesh sling and mesh used for cosure as well). This was followed the following year with a Rectocele. The Rectocele is returning. I was warned it could possibly happen. The doctor said even if I had to use a laxative daily, could not allow myself to get constipated.

What you are saying is quite alarming. I guess Doc is probably right; this change in the coating only gave a problem for addicts to figure out in a few days and is mainly to prevent a generic. Now.......what is the aternative. I cannot handle withdrawal. Even if I have been a little late taking the 60mg, at times, my legs feel like I am lifting heavy lead and sooooo painful. Don't know what to do; other than continue taking the OP. I don't see a choice.

(Ger)

[B]tnanx so much for your reply because it strikes me as more than coincidence to hear that your bladder has fallen out, because last year my urethra "fell out" too, or 'prolapsed' as the medical professionals called it. It was quite an astonishing thing to find one day and has caused me significant pain and discomfort. I have not had mine repaired as you have, but no doctor--even the urology specialist--ever made any connection between constipation and the urethra falling out! I was quite shocked to read of your experience and wonder if mine is from the same cause.
As for the matter of whether or not the plastic ooze, or resin, is released into our bodies, I can only tell you that when I am not taking them I do not have see a toilet full of white-ish mucous with each bowel movement, as I do when on the OPs.
I so understand your desparation and feeling of no other options tho cuz I am in the same boat. I have literally tried every other pain medicine that exists and they are either ineffective or have debilitating side effects, or are both of these! It is a horrible situation to be in, and almost unbelievable in this country of 'independence' and democratic 'freedoms' to be subjected to such an injustice as this. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, we are victims of a modern day 'witch hunt' of sorts that will probably only be 'fixed' after many years and the wisdom of 20/20 hindsight. My only consolation at this point are my 30 mg oxycodone immediate release breakthrough pills, and now there is a shortage of them also and I am unable to fill even my valid prescription from my neurosurgeon due to a shortage. It seems the shortage is a product of companies no longer producing them due to pressures from government (DEA) and fear of repercussions. The last prescription of these I did fill was a poor substitute for the normal ones that can be found on a website for ordering your prescriptions from Mexico via the internet. This should tell you something about its quality right away. I actually thought I had received a bad batch because they work so poorly, and was once again disheartened and appalled to find them on a website from a Mexican internet pharmacy. And I am sure that my pharmacy charged my insurance company the same price as they did for the better quality medication these have replaced. Sadly, even these poor quality medications will probably not be available for very long if our government has its way, which is a terrifying proposition for us--as you know!
The only solution I can think of is what we are doint right here, which is communicating with each other and keep trying. Hopefully there is some power in numbers, but, as a rule, our population does not have much money, power, or clout in this society. I apologize for my 'rant', but this is so discouraging and I, like you, am suffering horrible withdrawels and increased pain. The worst part of all of this is that the reasoning behind all of this is incorrect: You cannot control the way people want to abuse substances, but YOU CAN CONTROL how you choose to respond do it. But responding by cutting off a legitimate and much-needed medication for those who are suffering is not a moral or compassionate or reasonable way to try to control the behavior of addicts or other elicit users...nor does it work: They will simply move on to another substance, while we do not have that luxury.
The only thing I can suggest to you is what I am planning to do which is to reach out to Purdue (again) and the FDA and others, and ask my doctor to check my liver, as someone suggested to me. I will also ask my doctor to look into my testosterone levels, as also suggested to me here in another post. (Thank you for that post too, by the way!).
Again, I apologize for the wordiness and the rambling. Good luck to you.
MissTT

Hi Ger,

It's not just the coating; the whole pill was reformulated, binding the medication to a polymer. It's supposed to break down in the system, but many many patients have complained it just doesn't work as well.

Unfortunately, chronic pain patients who require medication have few choices. All opiates cause constipation (they partially paralyze the digestive system, slowing peristalsis).

Doc

Thx Dr. Smith--you seem quite knowledgable. You are correct: The polymer is throughout the pill, so I find it hard to believe anyone can circumvent this measure--even very determined addicts. I don't think it is true that they are actually circumventing this; they are simply moving on to the immediate release tablets--which are now being removed as a response also. Sadly, this OP seems the double-whammy to me tho: Either they DON'T metabolize and the pain meds do not get into your system, OR they DO metabolize and you system becomes inundated with this polymer that seems to be contaminating both my urinary and gastrointestinal systems. It may be affecting other systems too, such as ones for filtering toxins (ie. liver, kidneys, etc.), but I'm not privy to that information. However, I do notice when I take the OPs that I do get kidney pain in one of my kidneys that I had problems with almost 20 years ago, so perhaps it is taxing those systems as well. If you could SEE the substance it is DEPLORABLE! There is no possible way it could be good for us. As I said in earlier post, the rubbery gunk from those few OPs competely covered two full-size wash cloths and large paper towels. Today I cannot get those cloths clean with anything...not dishshoap, laundry soap, household cleaners, except the acetone. This is frightening. I had heard that the testing of the product was 'pushed' through and far from comprehensive due to the addiction issues. Do you know if this is true? Or specifically what or how much testing was done? Usually it is a process of many years, but I don't see how that could have been possible since it is a relatively recent issue. Again, thx for input, Dr. Smith. Also, as far as the 'shells' floating in the toilet, this is innaccurate. After VERY GROSSE, gloved undertaking of analyzing these left-over 'shells', I can tell you that they are still fully intact inside. Due to other health issue, I find myself with the miserable task of delving into such matters, and so have had ample opportunity to test this hypothesis. (My physician had told me the same thing, but was surprised to see this was incorrect.)
...are u really a 'Lost in Space' fan? It was a great show!
Thx again, MissTT

Miss TT.....Please see a Urogynocologist and not a urologist. I made the mistake of having the Cystocele performed by a urologist. Many problems were a result of his surgery. Also when a Cystocele is repaired, the wall of the vagina should be reinforced at the same time so as to prevent a Rectocele from happening. (when the bladder is put in a different position, there is room for the lower bowel to come down and press against the vaginal wall, thus causing a Rectocele). Had that been done at the time of my cystocele surgery, I would not have needed Rectocele surgery.

Also, using the mesh and levaquin antibiotic for 14 days after the Cystocele surgery; within two weeks after surgery my legs and feet/ankles started swelling. Also, developed Statis Dermatatis as well in feet, ankles and now up to my knees. I take 2 water pills a day just to keep the swelling down.
(Ger)

You can report adverse events to the FDA HERE.

Doc