[Jimking]

My wife, to those who don't know has RSD, takes 60mg Oxycontin as part of her pain control. She has been in severe pain this past week and it appears Purdue changed the formula of this med. She says it does not control the pain at all and in fact feels as though the pill just sits in her stomach all day. Her doctor perscribed opana 40mg in which it has no effect on the pain. The doc said purdue changed the formula to prevent junkies from breaking the pill down and shooting it. It seems it's not breaking down in Suzy's stomach. In the past she has taken morphine, methadone and Opana with little pain control or becoming very ill. 60mg Oxycontin has given her the best relief. The exact name of this med is "Oxycontin CR TAB 60 mg RED ROUND OP/60". On the bottle it says "This is the same medication you have been getting. Color, size or shape may appear different." Has anyone heard of this reformulated med or have had similar results and if so what substitute were you able to tolerate? Thanks for any responses or advice.

[dreambeliever128]

If you go to page 4 and read the thread started by Lordwood I believe it was discussed in that thread. He talked about the change in the Oxycontin. There might be some info in it that might help you.

I believe there are difference in meds. I am taking a generic of Ambien and last month Steve filled the prescription with half red pills and half white. The red ones did nothing for me, the white ones helped me sleep.

I do ok with Methadone but I hate the sweating it causes but it knocks the pain some for me. I do believe though with RSD if it is a total flare then nothing is going to do what we hope it would do.

Hope she feels better soon.

Ada

[Koala77]

Originally Posted by dreambeliever128

If you go to page 4 and read the thread started by Lordwood I believe it was discussed in that thread. He talked about the change in the Oxycontin. There might be some info in it that might help you.........

Here's a direct link to the thread Ada suggested:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread131281.html

[mrsD]

Editing out information that is no longer on the internet.

Be careful with the new OP version. I just received an email alert with a copy of a Purdue warning:

Since introducing reformulated OxyContin to the market on August 9, 2010, Purdue
has received reports that some patients are encountering difficulties with swallowing
the reformulated tablet. Purdue encourages you to counsel your patients on appropriately taking this medication and to remind them that:

* OxyContin Tablets should be taken one tablet at a time, with enough water to
ensure complete swallowing immediately after placing in the mouth
* Multiple tablets should not be swallowed together
* Tablets should not be dampened, soaked, licked, or otherwise wet prior to
placing them in the mouth for immediate swallowing

There are going to be many adjustments to the new form, it appears. We'll have to see with time if this form stays on the market, even!

[Jimking]

Thanks so much for the great advice and info everyone!

[Jimking]

I read the thread provided by Koala77. Well, it seems there is a problem for sure. Someone stated on this thread that plastic is used in the pill to prevent junkies from breaking the drug down. This would explain Suzy's feeling the pill is just sitting there, festering in her stomach. The thread was informative in that there are decent alternatives.

[mrsD]

Just to clarify one thing...

Many sustained release products, have a technology where the core is not digested and is excreted whole in the stool. Some people find these so called "ghosts" and get very upset. Not all sustained release drugs use "matrix" technology tho... just some.

Concerta uses it, and Procardia XL uses a matrix like this too.

From what I gather the matrix for new OxyContin is water absorbant and expands in some way...hence the swallowing warning. I'd take it with a full glass of water, and swallow the water in 2 or 3 parts, to make sure it goes all the way down.

There have been a few drugs taken off the market for blocking the esophagus by swelling up too quickly. Questran tablets was one.

[Jimking]

Originally Posted by mrsD

This med was released on August of this year.

A generic by Ethex is available that is the exact old formula OC.

You can ask your doctor to write for it. No one is sure for how long the OC (original form) will be available, but Ethex has a contract agreement with Purdue to supply it right now. Call around and see if a pharmacy near you has it. I have read that some people claim Walgreen's carries it.

Be careful with the new OP version. I just received an email alert with a copy of a Purdue warning:


There are going to be many adjustments to the new form, it appears. We'll have to see with time if this form stays on the market, even!

mrsD, my wife called Purdue about Ethex and was told it is all a rumor. Is there any more info you can tell me so we can track it down? The doc said she never heard of it and our local Wal Greens said they don't carry Ethex. Thanks jim

[mrsD]

Well, I just viewed a few days ago a press release from Ethex.

It has now been removed by someone from the net.

Jim, we will now take this conversation to PM.

[mrsD]

On this thread there is a link to a prior thread about the changeover by Purdue to a new dosage form for OxyContin.

In that link were some comments about the Ethex company (KV Pharmaceuticals) selling a generic form of OxyContin that was the old formula.

The press releases about that were just removed from the net, a day or two ago.

But I did find this financial statement that claims the contract was valid until end of Dec 09:

On September 1, 2009, the Company elected for the Distribution Agreement to become effective as of September 1, 2009. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, Purdue provided the Company with a limited quantity of certain generic versions of OxyContin, as specified in the Distribution Agreement, to be distributed by the Company during a limited period, and the Company paid Purdue a royalty fee and the cost of manufacturing the product supplied by Purdue.

During the three months ended December 31, 2009, the Company received and sold to its customers all of the generic OxyContin allotted under the Distribution Agreement and recognized net revenue in the amount of approximately $143,400 in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company recognized the revenue when it had determined that persuasive evidence of an arrangement existed, the customers’ payment ability had been reasonably assured, title and risk of ownership had been transferred to the customers, and the Company’s price to its customers was determined. Additionally, the Company recorded approximately $20,300 as cost of sales in the three months ended December 31, 2009, which included royalty fees and the cost of the generic OxyContin supplied by Purdue. Accordingly, the Company recognized gross profit of $123,100 in the three months ended December 31, 2009 as a result of the Distribution Agreement entered into with Purdue.

from http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/...WiYHvrxjH3SJ27

Purdue is a privately held company, with no public stock holdings. Not so with KV it appears. So this statement comes from KV not Purdue. So I guess there is a morsel of truth that Ethex marketed a sustained release Oxy...but it was only for a short time period.