Pain Medications
January 18, 2012 - 6:05am
Pharmacrazy?
Ok maybe its just me - but does anyone else have a problem when a pharmacy changes the generic brand of a med you receive - and wind up having a GREAT reduction in efficacy?
Now I'll be the first to admit that I am due for a change in my pain meds in general - but at my last refill of MContin - I was provided the Malkinrodt Brand instead of the usual Watson.
I have found that the new brand is MUCH less effective ... the pills themselves had color variations and two of them were actually stuck together.
They typically do this without informing me and it does through a curve in my pain managment regimen.
I have a similar problem with Fentynl with only the Sandoz brand being effective after trying almost every other brand.
Like I said it might just be me, but does anyone else have an issue with this type of occurance??
Regards,
d
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I haven't noticed any issues but my mom has that issue with her percocet.
Maybe the pills you got were old or something? They shouldn't be stuck together and varying in color. Maybe you can take the remaining pills back and ask them to exchange for the other brand????
24 years old. Started having neck and shoulder pain around age 18.
ACDF C4-C5 June 23rd, 2011.
hate to tell you but Mallinkrodt (sp) is a much more considered quality made medication. Watson is at the bottom of the gene pool
DDD
L2-L3 mild disc bulge
L3-L4 slightly greater but still mild disc bulge
L4-L5 Broad based disc herniation, Thecal sac impression, Edema/granulation tissue where disc should be.
5/12/10 L5 / S1 discectomy
1/11/11 L5 / S1 Discectomy revision
L5-S1 Transitional
It wasn't Watson it was Rhodes that I had been receiving. I do agree about Watson when it comes to Fentynl Patches .... Last time I used Watson patches ... they were still gel filled!.
I hope it all to be a mute point as after an appeal with my insurance ... I have gotten an Okay to get the Sandoz brand of Fentynl- The Only one that provides me substaintial relief. (Made in the same factory as Duragesic)
The insurance companies original suggestion was to double the amount of my MScontin 360 to 400 mg per day (Why it isn't working anymore) or go to Methadone (which puts me on the moon with talking to myself and other bad side effects).
I wrote them a page an a half letter outlinning the issues I had with their suggetions, and my doctor backed me up completely.
Since when did insurance companies start practicing medicine? ..... Oh thats right I used to work in quality assurance - utilization review for (at the time)one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S..... That was back in 1989 ... one of my jobs was to have doctors explain to me why an MRI was needed instead of a regular cat scan!!.
I guess some things never change.
Gotta love this 3 party relationship - Doctor - Patient - Insurance company!!
Good luck to us all!!
Dave
tad off subject
I use watsons 98% of the time (they are still gell filled lol ) and the other 2% of the time I use Sandoz or Mylan and have not noticed any difference in my pain. I prefer the last 2 as they are MUCH smaller patches, so I can cut my Tegerderm covers in 1/2 for 1 patch, with watson I have to use the full cover and those covers are not cheap
Back to topic - I have been on generic synthroid for my thyroid for over 6 yrs and my counts are still very low even with Dr giving me stronger and stronger doses. Several friends tell me i need to get the name brand.
I do have several friends who say they notice a difference with generic or off brands meds then the bigger name brands. They are not on pain meds, just general meds...
Ms. Humpty Dumpty Took a great fall. L1-L2-L3-L4 - S1 & S2 full herniations. Spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, DDD, scoliosis. Knees, hips & spine have degenerative bone disease, arthritis and bone spurs. Age 50 - Here to find & offer support. *Had bilateral knee replacement surgery done March 15th, 2011
I've never notice any change with medications, weather they come from Pharma A or B, so like someone else suggested, those pills were maybe old..
Now that you ladies bring up the subject of Fentanyl patches, let me ask you ask you a question. When you mention Watson's, yeah the gel filled ones, what's the difference with gel filled ones and/or others that are not the same, I do not have a lot of knowledge with pharmaceuticals, and now I am curious.. Thanks!
5 lumbar spinal surgeries (07, 08, 09) including a multi-level/360 fusion and 4 Laminectomies due to fail surgery syndrome and complications. ACDF C5-6 in March of 2010. Right tibia repaired with titanium and screws due to a terrible ankle fracture in Sept. of 2011. Cancer survivor, and mother to 4 human children that are grown and gone, and one 4 legged one.
I've had over 20 surgeries in my life time, including a Thorocotomy to remove part of my left lung (Cancer). I am currently on Fentanyl patch 100 Mcg's, with Dilaudid for break through pain, I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator installed in June of 2008, and it has helped me with my neuropathic pain, but not my mechanical one. I am hoping to get an intrathecal pain pump some time this year, I just moved to the central part of my State, so I am seeing a new PM Doc. I have been on social security disability since my failed lumbar fusions. I am Social Worker,and mostly worked with HIV/AIDS patients and their families. I know that God has a plan for me, but he forgot to send me the memo!
***I am NOT a Doctor, Nurse or medical professional, so whatever advice I give, I give from the heart; so personal experiences,stories, annecdotes, etc. that I might mention here, are based on MY personal experiences, and are not meant to be taken as "Gospel". ALWAYS consult with your Doctor, he knows you best!!"
" Been positive or negative are habits of thoughts that have a very strong influence in life"
Well I see that you are on the patch already. What kind of questions do you have?
A couple of general things are about two years ago most of the manufacturers of the patches switched from a gell filled pouch (Like Watson still uses) to an impregnated adhesive matrix (like a nico derm patch). The medication is not in a gell in a pouch but is combined with the adhesive.
One of the reason for the change was that some of the pouches "leaked" and caused so overdoses of the medication.
Because of this potential almost all manufacturers have now changed to the adhesive matrix formula.
I have actually found the new typ of patch better than the old pouch type. But then I am hypersensitive to changes in meds and delivery methods.
It is also not uncommon to have a day three syndrome in which the efficacy of the patch seems to poop out prior to its switch times.
Read the patient warning insert as there are many situations that this type of med could cause problems such as having one under the waterline in a hot tub - or placing a patch on irritated or broken skin.
It is not unusual to have the patch cause a rash under the patch and also to cause localized itching.
Any other specific questions about the patches ... I will be happy to share my experience(s)
Oh ... I am NOT a lady .... Heck I struggle to be a gentleman!!
Regards,
d