Has anyone heard anything about there not being a generic for oxycontin?

Joe,

Fortunately, we aren't having the same issues as Clara...But I could see how it could be a major issue for those who's insurance doesn't want to cover it...There are other long acting drugs out there...but Oxycontin seems to be the drug of choice for oncologists. They will have to work this out somehow...It will become increasing difficult for them to try and market a drug that insurance companies don't cover, and Dr's will just start writing prescriptions for something else because the prices will be to high for most...The Drug Companies will be on the losing end of this if they don't come to a compromise of some kind...

Karen

Karen I couldn't agree with you more my script is for 180 per month 6 times daily with the 30mgs. One time I had to go to another pharmacy because they didn't have my amount and the girl seeing 180 looked at me like I was a drug addict and made an uncalled for comment and I told her if you got a problem here pick up the phone and call my Dr I'll tell you some people (actually I said more then that lol). But when Prilosec came out with OTC that's all it took and my insurance denied paying for my Prevacid which worked the best for me. I had my PD write a letter of necessity to no avail. This whole deal is a bunch of crap. If you try to get the name brand we all get the generics correct. Now the makers of Oyxcotin are saying there are too many generics and it is in court right now per my pharmacist makes absolutely no sense. These insurance and drug companies are all whacked. I called the pharmacy first for Clara but also to see where I stood being June is coming up and my pharmacist said that I was ok getting the 30mgs Oyxcodone because they are not fighting that for the generic brand which also makes no sense.What I do if I am having severe pain on a certain day is take 2 30's three times a day. Maybe the only way around this is to ask your PD for the 30mgs Oyxcodone and then try to get Percoset or something in that category for break through pain that's all I can suggest at this time. > Insurance Co's, Joe

www.backpain-guide.com/Tables/3_NarcPain.html maybe some break through meds here that you can still get the generics

Joe,

Your information is correct. The problem when someone has Metastatic Disease (or possible severe pain for some other reasons) is that the pain becomes so uncontrollable that they require it as often as ever hour or two. The Dr's try to switch to the Slow Release because the patients cannot get any rest when they have to wake up ever hr. or two in pain. They work the same way...but the SR obviously slowly dissolves giving extended relief even in the same dosage as the regular. There is a need for both drugs. For instance if you take the regular Oxycodone 2-6 times a day that is do-able...but if you need it 12-14 times a day...it is exhausting for the patient, (and caregiver) and the ultimate goal here is pain management. It is cruel to let a patient have be on that constant roller coaster ride of pain-then relief-then pain again- then relief. The consistency is what is important. It is an art and a science to get the dosage right without causing a state of constant sedation...

Thanks for the info!!
Karen

OxyContin (the name is actually short for Oxycodone Continuous release)

Oxycodone is synthesized from thebaine. Like morphine and hydromorphone, oxycodone is used as an analgesic. It is effective orally and is marketed alone in 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg controlled-release tablets (OxyContin®), or 5 mg immediate-release capsules




Generic Name: Oxycodone Immediate Release
Strength: 30 mg
Manufacturer: Qualitest Pharmaceuticals
Trade Name: N/A
Type: Analgesic
Class: RX, CII
Comment: Image courtesy of LocoMente. Imprint V4812




Generic Name: Oxycodone Controlled Release
Strength: 30 mg
Manufacturer: Purdue Pharma
Trade Name: OxyContin
Type: Analgesic
Class: RX, CII
Comment: Image courtesy of Enigmuh. Imprint OC30




Those blue pills are the exact ones I take there is no 30mg slow release.This is just one of those confusing drugs and that is why I asked questions with the pharmacist tonight at Rite Aid for the difference between the two. Clara the pharmacist did say you were correct on the 20mgs Oyxcotin you can no longer get the generics. Now I did ask about the 30 mgs Oyxcodone and he told me I am ok with these it is the Oyxcotin they are fighting over. I once was on Oyxcotin (80mgs 2x daily) but they were so tiny I kept dropping them on the floor and I didn't want my Golden Retriever to get hooked. The last question I asked once again to the pharmacist is the only difference between the 2 drugs is one is SR and that is the Oyxcotin and Oycodone is the fast release one and his reply was yes they have the same ingredients but you pay more for the SR-slow release. Now I have had two different people tell me the same thing about these 2 drugs and that is my PD of 15 years and the Pharmacist at Rite Aid. If you see a link and they are saying SR Oycodone they are referring to to Oxycotin. They both have the same generic names and this is the point I am trying to get through slow release and fast release. So Clara is having problems getting Oyxcotin (20mgs) because they are SR and I am having no problems getting Oyxcodone (30mgs) fast release. Joe

Well actually there is both...there is Oxycodone controlled release, or extended release, which is taken every l2 hours, and is the generic for Oxycontin. Then there is Oxycodone immediate release, taken every 6 or so hours........Pat

But like i said some drugstores still have a stockpile of the generic...you just have to call around to all legit pharmacies and hope you aren't getting anything from China.......

Clara...call another pharmacy and see if anyone has a stockpile of it still left...they have until December to keep selling the generic. Purdue asserted that all the generics infringe on its patent and sued. Someone might still have it...but i'm sure that Purdue will drive up the price of their drug anyway. Brand names of oxycodone are Percocet, Roxicet, Tylox, and Endocet. I'm not sure what the insurance companies will do about this..i'm sure it will vary from company to company .. but when a generic is not available they should allow a reduction on the brand name.
Hope this helps..........Pat