Oxycontin side effects on new OP?

Hello everyone, I too have been on oxycontin for over 2 years and what a complete difference in my life. I was back to doing the normal things I did with my family and even work. I fractured my spine 95 and have herniated discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease and just last year my doctor says it is also Fibromyalgia from all the trauma. The pain was just everywhere. I had a spinal fusion in 96 leaving me with 4 screws 2 bolts and a piece of my hip to hold my spine together. I have tried all types of steroid injections, therapy, vicoden, percocet, patches and they really made me feel terribly awful. Finally, my doctor found something that really worked for me. I did not even have to take the break though meds. I am now very scared as I am experiencing what I am reading, not all the symptoms but some and they are very bothersome especially the headaches and increased pain, stiffness and cold like symptoms. Addicts make it impossible to have SEVERE PAIN or any pain at all.

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If they cannot figure out a way to abuse the new substance then they will move on to the next drug so I can't understand why punish us who take the medication as DIRECTED and NEEDED to live our lives normally. This is just awful and I cannot believe that we have to experience this as if we don’t have enough to deal with.
Please FDA or whoever is responsible; give us our life back!

My name is Carolyn from Milwaukee, WI and I too have been taking original OC's(oxycontin) for pain control for years due to multiple failed spine fusion surgeries resulting in chronic pain disorder. I started taking the new reformulation in September. I thought in the begining the sickness was because of the change but that is no longer the case; now it is two months later and I am still staying sick. Last August I underwent Gastric Bypass surgery for weight loss to relieve some of the pressure off my spine and I will always have to take vitamin supplements to keep therapeutic levels.

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Since taking the new reformulation all I do is throw-up not only the pain meds but my supplements as well. My body stays weak all the time and I have started have much more spinal pain, problems with leg spasm's, headaches, and constant throwing-up after taking this new form. This is not good or healthy for my new stomach or my severe spinal pain. It is not fair for the FDA or Drug Companies to injure or insult everyone because some choose to be stupid. When I talked to my pharmacist about my symtoms he informed me that this is occuring with qute a few of his patients and this formulation needs to be recalled because its's hurting more than helping.
I was doing fine until this abrupt change instead of trying to weed out the abusers by doing weekly lab testing for therapeutic levels. They punished everyone, even-though the original helped alot of people who suffers with daily pain like myself. This was the only thing that helped due to my allergies to most meds and now I just stay sick all the time. I even went to my doctor this month and we lowered the milligrams to see if that would help and still no change, the pain is worse, and i'm still sick.
I guess they donot care about the sick as long as they cater to a section of society that chooses to categorize everyone as being guilty of illegal behavior. I take this as an insult to my character as well as my health, because I have never abused drugs or alcohol in my life mainly due to my dislike for either. Until I became sick from a serious injury resulting from a work related injury, I never took anything more than a regular Tylenol or Alleve.
Things have changed in my life because of my injuries. I'm not ashamed to say I need the medication to help me with pain control daily in my life. It helps me be more mobile and independant because it removes the pain element that keeps me miserable and unable to participate in everyday joys because I hurt all the time. I have never complained about any treatment prescribed by my doctors' until now for we have always had a good relationship and their concern about my medical needs
. Please! I ask everyone involved not to develope a one quick fix for everyone and everything. You are hurting the ones you are supposed to help, I mean this is why we pay high prescription drug cost, and high health insurance premiums to receive the best possible care. We are not supposed to suffer because you cannot police the corrupted entities in society. People doing bad things will find a way no matter what, so what are you going to do next, remove or replace all medicine that have addicted behavior? After all, that is an individual choice to abuse or not.
Thank you

I too started having what I thought were flu like symptoms including hot flashes, much fatigue, along with stomach aches/pain, when I started the OP version. I thought I had a virus of some sort.

* I had thought I had a new compression fracture because of new/worse back pain, so had an MRI done. No new fracture. Just more pain. ( It took me about 3 weeks more before I connected the problems I was having with the new formula.)

* 2 months later and I still have severe pain flares that lasts all day until I take enough break-through meds to cover what I'm not getting from the same dosage of the new OP version.

* It almost seems like it's working less well than it was at first.

* The pain coverage is inconsistent.

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*The OP stop covering pain abruptly. So I can easily go into another flare if I don't pay enough attention to pain levels through-out the day. A conversation on the phone distracts me enough that I can be in a flare when I'm done talking a half hour later. And you know what they say about
"chasing the pain". Not a good thing to do, so now I have made the mistake of taking an extra break-through med at the first sign of a flare, when sometimes it turns out I did not need it and am over-medicated.

This is so sad. Like so many others it took years to find a combination of medications that helped the pain but where I could still function well.
I am highly medication sensitive so options are extremely limited.
I have no idea what dosage I would need to go up to, to get the same relief, even if I could afford it!

Some people say they find them in the toilet. I haven't yet, but something is keeping my body from absorbing the medicine in the manner they were intended for.

My doctor is against Opana, the only pain medicine I have not tried yet, and I can not function on the other pain medicines.

I too think it is a good idea to let the FDA know about problems, but remember they won't go back to the old formula, they will simply take this off the market.

Those abusers you make me so angry!

Can we talk the truth here? Probably not, because at least 98% of Americans are drug users and yet quickly and absolutely deny their drug use. Instead Americans all sing the following insane little ditty, "My drug's better than your drug. My drug's better than yours! My drug's better because I say so! My drug's better than yours." Or the ever popular "Oh my drug is not a drug." Yes that's the truly insane attitude Americans have concerning their drug use. If you have a problem understanding that at least 98% of Americans are drug users, kids included, well then I have a little wake up call for you. All drugs, are drugs, are drugs, are drugs, and drugs are U.S. Still not getting it? Well go have a Coke, or a cup of coffee, or a soda pop, an aspirin or Tylenol, or how about an alcoholic drink or cigarette to help you THINK! Alcohol and cigarettes the two most deadly drugs are legal.

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Or how about "Yep my drug's better than yours because Uncle Sam says so? Well a snappy sieg heil to you and Uncle Sam, and please pick up your brain at the government hat check stand. And what does legal versus illegal mean? It means nothing as to availability as all drugs are available everywhere. So what does legal really mean? It means Government v gang or Black opps. distribution and control (See Iran Contra, Air America etc.). So ponder me this, why are the two most deadly drugs legal but the Government gives distribution rights for controlled substances to gangs and Black opps.? Or how about this, a woman can rip a living child from her womb under the principle of control over her own body but the government gets to control my blood chemistry? PLEASE EXPLAIN! Do you really want the Government controlling your reproductive organs and blood chemistry?

Jon Marsh, I completely agree with your post here. I know after 11 1/2yrs as a chronic pain sufferer/survivor that ALL drugs be it legal or not are bad for us esp in the long run. We are all so different in our pain as well so what works for one may be the worst option for another.
I don't believe pain meds are the only answer to chronic pain however after going off of the original Oxy last year for over 3mos last year and recently having to have med changes due to no generic version of the OC and going without a stronger opiate for a while, I have realized the quality of life taking these dangerous meds give to me and many others.

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Even though I did withdrawal just like an addict last year doesn't mean I am one; if anything I realize that the disease that causes my spreading nerve pain disease is far worse than I knew and fully believe that once on something that helps usually no more than 60/70% if that, there is NO reason to keep upping the dose as there is NO pain med that takes all of the pain away. As responsible Chronic Pain patients we must take meds as prescribed not taking more or continually upping doses.
There is a plant that is so natural that I feel is the best for pain and the safest. It was why I was able to stay on the same dose of the original OC for over 9yrs refusing increases offered by doctors many times over as I also refused to take all of them daily.
I did however recently realize after being switched to a dose of Kadian that is more than what I took on the Oxycontin that I stayed way under medicated for a few years due to my fear of prescription meds and knowing the long term consequences. Now I'm down to ONE pill a day with little breakthrough meds like before.
I now feel thankful that Purdue messed this med up as I am getting better pain relief than I ever have after being allergic to most long acting opiates.
I HATE taking medications but if I had Diabetes, Cancer, Heart Disease, HBP etc, I would be taking other dangerous meds; just different ones.
I realize the meds will harm my body more than the disease itself but finding out that "some" quality of life is given if I do take them is by far priceless even if it cuts a few years off of my life span as I'd rather have enough life to help others, help myself and family, go to church having about 10 to 15 hours a week with pain relief vs NO time at all and going from a cane to a wheelchair than to be trapped in a body that doesn't work without the meds at all and end up bedridden.
This comes down to a choice we have to make and I also know there are those that feel if they could only take ONE more pill or more than that, they would feel no pain at all which is so not true.
I choose quality over quantity as I have no children but do want to have some type of life even though it's nowhere near the life I had back 1999 & prior to.
Thank you for your comment

ou all have just helped me so much. It wasn't until just recently I thought about see if others might be having issues with the new oc formula. Now that I think back, since I've been on new formula I've been sick, feeling weaker and weaker with stomach issues and I can't seem to think right I've noticed over the last couple of weeks. My pain level is so much worse, and i am angry at pain management dr. that would not try another medication. Pump? No way, my insurance doesn't cover it, the stupid drugs are bad enough. I'm scared about work next week, I feel amost catatonic todaty, and mean. I'm scaring myself, and I don't feel like doing anytthing. I now feel like I'm not alone, but I don't knwo what to do either. Depression has come on in a new form I've never experienced, and I was thinking today about how much longer I can live like this.

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I'm not living, I'm just a drag on everyone, my daughter is getting married and I can't feel one bit of joy. Oh my gosh, what are we going to do. I thought maybe my lower body pain had settled down a bit, and if I could get a Dr. that does what there are supposed to do that might find why my left arm/hand are in such pain and weakness since surgery 2 years ago, just maybe I could wean off medication. Well, nope, I tried going to a craft fair with my sweet mom, and was in agony after only 1/2 hour, same with another weekend, and I feel so bad, she is the most wonderful person, that likes to get out and do things. Now i know why, the medication isn't working. I don't know what is wrong with my thinking, I do not feel right, and this stuff is causing major constipation that I never had before. So much so, i put in earlier post, I was in ER thinking I had a blockage due to weakness, no laxative working, and feeling so irate. I will call that Purdue and complain too, and will get lot number, thank you for telling us this!!!

Hi sweetlemon; when you say the word withdrawal, I must aggree with you 110% You're right on...

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RSDH You say "i'm tired of being Perdue's guinea pig" ! ! You're Not tired of it at all. A few years ago, I could have said... "I'm SICK and tired of being the Allens Co. (Coffee Brandy!) guinea pig, but I didn't and neither did I whine about it. I drank & drugged for another 12 +/- years, (You put it in my hand & it'was gone... "ups or downs"... "fast or slow", in my hand and away i'd go. I was very ,very sick, several times. I had tons of reasons why I couldn't stop. If I heard it, and it sounded good, i'd add it to my many reasons why I couldn't stop... You??? AYUP! I can tell you what my main reason was, and it had nothing to do with drugs or booze, and it was so simple ! ! When you're half way sober, I will tell you my reason(s) and you will have the best LAUGH you've had in years. "Get on the good foot babe",
please... maby We can both share a laugh. Oh yeah, give that wonderful Dr. who gives you every drug etc. that you want, a good swift kick where She's never been kissed, and tell her it's from = (:->) Sacosam I am

I can fill your pain I was on oxycontin 60 three times a day and even though everybody thinks I'm a risk to do anything I'm actually just normal. I still have a pain level of between 6 and 7 even on these meds I also take I think its roxicodone 15 mgs 2 a day for break through pain and those help as well. But as soon as the oxycontin changed my doctor put me on Opana 40 mg 2 times a day I didn't go through really any kind of symptoms when I switched. Opana is supposed to be twice as strong as oxycontin so it should be the same strength as as oxy 80 and I'm here to tell you its more like an oxy 40 because I hurt so bad now I can't get the pain out of my lower back and legs even with the roxicodone which I know a few days I was eating like m&ms sorry to say. I'm glad my doctor did what he did to a point just to save me from being sick but now I'm just in pain.

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I need these Opana's three times a day because they only last for maybe 7 to 8 hours that I actually feel. When I can take them in an overlap I actually feel it and that does wanders for my pain I have done that a couple of times. This month is going to be really rough for me to get through with the way my meds are but by getting that overlap in the meds I actually feel pretty good for about a total of twelve hours and that includes taking my roxicodone twice a day as well. I've been dealing with chronic pain now for over five years and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Yeah everyone says wow look at the meds your on you get live life with a buzz; what they don't understand is we don't do this by choice we do this because its the only way we can deal with the pain our lives are not a party. I'm sure everybody out there who suffers with chronic pain if they had a choice rather to have the meds or a healthy life there's no choice there we would all throw them away in a heart beat if we could. I'm sorry I got off subject but I don't know if you've tried the Opana. They have oxy and have morphine if you could get them three times a day along with the opana 10mg instant release they might help because that's what I'm going to tell my doctor I need I'm just suffering now thanks to what Purdue did and my doctor already knew they weren't any good and tried to do what was best for me that I appreciate.

What generic? There aren't any generic oxycontin anymore. They were all taken off the market because of similar problems, the fillers. As far as the congestion feelings, It's the OP because I am having the same problem, I've got a case of constant flu feelings among other side effects. Also, my doctor told me because of my problems with other opiates (morphine, etc.) there isn't anything else for me to take at the moment. As far as the oxycodone, also known as IR, I take them for breakthrough, they would not be sufficient for my chronic pain as a main drug because they aren't as long lasting, therefore, the IR (immediate release). I also pray that something is done soon. I would also like to comment, and this is from my husband's doctor, that the number one abused opiate is, now take a guess, Vicodin! Not oxycontin.

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Vicodin is at the top of the list, oxycontin comes in at around number 3 or 4! This doctor was quite surprised with this, but , I told him I was not surprised. With the research I have done myself, I found that most abusers are after vicodin and tons of them!

Wow have we had similar experiences with people that don't understand or feel we are "so lucky to get these meds" when we hate to have to take them to begin with.
I stopped telling people what I get unless in a support group like this and also had many people cut out of my own life either by choice or they would not understand to the point of asking why I couldn't do the things I used to and would stop calling me or even caring about me.
Steve, there is a wonderful support group if you join Face Book and go to the RSDSA site there. There are many others both men and women who are suffering and very understanding and compassionate.
I highly suggest you make your profile as private as possible if you do this though.
Also you can go to rsdsa.org and rsdhope.org as they are very informative with any medical trials and other information that could possibly help you.

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I highly respect both and am happy to have found the support group on FB.
I am on there any day I can stay on the pc long enough and at over 11yrs now with RSD, I try to help others who haven't had it as long and are struggling with depression and the pain.
Somehow other than being so sick on the new OP Oxycontin, I have learned to deal with RSD enough to help depression and even learning how to live WITH the pain and not allow the disease to define who I am anymore.
Please join us as I think you will be very happy you did so as we all need someone to understand us when others just can't, don't, and won't.
You will find this site on FB through the I like section and be able to post questions and talk to others going through the same things you are.
If you have any problems finding it, let me know.
I'm going to add you as a friend on here so you can privately email me here.
Sincerely,
Rhonda, IN

Lizabell, I hope that you can get better but I didn't. After day 25 I could take no more; had a few of my old ones left and began taking one less a day than I'm used to but after one dose of the old only, I felt completely different, got better, wasn't sick at all.
No, we can't the old back right now and if we ever do, it could take a long time but I was given the generic that only comes in 10mgs and 40mgs and I know it's made the way the old kind was but not as effective as the brand name; Ethex makes the same thing and it's done through the same co. Purdue and off labeled Ethex Oxycodone ER and it won't make you sick.
I hope you either can get adjusted or get off of them having something that won't make you so sick like it did me and many others.
Watch out especially for constipation and/or nausea. Take something for it; ask your doctor for something but don't suffer.

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To take one dose of the old and all the flu symptoms go away within 3 hours or less was proof to me that now Purdue is just making us all sick.

lizzabell and anyone being treated badly by doctors/pharmacist over questioning new OP Oxycontin/side effects;
You shouldn't have been treated that way. I go to a Walgreen's that I've went to through the entire 11 1/2yrs of RSD. My pharmacist has been extremely helpful in finding me the remaining quantities of the generic that is no longer being made as Ethex closed due to errors in other generic medications; not their version of Oxycontin.
Your pharmacist should be more willing to help you as my own has. Because of my long list of allergic reactions to all other strong opiates, he has gone beyond his duty by telling me he couldn't think of one of any of the long acting opiates that I could be put on to replace Oxycontin. Of course I didn't want to hear that but his help along with my doctor working together are trying to find a medication I can take starting next month.

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If your own pharmacist is treating you like a drug seeker, I would be finding another pharmacy just as if it was a doctor treating people that way.
You and others can't help what has happened due to no fault of our own and we are supposed to ask our pharmacist questions that they should be able to answer.
If this was a diabetic medication causing such bad side effects, no pharmacist would be treating that person as if they were drug seeking.
That would be cause to take my business elsewhere.