Xtampza ER and Headaches: What Users Say

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2020

For Chronic Pain "After taking MS Contin for 5 years, I thought it was losing effectiveness and made the mistake of telling my doctor this. He switched me to this Xtampza ER. Horrible drug. It made me sick to my stomach, headachy, general malaise physically, anxious, and somewhat depressed. It wasn't any more effective than the MS Contin, and the pain relief it gave me wore off in 4 hours. Due to the side effects, I had no life. I didn't feel well enough to do simple things like go to the grocery store, do dishes, etc., which the MS Contin allowed me to do. I was taking it for 2 weeks, and the symptoms were getting worse, not better. I just wanted my old medicine back, and it was a big struggle to get it back. I got the sense from my doctor that this Xtampza ER was the king of pain medication. For me, it was far from that."

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2019

For Chronic Pain "In a word...awful. I've been on 2x18mg Xtampza ER for over a month now, after my sadistic insurance co refused to cover OxyContin, which I've been taking 2x20mg since 07 for severe pelvic floor pain. While Xtampza is designed to avert abuse, it most definitely is not designed for any credible chronic pain relief. First and foremost, it's doing very little for my pain. It takes FOREVER, like 2+ hours(!), to work, and lasts 3-4 hours, at best. I'm being generous saying it 'works', since it barely takes the edge off my pain. I still have to take breakthrough meds, even while this junk is supposed to be in full effect. I regularly experience strong side effects described by other reviews, including headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, and high anxiety. It's amusing to hear the claims of this med being 'exactly the same' as OxyContin - the one thing that actually worked."

• Che...
• September 13, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I too was forced to use something other than MS Contin. Xtampza was chosen, and I suffered through it for 3 weeks before calling my physician in tears to let him know that I had no relief whatsoever from the pain, and as well, I was experiencing headaches, diarrhea, and deeper depression. I was then given a prescription for Belbuca film. Would have liked to try it, but insurance doesn't cover it, and it costs $475 a month! What are we to do???"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Moved and had to change doctor. Was given Xtampza twice daily. I have found this medication horrible. It does not work on a consistent level, any relief that it gives quickly fades. Twelve-hour relief is a joke, maybe six to seven hours. Blood pressure has gone up, needed to increase my atenolol 25 mg. Nausea soon becomes a constant companion, with headaches to add to the original chronic pain. This has been my experience, I also see many others have issues with this medication."

• Rlz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2022

For Chronic Pain "This is a horrible medication, it's tearing my stomach up, and I already recently was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer a few months back. I had been recovering, and now my stomach hurts again, plus I'm having several gallbladder attacks every day due to having to eat high-fat food trying to get it to work, which it doesn't anyway. I'm tired of being treated like an addict by insurance companies, etc. In 16 years, I have NEVER abused my medicine, and these insurance companies just assume pain patients all abuse pain meds. This Xtampza causes constant headache, general malaise, dizziness sometimes, nervousness sometimes, and I have body aches in places I haven't hurt before, like severe cramps in my toes. I feel withdrawn, like it takes all I have to have a conversation. They need to worry about the fentanyl coming across the border and leave us pain patients that have no red flags of abusing their medicine alone!!!"

• Fee...
• April 25, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Since I was just switched to Xtampza ER on 4-19-19 and have been taking 9 mg twice daily for a week. So I really can't say too much other than I have had headaches daily starting one day after starting the medication and has not let up yet. I was told that this drug would last longer than my current medication, which was OxyContin 10 mg twice daily. So far, neither has lasted the 12 hours as it claims. I am lucky to get 5 to 6 hours of relief per dose. Neither gave me complete pain relief, but some was better than none. My pharmacy said they have never had anyone prescribed this medication before me. I was lucky enough to get my script at my monthly doctor visit. The pharmacy had to special order the medication but could not order it until they got a prior authorization from the doctor or my insurance would not process. At this point, I do not feel that I am getting the relief I was getting previously as far as the length of time. I was down for 2 days with a bad headache out of the 7 days on this medication."

• Anonymous
• January 10, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Very disappointed. Was on morphine sulfate 100 mg. My doctor wanted me to try Xtampza. Not impressed. They just gave me headaches and stomach pain with no relief from my chronic pain, plus with insurance, it cost me $273.00. Will not use this again."

• Inj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

For Chronic Pain "This product should not even be on the pain medication list for doctors. Nothing but nausea, headache, anxiety, and added pain!!! Don’t waste your money because most insurance doesn’t cover it!!! GARBAGE!!!"

• Dal...
• November 9, 2017

For Chronic Pain "My last post was taken down. Been on this for a few months. Honestly, we have to stop changing medicine that works, just because of the small percentage that abuse these drugs. Side effects: dizzy, nausea, severe headaches, which I never had before. I feel numb to the world, tired, and still in pain. Also found out that long-term effects of this drug have still not been studied, and there is a euphoric blocker in these that stops you from experiencing well-being. I get it, the well-being is what addicts crave, but for people in chronic pain, well-being is a good pain reliever, as moods affect our pain. The medication is supposed to last 12 hours, they don't, they last about 5-6 hours. It also only takes the edge off the pain."

• Pat...
• November 2, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Been on this for months, just don't understand why I'm having side effects, as my doctor says everything is the same, just time release. The first 4 weeks, headaches so severe I couldn't put in a full day. I'm a secretary, so on the computer screen all day. This is what gave me the headaches I believe, along with meds. I also got very nauseous, dizzy, and extremely moody. I put on 20 pounds once I was told to eat a fatty diet with this meal, as I guess the fats help break down the medicine, doctor never told me this, but helped a lot with being sick all the time. Doctor finally listened, as I was tired of being in a cloud all day. Also, anxiety and sleeplessness... This medicine may work for some, just not me."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2025

For Chronic Pain "A placebo could be more effective than this medication! Currently, there is a national shortage of MS-ER, causing my pain specialist to prescribe this useless medication. 5 years ago, the same doctor prescribed Xtampza ER, and I couldn’t function due to the excruciating pain 24/7! He actually admitted aloud that it was a huge mistake, so why I have been prescribed this yet again defies all logic and proper medical treatment. 18 mg, twice daily. An OTC Tylenol is more effective; in other words, it does not do anything to relieve ANY pain, but it certainly caused headaches, nausea, vivid nightmares, and extreme fatigue! Why is this medication still on the market? Very expensive, worthless for pain relief! I am currently unable to get out of bed, and my pain level is off the charts…"

• Dia...
• April 21, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I have constant, chronic severe facial pain from a head and neck injury that was recently helped in a major way with stimulator implant surgery in Denver. Still need pain meds but much lower dose. Forced to use this drug through the insurance company's refusal to continue providing Oxy ER. Was put on Xtampza for about 2.5 months, gained 25 pounds fast without changing diet, extreme headaches with pressure like never before, every joint hurt. Doctor said to maintain 18 mg/2x day dose anyway. Took one more week, gained 5 pounds more, and said enough. Got off it using leftover fast-acting, now down to just occasional doses for severe breakthrough pain. Found out all my allergies and general body aches the past 13 years have been due to pain meds and my body's reaction to them, so once I'm off, symptoms disappear. Wouldn't have known that without Xtampza, but my headaches aren't easing after being off it for a month, plus going off Topiramate. Will these headaches ever get better, or is this my new normal?"

• Bog...
• December 5, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Causing horrible headaches and nausea."