Xtampza ER and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• In ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

For Chronic Pain "This has to be taken with a fatty, high-calorie meal for it to work correctly, and anyone in pain knows that eating is the last thing you want to do. I’m force-feeding myself, gained 13 pounds in two weeks. Xtampza is making me have uncontrollable diarrhea and gas that I haven’t left home since I started it for fear I would poop myself in public. I get no warning, it just comes out as if I’ve lost control of my bowels. I’ve noticed a few undigested pill capsule shells as well. The nightmares! Last night I was being chased by my mother's ex-husband with a shotgun. I don’t know what happened, but I do know that’s not normal. Overall, this is a horrible medication! It doesn’t work, makes you rapidly gain weight, hurts your tummy, makes you poop your pants, can’t digest the shells, and gives you nightmares... yeah, I’m good... just give me back the meds that work already!"

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I changed pain docs & he immediately changed me from 15mg MS ER to Xtampza 27mg every 12 hours. I also take Percocet 10/325 tid. The MS wasn't working and neither is the Xtampza. I have severe chronic pain due to a near-fatal wreck 3.5 years ago; degloving of my leg, had to have arterial/muscle/skin transplants, back broken at 5 levels, all told I had 35 broken bones and internal injuries, I hurt... bad. IF the Xtampza works at all, it takes 3-4 hours to kick in & only lasts about 2-3 hours if that. I've also gained weight, have mood swings which I've never had before & horrific vivid dreams. Not impressed at all!"

• Hea...
• July 25, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I had failed back syndrome and then surgery to fuse my spine from neck to tailbone. Huge surgery that was supposed to help my quality of life. I have more pain after surgery and my mobility is severely limited for life. Before surgery I was on OxyContin & oxycodone & I could at least have a life. Then I was switched to Xtampza - this is not working. Politics see me as a drug seeker so I must take the most tamper-proof drug out there whether it relieves pain or not. Xtampza does not. I have gained 15 pounds since starting this med and my quality of life is pitiful. Prescribers are most concerned about MMEs (morphine mg equivalents) and not at all about our ADLs (activities of daily living). It looks like I am taking a huge amount of opioids while I can only absorb a fraction of the med because I cannot force myself to eat enough to get any relief. The last thing that back pain sufferers need is obesity."

• Nyt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For Chronic Pain "This drug made my nightmare even worse. In the 5 months I was on it, it caused me to gain nearly 60 pounds! Over 10 pounds a month! I had to literally buy bigger clothes every 2 weeks. Thank goodness for thrift stores! As for the pain relief, it didn't do as well as the Opana that I was on prior to the Xtampza. Then Opana was pulled from the market suddenly, though, supposedly in the reaction to the 'opioid crisis,' so I needed something to replace it, and the doctors gave me Xtampza that fall. I suffered with worse pain relief and rapid weight gain for 5 months, until they finally switched me to something else! I would not suggest this medicine to my worse enemy! You may not suffer from the extreme weight gain like I did. You may get better pain relief than I did. But beware, because some of us have *awful* side effects from this stuff!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I'm not getting any relief from this medication. My doctor prescribed the 9 to be taken twice a day. Since I also take oxycodone 10, three times a day, the doctor said it would be the equivalent to the oxy 10 but last around the clock. Also, I was wondering if anyone has noticed weight gain. I have put on 30 pounds in a matter of months, which I have never done before. Maybe it's my system or too low of a dose, but my doctor will not up it for anyone. I have also had a lot of crazy dreams, and my blood pressure has gone up quite high, causing me to be put on medication for it."

• 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?"

• LDM...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 26, 2022

For Chronic Pain "Have been on 40 mg ER of OxyContin 2 x a day, along with ten Percocet 10/325 and many other drugs for severe chronic pain for 20+ years. Was made to switch to Xtampza 36 ER 2x a day and 5 Percocet. The Xtampza ER is worthless! Shame on whoever decides that a drug works or does not, as every individual person's body is different, as are their diseases. For people who are responsible and do not have a life without adequate pain relief, you are making us prisoners in our own bodies. Even with OxyContin 40 ER 2x a day and all the other meds, most of us still suffer plenty. I am not even 60 and can hardly move with new drug changes. Have had over 40 surgeries and am full of hardware. I do not like having to eat the high fat with Xtampza twice a day. When you are in severe to debilitating pain, you have no appetite. I am probably 10 pounds overweight but do not need to carry any more weight with eating high fat twice a day, as I eat healthy. Suicide rates will increase with this new drug."