Yet another med switch! Kadian users: talk to me, please!

[Kara Isabel]

I do think my pain management doctor is a GREAT guy! But he gets these "whims" to change treatment plans every few months. I had to go through several months of immense pain to come off the MSContin and take valium and xanax....

Well, after FINALLY putting all his patients back on narcotics after the benzo fiasco, he decided that GENERIC pain meds are WORTHLESS! Okay.

So he decided to UP my dose of the Oramorph (This is what MSContin is a generic of) And it worked GREAT! I was taking 60mg 4X a day and getting FABULOUS rellief and dropped the Norco 7.5 6X a day. WELL.....apparently, the pharmacy made a huge MISTAKE when they filled this the first time, they only charged me $30 co pay. I go to get it filled a few weeks ago and the copay was $360!!!!! NO freaking way! So I call my doctor in a panic and he thinks it just the pharmacy, so writes me a new prescription, plus one for Kadian 100mg 1 a day for 14 days and then increase to 2 a day.

I go ALL OVER TOWN and price the Oramorph and it was between $340-$420 EVERYWHERE! This is for 60 mg 4X a day!! So I decided to fill the Kadian since it was under $200.

So......I am about to be finished with the Oramorph in a few days and start the Kadian. Is there any real difference in the two? Does anyone have experience going from MsContin/Oramorph to kadian?

I'm hoping that the transition will be smooth, but I'm also scared at the same time since I'm getting such good relief right now. And one 100 mg Kadian is alot less than my FOUR 60 mg Oramorph. Ugh.

I honestly, wouldn't mind going back to the MSContin after this fiasco! It really has opened my eyes to how CORRUPT the pharmaceutical industry is and how OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive non-generics are! I feel like they are trying to ROB me and the industry just preys on the SICK! It is SO wrong!

Ramble, ramble, ramble.......

I'd love to hear any positives or negatives on the Kadian.

Thanks and lotsa love,
Kara

[catlover2]

If you decide to continue to take Kadian, Kadian will mail you a coupon every month to lower the cost of the drug. You will save $20 every month. Here is the link to sign up for the coupon.

http://www.kadian.com/pages/getpage.aspx?id=4F94959E-FE71-4158-9276-83A0FF8F2010

[Moonheart]

One HUGE difference I noticed is that he has you on 60mgX4 which is 240mg a day and then he wants you to change to the Kadian which I know is 24hours, but he's dropping you to 100mg a day.

I'd just be careful. How long have you been on 240mg a day now? Because I think you are going to have some withdrawal effects going down to 100mg a day. Of course then you'll go back up to 200mg which is better. Just be careful k hon? You've had so many changes, it's hard to know what your body is feeling.

[SandyRN]

I agree with moonheart...he's dropping your dose by less than half. You need to talk to him ASAP before you make this change. Maybe tell him you HAVE to take generic, and see if they actually work for you....60mg 4x a day is a great dose and sounds very promising, especially if you don't have to take breakthru meds.

Don't let yourself go into withdrawl again...you know how horrible that is!

Let us know what happens.

[Kara Isabel]

Oh gosh, I didn't even really THINK about the drop in dose, because I wasn't sure how the release on the Kadian was? I was sorta thinking, it would be like dropping from 120, to 100........but now that I'm really thinking about it, the drop is alot more! Atleast for the first two weeks.

I know that asking for the generic meds is pointless, because he really doesn't budge on his will unless MANY patients complain, which........I hope they do, then maybe he'll go back to the mscontin.

The oramorph is ALOT better than the mscontin, but SOOOOO very expensive.

They did give me a reusable coupon w/ the Kadian for $50, but the copay is still around $200. Crazy.

My bladder and body is costing me a small fortune.

I think I'll taper down to 3 X a day for the next few days and see if that eases up the withdrawals.

I'm so sick of all this.

Thanks lovelies,
Kara