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Generic OxyContin Discontinued?

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Posted 2/26/2008 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I haven't been around much lately but I've been thinking good thoughts for all of you and hoping that your days have been as good as can be.

Last week, I saw my Pain Doc and got my script refills for the net 60 days. The next day, I received a letter from Express scripts explaining that the FDA had discontinuing the approval for all the manufacturers of generic OxyContin. This means that now, only the name brand will be available, so I will have a much higher co-pay. I've search the internet, the FDA website and several Pain websites that I frequent and haven't seen anything about this anywhere. Sooo, I was wondering if this has come up for anyone else. 

Express scripts is among the largest of the mail in prescription pharmacies, so if I got this letter, others must have too, right? ANd if the FDA really did discontinue the manufacture of generic Oxy, shouldn't there be info about it on the net?

Anyway, just wonderin', since I'm obviously not sleeping AGAIN. Sigh.

Be well everyone!

Posted 2/26/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Keah!

If you go to the Purdue (the makers of Oxycontin) website, they have information regarding the law suit. Apparently, Purdue sued the companies making the generics, stating that it was still under patent.

Since all the generics are now off the market, everyone has to buy the name brand. The main problem is that there is a MAJOR Oxycontin shortage. Some areas are being hit REALLY hard. My pharmacist (Florida) has been trying to get the in stock for a couple of weeks now.

I wish you the best and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Take care,
Shortcake
Posted 2/26/2008 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
this was back last year anyway

Posted 2/27/2008 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, generics are no longer made sad. Once the stockpiles of generics are gone, we will all have to get name brand. I use the same pharmacy every time and they finally ran out! I could go to another one who still has them, but I prefer to just stick to my normal one. They actually gave me a coupon that's good for 5 prescriptions, and it takes my co-pay down to $10 (my generic co-pay was $8), so it's not costing me much more. I have found that the Purdue oxys give me longer lasting effects!! I'm not sure if it's a plecbo effect or what, but it really seems to last longer. It also tastes funny. Right when I get it next to my mouth I start to taste this funny glue like taste (or maybe paste.... am I the only one who ate paste in kindergarten?).
Posted 2/27/2008 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Well, we get slapped again! I just refilled last week and got generics but my copay will go up to $40/month. Like I can afford that!?! It is wise to stay with the same pharmacy, for those who may not know. Going from one to another flags you as 'suspicous'. And what's wrong with eating paste in kindergarten??? I could make an entire meal of the stuff. mmmmmm...lol

Chutzie
Posted 2/27/2008 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I don't take the Oxy....but I did eat paste, and not just in kindergarten....I think I actually did it again when my kids started school!! Just couldn't resist that pepperminty smell........ahh, the memories.
Posted 2/27/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Keah, so sorry to hear aboyt this situation. Oh yes, I am struggling with higher co-pays this yr on my medications. Mine went from $5 no matter what, name brand or generic to $10 generic and $35 name brand. My problems is most of meds do not have a generic available. I could just cry. I am trying to get online with our ins to find out the formulary guides and see what I can come up with. I will be asking my pain dr tomorrow to switch me from Lexapro to Celexa, it has the same properties and is available in generic. Its sad we have to be bothered with this crap. I have looked for you on the cd forum and was wondering how you are doing. Please let me knoe. How are you doing with being off work? Hugs, Susie
Posted 3/6/2008 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Wow! I can't believe that a whole week has gone by so quickly. Things have just been so hectic and I've run out of pain meds on top of it all. Sigh. I was hoping that my refills would come through quickly but Express scripts still doesn't have the order listed under my account. I'm going to have to get my Doc to write me a few days worth to get me through which means I'll have to pay the FULL cost. Since I've been using the mail in program, I've only had to pay a co-pay, but at a pharmacy, I have a deductible. Just what i need, another expense when I am barely keeping up with my co-pays, bills and gas.

Susie, I hear ya about having to switch meds because of the costs. I get my meds in 60 day supplies and have several that have $40.00 co-pays. Express-scripts is kind enough to allow me internet access to my med list only if my current balance is below $150.00. Well, heck, that's like almost NEVER! This change in Oxycontin just adds another med to the $40.00 list. Then there are the antibiotics that I need to keep available as back up because I'm immunosuppressed. Most of those are $40, and the Pentasa, which I could easily purchase at my local pharmacy for $135 per month and that's AFTER the deductible is met. But hey, one mont h of that should meet my deductible! LOL

You asked how I'm doing being out of work. Can you imagine that it's now 2 1/2 years since I had to stop working? Meanwhile, my Docs are still arguing about my Dx and I've had several new ones tacked on, including a genetic disease called Hemochromatosis. Apparently, my intestines allow too much iron to be absorbed and then my body deposits the excess in my organs, joints and other tissues. Now they're wondering if this is not the root of my problems. At this point, I don't even care! I just want to feel better and I'd really like them to make a decision because I have finally at least gotten them to agree that I should apply for SSDI. It's almost pathetic that my Primary, PM and Rheumy all code my chart as Crohn's, but the GI is still calling it "Keah's Disease".

I'm now convinced that my pain meds aren't doing much for me. I've been down to 1 pill a day for the last 3 days and I'm usually at 2 twice a day. I've got absolutely no symptoms of withdrawl, so I seriously suspect that I've hit a level of tolerance after being at this dose for the last 3 years. I just kept on taking my meds and assumed the pain was getting worse, Silly Me!

UUUGGHH! I had forgotten how nice this place is, to be able to talk about what's happening to me and have people really understand what I mean. I just hope that all the other things in my life will allow me to keep getting back here again.

Thank s for listening.

Posted 3/6/2008 8:47 AM (GMT 0)

Have any of you tried the partnership program Purdue has to get your meds for free from them?

Their web site has a link to the  app and all they can do is say you dont qualify and if you d and looks as if alot of you do then there is no cost for your meds and they are shipped via the company to you or your Docs office each month.

Please take advantage of the app and program is there is no sense in any of us havingto try to stay out of pain and decide between it and eating each month.

They devised the program back when there was no generic and now they will be seeing an increase in the numbers of folks using it again I guess.

This is a big soap box for Montel Willaims who spends lots and lots of money each year to support this partnership program and it isnt just Purdue either folks all most all of the pharmacuetical companies participate with any meds that are new and on the higher end of the cost scale.

I have family members that use the program and have for years and they otherwise wouldnt be able to afford teh better meds they take.

I also have several friends at  other sites that get oxy via this program and pay nothing out of pocket and have for years.

Posted 3/6/2008 9:08 AM (GMT 0)
Ruth, that's an excelent idea, unfortunately, anyone who has prescription insurance of any type does not usually qualify for the PPA programs. They also have pretty tight income restrictions. It is definitely worth looking into though, especially for those who are uninsured.
Posted 5/20/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
bumping this up for review
Posted 5/21/2008 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
The reason that you all are experiencing this is because of the original lawsuit filed by the government against Purdue. When the jury found for an award/fine of $600 million against the company, the company had to take action to save itself. What is truly ridiculous is that the reason Purdue was sued was because large numbers of people that had obtained OxyContin illegaly overdosed and died when they stripped the time release coating off. So, because these people broke the law and obtained and abused a prescription medication illegally, you all that take Oxycontin are going to pay for it until the patent wears off or one of these generic producing companies realizes that they can produce a generic time release oxycodone product without infringing on Purdue's patent.
Posted 5/21/2008 8:22 AM (GMT 0)
I hope they dont switch to generics too quickly, though the co-pays may have gone down because my prescription only cost $60 and in the past I've had to pay up to $150 for the generic. Dont know if my insurance just fluctuates because of hitting the yearly amount they will cover.

Hope the co-pay really did go down for everyone...thats probably wishful thinking hu?
Posted 5/21/2008 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
My pharmacy just got hit with the Oxycontin shortage. Luckily I didn't have to wait too long to fill my monthly script. Some areas of the country are indeed being hit hard by this. As for the ruling that no more generic Oxycontin will be allowed I can't say I'm unhappy about it.

My Medicare part D plan pays for the name brand and I've been taking it for sometime now. However, before I had medicare I was on my state's Medicaid plan and they would not cover the name brand for me under any circumstance. No matter how many times my physician would fill out and send in a PA order they (Medicaid) they would still deny it for some foolish reason. So I had to use the generic and let me tell you I thought they were terrible especially the version from Endo pharmaceuticals.

I do feel for everyone who has to pay more for this medication but on the bright side (at least from my experience) the name brand works much better.

Post Edited (quahog) : 5/23/2008 12:18:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/23/2008 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
In Ontario only Name brand Oxy's are given from my own experience and others that get them as well

I have asked others and they all say the same that they only rec name brand Oxycontin and yes it is expensive.......
Posted 5/23/2008 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Iagree the generic was terrible. The first one I took was round and that one wasnt so bad but the oblong football looking one was awful. Defenitly a diffrence for me!
Posted 7/14/2009 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I went to my pharmacy last week and they told me there is no more generic oxycotin being made. I had to but name brand, and see no difference between the two.

Posted 7/14/2009 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
is oxycontin an expensive drug? just got an rx for it?
Posted 7/14/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Air,
Welcome to the Chronic Pain forum of Healing Well. If you read all the posts in this thread you'll understand why there's no more generic oxycontin. It's a patent issue, although I do believe they were allowing one manufacuturer (Mallincroft sp?) to continue making it for a time.

Merry - as to the cost, it will depend on your insurance coverage.

PaLady
Posted 7/14/2009 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
I hadn't heard this before. Big bunch of BS IMHO as oxycodone, which all oxycontin is other than "fillers", is used is Percocet as well as it's oxycodone/aspirin counterpart (Percodan) which is not made by Purdue and are available in generic form currently. I also don't really know how a company can hold a patent on a drug that was first made in 1916.
Posted 7/14/2009 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Jim,
If you go to the websites of the manufacturer you will see it's not BS. Oxycontin is not just oxycondone with fillers. The extended release formulation IS still under patent.

Air & Merry - please be aware this is an older thread, started in 2008. However, the info. is still valid. I was just on Purdue's website checking for prescription assistance, and saw an update from late in 2008 about them making some agreement with Mallincroft, but the patent has not yet expired on oxycontin.

PaLady
Posted 9/12/2009 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
My wife has had a hard time getting her scripps filled also. The 20mgs are pretty much gone. Our share of the last script was $205.  Our medicare ins. will not cover non generic fully. I am really scared. When the 80mgs are gone we will be in big trouble until we pay our full 4000 out of pocket. still have 3000 to go.
Posted 9/12/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Mac,
Welcome to the Chronic Pain forum of Healing Well. I'm one of the people struggling with medication costs, too, as I just lost my health insurance. There's a fairly new thread on pharmaceutical resources for medications with several links in it you may want to explore. Some of the programs can be used even with people who have insurance. And I'm learning that shopping around really does pay off, although you've got to do this with the permission of your PM doctor if you have a pain contract specifying you need to use one pharmacy. Still, if you find one pharmacy (and it may be a WalMart or similar retail store) that's the least expensive, you can continue to use it.

I have been surprised that with my low income, I'm actually going to get some of my medications at no cost (at least if I get approved - I just had my doctor send in some applications after I completed my section). But some of the discount cards can be used by anyone regardless of whether you have insurance, or regardless of income.

BTW, you also may want to start a new thread and introduce yourself (and your wife may want to post, too) if you want to become more active in the forum. This is an older thread, and sometimes people may not see your new post at the bottom of it.

Again, welcome!

PaLady
Posted 10/10/2009 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I just joined today so I know "NOTHING" but was looking up generic oxycontin. How come you can get percoset in generic when it contains the same ingredient (oxycondon)? I have insurance but even so with $35 co-pays it adds up fast and I don't make much
I don't know how to access the link to purdue....HELP!!!


Thanks,

cawgma
Posted 10/10/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, jawgma,
Welcome to the Chronic Pain forum of Healing Well. This is an older thread, but if you read through it I think there's an explanation of what happened. Drug companies have a patent on new medicaitons they develop, just like an inventor would. So while the patent is active, no other companies can make that drug. There was one that tried to make a generic oxycontin, and Purdue sued them and won because the patent hadn't yet expires. The patents on percocet and many other medications have expired, so generics can be made.

I don't know how much help you'll be able to get from Purdue since you have insurance. It seems that you and your doctor must have decided you needed an extended release formula (oxycontin is extended release, versus instant release, which percocet and most medications are), bu tyou could discuss this with your doctor and see if one of the instant release, less expensive medications would be appropriate for you. However, $35, while it does add up, is a small price to pay if the extended release enables you, for example, to keep working.

Talk with your doctor about it.

Another suggestion I have would be for you to start a new thread of your own and introduce yourself to the group. You will get more responses that way.

Again, welcome.

PaLady
p.s. there's also a thread with pharmaceutical resources that I believe is still on page 1, or maybe page 2. It's got a lot of useful information; you may be able to find a discount card.
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