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Where is the truth in Oxycodone shortage?

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Posted 2/8/2009 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this board and I am hoping to find some good answers from your collective experience.

I have been upgraded from percocet 10/325s to oxycodone 30s. Been on it for three months. Now all the pharmacies in my area are claiming availability problems for a variety of reasons. Here is what I have been told:
1. the manufacturers have a raw material shortage
2. the largest mfgr. (Ethex) had quality issues and FDA shut them down for a while
3. FDA is permanently stopping the mfg of oxycodone IR in all its varients until it can be made tamper proof
4. Oxycodone IR will no longer be available but OxyContin will
5. Oxycontin will be next to be shut down until it can be made more tamper proof

Now somewhere there has to be truth and reality in all of this. I depend on these meds for moderate relief of chronic pain after 4 back surgeries now at fusion from L-1 to S-1, instrumentation, and rapidly failing discs at T-11 and T-12 because of the lower fusions. Drs are telling me that at my age (65) and past history of less than ideal surgical results they are reluctant to do anything more. Take the pain meds and have a nice day. Leave check at the desk out front!

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of the real oxycodone problem and when it will be resolved.
Thanks.
Posted 2/8/2009 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
My pharmacist says the TRUTH is that the ETHEX recall threw demand for other brands completely out of whack and that is causing the shortages.
He says the whole thing will be done within a week and not to worry.....

This is what a pharmacist in MARYLAND said about the whole oxycodone shortage...

NUMBER ONE: Pharmacist laughed, said he didnt think so...

NUMBER TWO is almsot correct.. Ethex isnt shut down though- they voluntarily recalled a number of different meds because of the quality control issues.

NUMBER THREE is definitly NOT-- There is no truth in that one- FDA just approved new strengths of OXYCODONEIR and wouldnt have done this only to recall them. Plus, OXY INSTANT RELEASE is INSTANT RELEASE- what could people be tampering with?

NUMBER FOUR: No, pharmacist said the supply is just messed up because of the ethex recall. OXY IR should be back in pharmacies soon. (this pharmacy has them, just not ethex).

NUMBER FIVE: No- My pharmacist says he has no problem with oxycontin and has no problem getting it. He said this isnt true because the time release in oxycontin was JUST overhauled, and its about as tamper proof as they are going to get it for now.

I hope this helps!
I would call your pharmacist and ask them though- My pharmacist said the shortage issues can be more severe in different areas depending on how much they depended on the ethex brand. Again, he said the issues should be cleared up within 2 wks.
Posted 2/8/2009 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jenius,

Thanks for the input. I have further info from the FDA website that strongly suggests that all narcotics and in particular Oxycodone IR are being pressured to develop formulations that cannot be tampered with such as melting down, solubilizing in water or other solvent. Now, I couldn't tell if that meant Oxycodone IR will be halted until this happens or not. Your input suggests not. As for a timeline for resolution, all the pharmacies in central and south central Ohio and just shrugging and saying they have no idea when the backlog will clear. I hope you are correct with 2 weeks or so or lots of people are going to be going into withdrawal which is not pleasant at best and potentially life threatening at worst. I would only hope the FDA would be concerned more about that health problem than the diversion problem they seem to be focused on. We'll see. Thanks again.
Posted 2/9/2009 1:46 AM (GMT 0)

 

 

I stated the recall of Roxicodone the other day in my post about my Horrible day at the Dr.'s....Ever since then I have been hearing all kinds of things about the meds...My Dr. did tell me that it would be all cleared up by next month...He said they were recalled due to not meeting US standards because they were being manufactured out of the country...

 

So, I don't know where all the rumours came from about it, kinda strange huh?

 

Maybe next time I'll keep my mouth shut and avoid all the drama...LOL

 

Not my fault!!!!! I promise.

 

Me.

 

P.S. I haven't been able to get on the website for the last few hours...Any ideas Why?

Posted 2/9/2009 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Right now there is a new oxycodone mixture that is about to get FDA approved, it's oxycodone mixed with Niacin to stop people from taking too much and abusing it in "other" ways. I guess it's suppose to be on the market in a few months. They've had great success with it, becuase people who tried to abuse it said it didnt work out very well. But Niacin scares me when taken in huge doses. I had a friend end up in the hospital with heart problems from it and one friend had her skin turn grayish and felt really sick to her stomach. But I guess they're hoping to have it take over all the regualuar IR oxycodones. Also within this year we're getting a slow releasing morphine with Naltrexone in it to prevent abuse, but I forgot the name of it. I like to go to the clinical trials sight and read up on new meds that have just been submitted to the FDA for approval after they already did all the trials and stuff. They're some interesting new stuff coming out.

-hellokitty
Posted 2/9/2009 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
I can't wait for them to come out with some pain meds that are difficult if not impossible to abuse, so maybe we wouldn't be treated like potential criminals. But something tells me abusers will always figure out a way around things.

PaLady
Posted 2/9/2009 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
When u say "abuse" what exactly do you mean? Do u mean "IV using"?

Me.
Posted 2/9/2009 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Here is a blurb from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists website:

Bulletin
Oxycodone Extended-Release Tablets

06 February 2009

Products Affected - Description

Oxycodone Extended-Release Tablets, Mallinckrodt
10 mg, bottles of 100 (NDC 00406-0593-01)
20 mg, bottles of 100 (NDC 00406-0594-01)
40 mg, bottles of 100 (NDC 00406-0595-01)
80 mg, bottles of 100 (NDC 00406-0596-01)

Reason for the Shortage

* Dava discontinued their oxycodone extended-release tablets in mid-June, 2007 per an agreement with Purdue to stop selling product after this time.
* Endo discontinued their oxycodone extended-release tablets at the end of December, 2006. http://www.pharma.com/pressroom/news/20060828-1.htm
* Watson discontinued their oxycodone extended-release tablets March 1, 2007. The company would not provide a reason for the discontinuation.
* Teva discontinued their oxycodone extended-release tablets on January 28, 2008.
* Mallinckrodt has their product on back order and could not provide a reason for the shortage.

Estimated Resupply Dates

* Oxycontin extended-release tablets are available from Purdue in 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg strengths.
* Mallinckrodt has all presentations of their oxycodone extended-release tablets on back order. The company estimates a release date for the 40 mg tablets of early-March, 2009. The company estimates a release date for the 20 mg and 80 mg tablets of mid-February, 2009. The 10 mg tablets are on back order and the company cannot estimate a release date.
Posted 2/9/2009 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
I think some of the reasons listed above had to do with the discontinuation of the generic form of oxycontin (which would be the oxycodone, extended release) and that was due to a patent issue. The developer of a given drug usually has a patent on it for a certain number of years (like with any invention) and until that patent expires, no one else can make it. Others were making generic oxycontin before Purdue's patent had expired, and there was a law suit which forced them to stop.
I'm not sure how much this relates to the current problems with the shortages, although maybe it's all backed up now that no one else is producing oxycontin. Don't know about Mallinckrodt's production, as this looks like a generic. Maybe someone else here can clarify.

Me - by abuse I mean any use of the drug except as it's prescribed by a physician for a particular patient. Someone can "abuse" their own medication, and that's not the fault of the medicaiton, but some drugs are easier for others to abuse in different ways and that makes them more prone to diversion. Certainly abuse covers way more than IV use. But discussions of illegal use are against the forum rules, so let's not get into this in any detail.

PaLady
Posted 2/10/2009 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
More on the oxycodone shortage. I just had an Rx for 300 oxy 30s filled at a "specialty pharmacy". This store does not advertise, its number is not in the phone book, they get their business exclusively from Dr. referrals. They have a network of about 10 outlets around the country all operating the same way. They had extra oxy flown in overnight from across the country to fill my request and then, and then delivered it to my door the next day! Talk about service!

I spoke with the pharmacy director and asked about the shortage. There is a little truth in everything were have discussed here. Until the market stabilizes, I suggest you contact your PM doctor and see if he knows of this system and can refer you to a location. I don't know if they do mail order business, however.

Hope this helps
Posted 2/27/2009 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
My doc told me the companies have a certain amount that they can produce each year and they have made that number.It will reset in April than they can make that number again it is based on a 12 month period that starts and stops in April.
Posted 2/27/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I just read on a bulletine I get from the FDA site its the Oxy IR 10, 15 & 30 that there is a shortage of. Its simply said it was due to another mgf because of ths shortage. I don't know if many of you know or not, if you subscribe to the FDA site you can get emails on nearly every kind of alert there is out, even toys. I of course subscribe to keep up with Medtronic and the pumps and I do subscribe to the medication site as well. I get alerts on everything relating to drugs from new Black Box warnings, letters to the heathcare providers to shortages. Its a very educational site and its free. All you do is give them your email address to sign up....Susie
Posted 2/27/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I was talking briefly with one of the pharmacy techs (one of the more experienced ones) from my CVS and she said the only ones they were having trouble with was the oxycodone 15mg. She said it was due to that strength being diverted into abuse activities more than the others. I don't know if this is true or not. I'm taking percs and was thinking about trying oxycodone to get rid of the tylenol, but I'm sure not going to try it right now!

PaLady
Posted 2/27/2009 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
PA I went back to my FDA email and it said the shortage was due to the company that they made recall the Oxy's because of some of the pills being too large in size which could give a person too much of the drug. Oh darn they called it something about Good Safe Practices something like that, sorry memory glitch. This very same thing happened with my husbands heart medicine. Back in December this happened with Hydromorphone Hydrochloride and Pallidone, it was the same mgf as the oxy one that I am talking about. That company I think it starts with an E darn glitch, screwed up a ton of medication. Susie
Posted 2/27/2009 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
and that i why i love this web site. i am on oxycodone and have been now for 6 months now and they want to put me on oxycotin but i dont have insurance so i cant afford it. but not to sound like a addict but it has saved my life. i can move around more then i have been on percosets. sorry my spelling is not to good some days.
i have fibromyagia and i cracked skull from a ex husband that cause bad headaches and it helps me.
if i would have heard that i think that i would have freaked out about them taking away my life. i can even walk my dogs now on my pain meds i cant afford alot of money on pills. my boyfriend works his butt off so i dont have to work i am in the process of filing for disability but until then 30 a month for 180 oxycodones honestly most days feels like it is a life saver.
thanks for clearing this up and letting me know what you have heard. you saved my boyfriend a headache from a stressed girlfriend
Posted 2/28/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Susie - somedays (most days?) it seems like we just can't catch a break! shakehead

PaLady smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/28/2009 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I know it seems if its not one thing its ten others. When it rains it pours. You know whats so bad is this company that the FDA zoomed in on made an awful lot of drugs that are very marketable, more of the popluar drugs and I hate phrasing it that way, maybe one that are more prescribed is a better way of putting it. I mean that outfit really put the hurt on alot of people. They were cited on Unsafe practices of some sort. The idiots they know what they are doing and really do not care its the almighty dollar they are interested in, not people's welfare. Don't get me started, just shut up Susie.
Posted 2/28/2009 5:26 AM (GMT 0)

I went to my PM today.. I didn't have any trouble getting my Roxicet 15mg.  Last month I had to be switched to Percocet 10 because of that recall...It was fixed shortly after my last visit...

Me/

Posted 3/1/2009 3:00 PM (GMT 0)

modelmaker said...
More on the oxycodone shortage. I just had an Rx for 300 oxy 30s filled at a "specialty pharmacy". This store does not advertise, its number is not in the phone book, they get their business exclusively from Dr. referrals. They have a network of about 10 outlets around the country all operating the same way. They had extra oxy flown in overnight from across the country to fill my request and then, and then delivered it to my door the next day! Talk about service!

I spoke with the pharmacy director and asked about the shortage. There is a little truth in everything were have discussed here. Until the market stabilizes, I suggest you contact your PM doctor and see if he knows of this system and can refer you to a location. I don't know if they do mail order business, however.

Hope this helps

 

 

HEY I AM GOING THIS WEEK AND NEED TO GET MY  FILLED CAN U HELP ME OUT ON WHERE TO GET FILLED,    I WILL BE IN FLORIDA SO IF U CAN HELP THANKS

Posted 3/1/2009 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
.This not only affected the Oxycontin but here in Canada ( Ontario) MS Contin was recalled due to the fact that ppl were getting too much of the med in a pill
They came out with another pill from somewhere else to help til straightened out .......BUT
I tried them and was sick as can be........ back on the Oxy's and feel better
But that' s me and we are all somewhat diff in pain meds
Good Luck all very informative posts/Thread


LYN
Posted 3/4/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I've been hearing for weeks now that a couple of more weeks and the roxicet shortage will be over but it hasn't happened.  Today is my first day on an alternate medication and I feel horrible.  I had trouble working and am in soooooo much pain.  My mail order pharmacy through my insurance says they have the roxicet and it will be no problem but first I have to get a ninety day script from my dr. and mail it to them.  Then they have to process it, make a call to my dr. and override what they just gave me and put it in the mail.  While I've had more pain than I do at the moment, I think I'm withdrawing from the roxicet and I just feel sick and cold. I'm praying this gets resolved soon.  I've been on some form of codeine for upwards of a decade and this is the first time I've run out. Down here in Florida there's none to be found.  What I want to know is how the little expletives manage to get them to sell on the street.  I work for a p.d. and it kills me the punks that we arrest with roxicet on them and I have a script and cant' get it.  Let's all hope things get back to normal real soon.

renie

Posted 3/13/2009 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Today is my first day on this site.  I was researching information about oxycodone 15 mg.  I've been on this medication for over 4 years and my dr just called and informed me that the pharmacists no longer carry and are not able to get them.  I even called the pharmacy and was told the same thing.  Is this true?  Are they no longer manufactured?  What do i do?  The dr said I would have to switch to something like morphine, methadone, etc.  I am not comfortabale with that! HELP!

Posted 3/13/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Franritt,
Welcome to the chronic pain forum of HW. Glad to have you join us, although we're always sorry there's another person in pain.

We can offer support and share experiences, but we're not doctors and can't offer medical advice. I think none of us know for sure what has happened with the oxycodone. As you can see from reading, there's a lot of information out there. Bottom line is there does appear to be a shortage. You could check with the other pharamcies in your area and see if any think they will be getting supplies in anytime soon, but if not you will probably have to work with your doctor about options. Hopefully your doctor is a pm specialist; if not, consulting with one may give you more options.

You might also see if you have a mail order option with your insurance, and see if they might carry them. It's kind of scary because I was hoping to switch from the percocets to the oxycodone to eliminate so much tylenol. But I'm sure not going to do it until this is all straightened out!

Again, welcome!

PaLady
BTW, you might want to start a new thread and introduce yourself, if you want to be active in the forum. That way everyone will get to "meet" you! :-)
Posted 3/14/2009 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
It has taken me almost 2 weeks but I finally found enough roxicodone today to fill my prescription.  I've been on dilauded for almost 2 weeks and it is just not doing what the roxicodone does.  With the dilauded I was able to function (barely) but still had a large amount of pain.  It keeps me from curling up and crying, but it was very painful to walk and do everything I need to do @ work.  The roxicodone makes it so the pain is farther away, if that makes any sense to you (and I suspect it does if you've been on roxicodone any length of time).  Anyway, the 2 pharmacies in my town that have the roxi tablets won't take insurance and they want like 3 bucks a pill.  A compound pharmacist contacted my doc and showed her how to write the script so "everything will go smoothly", but what he did not tell her is he won't take insurance either, but he only wants 2.50 a pill (my doc was mad when she realized he was acting like the other 2 that have it & want a ransom for it).  But I got a call today from my sister who was keeping an eye out for me and I found another compound pharmacist who is making the roxicodone in capsule form.  The only difference is it can't be abused like the tablets because whatever it's mixed with won't melt down or snort well (at least that's what the pharmacist said) so I guess I have a new pharmacy.  Oh yeah, because this one has enough ethics to take the insurance like they would have 2 or 3 months ago and be happy. So, at present, I'm feeling great and expect to continue to feel great for at least the next month.  I may have to start searching again when it's time to re-up but I'm assuming that if they can be made now they can be made next month too.  After all, it's not the ingredients that are scarce, it's a manufacturer that meets FDA standards that's scarce.  Good luck to everyone and have a good weekend.  My thoughts are with all of you who are in pain because some idiot somewhere didn't read the instructions in the how to make an FDA approved pill manual :(

Posted 3/14/2009 3:24 PM (GMT 0)

Hi I am new here. Reason I found the site is I left this morning to get my pain med filled (I take oxycodone 30mg IR 5 X Day) & Kroger said we don't have any & have no idea when they would get some. I asked them to call another Kroger & they said it was useless & it would be a miracle if I found any. I went to Walgreens=same story, CVS=same story but she told me about a corner "mom & pop" pharmacy right by my house & thank God I got that miracle that girl said I would need as they had my medication.

I just got this medication filled last month as I have been on Oxycodone for over 7 years now every single day of my life & the 30's for the last 4 months & I was absolutely blown away that this was going on & that I wasn't warned by my regular pharmacist 4 weeks ago, as he had to know, because soon as I got home & searched this problem it was everywhere.

My next refill will be mid April & I am thinking about trying to get into my Dr. before it is due to see about an alternative for a short time. Does anyone have any suggestions of a different med to get me thru the shortage.

Also I think it is a shame that people who really need the pain medicine have to go thru this stuff. It is bad enuff that some pharmacists treat you like a junkie & now this??? I agree with the poster above in that I wish they could make this medicine to where it could not be abused & maybe we would get treated right.

Thanks for reading & good luck to anyone having trouble finding their medication. :-)

 

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