Need to transition from Exalgo - but to what???

[Genevieve685]

I've been prescribed pain meds for the past 10 years almost. I recently transitioned from 175mcg of Fentanyl (patches - 1 100 and 1 75 every 3 days, which I HATED) to 64mg/day of Exalgo (2 16mg 2x/day.) The problem is even with my insurance the script is still over <a lot>. I simply can't afford it. I've been getting it since January, but I can't keep doing it. I also get 240 2mg Dillies a month for breakthrough pain, but to be honest, those never make it past the first week. I'm not looking for something to replace the Exalgo that I can play with necessarily, I genuinely need them for pain control - I just don't know where to go. The stupid Fentanyl took my already fairly substantial tolerance and sent it through the roof. At the end I was eating 100mcg patches whole... (yeah, I know, dumba$$...) I don't want to get to that place again, but I need something to get me through the day that isn't going to drain my bank account.

 

[nsauce]

Morphine. Cheap and effective.

 

[tokenname]

Where you are at tolerance wise..
Generally it's gonna be opana..
ms contin..
duragesic patches..
switching over to methadone..
You probably already know all this..
You need to let the PM know of cost..
There's better (cheaper) alternatives..
It's gonna be a long time before they come
out w/generic..and I don't think even
a co-pay card's an option yet..but it's worth googling.
Good luck..don't know what else to say.

~token

 

[Genevieve685]

I called my hematologist today and they are supposed to be calling the drug company to see if there is any sort of program they have for people in my situation. I have insurance, but even with the copay it is sill too expensive. I guess they are going to prescribe something different if they can't get it down to a reasonable price. I can't pay more for meds than for rent each month... and that's what I've been doing.

 

[tokenname]

I called my hematologist today and they are supposed to be calling the drug company to see if there is any sort of program they have for people in my situation. I have insurance, but even with the copay it is sill too expensive. I guess they are going to prescribe something different if they can't get it down to a reasonable price. I can't pay more for meds than for rent each month... and that's what I've been doing.

Good. Hopefully, there can be a happy medium here somewhere..
for clarity..that's what I mean by a co-pay card...companies helping w/ppl who can't afford their meds..
even w/insurance..sometimes what I'm thinking doesn't translate.
Best of luck.

 

[effie]

Good luck Genevieve, I hope you and your doctor can work something out

I presume you have explored non-opioid measures for pain as well as opioids? Have you seen a pain specialist? Different sorts of pain respond to different drugs - for example gabapentin/pregabalin can be good for neuropathic pain.

There is a chronic pain megathread in Other Drugs here which may be of use to you. Good luck!