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Opioids Doctor changed me from OxyCodone to Opana ER??

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PammyB

Greenlighter
Joined
Oct 4, 2012
Messages
4
:? Forgive me if I stumble in this post. I'm a newbie and this is my first post. I have had DDD since I turned 30 and am now 52. For the last year, I've been on Percocet 325/10 and supplementing with Ibuprophen 800's. Bi monthly injections of Pred/Steroid and Radio abrasion therapy. To my knowledge I'm not physically addicted to these drugs in fact was almost a month behind on getting my prescriptions filled. Today my Dr. switched me from my regular Percocet/Ibuprophen Bimonthly to Opana ER 10 mg, twice daily with the ibuprophen supplement also. Anyone have any idea why he would do this? I've been comfortable per say for about a year. Any insight would be helpful. Reading some scary things about the new prescription Opana.:?
 
Edit 2: Disregard a lot of this... I thought OP was taking hydrocodone before oxymorphone and not oxycodone. Still lots of relevant info I think.

Opana is a very potent opiate and causes more sedation than codeine formulations IMO. I kind of feel what your saying and it is weird to switch you from a weaker less sedating opiate to a stronger one when you do not seem to be abusing, as you are using less than recommended it sounds. It may be due to taking the Ibuprofen as it is not supposed to be mixed with acetaminophen, for example whenever they gave it to me in the hospital it would never be together and very limited.

The weird thing about opana is the bioavalibility is not only low at 10%, but very random as if you eat a fatty meal it will raise to 30%. Drinking is just a nono with it as it could either reduce the effectiveness of it or increase it almost 3 folds.... It just becomes risky to do that. Maybe suggest oxycodone ER with IR for breakthrough if needed to replace the hydrocodone as it is similar in effect and chemical structure, but stronger than the hydrocodone.

In all honesty I feel it is weird your doctor chose oxymorphone over oxycodone when the latter is more closely related to hydrocodone in structure and effect where the first is a completely different effect while it may be more useful in some situations. Personally I use oxymorphone at night and hydrocodone during the day if needed.

I think the best route of action would be to try the oxymorphone and see if it works. If not bring up your concern with your doctor and ask why he changed the medication when it was working so well you did not need to use as much. If I am right about the possible negative combo of vicodin and ibuprofen than I would bring up replacing it with oxycodone either ER, ER+IR, or just the IR as they are all pure formulations and would not have that dangerous interaction plus it would function like hydrocodone, but just require a lower dose.

Just my thoughts on this. Definitely do some research into the different compounds and figure out what the best route of action is on your own and with your doctor.

Edit: This article below may help.

http://www.painphysicianjournal.com/2008/april/2008;11;S133-S153.pdf
 
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^Doesn't seem very strange to me, doctors routinely prescribe long acting medications (such as Opana ER, OxyContin, MSContin, etc) to patients who have been taking compounded instant release narcotics like Percocet (10mg oxycodone, 325mg acetaminophen).

I don't understand this comment:
...it is weird to switch you from a weaker less sedating opiate to a stronger one when you do not seem to be abusing...
Click to expand...
Most legitimate doctors I know don't prescribe stronger pain killers to addicts.

@OP how's the Opana working?
 
Oh wow I am dumb... I thought they where using a hydrocodone formulation.... Still I think it is weird that rather than just switch this person to an ER formulation of the same medication that instead they changed it to a completed different compound. IMO a better switch would be 5-10 mg oxycodone ER formulation. I am not a doctor though :P

As far as the opana being a very potent opiate that causes sedation I was pointing out that oxymorphone gets sedating as the dose gets higher where I find the codeine formulations to cause minor fatigue at doses where oxymorphone would have someone nodding and possibly throwing up do to OD.

Edit: I will add that oxymorphone at the right dose provides GREAT pain relief and minor sedation and other negative side effects. It may just be the right opiate for you, but I am just giving a warning about higher doses of it.

Edit 2: Tricomb you are confusing me shitless.... I just pointed out I feel it is weird this person was switched to a completely different compound when the original one was working just fine and even had an ER formulation that has yet to be tried in this persons case. Just saying that because I would think the ER of the same compound should be tested before switching them to a different compound that acts in a different area of the opiate receptors.

Edit 3: Also the bad stuff you hear is about the round skittle/smartie shaped pill. If you have the old octogons (which are still available) than you do not need to worry about the horror story of the new pills.
 
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I don't understand this comment:
Most legitimate doctors I know don't prescribe stronger pain killers to addicts.

First off, I really don't believe I'm an addict other than to coffee and cig's. I was over a month past due on filling the last prescription he gave me for the Perc's. From reading some of these boards, some would love to be able to do that. This lumbar thing tends to rear its ugly head every year or so.

With that said, It still raises the question as to why he even changed me in the first place.
 
Thanks Bayhead for blowing my mind this morning! LOL! You've given me lots of avenues to research. This Doctor has an impeccible reputation with everything I've been able to pull up on him and word of mouth. I think its weird that he changed me too with the other treatments working as well as they have. Haven't gotten the new script filled yet. Still have almost a months worth of Perc's. I'm going to go ahead and fill this script and see how it goes for a few days. If its that sedating, my Doctor and I will have a serious sit down.
 
PammyB said:
Thanks Bayhead for blowing my mind this morning! LOL! You've given me lots of avenues to research. This Doctor has an impeccible reputation with everything I've been able to pull up on him and word of mouth. I think its weird that he changed me too with the other treatments working as well as they have. Haven't gotten the new script filled yet. Still have almost a months worth of Perc's. I'm going to go ahead and fill this script and see how it goes for a few days. If its that sedating, my Doctor and I will have a serious sit down.
Click to expand...
I realize that what I'm about to say has nothing to do with your original question... you may do just fine on Opana ER , but if it doesn't work well for you it may be a good idea for you to have some of your percocet left. If you find that the new drug doesn't work well for you for whatever reason, you can ask your doctor if it's okay for you to continue the percocet until you can get in to see him. It would suck to finish your current prescription, go get the new 1 filled, find out its not the right thing for you, and wind up empty handed... Hope this makes sense. I have a feeling I didn't word this quite the way I should have... lol
 
They did the same thing to my father. He's always talking about getting off and was working t'wards it then they switched him to opana. Beware oxymorphone withdrawls are no joke. Since your doing so well the doc is prolly making scratch somehow from the people who produce Opana. Dont always trust doctors, even the good ones can be misinformed drug dealers for Lilly or Purdue.
 
PammyB said:
I don't understand this comment:
Most legitimate doctors I know don't prescribe stronger pain killers to addicts.

First off, I really don't believe I'm an addict other than to coffee and cig's. I was over a month past due on filling the last prescription he gave me for the Perc's. From reading some of these boards, some would love to be able to do that. This lumbar thing tends to rear its ugly head every year or so.

With that said, It still raises the question as to why he even changed me in the first place.
Click to expand...

I never said you were an addict. I was responding to bayhead415's claim which I quoted
...it is weird to switch you from a weaker less sedating opiate to a stronger one when you do not seem to be abusing...
Click to expand...
. I was wondering why BH415 thinks a doctor would prescribe a stronger more sedating opioid to someone who was abusing their medication.

And BHPaperstacks, pharmaceuticals and healthcare are a business.
 
Tricomb you gotta read what I said.... I said it is weird to do it for someone who does not seem to be abusing the original medication as I could imagine a doctor switching from one opiate to another as they may be abusing one and are less likely to abuse the other.

I do agree opana may be a good choice for you. The reason it is great is it is supposed to cause less side effects along with the analgesia, but being a morphine based compound I find it to get sedating in higher doses where codeine formulations done really get sedating and may just cause a little fatigue. If you are taking it orally you probably will not get to a strong overpowering sedating effect unless you take more than your supposed to.

Also remember that if you eat a fatty mean you will raise the bioavalibility so that 30% of the dose gets absorbed instead of the regular 10%. So if it is too weak try eating buttery toast. Also if it is too strong try eating it on a empty stomach or else eating non-fatty foods like pretzels or plain bread.
 
^gotcha I interpreted your statement as doctors prescribe / switch to stronger medications for addict patients, and I was like uhhhh what. Hah
 
Yea I wish.... Than they would be scripting me numorphin vials, Possibly straight pharmaceutical standard grade heroin.... Hell why not special order stativex :P.... I honestly could go without the heroin though.... Just pointing out the possibilities in your funny possible reality.

Edit: I am sorry... Off topic as hell, but just had to say it.
 
PammyB said:
:? Forgive me if I stumble in this post. I'm a newbie and this is my first post. I have had DDD since I turned 30 and am now 52. For the last year, I've been on Percocet 325/10 and supplementing with Ibuprophen 800's. Bi monthly injections of Pred/Steroid and Radio abrasion therapy. To my knowledge I'm not physically addicted to these drugs in fact was almost a month behind on getting my prescriptions filled. Today my Dr. switched me from my regular Percocet/Ibuprophen Bimonthly to Opana ER 10 mg, twice daily with the ibuprophen supplement also. Anyone have any idea why he would do this? I've been comfortable per say for about a year. Any insight would be helpful. Reading some scary things about the new prescription Opana.:?
Click to expand...

Actually I think you are better off with the Opana ER. As you probably already know, the ER stands for extended release... And since the previous Percocet 10/325 (you should write the 10 first, by the way, not 325/10) has oxycodone in it, but is released all at once.. ffor your pain relieving needs, it makes sense to have a drug that releases it into your body over a length of time, thereby making it more effective in my humble opinion...
 
Ya but what is strange is why change to oxymorphone ER rather than oxycodone ER..... That's what I think is REALLY odd. Not only did they change the formulation, but the compound that was working without issue while also not attempting to try the ER formulation first.
 
Bayhead...It's hard to believe, but many dr's are still prejudiced against "Oxycontin". My MD had no problem prescribing me fentanyl and oxycodone ir , but it's been made clear that he "doesn't go there"...that was his response when I brought up the possibility of a trial of Oxycontin. Does it make sense? Absolutely not. The stigma against this so-called evil drug is still very much existent.
Just an idea. Good luck!!
 
it's because oxycontin is an expensive street drug now doctors don't want you selling your medications they could lose their license
 
The truth is opana is now the most abused prescription drug over oxycodone. My doc told me this and he is up on everything including testing for bath salts and spice with his pee tests.

I can see doctors stigmatizing oxycodone and other codeine formulations even though they are less addictive than there morphine counterparts. Although codeine formulations I can see being used more for getting high as they are not sedating while the morphine forms are. Still it is odd that this doctor changed the formulation to a different compound for seemingly no reason as the patient does not seem to know. If the reason was for scripting an ER formulation there is an oxycodone ER formulation they should have tried before jumping into changing the compound that is being used completely. Really though things doctors do this day does not surprise me at this point... Just confuses me.
 
bayhead415 said:
The truth is opana is now the most abused prescription drug over oxycodone. My doc told me this and he is up on everything including testing for bath salts and spice with his pee tests.

I can see doctors stigmatizing oxycodone and other codeine formulations even though they are less addictive than there morphine counterparts. Although codeine formulations I can see being used more for getting high as they are not sedating while the morphine forms are. Still it is odd that this doctor changed the formulation to a different compound for seemingly no reason as the patient does not seem to know. If the reason was for scripting an ER formulation there is an oxycodone ER formulation they should have tried before jumping into changing the compound that is being used completely. Really though things doctors do this day does not surprise me at this point... Just confuses me.
Click to expand...
I agree with you. I totally forgot to mention in my last post that my doctor even prescribed me oxymorphone ir for a short period of time last year when my oxycodone ir started losing its effectiveness.
This is beside the point, but it really did nothing for my pain and I ended up going back to oxycodone and I guess just because of the break from it, it worked just like it did in the beginning.
What I'm trying to point out is, look at all of the other things I was prescribed with no problems...?!
The only reason this would happen ( that I can figure out ) is the unnecessarily bad reputation ER oxycodone has. But you are right, it makes absolutely no sense. it confuses me as well, my friend.
 
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