I've only read the last 3 posts...just wanted to back up the fact that watson and Actavis are indeed the "gel resivoir" type, I am prescribed them. So it's interesting (although I'm off topic) that sandoz is preferred over these. I think where I live the only matrix patch generic I've seen has been mylan.
Cat
Mylans are pretty much everywhere all over the USA as the original polymer-matrix patch. I don't care for them in the slightest. My preference for Sandoz may be outdated, but I'm really not surprised based on the other posts confirming that the current Sandoz formulation fentanyl patches are King. Sandoz is one of the few big pharma companies that I don't mind supporting financially.
I'm really not a fentanyl person, I rather despise it and even have mixed feelings about it's use in chronic pain. It's not the fentanyl I'm against per say, but it's how easy it is for people to come on websites like this and learn to abuse fentanyl patches that has me fucking reeling. I fucking hate it. I cannot stand fentanyl abuse.
I am biased as anyone might point out, but I just have been incredibly disappointed with ALL the pharmaceutical companies for not being able to supply an extended release formulation of fentanyl that is not easily abused or extracted, smoked, chewed, or whatever. Even the plastic matrix patches that are the current "safer" formulation, are abused regularly. Just look at this forum. This thread even!!! Because of my bias, I think it's ludicrous that some of this passes as harm reduction. I mean look at the shit some of these "teks" instruct readers to do in order to prepare a solution for INTRAVENOUS administration, likely with inadequate filtration and whatnot. The majority of people abusing fentanyl patches I would hazard to say, are not using micron filters and safe extraction teks. Mostly, people are trying to shoot plastic patches or possibly worse, SMOKE them?!? Ever heard of emphysema / COPD / Cancer? Plastic is like, in the same category as Carcinogens if you ask me. It's probably like smoking a carton of cigs in one dab of fent.
I mean, who am I to say what drugs are okay to abuse and what drugs aren't, I certainly don't want to be a hypocrite like the anti-drug government agencies and laws like the Controlled Substances Act, Federal Analogue Act, etc. That sure as hell isn't doing any one any good. Just keeps the money in the "right" bank accounts / pockets if you ask me. I just really find fentanyl to be so cold and unforgiving, Even taken as directed by prescribing physicians, I've seen it suck the life out of people who were just fine 60 seconds prior. I've seen legitimate pain patients apply patches and drop cold probably due to inadequacies in the transdermal system delivery systems.
You see the same problem with any extended-release (large dose) high potency narcotic, I guess. OxyContin has their OP BS, I've lost count of Opana's attempts, Thank GOD for morphine sulphate right? Except for the people who can't tolerate it, and require drugs like.... fentanyl. It's 2013, we should have a better technology for extended release fentanyl citrate that is effective and
predictable, like IN THEORY, the codones/morphones (modern formulations complicate this). It's sad that this is the best that modern medicine has to show for arguably the most powerful pain killer used to treat the most severe pain in millions of patients internationally.
/already stated subjective biased rant, still donating $0.02
