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Which type of Oxycontin is sold in England - OC or OP??

cotton_tail_bunny

Greenlighter
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
12
Hi,
I take Oxycontin and am travelling to England in a week and a half. I would like to know if the Oxycontin prescribed and sold in England is either the old version, or if it is the new reformulated version, which is not as effective and makes me feel ill.

The old formula is called Oxycontin Controlled Release and the pills are identified by being stamped with OC on them, and can also easily be crushed into powder.

The new formula is called Oxycontin Modified Release and the pills are identified by being stamped with OP on them, they cant be crushed and are hard to cut in half and turn to sticky glue & swell up if they get wet.

I would really appreciate any information at all as I am stressing out since Im leaving so soon and need to sort out my medication.

Thanks in advance, PS I'm new so I hope this is in the right section!

Cotton tail bunny
 
All old formula in the UK.

Oh really? that's excellent news. Thank you so much! I'm not sure if you are English or if you would know any of this but do they just sell the one brand or are there generics? if so which is the 'better' tablet, ie. more effective? Regarding overseas travel I hope a document from my Dr saying that I am on them and an old box with the script label on it will be enough. If you by any chance know, are the Dr's really hardcore or are they understanding of pain patients, and I guess overseas travelling pain patients? In my country there seems to be building paranoia about misuse and things over the years have become so much harder for chronic pain patients. Its really bad.
 
There are no generics on the UK market yet. I've only ever seen the NAPP brand prescribed, but I think there are at least three manufacturers in Europe with a manufacturing license.

Can't tell you what it's like to be a pain patient over here unfortunately, other than it seems to vary a lot from location to location and even doctor to doctor.
 
Probably OC. Think u.s is only place with ops u bunch of druggies u!
No, Australia just changed over as their patent expired on the old formula so the company switched and its a living nightmare for pain patients now. And this happens just before I leave so I cant trial a new med due to my sensitivities. The new new stuff is weaker, contains a known carcinogen that causes cancer, takes 3hrs to work instead of 45 min-1 hr, gives severe stomach problems: cramps, acid reflux, nausia, vomitting, diahoreah and headaches. It also is hard to swallow and has a tendency of getting stuck in your throat then you go to bed and wake up choaking on a big gluey mass of expanded tablet gell which vomiting up seems to be the only way to get it out as it sticks like GLUE! These choices big pharma make to generate revenue at the expense of the patient are disgusting. And as for the poor drug addicts these 'anti abuse' mechanism will just see them turn to more dangerous drugs like heroin, more dangerous in the sense that they are not regulated and can be filled with nasty cutters. Thanks for the info by the way and sorry for the rant if it bored you :P
 
Can tell you if you were resident in the UK you wouldn't get within a country mile of an oxy script short of terminal cancer. What they do with overseas patients already scripted it I have no idea but would seem a bit extreme to cut them off or drop them to co-codamol (or perhaps morphine if considered to be half-dead). I'd like to think they would trust a colleague's judgement but the more you can find out in advance the better cos we basically don't have pain treatment in the UK. Stiff upper lip and all that - live with it is the standard response.

All branded OC if you are prescribed and yes original formula. No idea what you'd have to pay for them though - might also be worth looking into cos I presume you won't get a subsidised script if you're not resident or from an EU country.
 
There are no generics on the UK market yet. I've only ever seen the NAPP brand prescribed, but I think there are at least three manufacturers in Europe with a manufacturing license.

Can't tell you what it's like to be a pain patient over here unfortunately, other than it seems to vary a lot from location to location and even doctor to doctor.


Oh ok, thats great, it should make it a lot easier for me then. Well if anyone can recommend a Dr (PM me) or if you cant do that/not allowed if you coule let me know what its like (are there GPs or specifically many/any pain patient prescribing GPs) in New Castle, Choppington, Shropshire.. Holland Park? Thank you
 
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Can't recommend a doctor cos that would be doctor shopping and against the rules. Also, that's not how the system works here - you just go to whichever doctor's surgery is near to where you are staying and get an appointment assigned. Not sure how it works for short-term visitors but if it's longterm stay you might have to register. You don't choose by doctor either way you just go to whoever is nearest.

We do have specialist pain clinics but you'd need a referral from a GP and would have to be re-assessed - which would lose you your script instantly. If it were me I'd just go to the local GP and hope they will sign a refill script because it's clearly a temporary situation and not really their problem - they're just filling in for your own doc. Pain meds are extremely limited and rarely prescribed in this country. Certainly strong ones. I'd rely heavily on the fact you are not resident here and have had a longterm script and have the evidence to prove it (which you will need) and avoid trying to actually interact with our own system at all. You want refills not assessments and appointments with pain clinics I can assure you.

Also, your duplicate thread just got moved here too so will probably close the other one as this seems to be getting more answers. Or might try merging them cos I've not merged threads in ages.
 
Can tell you if you were resident in the UK you wouldn't get within a country mile of an oxy script short of terminal cancer. What they do with overseas patients already scripted it I have no idea but would seem a bit extreme to cut them off or drop them to co-codamol (or perhaps morphine if considered to be half-dead). I'd like to think they would trust a colleague's judgement but the more you can find out in advance the better cos we basically don't have pain treatment in the UK. Stiff upper lip and all that - live with it is the standard response.

All branded OC if you are prescribed and yes original formula. No idea what you'd have to pay for them though - might also be worth looking into cos I presume you won't get a subsidised script if you're not resident or from an EU country.

Oh dear, this does concern me. And I am very shocked! what about spinal patients, and those with other serious chronic long term pain? what the hell do they manage their pain on? crummy codein? I thought they would be more liberal! I am not a cancer patient, and on the outside, apart from a walking stick and minor limp, people cant tell that I have serious neuromuscular issues, arthritis, hip damage, nerve pain and a very bad back with a horrible spine. Another issue is being just under 30, young and 'good looking' to the outside world I look 'healthy' and no one would guess that Im actually living with serious health issues resulting in severe disabling pain and other associated health problems. I hope this does not cause me to be judged poorly and denied medication. Being a long term patient I could not cope being cut down to anything weaker, last resort morphine tablets I suppose but Drs tend to be stupid and dont convert the dosage right they just assume 50 mg of oxy would be 50 mg of slow release morphine when in reality its less than 1.5 - 2 times the strength... so they refuse to double the dose appropriately.

I wonder how much it is as a private unsubsidised script? also I wonder how much Dr visits will cost?? Im from the a British commonwealth country but not the EU... thanks for the reply. Researching is going to be so hard with so much I have to do already Im bogged down in preparations and my pain level is rising with all of the work I have to do to get ready...
 
Can't recommend a doctor cos that would be doctor shopping and against the rules. Also, that's not how the system works here - you just go to whichever doctor's surgery is near to where you are staying and get an appointment assigned. Not sure how it works for short-term visitors but if it's longterm stay you might have to register. You don't choose by doctor either way you just go to whoever is nearest.

We do have specialist pain clinics but you'd need a referral from a GP and would have to be re-assessed - which would lose you your script instantly. If it were me I'd just go to the local GP and hope they will sign a refill script because it's clearly a temporary situation and not really their problem - they're just filling in for your own doc. Pain meds are extremely limited and rarely prescribed in this country. Certainly strong ones. I'd rely heavily on the fact you are not resident here and have had a longterm script and have the evidence to prove it (which you will need) and avoid trying to actually interact with our own system at all. You want refills not assessments and appointments with pain clinics I can assure you.

Also, your duplicate thread just got moved here too so will probably close the other one as this seems to be getting more answers. Or might try merging them cos I've not merged threads in ages.

Oh sorry about that, I made the duplicate as I was not sure where it belonged and if and where it would get any answers since I read a thread saying 'its dead here how to improve things' ie. the European forum. Plus I wasnt too sure if the question classified as Dr shopping as Im unfamiliar with that, though thanks for the info. I wont make the same mistakes twice, and yes I did read all of the introductory instructions but im still in teething mode it seems! No, I wont be going to a pain clinic at all, and you are right on both counts, I wont try to register as I wont be here more than a few months, of which I am also travelling through to other countries but making England the base. I will just go to the nearest GP as a private patient paying for the visit and paying full price for a private unsubsidised script if I can get one. Thanks for your answers and help so far you have been a big help.
 
Private doctors are generally thought to be a bit more... generous with scripts (can't imagine why that would be 8)) and they do exist alongside NHS docs - often NHS docs also take private patients but not all. I know bugger all about private medicine other than you are more likely to find what you want if you pay for it.
 
Oh dear, this does concern me. And I am very shocked! what about spinal patients, and those with other serious chronic long term pain? what the hell do they manage their pain on? crummy codein? I thought they would be more liberal! I am not a cancer patient, and on the outside, apart from a walking stick and minor limp, people cant tell that I have serious neuromuscular issues, arthritis, hip damage, nerve pain and a very bad back with a horrible spine. Another issue is being just under 30, young and 'good looking' to the outside world I look 'healthy' and no one would guess that Im actually living with serious health issues resulting in severe disabling pain and other associated health problems. I hope this does not cause me to be judged poorly and denied medication. Being a long term patient I could not cope being cut down to anything weaker, last resort morphine tablets I suppose but Drs tend to be stupid and dont convert the dosage right they just assume 50 mg of oxy would be 50 mg of slow release morphine when in reality its less than 1.5 - 2 times the strength... so they refuse to double the dose appropriately.

I wonder how much it is as a private unsubsidised script? also I wonder how much Dr visits will cost?? Im from the a British commonwealth country but not the EU... thanks for the reply. Researching is going to be so hard with so much I have to do already Im bogged down in preparations and my pain level is rising with all of the work I have to do to get ready...

*Mods* - I understand the rules on trying to access narcotics from doctors, I'm trying to explain more about the system in England and how the OP should access the services they need, and what to expect. If you think there's anything in my post that is not in alignment with the rules, please feel free to delete any/all parts of the post. Thanks,


Hi, I'm from just outside London and have chronic spinal nerve pain which I take Oxycodone for so hope I can help...

How long are you planning to stay? If it's a short time, just bring your own meds in packaging that clearly displays your name and details. That's fine.

If you're staying for an extended period...



Initially I went to my local doctor (as said, you will need to find your local doctor's surgery and register as one of their patients, either as a temporary patient or a permanent patient. Once you're registered you can make an appt. to see a doctor.) Waiting time will vary on what your problem is, and how the surgery manage their appts. My surgery have 'drop in appts.' Mon-Fri 8AM-9AM where you just pop a long in the morning, ask to be seen by a doctor and then just sit in the waiting lounge and wait for the doctor to call you. It's like a first-come first-served kinda thing. During 9AM-4PM they only see patients with a pre-arranged appointment. At 4PM-5PM they have another drop in surgery, but only for 'emergency patients.' i.e. something so serious it cannot wait until the next morning. Every doctors surgery is different in how they manage their appts. so it's important to ask about this when you are registering.

If you have no prior history of using opiates for such problem, they'll start you off on codeine/dihydrocodeine/tramadol with NSAID's like naproxen/ketoprofen/diclofenac. They may also give you something like baclofen/methocarbamol. It will take a lot to convince a doctor to p/x you oral morphine, or extended-release tablets morphine, you'll have to have tried all the weaker opiates first.

Since you do have a history of medicated opiate use, I urge you to print out literally EVERYTHING you can about your past history. What you've been prescribed, when, by who, what for and for how long etc... Doctors in the UK are very strict about suspected drug abuse, compared to the US and other parts of Europe. If possible, I would contact your current doctor and ask them to write and a 'to whom it may concern letter' that you can give to the UK doctor stating your past history, what you currently take, and what your US doctor would like the UK doctor to prescribe to help manage your case. Obviously an original signed copy, with contact details so that if there is any problem the UK doctor can give the US doctor a quick call/email/fax to talk about your case.

The UK doctor will then decide whether they want to manage you themselves or refer you to a specialist. If they are happy to follow the instructions of the US doctor and just keep on px'ing what you take, they'll do that. If they're not comfortable they'll most likely refer you to a pain clinic. When I was referred, the waiting time was 2 months. For me, that was too long and I couldn't manage my day-to-day life on the weak painkillers the doctors were prescribing me. The pan was abhorrent and intolerable. I asked my doctor to refer me as a private patient to a pain specialist consultant (he's an anaesthetist who also deals with pain management, particularly spinal nerve damage) and I saw him 4 days after asking to be referred, in a private hospital. Also, just a note, the private pain specialist that I paid to see also works at the pain clinic I would've gone to on the NHS. So you don't necessarily pay for a 'better doctor'... you just pay to see a doctor quicker, and in a private hospital. Most private consultants will work in a local NHS hospital/clinic part time, and practice privately part-time.


Again, he doesn't liberally prescribe opiates, no doctor here does. He's asked to taper off my MS Contin, start taking Dosulepin as a means of long-term management. He did prescribe me 56x10mg Oxycodone immediate release tablets to help with the breakthrough pain, whilst making my transition from MS Contin to Dosulepin. He was INCREDIBLY hesitant to do this. He wanted to give me Tapentadol instead, but said I could use the Oxy until the Dosulepin had started to work *hopefully* and next time I go, we will stop the Oxy and try Tapentadol instead.

I'm just trying to let you know how conservative the doctors here are with opiate use.


So pretty much:

1) Register with local doctor and make an appointment
2) Provide medical history

Then either:

a) They will treat you.
b) They will refer you to see a specialist on the NHS.
c) You can 'go private' and pay to see a private pain consultant.


Just FYI, my consultant charges £200 for an initial 40 minute consultation and £100 for 20 minute follow up consultations.

By the way, if you can't get a prescription on the NHS, you'll have to pay for it yourself.

I've had Fentanyl and MS Contin in the past on a private prescription. They didn't cost a wild amount, but the extended-release formula's of these meds are more expensive than instant release meds such as Oral Morphine and Oxycodone that I've been prescribed. They're branded, but just a generic formula and cost only a few pounds.


The best thing you can do is prepare as much as possible before you leave and bring over a printed history of your problems and the medications you've taken. Again, I can't stress how conservative the doctors here are, they wont hand out opiates/benzos willy nilly unless you genuinely need them. If you do need them, it's no problem. At the end of the day, they're effective medications used for real conditions to help improve people's day-to-day lives.


If there's anything else you need to know, please post in this thread and I'll try and keep tabs on it. If I forget, do feel free to nudge me via PM as a reminder.


Hope this helps,
 
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^^ like he says... I go private and get what i need, and i have friends who get alot more than me including oxy's. I would do as the fella says get a letter from your doc (BTW if he knows you are travelling can't he give you a script to cover the time you are away?)
GL
 
It won't cost you anything to see a doctor, on the NHS, they won't bother one jot about your prescription if you are temporary as they don't have to take responsibility. Don't worry, you will be fine if you have a script. :-) Ive been on oxys for 8yrs plus but just come off them. Aaaaagh! Now withdrawing from Fentanyl patches as I want off opiates forever. I cant take the w/d....
 
......uh yes they do take responsibility , for anything they prescribe, and that is doubly so when your talking about high potency opiates/oids - so be prepared for a run around, or you might get lucky, but deffo get a letter from your current doctor and ask if he cant prescribe enough for your ytravels which to me seems the obvious choice.
 
they won't bother one jot about your prescription if you are temporary as they don't have to take responsibility

I really disagree with this. Of course they take responsibility for what they prescribe. That's a ridiculous statement.
 
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