Oxycodone Shortage

Hi Bill,

According to the press releases issued by the FDA and the companies involved: 

•  The ETHEX Corp., a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical was shut down "as a precautionary measure because [the medications] may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)."  There were defects found in some of the products, which included oversized tablets that delivered higher than labeled doses.

•  The drug manufacturer Actavis Totowa, LLC shut down their Little Falls, NJ facility because an inspection "revealed operations which did not meet the FDA's or Actavis' standards for good manufacturing practices."  No other details are given.

There were a number of different prescription medications included in these recalls, but from what I've been hearing, oxycodone seems to be the most significantly affected.

Karen

Thanks for the response Karen as I

am very happy that this site can be

helpful in these type of situations

and I really am greatful for your response

                                     thanks ' Bill

I had to drop my 30 mg oxycodones off at my regular mom and pop pharmacy on MONDAY.   I've been going their for 11/2 years and  they never had a problem like this. They said they should be getting some in next couple days.  So i'm betting on friday, i hope.  But it is gonna be couple weeks for pharmacies to catch up on their back orders first.

What are you using 30mg for? I have admonial pain and I am on 15mg 5 per day. Sometimes I use 6 becuse I really need it. Forunately I see my doctor every 27 to 28 days so using 6 every once in awhile has not caused me to run out. If I run out I have to go to the emergercy room.

Don        donwlong@bellsouth.net

I read your post & I must say that I worry about U & ur condition,having much pain in your abodomen dosn't sound right/good, IMO,I hope you can goto another Dr. & get a 2nd opion,unless U know what for sure is going on & even then,I worried about you,knee pain back,ect is one thing,but Pls go find out what's going on...I wish U well....

Even though several doctors have said Chronic Hep C should not be causing the pain that is the only thing I can believe is causing it. I have read on several Hep C sites that others are also experiening adbominal pain because of it. Though not common the doctors go ahead and believe me. It is a real pain that only pain killers like Lortab and Oxycodone can relief. I do not take Lortab anymore because it can further damage the liver.

I have a friend who has Hep C and he has had pain in the upper right quadrant of his abdomen, which is where the liver is located.  He has found that taking Milk Thistle supplements and trying to eat mostly organic makes a big difference.  I believe there is another supplement he takes as well, but I can't remember what it is.  If you're interested, I'll be glad to ask him.  When he really sticks to his diet and supplement regime, his pain actually goes away.  But when he breaks down and eats fast food or something similar, it comes back.  Just thought you might like to know of another Hep C patient who also has had abdominal pain. 

I live in North Carolina and have all my meds filled at Walgreens, but for the past 2 months I've had to go to a privately owned pharmacy to get my 120/30mgs filled.  I was wondering what was going on with Walgreens, so thanks so much for this article.  I am so glad that I found Chronic Pain Connection, so many informative articles.

Hello... I also live in Denver, and have been trying to get my Oxycodone script filled. Where did you end up finding a pharmacy to fill your prescription. Thanks for your help.

HI Dennis I went to This little mom and pop

store at 895 E harvard Ave by Porters hospital

and they are not well known and the name is Todd's

Pharmacy and the one time they could not help I went to the

Walmart in Englewood and they were able to fill it no problem.

I would try Todds first it is like my ace in the hole!!

                                                                     Anytime I can help feel free

                                                                     to write me and Good Luck!

                                                                     Take Care and live Pain free Hopefully

                                                                                                       Bill

Thanks very much for responding Bill. I am actually familiar with the area around Porter Hospital, so I will check out Todd's Pharmacy. I appreciate the information. Hopefully this shortage will work itself out soon. Take good care. And thanks again.

do you know of any pharmacies in the area that have any now i go tues. the 31st.

I Would try Todd'S  / Walmart /  safeway /  King soopers/

I never ever do Walgreens or kosco because I never have any luck

I hope you get your meds on  the 31 st and good Luck

these are all Englewood 'Co based stores !! let me know where

you are located it Might help plus they have Colorado Pharmacy

at Colfax and about Downing and my friend has good luck Their!

                                                             Take Care and Good Luck

                                                               and write any time you want .

                                                                                         Bill

I'm glad you've found a pharmacy that carries what you need. 

You mentioned surveys and statistics related to chronic pain.  It is estimated that between 15% and 33% of the U.S. population, or as many as 70 million people, are affected by chronic pain.  And the cost of pain is estimated to be around $100 billion a year in medical costs, lost working days, and workers compensation.  The American Pain Foundation has statistics from several surveys on pain that you might also find interesting: http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?file=Newsroom/PainSurveys.htm

I don't know if you've read my article, "Opioids:  Addiction vs. Dependence," but it might be helpful to share with people who don't seem to understand the difference.  As you noted, it's a distinction that is incredibly misunderstood.  

Thank you for that information.  Wouldn't you think with that many chronic pain sufferers, we would have some sort of voice??  It's time we all got up and roared!

Currently my pain management dr. is trying to wean me off all meds for 6 weeks to give my body a drug holiday.  As I said I have been on the pump, same dosage for 6 years which seems odd that I did not need more over the years, but she has taken me down twice now.  She seems to think that by giving my body a drug holiday that when she reintroduces the morphine, I will do much better.  Do you know anything about that?  Do they give you some other drugs to manage the pain while you are coming down off the morphine?   I forgot to ask her--better do it next time.  I am  fortunate in that my dr. is very forward thinking and knowledgable about the latest treatments.  She is studying accupuncture as well as accupressure to incorporate  into her practice.  I have never tried accupuncture but I think I may do that as well as some sort of massage therapy.

Sorry for rambling on and on......I greatly appreciate your response!

Matt'smom

Hi,  I am wondering about that myself.  I have been on morphine for more than 12 years, I take Kadian 80 mg, extended release, and 30 mg oxycodone 4 x for breakthrough pain.   I wonder if you can go on a "drug holiday", and not suffer.  I am worried about the "long term affects" that the morphine is doing to my body.   I suffer from "cervical disc disease, chronic pain, fibromaylsia, chronic headaches, chronic "DVT" painful blood clots, foot pain, I could go on, but as most of us "Chronic Pain patients" know how it is, and that anybody who hasn't suffered from chronic pain syndrome would never understand the difference of getting relieve or getting high.  I know that I can say from my "Heart" that I never feel a high.  I just feel more comfortable, and able to get out of bed, or off the couch. 

Bless your heart.....it sounds like you have been through it.  Like myself, I'm sure you know once they cut, that's the end of you.  I have been going to the same neurosurgeon for almost 16 yrs. now (mine was a rare tumor IN the spinal cord and then they kept going back in to "fix" things and put hardware in) and the "newbees" (first timers) are not accustomed to the kind of wait time you can have to get in to see the surgeon.  When I tell them I have been coming for 16 yrs. they almost walk out!!!  I recently ended up in the hospital with what they thought were kidney stones.....turned out to be back related (lots of bone spurs and the pedicle screws were in the soft tissue and other miscellaneous things as the surgeon told my husband).  It ended up being a 4 hour surgery and when I went home I thought, THANK GOD, I never have to feel that pain again.  Well, once again, I learned that I should have read the consent form more closely, "please note that this procedure may not only NOT fix your problem, but may create other problems as well".  Two days after surgery not only did I have the horrible pain again but now I have NERVE pain, as well and I have never had that before.  So, now I have to take Lyrica in addition to Flexeril along with about 7 other drugs.  I forgot to mention something very interesting that I learned in the hospital.......I asked the neurosurgeon in the hospital if he couldn't just help me and do the surgery THEN.  He looked at me and this is what he said, "16 years ago you got on a bus.  Dr. R. was the bus driver then and that bus is still running today".  Meaning, once a surgeon has cut you open multiple times, no one else is going to come near you if the original doctor is still in practice.

May I ask if the drugs you take have added weight?  If so, is there anything that works to take it off?  My internist told me he will NOT discuss my weight difficulties again, PERIOD.  Then I started taking Lyrica and I went up another 10 lbs. in 2 weeks.  He is coming around a little and instead of Celexa, has put me on "Prestiq", some new antidepressant.  Boy, when you are fighting for your life as a pain patient of course you are depressed.......but then they give you all the  meds, you gain 40 lbs. and try everything out there to drop some pounds and you can't.  You talk about depression!

I lift weights, walk for  an hour and a half at 3 miles/per hr., eat maybe 1100 calories and still cannot take off one ounce.  Not even an ounce.

God Bless You and I hope you have more and more pain free days!!

Matt'smom

Hi,  Thank you for your reply.  Sounds like we have alot in common.  My short term memory sucks, but they say "fibro" causes that, so I hope I cover all your Q's, if not, I would love to hear from U again.   AS FAR AS THE "LYRICA"  My Dr. gave me an RX for that also, before filling it, I decided to look into it further on the internet.  One of the side effects that really stood out in my mind is "weight gain"  Well as U probably read, I took off 140 lbs, and I wasn't willing to try something, that was a guess in his mind, whether it would work.  So I did not fill it.

I know what you mean about the surgery also.  My orthopedic surgeon who fixed the discs in my neck, with bone from my hip and then screwing an "E" metal thing to keep them from breaking or falling, ???, I went back 8 yrs later, and he refused to even discuss another surgery.  I  forgot to mention that I am on a muscle relaxer also, "xanaflex", and I take (2) Kadian 80 mg a day, besides the (4) 30 mg oxycodone to help with pain, and I also have "Lydocane patches" which cost $350+ a box of 30.  Thank god for my health insurance.  I retired over 10 years ago(age 43), cause I just couldn't sit at a computer anymore.  Since I retired on "disability" and worked for the state, I have a , (oops,somehow I deleted a whoe para.  Try to remember what I typed.   . . .good health insurance policy, paid by the state (thank god,knock on wood) they keep on paying for it.  I am also on cymbalta for "depression"  Who wouldn't be depressed being on all those med.'s  If they do put U on a "drug holiday" chances are, they won't re-introduce the proper medicine U need to be on.  Luckily, right now I have a good "primary care" Dr. and a good "pain mgmt dr."  I would hate to lose them.   I live alone with my dog and two cats, and I tell U, there are days, that I don't think I could have got through without them.  Sometimes they are my reason for going on.  They give me strength.  When they sit with me, cause they know I am hurting, it helps to pet them also.      My animals are my strength.  If U want to talk more, I am here.  There is not alot I can do, because, I forgot to mention, I also have heal spurs, and a cracked heal that couldn't be fixed, so walking is difficult most of the time.  I just sit here, wearing a soft neck collar to help my neck from hurting, watching TV with my pets, and reading stuff on the int.  My name is Nancy, and I am glad to hear from U.  Take care.  U are in my thoughts.

We have so much in common it's spooky!  We take much of the same meds and I just

refilled the Lidocane patches today.......Are you serious about what they cost without insurance????  That's incredible when I think I pay $5 or $10 for them. KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK on wood!

I am (was) an Escrow Officer for 24 years and I probably should have just done the disability thing, but I grew up as the eldest in a very strict Catholic family, so you are supposed to just grin and bear it.  I have not worked in 5 years, partly because my husband said just to quit (the economy and real estate market was much better then!)and of course now the Real Estate business is pretty much depleted in this part of Texas.

I didn't know that you lost all that weight......how did you do it?  I was always a size 6 and that's not complimenting myself, it's just what I always weighed.  Now I am a size 16 and don't look in the mirror as much as I can avoid it.  I worry so much about diabetes and all the other stuff that comes with the fat.  And Yes, being on all those meds has to have some sort of really bad body consequence.

Like you as well I have 2 dogs that I just love to pieces.  Growing up with 6 kids, my mom did not allow pets.  We had a parakeet that became sick and my mom made my dad drown him in the basin in the basement because she thought the bird would make us sick.....my poor dad---then we had 2 gold fish that committed suicide.  Yup, just jumped out of the bowl one day.  So when we moved to Texas, my husband and son got me blitzed on wine one night and we bought a Sheltie that the 2 of them had gone to see every day for 2 weeks.  I said OK and that opened up the whole animal world for me.  The only time I have EVER seen my husband cry was when we had to put one of the Shelties down because he had bladder cancer.  We both lay on the floor with him and we asked the vet to give him something calming and she said "He's already gone."  Why can't we do that for people????

Ah, well.  Don't want to talk your ear off, but anytime you need to vent or just talk, feel free.  My name is Mary.  (And they actually messed up my signature when I signed on....it's not Mattsmon, it is Matt'smom!)

Be safe and well.

Matt'smon

I feel like a wimp compared to some of these stories being told but my doc has his own pharmacy on the first floor and his own financial institution on the 2nd. Good scam huh?!!! Well  was on a regimine of 2 10 mg time released  tabs with 2 10mg valiums along with 5 going down to 3 # 10 mg percocets. I took it upon myself to opt out of one of the oxys because I felt dahgerous on the streets. Now my pain management doc  nixed all that and gave me the 5's which  have weaned myself down to 2 valium and 3 5mg oxycodones which caps of the pain but my body is telling me that I am alive. What should I say to this new doctor who is not my primary and says take aleve which upsets my stomach but I am taking celebrex? I amin ahard transition and any good advise would be gratefully taken. Plus on the original I had hardly any appetite and bad bm.

Nogainfrmpain

I'm not really clear on exactly what you're taking now.  You mentioned 10 mg. tabs and "5's" but don't say what the medication is.  As far as the Aleve goes, don't be hesitant to tell you doctor that it upsets your stomach even if you can take Celebrex with no problem.  Every medication is different and sometimes one will cause us problems when another won't.  It's not a good idea to take Aleve and Celebrex together since they're both NSAIDs and combining them would really increase your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Guys i know what U mean I live in N.J. and suffer from chronic pain the only thing I can take is oxycodone30mg .My doctor has tried me on everything the rest is either to strong or puts me to sleep witch since I'm disable would not be a big deal if I was not a single mom raising a kid .GOOD LUCK TO US ALL

Mattsmon,

I don't know a lot about drug holidays, but I've heard some other community members talk about them.  My concern would be whether you would have to go through withdrawal if your morphine is cut out completely.  Perhaps that's why she has reduced yours a couple of times – maybe she's taking you down gradually.  As for whether they give you other medication during that time, I don't know.  I wouldn't think they would be able to give you other opioids because they all work on the opioid receptors, which is what I think they want to give a rest so you will be more sensitive to the medication later.  When you ask your doctor, I hope you'll let me know what she says. 

One place you might be able to get more information about that is our forum.  There is an excellent ongoing thread entitled “Willing to share experience with intrathecal morphine pump implant” that was started and is maintained by Bob Englebardt.  He's had lots of experience with pain pumps and answered tons of questions.  My guess is he knows more about drug holidays than I do.  There are lots of pages in that thread.  You might read through some of them and see if anyone else has talked about that, or just go to the last page and ask the question yourself.  Here's the link:

http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/chronic-pain/forums/a/tpc/f/7251032/m/8491036

(Note:  If you've never been to the forum before, you'll have to register separately from your registration here on ChronicPainConnection.  You can, however, use the same e-mail address and password if you like to make it easier to remember.)

One more thing – I noticed in one of your comments that your username got messed up when you signed up.  I think your username can be changed.  I've seen others change theirs, but I'm not sure how they did it.  I'll be glad to check on it for you if you'd like yours changed.  Just let me know. 

Karen

I agree.  When I tell some people that I have a morphine pump, they raise their eyebows and make some comment indicating they think I'm high.  At my current dose that's only a little over 3 Mg./day from the pump, I've never felt high in any way.  Before the pump, I was taking 90 Mg./day of Avinza (timed release morphine) and still never felt high.

People with chronic pain know that these narcotics work on the pain and generally do not cause a person to become addicted (although there are always exceptions).  Many formal studies have proven this.  Unfortunately, there are many people who use narcotics recreationally and they certainly are playing with fire with regard to addition and habituation and, of course, they are using drugs illegally.

I was at my sister's house for a get together and she had some neighborhood kids stop by.....I asked them if what we saw on TV was true (the show "Law and Order")---that kids raided their parents' medicine cabinets and then they had these parties where they dumped the meds down and everybody took some, not having the LEAST idea what they were getting.  They told us that it was very true so I asked what an oxycodone tablet was worth on the open market and he told me they were going for $80. per pill!!!  No wonder there's a shortage.

Be well.

matt'smom

Sorry in advance this is so long.  I've been told to write a book.

Note: there isn't ANY Oxycodone in from Palm Beach County to Dade County, Florida,

         at any of the major pharmacies or the "mom & pop" ones; they all say they don't

         know when they'll receive another shipment; and, down here you're stereotyped

         if your under the age of 50 of being a drug abuser if you even inquire about

         them

I'm glad someone spoke up about what I've felt since the day I was seriously injured in an auto accident that happened 5 years ago, that not only crushed my spine (cervical to lumbar) but damaged my right rotator cuff & tendons in my right hand where I can no longer write,  (however, I can still type...no carpel tunnel syndrome for me thank God), and had a severe brain injury.  I thank God everday I can now walk & realize how VERY fortunate I wasn't paralyzed.  When I turned 35 three years after the accident I also found out I had MS.  I've learned it doesn't show up in some people until their mid 30s and/or after severe trauma (they didn't run the tests until I was 35).  Also, I have a mild form of Parkinson's disease with tremors & petit mal seizures which started when I reached puberty (although I wasn't correctly diagnosed until I was 21...people got to remember we still have "ways to go" when it comes to medical science; they say my mom having chicken pox & other trauma she experienced when she gave birth to me may had caused my neurological symptons that I exhibited from the day I was born, however, since my development wasn't delayed & I WAS mentally above average they didn't make a big deal out of it; it was living hell for me especially to have uncontrollable tremors...I felt like a freak during my school years & in college; I'm very thankful though to some counselors that helped me through it).  My anxiety became a disorder when I became subconcious of my symptons worsening so I'm being treated for that as well. I was and still am always been an insomniac (believe me, I've tried EVERYTHING, modified my lifestyle like diet, used to be able to go to the gym, yoga & meditation, tapes, hypnosis, acupuncture, herbal substances, etc.; I've been told to try marijuna but I don't want to do anything illegal & I don't drink; I've heard marijuana could be prescribed to me in Oregon but I'm still have reservations about "going down that road" plus I can't afford to move).  I can go for 5 days without sleeping even though I'm EXTREMELY physically tired.  Finally, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome & am being treated for depression since my ex-husband and I separated in 2002, then when I found out I couldn't bear anymore children, then when I got into my auto accident in 2004 where my career was essentially over, one which I still owe $55k for in student loans, but more importantly, I'm currently not able to support my 15 yr old daughter (which I was thankful to give birth to her) for the first time ever & my ex-husband has completely abandoned her as well & has been able to evade child support even though he was ordered to pay it (thankfully, I was told I don't have the clinical depression but situational depression).  I was fortunate that my parents, who live in Wellington, (near West Palm Beach) have been able to "take my daughter in" while I've been staying almost an hour south of them because all my doctors are located there (they work with John Hopkins through Nova Southeastern University).  I had to sell my house just to get some of the necessary operations & my credit went from perfect to hopeless.  

Anyways, my point is, that not everyone who takes pain medication abuses it.  Though, I find some people who take it can't help being addicted. I believe more thorough histories & comprehensive follow-ups should be performed for these people.  And there are those who take it to to get high and/or not feel emotional pain.  These people usually are suffering from depression but are too proud to get psychiatric help and/or used to abusing other substances as well (a lot of them are men). Although, I have to say when I sought psychiatric help it was definitely used against me when my husband tried to discredit me to get out of paying child support so I can see maybe why they may be reluctant to "open up." Even so, the latter are the ones that ruins it for the rest of us.  The DEA needs to consider the different types of people's needs more carefully where legislation needs to be enforced more specifically to prevent illegal abuse (i.e. selling it for profit illegally).  I believe the DEA is benefiting financially from this though.  35 out of 50 pain clinics were "shut down" in the Fort Lauderdale area in the last couple months by the DEA.  I have a police/doctor friend who has shared his experience of working with the DEA in different stings throughout South Florida (believe it or not, he went from being a doctor to moonlighting as a detective in addition to his practice because it was always a dream of his). I am also really concerned for our high population of senior citizens where a lot of them are hospice patients suffering from severe pain until their very end. It really breaks my heart seeing so many of them so often. 

Well, when I am forced to go to the hospital because I didn't catch the cycle in time to "break the pain" I am usually given 2 IV bags of morphine followed with 2 IV bags of Diludid, which I've been told is 8x stronger than morphine.  I was prescribed the pill format once but I didn't get any relief & found out later it usually is only effective in the "IV" format as far as "breaking the pain cycle." 

I myself refused pain medication for 4 of the 5 years but then it became a means to an end when my spasm in my brain stem worsened & caused debilitating symptons (i.e. temporary blindness in my left eye, inability to move any of my limbs, memory loss, my left side of my nose running continuosly, my jaw is permantly locked in the mid section & I'm barely unable to speak, etc.; all of these symptons happen when I don't have ANY medication in my system).  Since the brain has a memory of pain (what I've been told; one of my surgeons is the one who operated on Pres. Clinton's knee) it would cycle for periods of at least 3 days to eventually continuing nonstop until I was able "break up" the pain, and thus, causing severe inflammation & worsening the brain damage (it started just as a brain injury).  I'm highly allergic to oxycodone but when I take it as needed I supplement major amounts of antihistamine.  In contrast, I met someone who related to my experience of being misunderstood about having to resort to pain medication, but this person WAS addicted to the medicine.  He admitted he took it for the high as well as stomach pain.  I sometimes question his dependence of it by thinking he originally used it for minor pain & enjoyed the feeling good so much which led to his now severe stomach pain, that I believe was caused by taking the 800-1000 mg of daily oxycodone he "ate" (as he put it) but who am I to judge?   I NEVER took it for the high nor would I ever do that.  But I learned & witnessed that some people's biological makeup makes them dependent on these drugs while others like myself can take it as needed & more often then not have some left over.  No one in my family exhibited any addictive behavior where on BOTH sides of his family there are drug users or abusers (one got AIDS from it).  He comes from a very affluent family being related to some highly respected doctors (I was raised in an upper middle class family myself but my parents lost almost everything after my brother's "coma expense" & more importantly, they have not recovered emotionally especially my father who was the ambitious one which has affected them financially). My own pain management doctor (where I only got 9 epidurals) is in prison because he was addicted to oxycontin and sold pills on the side of his practice to support his habit.  He is an ivy league graduate & was well respected in the medical community.  I was very pleased with his service.

As soon as I can get my medical situation under control & be somewhat financially stable I plan to start a non-profit organization (where ALL the money will go to the cause) to raise awareness.  I'm eligible for disability but in FL you can't work for two years before your even considered.  I've been able to work a little here in there (average $8,000 per year for the last 5 yrs; before the auto accident I was a CFO of a company for 3 yrs where my annual salary was starting to go to six figures). I lost my only sibling (my big brother) when I was 17 (he was 21) where he was brain dead after being in a coma from an auto accident where I later found out that the hospital might have pulled the plug to soon because he had symptons where certain necessary tests weren't performed to actually declare him "brain dead."  Between these two incidents and the impact it has had on my life, my family's life, & the life of others I've witnessed and always wanted to help has given me the biggest purpose of my existence (after my daughter) and I WILL DO EVERYTHING TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO SUFFER in the one in only lifetime they are afforded and that AS MUCH AWARENESS IS RAISED AS POSSIBLE for EVERYONE (including those who just know someone who is suffering) so we don't have to rely on the pharmaceutical companies & the government to protect us, assist us, understand us.  EVERYONE'S LIFE IS IMPORTANT & SHOULD BE VALUED AS SUCH!! Sadly, I've also many people who have been driven to suicide because they couldn't find the right help.  Most of them reached out & tried everything before they took that last step.  It definitely crossed my mind when I felt how now how people valued me as worthless when it comes to what I can provide to the community.  I'm blessed that my daughter values me though.  It hurts me to see my parents have to suffer when both their children lives were affected so greatly from auto accidents that they didn't cause.  My parents need to be enjoying their golden years & I'm supposed to be the strong one that gives back to them.

Dear Jenna:

Everytime I start to feel poorly, or the nerve pain from my most recent surgery is overwhelming and I scream inside, God sends me someone like you.  Compared to what you are experiencing, I have no problems.

I will add you to my prayers and please know that I will be praying for you to  have some comfort and that your pain will be eased.

Matt'smom

Dear Matt's mom:

Thank you for sharing!  I can say the same about you!!  Finding this forum has definitely been a God sent for me because it allows me to meet people like you & feel that I'm not alone although I hate seeing anyone suffer. However, seeing & knowing that other people too is the first step for what I want to do is raise awareness so I can hopefully help with people such as yourself as long as I'm medically able (in other words, as long as I'm alive). 

You're obviously a very devoted mom & I can definitely respect and appreciate that.  My daughter's name is Michele.  I always say it would be much easier to deal with this if I only had to worry about me.  I am so blessed to have Michele & yet it breaks my heart everyday that I can't give her the childhood she deserves.  I give her all the love I can but sometimes I break down, which I really try to do in secrecy.  My daughter is very aware how I've feel like I've failed her as a mom since my condition got worse.  Even thought I try to be strong it's hard when my own daughter is telling me things like "mom, take things one day at a time...don't stress out (she knows this aggravates my spasms)" or "things will get better...just hang in there because I believe in you."  I'm supposed to be the mom and she's supposed to lean on me!  I am the luckiest person in the world to have her as my child & would be devastated to lose her but when I got worse in the last 2 yrs I was honestly thinking of putting her in a foster home (she never knew this).  I just wanted her to have the best.  That's when my parents intervened but I have guilt for them being there as well for me at such a precious time in their lives.  When I pray to God I say don't make me better for me but for those around me.  I don't care if I don't find love again...I don't care if any of my lifetime dreams come true anymore.  It's all about my daughter's & my parent's happiness, and all those great people such as yourself.   If I could make these lives better than I'll be the happiest person in the world.

I wish you all the best Matt's Mom!!

Michele's Mom

What you are teaching your child, probably a little bit before she would need to know is CHARACTER.  Please, please try to understand that what you think is a 'burden' is not-she'staken to her heart and is responding as a grown up would.  You are not a burden to your child and what she is learning now is reality.  She has obviously stepped up to the plate and hit a home run.  Why is it with all the pain we live with day in and day out, we think that we are compromising someone else's life?    WE HAVE THE PAIN.  The hardest part for me is to remember that once upon a time, life was "normal".  Now, it's just a different "normal" for us.  Your daughter and parents love you like crazy, I am SURE of that.  I'm sure it hurts them, too, and they most likely do what you and I do at times.........go into the bathroom, lock the door, turn the music on and cry themselves silly.  They don't want to see you hurting......I think of all the things I could NOT do when my Matt was still at home.  He was in the 6th grade when I was diagnosed with a schwannoma inside the spinal cord.  I WILL tell you this.......if I knew then what I know now about back surgeries, I would have NEVER had any more once the tumor was OUT.  Unfortunately, hindsight, as they say, is always 20/20!

Please know that everyone here KNOWS your pain.  When the pain gets really bad and nothing will control it (I ended up with nerve pain this time......something I have never had in 16 years and it is not easily helped with meds) I just sit on my rocker and rock, with ice packs and a tens unit glued to my back, and cry as long as I need to cry.  Then, inevitably, God shows me someone whose pain is unbelievable and not controlled due to financial reasons and I get off the rocking chair and remember that nothing I am feeling now can compare to the way Jesus felt while he was nailed to the cross.  I don't know if you are religious, but I have found my way back to church and when I have a period where the pain would make another person lose their mind, I just offer it up to God.  It helps.......who knows?   Maybe we are serving our eternal sentence right now and when we die, God will surely have a place for us with no pain and a new boyfriend for you!!!!!

God Bless and please try to hang in there......I DO understand everything you are feeling..........if you need to scream in private, I have found that cars are very effective tools to drive around and just scream to the sounds of Toby Keith! (country music, which I NEVER thought I would like!)

Matt'smom

Hi,  I'm a first timer.  So glad to have found this site a year or so ago.  The info is helpful and it's always good to know that there others out here that are experiencing the same symptoms I do.  I'll check with my pharm to see if there any supply problems with my scripts that are coming again at the end of the month.   Karen, what if any are some alternatives if I can't get my oxy scripts filled?  I take 40mg oxycodone 3x a day and approx. 4-10/325 percocets a day for breakthrough.  I'm beginning to worry what I would do if I couldn't get them filled.  Again thanks again for all the info even though I have always been out here on the sidelines.

sa.

Hi sa,  Glad to have you commenting here on ChronicPainConnection.  I hope you'll jump in and post more often.  To answer your question about alternatives to oxycodone during the shortage – of course, your doctor will have to make the ultimate decision, but there are a number of alternatives.  You might ask about OxyFast, which is liquid oxycodone and there is not a shortage of it.  There are also other immediate release opioids like morphine, oxymorphone and hydromorphone the he might consider as well.  I hope it doesn't become a problem for you, but at least you know there are other options out there. 

That a pharmacy would price gouge patients needing medication is amazing.  I started to say unbelievable, but unfortunately there always seems to be someone ready to take advantage of others.  I think I'd be tempted to call the local newspaper or TV station about that pharmacy.  It could make a good story. 

Sadly, that doesn't help your situation.  Only you can decide if it's worth it to you to pay that much.  Have you tried asking your doctor if there is another medication you could try on a temporary basis until the oxycodone shortage is resolved?

Good luck to you!

I was given the white oxycodone 15 mg, i questioned the pharmacy walgreens, they said it was the same stuff i had been taking it was just a different manufacturer that i should take it home and take it.  I took the first pill withen 15 minutes i was puking i called the pharmacist they got angry at me and told me there was nothing wrong with the meds to keep taking them.. i took them for 3 days and was so ill i got dehydrated and rolled over in bed fractured my shoulder and ended up in the hospital for 4 days all due to the fact that walgreens gave me a bad medication..

now what i did find out is that this manufacturer won the bid for the company they could produce this medication in a synthetic form and that it was very cheap for them to produce so , 6 major pharmacies went with them..  They never even apologized to me.. they accused me off being a drug addict and trying to pill shop.. i went through a horrible time...

MY diagnosis is LUPUS , i have MG(myathenia gravis) my symptoms from the Lupus are MS, and Rhumetoid arthritis..

I went to the dr the 2nd week in March 2009 and i have yet to get my pain meds which without them i am homebound in bed, with them i can at least get out of the house to the grocery store when i need something..

i also have a hernia which i cannot get fixed until july 09 when my medicare kicks in.. i can not offord my medications and its unfair that walgreens hasnt tried to compensate me in some way. they caused me to go into a relapse that i am still trying to get out of. so when you dont understand what your pharmacy is telling you dont believe them.. no matter how bad you need the medication..

I could have been killed by this medication, i will only take the light blue pill.  i suggest if anyone tries to give you the white ones you call the FDA.

I also have lupus and R/A and am on oxy and cant find it was once given the whithe 15mg and i swore the whole time I had those they didnt due a thing so I also requstded the blue ones any one jknow where theres some 20mg in tampabay area fl let me know in the loop whole so have to pay out of pocket thanks

There shouldn't be any problem with your mother taking oxycodone from two different manufacturers.  The active ingredient in both, oxycodone, should be the same.  The inactive ingredients, such as binders and fillers, may vary between manufacturers but that shouldn't cause any interaction problems. 

As far as whether you can stick around and talk about your MS and pain problems, absolutely!!  We're very happy to have you here on ChronicPainConnection.  We're here for anyone who has pain problems, regardless of the source, or for caregivers, family and friends of pain patients. Please feel free to browse the site, do a Sharpost, make comments or ask a question.  Here are links to our homepage and a brief description of the site:

ChronicPainConnection Homepage

How to Use This Site

We also have a sister site that just deals with MS you might be interested in as well –

MultipleSclerosisCentral.com

If there's anything we can help you with, just let us know.

Karen

Yes, I did get your message, Jen.  I'm so glad you were able to find the 20 mg oxycodone.  I'm guessing the liquid oxycodone that was pulled was part of the FDA's new order to stop producing and selling several unapproved brands of opioids.  You can read more about that here:  FDA Orders Halt to Production of Unapproved Painkillers – Gives One a Reprieve

I'm just happy that you got what you needed and are feeling better.  And thanks for letting me know!

That is total insanity as if  they cannot fill

your needs they just rip it up !! Iwould complain

 to the F.D.A. the BBB and every news station in town as

if you did nothing at all wrong !! they are playing like

they are the doctors and have zero right to act and do

this . The paper should be giving back to you as I have seen

people go to at least5 or more Pharmacys to get it filled

Iknow that is because of forgery but all doctors now

have a water mark or special kind of paper so the drug

seeking fools can not copy these meds!!! Lord this is one

for the year 2009 and money is made the same way so it can

not be counterfeied so their is NO EXCUSE for these people

to treat you like this!!!!        Thanks and take care always' Bill

Thanks Bill

Yeah I felt like **** when she torn it up. I didn't do anything because I was so embarrassed. I know the "rule" that they can't give it back because it's a control medication. But I really felt like ****.  Anyhow my doctor changed it to something else and it has actually worked better, and no problem getting it filled.  I also had a problem getting my child's ADD medication filled. They had to order it. It took 3 weeks. I would have loved to drop the child off at who ever is responsible for this mess.  Three weeks with no medication was fun lol...  My father in law has had to switch heart medication for the same reason.  Hope you get your meds ok.  God Bless

Thanks for the update, Bill.  That's good news!  – Karen