amethystma
04-30-2009, 05:48 AM
I am being increased and don't want to make the "jump" to the next dose so PM and I compromised; add a 12mcg if I don't mind paying an extra co payment....hell, it's only 7 dollars.I think it's a great investment in the name of not developing tolerance any quicker than absolutely necessary.
Are there other companies besides Mylan who manufacture the 12mcg?
I am NOT a fan, but I will use one Mylan and one Sandoz if needed (doc said it was ok, but he was not sure about other companies.....said the low dose was not a "money maker."
You all are such an incredible resource
Are there other companies besides Mylan who manufacture the 12mcg?
I am NOT a fan, but I will use one Mylan and one Sandoz if needed (doc said it was ok, but he was not sure about other companies.....said the low dose was not a "money maker."
You all are such an incredible resource
Sponsor
Executor
04-30-2009, 11:09 AM
You have made an excellent choice....A 25mcg jump is HUGE. In fact, most Docs won't jump by that much unless the patient is clearly opioid tolerant, and on a higher dose (i.e. 75 to a 100).
To answer your questions, Duragesic and Sandoz both make the 12.5s. Not sure about Watson. All Sandoz patches are made by Janssen, who is the maker of Duragesic brand. I have tried all of them, and Duragesic is by far the strongest, or most potent. Brands always are. My recommendation would be to select a particular brand and stay with it. When patients jump around, that's when they experience problems because each patch is different in terms of methodology and potency (specifications). Mylan tends to be the weakest....By way of their distribution system (of the med) and they take full advantage of the 1999 Hatch-Waxman Act, which allows each generic maker -20% of the active ingredient, in comparison to the brand.
Hope this helps, and please let me know if I can help further.
Regards,
Ex
To answer your questions, Duragesic and Sandoz both make the 12.5s. Not sure about Watson. All Sandoz patches are made by Janssen, who is the maker of Duragesic brand. I have tried all of them, and Duragesic is by far the strongest, or most potent. Brands always are. My recommendation would be to select a particular brand and stay with it. When patients jump around, that's when they experience problems because each patch is different in terms of methodology and potency (specifications). Mylan tends to be the weakest....By way of their distribution system (of the med) and they take full advantage of the 1999 Hatch-Waxman Act, which allows each generic maker -20% of the active ingredient, in comparison to the brand.
Hope this helps, and please let me know if I can help further.
Regards,
Ex
amethystma
04-30-2009, 12:32 PM
You are such a great teacher, Executor.
Thanks for your ever present support
Amethyst
Thanks for your ever present support
Amethyst
brianpain33
04-30-2009, 04:53 PM
If you give the pharmacy your prescription, they can order the brand (Duragesic) for you or possibly the generic Sandoz if they normally carry it. Do a search for Duragesic manufacturer online and get the $50 coupon off their site. You can use it toward your copay. I did this and pay NOTHING for the Duragesic patches ($45 copay - $50 coupon = FREE) for me at least. I don't know what your copay is for the brand name.
brian
brian
Executor
04-30-2009, 05:58 PM
You are such a great teacher, Executor.
Thanks for your ever present support
Amethyst
Thanks for the kind words....Very glad I could help.
Regards,
Ex
Thanks for your ever present support
Amethyst
Thanks for the kind words....Very glad I could help.
Regards,
Ex
amethystma
04-30-2009, 07:34 PM
Hi Brian.
My pharmacy benefits will not allow me to use the name brand without incurring a huge surcharge so the coupon would still leave me paying hundreds per box.
But, with the generic, it's 7 a rx for three boxes--very reasonable.
I would love to try the duragesic given its rave reviews, but I just cannot afford it.
My pharmacy benefits will not allow me to use the name brand without incurring a huge surcharge so the coupon would still leave me paying hundreds per box.
But, with the generic, it's 7 a rx for three boxes--very reasonable.
I would love to try the duragesic given its rave reviews, but I just cannot afford it.
amethystma
05-01-2009, 12:17 AM
I am also told that 12mcg patches from any company other than Mylan are hard to find. This is what the awesome independent pharm told me so I feel that their info is accurate.
Any other ideas, please??
Any other ideas, please??
Executor
05-01-2009, 12:33 AM
If you use an independent pharmacy (I do as well), ask the pharmacist (usually also the owner), if he will call his distributor / wholesaler to see if they can get the Sandoz. Sometimes, one just needs to inquire, or push a bit to get what you need. I'm sure your pharmacy is stocking the Mylans because they are the cheapest in the category. However, if you explain to the pharmacy that you will commit to these new patches, they will probably get them for you...Even stock them. At the very least, they should order them for you with each script that you get. Most pharmacies can get practically any med within 24 hours of ordering from the wholesaler....Most have next day service on any med the wholesaler stocks.
As I mentioned earlier, the Sandoz is made by the same folks who make Duragesic and since it's a "generic", you'll get the generic co-pay. It wont' be a potent as the brand, but it will be better than the mylan. It will also use the same med distribution system as the patch you're using currently.
Just thinking out loud, if you can't find the 12s in the brand you want, or the Mylan 12s don't work well enough, you may want to ask your Doc about getting another 25, but fill it will Mylan. This way it will be the weakest of all the 25s and not really a 25 if that makes sense.
Additionally, the Mylan patches can be cut....if you cut a third off for example, it would be a third weaker. This is a perfectly acceptable strategy embraced by the PM Docs....Because the way Mylans are made, the active ingredient, glue and etc and all mixed together and applied to the patch as one big mass. So, if you cut it in half, you would get two 12.5s. Many use the Mylans to wean because the patches can be allocated to whatever strength one needs for stepping down.
You would need to discuss this with your Doc and get approval of course....Just giving you some options to consider running by your Doc. This is no different than when one gets a pill cutter and cut meds in half, per Doc's instructions.
Take care, and hope you figure out a good solution. Please let me know what you decide.
Regards,
Ex
As I mentioned earlier, the Sandoz is made by the same folks who make Duragesic and since it's a "generic", you'll get the generic co-pay. It wont' be a potent as the brand, but it will be better than the mylan. It will also use the same med distribution system as the patch you're using currently.
Just thinking out loud, if you can't find the 12s in the brand you want, or the Mylan 12s don't work well enough, you may want to ask your Doc about getting another 25, but fill it will Mylan. This way it will be the weakest of all the 25s and not really a 25 if that makes sense.
Additionally, the Mylan patches can be cut....if you cut a third off for example, it would be a third weaker. This is a perfectly acceptable strategy embraced by the PM Docs....Because the way Mylans are made, the active ingredient, glue and etc and all mixed together and applied to the patch as one big mass. So, if you cut it in half, you would get two 12.5s. Many use the Mylans to wean because the patches can be allocated to whatever strength one needs for stepping down.
You would need to discuss this with your Doc and get approval of course....Just giving you some options to consider running by your Doc. This is no different than when one gets a pill cutter and cut meds in half, per Doc's instructions.
Take care, and hope you figure out a good solution. Please let me know what you decide.
Regards,
Ex