How much difference does brand name make in control given the same dose - Pain Management Message Board

Jack24 · 06-26-2008, 09:13 PM

I'm wondering if I could ring a little more time out of my 75's before I have to go up or change to another drug. I'm on a two day rotation and about 10 hours before change time I start into withdrawal and it is not plesant. Pain control is fine, it is just the withdrawal symptoms. I've been trying to cover with Percocet 10/325 which works marginally but I have to take 5 a day. The 1st day after a new patch I don't need any Percocet all day.

conductor · 06-27-2008, 12:09 AM

Dear Jack24,

An exceptionally intelligent member of our community, Exec, has a great deal of information concerning the patch. Hopefully, she'll respond as soon as she reads your posting! Perhaps you could search some of our more recent conversations--in the last few months--about this very subject? (There's a way to search these things, but maybe you should contact one of the moderators or administrators for explicit instructions. I could give you instructions, but you would not be amused later!)

Plus, there are so many others who have tremendous amounts of knowledge about these kinds of things. We are all very fortunate to have the experiences of everyone on this forum. I count HealthBoards as one of my blessings on a regular basis because the members here have taught me a great deal--for which I am very thankful!

Sincerely,
Jon (Conductor)

trowftd3 · 06-27-2008, 02:01 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong but, you are talking about the fentanyl patch. Right?

From what I've read here on the board there is a huge difference between generic versions of the patch. The Sandoz patch(and I think Watson makes one also) is comparable to the name brand Jannsen(sp?) but the Mylan patch is inferior.

Executor is very knowledgeable on this subject and I hope she chimes in and corrects me if necessary. I believe the delivery system is different as well as the 20% +/- issue with generics.

Which are you using? Maybe switching to the brand name could help you out, that is if you could afford it. I know the patches are very expensive.

Good luck and welcome to our little cp family.~Mush

RetiredDirector · 06-27-2008, 05:37 PM

When I was on the Duregesic patches, I was on the 50's, then 75's and finally the 100 mcg. I too, was on a 48 hour change schedule, and although the makers say they are good for 72 hours, most people can't get anywhere close to that out of them.

First off, make sure you get the brand name (if at all possible, insurance wise), because Janssen makes a far better product than the generics. One thing I noticed while on them, after I had been on them for a while, my tolerance would start to go up and I would be ready to change prior to the 48 hour mark. I started adding the new patch at 48 hours, but left the old one on until the next day. Then when I got to 48 hours with the new one, I would do the same with the next patch.

You might give it a try, because even though it doesn't seem like it, there is still some of the medication in the old patch. I think between using Janssen Duregesic Patches and use the changing method I described, you might find you can be more comfortable and not have to go to the Percs. I hope this helps you.

Jack24 · 06-27-2008, 07:14 PM

Thanks for the reply. It is the Mylan brand. The only reason it is that brand is that with insurance, Mylan is $10.00 a month. Name brand is $50.00 a month. Even though that is quite a bit of difference, I'd gladly pay it. I'll try leaving the patch on longer to see if that helps. I have a feeling I better call my doc first as with my luck this would be the time they do a random drug test and my next apt is in 5 days.

I posted a while back about changing to another drug as my doc offered to change me to either morphine or methadone. I was able to get a lot of good info from this board about which would suit me the best. I'm a little reluctant to change as it took so long to get my current regimen and pain relief. It might be worth going to name brand to see if I can ring a little more time out of the patch.