Fentanyl brand apotex ??

Question

Has anyone else used this brand?? Not happy with it lots of ups & downs glue is horrible. Been on fent for 2 yrs used almost every brand this one is thumbs down.. I probably wouldn't notice but I recently dropped norco for bt pain from 150 to 120 to 60 in a very short amount of time. Under doctors care due to stomach problems. Recently had L1- L5 injections also SI and still in much pain..

TxAli369 · Answer

I have notice extreme (EXTREME) sweating since my pharm company switch from Mylan Fent Patches. I am actually dripping, then 2 seconds later I am freezing!! Has any one notice this?  Thanks for any help!!
**Wanted to post this**
If you check with your electric company, they have programs for people on disability for reduced rates. My new rate is half of what it was last summer. My Dr. had to fill out a form and fax it back to the electric company. Hope this helps someone.

Antirm · Answer

I am stuck with this pstch because it is the only one the screwedins co will cover. I hate Aetna ins they have screwed with my meds i am so pissed now this. I i am on two 100mcg patches every 48hrs for my illness anyone else had this problem

InPainInOhio · Answer

I tried the fentanyl patch for a while and like you they WOULD NOT stick to me. I can't tell you how many times I had to dig through the sheets to find the patch after going to bed, so I called the manufacturer and they actually sent me a box of things (covers?)  that go over the patch and helped them to stick better, they sent them FREE too!

I also just found out today that my PM doc is quitting his PM practice and going into weight loss and addiction so now I'm trying to find a new PM doc in OHIO that might be the hardest state in the country to find a PM doc! 

I've been forced to drive THREE hours every month to see this doc that just QUIT with no warning! In July of 2011 Ohio passed House Bill 93 that forced a LOT of docs that treated pain to stop treating pain and now Ohio can't seem to figure out why heroin use in Ohio has gone up 1000% in the last 2 years! 

Also, I am a Pain Ambassador for the U.S. Pain Foundation and would recommend to EVERYONE the website uspainfoundation.org. They have a tremendous amount of information and resources that are very helpful!

Good luck!

Finessable · Answer

Adhesive on Mylan Fentanyl Patches is not the same in each shipment.  I have been on the Fentanyl patches for several years & fond that there are real differences between brands and more & more often the adhesive just doesn't hold.  I just received my refills and the 25mcg patches won't hold without help from medical tape or tegaderm (very expensive).
  Has anyone else had this problem?  I am going to complain to my (lifemail order ) pharmacy and the company Mylan.
  Just for the record, I believe there are very real differences between brands.  If you don't have your DR specify no substitutions, many pharmacies will try to pass off cheaper "generic" patches.  This is all about the money; you'd better believe it.  Do NOT accept this from your pharmacy.  It can take a bit of effort but it's worth it.
  As a last bit of advice, a few years ago I noticed the patches were not working for 3 days.  I found that it's very normal to prescribe the Fentanyl patches to be changed every two days.  My Dr researched it and prescribed it to me ......now no problems.  
  Good luck and be persistant!

Karmakid · Answer

I have been on fentanyl for several years and went through the same problem that others have with apotex, it did absolutely nothing and I can't help thinking that there has to be some kind of regulations that these companies have to follow, I don't understand how they can sell something that obviously is inferior to other brands and stay in business. I have tried complaining to pharmacy and doctors but they don't care at all the pharmacies keep buying it because it is a lot cheaper. It is crazy that they are getting away with this and letting people in pain suffer because of it, it's immoral and there has to be something that we can do to stop them. Any suggestions anyone?

marycarmel · Answer

This is a very old post and most of the people that used to belong to this forum are no longer here.  You're better off posting a new comment to get more responses.  (I actually was Mellie4 but there was some foul up either with my computer or something.  I had to sign up with a new screen name.)

kathyk404 · Answer

hello.  I am now on apotex 50 mg.  I have found that if I put alcohol on a cotton ball and clean my skin with it and then put patch on it will stick much better.  Other than my patches are not gel and they are not lasting the 72 hours.  But this is what my pharmacy has.  Unhappy.

wantcannibisnotpills · Answer

I'm on the 100 patches and if u can't get the name brand(which are the best in my opinion)I am currently using the milenkroft(hopefully I spelled it right but ur pharm will know) get the 3M gentle tape,its breathable and just pat try after shower,my pharm recommended it bc if it doesn't breath it will release to much and I have not had any problems in about ten yrs,hope this helps and god bless

sol843 · Answer

Amen, the same thing happened to me. It seems that there is maybe medicine for one day. Prior to the Apotex, I used Actavis. I felt so much better. Did you find the name of your previous manufacturer.

Tnboy · Answer

I can say I am in the same situation this weekend. I have been on gel patches for about 2 years with satisfactory results. It was time for my refill on April 1st and the brand they delivered me was a new brand to me called Apotex. The pharmacist said it was the only brand he was able to get right now. They just did not look like they would work well when I first opened them. I could only hope I was wrong. At first I could tell they did not seem like they were helping much. I have had a lot more pain this week and even made a visit to my doctor thinking it might be something new going on with my many illnesses. He could not find a reason for the pain being worse. I mentioned the change in brand the patches I got this time was a one I have never used. He said that would not matter. After a couple days later I knew it had to be the patch. I have been on strong medications before and when they were stopped I had the typical withdrawals and that is just how this feels and it is a horrible feeling. I started doing some search on Apotex and found this site and saw that others are having the same results with this brand. I called my pharmacist back this morning and told him what I found in my search about other people having problems with the Apotex brand. He said he was not aware of that. He said it would probably be this summer before he could get another brand. I told him there was no way I could handle this much pain until Summer. He started searching and said he found one that he could get but it would be Monday before he got them in.I know I am in for a long painful weekend but that is better than waiting till Summer but knowing how I will feel the next 3 days Monday seems very far away. I wish you the best for a solution for you and all of us having this problem.

Tnboy · Answer

No, this brand does not have the jell. The patch I have been on for almost 2 years had a jell that you could actually see in the patch. When you pilled off the plastic cover to apply it to your skin you could actually smell the medicine. This , new to me , patch "Apotex" is just a flat piece of plastic and the side you apply to your skin is entirely adhesive versus the jell patch which only had adhesive around the edges. The only problem I ever had with the jell patch is sometimes keeping it on but it did work well. This patch seems to give mild relief for about 5 to 6 hours and then it is like it is not helping at all. I have many illnesses including one terminal and the last thing I need is a pain medication that does not work. I have noticed other post on here about this Apotex patch and seems no one using it is getting the relief they should be from this brand. I spoke with my pharmacist yesterday before I found this site and shared my experience with him. The only answer he could give me was that the Apotex brand was the only brand he was able to get right now but give a real reason why. After finding this site yesterday while searching for information about the Apotex patch I called him back this morning and shared with him some of the testimonies I read about Apotex. He said he was not aware of the bad results people were having with this brand. He is doing what he can to find a better brand.

Ellen038 · Answer

The Watson brand work best for me. I always apply tegaderm to it right away to stop it from not sticking properly.  The 4x4 cover my entire patch. Good luck to you

jennl224 · Answer

Is this the brand that dosent have the jelly in side?  The pharmacy only had that brand on time and I agree that kind does really suck.  Didn't care for that at all. The pharmacy got the other ind in for the next month tank god.  I asked them to please keep them in stock.

Tnboy · Answer

I have been on Fentanyl Patches for about 3 years. I don't remember the name of the first brand I was on but I had problems with it staying on no matter were I put it. Some time ago when I got new patches they were an new brand, to me, called Advast. . They work very well for me. When I got my last patches they were a different brand called Apotex . I don't know if it is a new Brand but I have never used that brand. I called my pharmacist about the change and he advised me that was the only brand he could get right now. They are not working for me. The ones I was using you could smell the medicine on the patch when you pilled off the cover. This brand is just a big yellow square and there is no smell to them and it is like they do not have any medicine on them at all. Does anyone have any suggestions about this brand? My pain is terrible and I can hardly stand it. Any Help Appreciated!

medmaster · Answer

You might want to try SANDOZ Generic brand.  It is better than Duragesic.

medmaster · Answer

You might want to try SANDOZ Generic brand.  It is better than Duragesic.

renobnd · Answer

Have been on mylan brand patch for 7 years today they didn't have my brand so got this apotex brand 75 mg its not working there's no medicene on them at all do they work at all? Does anyone know about them?im scared its not working and it's the weekend.

namnam46 · Answer

Hi  Accelermom3,
First I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are VERY glad that you have found this Forum.  I need for you to understand that there are NO Doctors on this Forum. We are ALL  CP - Chronic Pain - Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences from our personal CP Issues.

I'm so sorry that you are going thru this with your Patches. I too use the Fentanyl Patches. The ONLY one that I've ever used is the Mylan Brand and it has without a doubt the BEST adhesive that there is.  You might have your Doctor request this brand for you from now on as I think it MIGHT help to solve your problems. :)  

The patches that were recalled can be found on the FDA website - however - I can let you know that the ONLY ones that were recalled were the 25 mcg patches. I DON'T know the Brand Name of them but it is on the website along with the LOT Numbers that were effected.

I hope that you will remain an active member and share your OWN experiences and expertise with all of us on here, too.  :).........Sherry

tippy18 · Answer

Check out recalls on FDA site.  The fentanyl patch was recalled.  Don't know which one or all of them.  Good Luck

mellie4 · Answer

I forget what brand I was on initially but I didn't care for it.  The patch itself was quite large and very noticeable.  It also wouldn't stay flat and would buckle and peel back at the edges.  At times, they'd fall off.  The glue was nearly impossible to get off my skin and WAS impossible to get off my clothes.

A member here mentioned the Duragesic patch and I asked for that.  What a difference!  I have had no problems with it at all.  (Initially my worker's comp insurance didn't want to pay the difference, which was huge, but after explanation from both myself and the doctor, they agreed to the change.  

Don't give up searching for what's best for you.