Ethex went out of business

[ProdigalGirl]

Ok here is the low down on the oxycodone shortage. I just got off the phone with two respected pharmacists I know personally. Ethex did indeed go out of business.I was told that the 5mg IR tablets as well as the 15mg tablets are no longer being made b/c Ethex was the only company making them. But.... their is a capsule form to these strengths that is available. Oxycontin is not affected by Ethex. Well, that is all I know, so I thought I would pass this on.


ProdigalGirl

[Mollyrae]

The capsule form is not covered by most SSDI Prescription insurance plans. I have found this out the hard way. My Doc is switching me to a different breakthrough med as I'm sure that other Doc's will.

[Ghilly]

I know that Ethex is once again manufacturing the oxycodone 15mg again because I dropped my prescription off on the 23rd of January to be filled, but it was the fourth of February until the pills were sent to the pharmacy.  When I first dropped the scripts off, the drops that I take were there, but the pills were not.  My pharmacist told me that they were backordered and might not be available until the end of the month.  Well, the end of the month came and went and they still were not in, but then I got a call from him telling me that they were available again and the company was overnighting my supply to him and would be there on Friday.  Sure enough, Friday morning he called me that they were there, so DH ran right down and picked up my supply.  I hope we don't have to go through the same thing this coming month.  I have to go see my doctor on the 23 or February.  I think I'll ask him if he can switch me over to the 30mg pills and I'll just take one of those every four hours instead of two of the 15mg.  My pharmacist did tell me that the 30mg pills were generally more readily available because not as many people take them as take the 15mg.  I'll have to see what my doctor says.

Ghilly

[ProdigalGirl]

Sandee, you are the best for calling. Why would 2 different pharmacists tell me the same thing?? They specifically told me they were not going to be in business. See how rumors start? LOL I am glad you called b/c I got my script today for the 5mgIR and didn't know what to do with it since I am due for a refill Monday. So, if I have to use the capsules for one month, then that's what I have to do. It is amazing that those little pills make such a difference when my medication gets lazy and I feel pain again. Thanks again Sandee.

[sandee1818]

Well some pharmacys have some on hand that were not recalled. I called around and they are indeed on back order everywhere and they do not know if they will get any more.
The capsules just was not as effective as the ethex 5 IR. They do work but the ethex brand 5IR works much better.
I put a call into the manufactor to get information and the lady said they were not closing the business and we should be able to get the 5IR as soon as the pharmacy can get them. But being on back order for so long it will take awhile.

[Ghilly]

I know that Ethex issued a voluntary recall, as was pointed out in the post above mine, but are you positive that they have gone out of business?  The reason I ask is because I picked up my prescription for the generic Roxicodone 15mg just a week ago, and the manufacturer, according to the label on my bottle, is Ethex.  According to my pharmacist, these tablets had been on backorder for two weeks, but fortunately I was able to fill in with the liquid that I usually take for breakthru until they came in.  I got a bit nervous about them being backordered, but then I found out about the recall and was told that that was why the pills had been backordered, because they had to re-manufacture enough pills to make up for the ones that had been pulled.  So unless they have gone out of business literally within the last seven days, they are still very much in business.

Ghilly

[turbo236]

Good Morning All,

I'm not doubting your sources gave you reliable information, however, if you read press releases from Ethex.com, you can see that at this point the company has issued voluntary recalls for some of their products.  Digging a little further, at the FDA.gov medwatch site; http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#Ethex you can see a little detail as to why.  This may also explain why your Oxy IR tabs were working so well.  That 15 mg dose may have very well been 25 mg!!  Hope this helps..


Ethex Corporation Product Recall
Audience: Pharmacists, Consumers
[UPDATE 02/04/2009] ETHEX Corporation and Ther-RX Corporation expanded the company's previous recall notices to include prescription prenatal vitamin and iron supplement products. See the 02/03/2009 Press Releases for a list of products included in the recall.

[Posted 01/27/2009] FDA notified pharmacists and consumers that ETHEX Corporation has expanded two previous 2008 recalls to include over 60 generic drug products recalled to wholesalers, and two generic drug products, Hydromorphone HCl and Metoprolol Succinate, recalled to retailer level. These generic products may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices. Some of these products have had specific lots recalled earlier due to defects found, including oversized tablets delivering higher than labeled doses. These additional products are being removed to assure that no other defective products remain in the marketplace. Patients who may have these medicines in their possession should continue to take them in accordance with their prescriptions, as the risk of suddenly stopping needed medication may place patients at risk. Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using these products, or to obtain replacement medications or prescriptions.

[ProdigalGirl]

What drugs are being taken off the market? I talked with my doctor and he is giving me the capsule. I agree that the tablet worked great and super fast. You said the capsule was ok but no where near the Ethex brand. How so? Nausea? Give examples please b/c I would rather not take anything at all if it is detrimental. Thanks

[sandee1818]

Thanks for the information. I liked the ethex IR oxycodone as it did not bother my stomach but they are not available any longer. I was given the white tablet and I did not even feel like I had taken it at all si I got the capusle form this month and it is okay but no where near the ethex brand.
Has anyone else felt the small white tablet I think malinkort ( spelling?) makes it, is very ineffective? It really was for me.I will not get these anymore. i will change my break thru before I go that route again, it was a rough month.
My doctor said alot of pain meds are being taken off the market in the very near future and some companys are going out of business causing some to have to change their medications.