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OpanaER uneven effects

Has anyone had issues with withdrawal symptoms coming on suddenly? I know the Opana ER doesn't last 12 hours (even my doc warned me this was the case) but this latest batch of opana seems to poop out & give me old sweats about 4 hours after taking it.  
I've been on Opana ER, 20 mg 2x/day for a couple of months. It's my 2nd experience with long-acting opioids (1st was Oxycontin MS, quit after 10 days due to gluten issues). I have noticed variability in Opana's pain control --pain will go from 4-5 to 7-8 in an hour or two. I wasn't too surprised, since years of experience with opioids have shown them to be pretty unreliable on pain control generally...tho better than nothing!!  
I sorta expect pain to come back early, but until this refill I've never had withdrawal symptoms unless I've not taken any Opana in at least 20 hours.
A couple years' experience on fentanyl patches showed about a 15% failure rate with them; "3 day” patches that had me in withdrawal 6-18 hours after switching to a new patch (along with massive pain increase, of course).
Anyone familiar OpanaER fade-out?
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4397957 tn?1354280922
Do you know anything about Hydromorphone. This is what I am currently taking.
I had less issues with the 2mg pill. They put me on 4mg after having a radio frequency injection and I am now having a reaction to the 4mg medication.
The 2mg was orange and no side affects.
The 4mg is yellow and I am starting to see the reaction again.

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Avatar universal
I would make sure that this last prescription wasn't accidentally filled with the instant release and not the ER version...

And I think you blended two med names with Oxycontin MS...Oxycontin is a med all by itself..It is Oxycodone in Continuous formula...hence the "contin"....MS usually stands for Morphine Sulfate and comes in both IR (immediate release) or ER (extended release formulas)...

If it is a 12 hour version...then usually most Drs. are ok with dosing it every 8 hours...This is what I do with my MSContin...

I think that you and the member who also posted have been given some wrong information about what meds are gluten free..Here are many of the opiates below...

Percocet and Vicoden (both are brand names) are both gluten FREE

The Oxycodone tabs and liquids by the generic manufacturer Mallinckrodt is guten FREE

Hydrocodone/Apap all strengths (by manufacturer Mallinckrodt) is gluten FREE

Lortab (all brands) are gluten FREE

Morphine IR tabs (Roxane...generic manufacturer) is gluten FREE

Morphine Sulfate Ext Release Tab (Endo Pharmaceuticals....generic manufacturer) is gluten FREE (I am actually on these)


So...all you have to do is go online to check these lists and make sure you either get the brand name medication or the generic that is gluten FREE....

As well as making sure that the opiate one takes is not the sole way that someone uses to bring their pain down. They should just be one small part of one's pain management. Hopefully your Dr.s are helping you use dozens of other modalities to help lower your pain levels..

Good luck..
Helpful - 0
4397957 tn?1354280922
My Dr is trying to get me to go on this Opana drug and DO NOT want to switch from what I am currently taking. The meds I am on now work pretty good.
A freind of mine has very similar symptoms like you have due to the Opana ER....
I do have a question about the gluten issues. I think I have the same problem from taking Percoset, Vicodin and a ER morphine they had me on last year.
The medication I am on now is just the pain medication without any buffers.
My complection has never been better.
Is this problem due to gluten??? I have been to several dermatologists trying to figure out why I have such a difficult time taking certain meds. My body becomes covered with painful blind pimples... It is AWFUL.


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