"sugar free" actiq......................FENTORA

[paigiesmom]

Wow it has been a while since I have posted but it seems so slow around here. Has anyone heard when this will be available? Or has anyone tried this or knows anyone who has.

I use actiq and it works for me really well but its killing my teeth. I asked the pharmacist today at walgrees and she said she had not heard anything. Thought this would be the place to ask. Thanks a ton, Kristin

[AngylHeart]

Bad News:
I contacted Cephalon regarding the release date of the sugar-free Actiq. They have a recording that states that the release of the sugar-free version "has been delayed indefinately due to technical reasons". :-( I went back on Actiq in anticipation of the release of the sugar free version, which was scheduled to come out about now.

Good News (for those with co-pays):
The generic version of Actiq is now available. I haven't yet tried it, but my pharmacy has already received my order, which I will pick up some time next week.

I suppose patience is the key, but my teeth need a change NOW!

Take care,

AngylHeart

[Annie B.]

I've just had my first script of Fentora filled this week. It's been out for about 3 weeks now but the problem is that the insurance companies are slow to recognize it as a new med. I had to wait for about 2 weeks after having the script written for the insurance to process the medication as one that really existed. In the meanwhile, they suggested that I pay out of pocket and that I "may or may not be reimbursed." NOT!

The Fentora works well. I like the efficacy of the Actiq better, but that's my opinion only. Without sugar, the Fentora tastes just like baking soda--not bad, but not great either. You place it in between your gum and soft palate in the upper part of your mouth, where your molars are, and simply let it dissolve. I found that if I put it in the lower part of my mouth, it dissolved way too quickly and I didn't get the relief that I should have.

One thing that I like about the Fentora is that I don't get a sense of tiredness that I got from the Actiq. Again, it's my first week on it, so the jury is still out. I do love the quickness of relief though. There's nothing like it.

Any questions? Feel free to ask. I check in daily.

xoxo,
Annie B.

[AngylHeart]

Wow! This is very interesting and makes me wonder why I received the info from Cephalon when I called them on the 12th! My doctor even asked me about the sugar free version when I saw hime on Monday and I supplied him with the same info as herel

I guess I'll check with the pharmacy to see if they can find out what my co-pay will be for this med when I go to pick up my others on Friday. Regardless, I would much prefer this to the Actiq or generic.

Does anyone know why the conversion rate is recommended to be about 50% less for the sugar free?

Thanks,
AngylHeart

[Annie B.]

Angyl,

I was on 1200umg of Actiq and was put on 200umg of Fentora. This level of Fentora does not cover the pain as well as the Actiq but I think that I may not be using it correctly. I think that it may be dissolving too quickly in my mouth. Being diabetic, I love the idea of a sugar free med, but I liked the control I had with the Actiq being on a stick and me being able to control where it went in my mouth and how quickly it dissolved.

Like any new med, I think that it will be a question of trial and error to get to the correct theraputic level for me. I may have had expectations that were too high and will have to "adjust my sails" a bit.

At any rate, Fentora is out and being recognized by more and more insurance companies every day. The really nice thing is that it's available for multiple conditions, not just cancer as the Actiq is. From what I understand, the generic Actiq is still about $40.00 per pop--that's waaaaaaaaay to expensive for the chicky!

I'm going to stick with Fentora for a while and see if my doc will "play" with the dosage for a bit. I believe that it's a good med and hope that I get the great relief that I was getting with Actiq.

xoxo,
Annie B.

[AngylHeart]

Thanks so much for the info, Annie!

By all means, please keep us updated on how the Fentora is working for you. I am very interested in the dose and how well it is working to control pain. I am on 1600 mcg. Actiq, so i suspect that I might have difficulty with the effectiveness of the doses RXd.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing an update from you!

[Annie B.]

Hi there,

Angyl, I go back to my doc on Monday the 31st. I'll certainly check in then with the board and let you know what she does.

Currently, while I'm trying the Fentora, I'm on a regimen of two breakthrough meds and one long-term med. My doc wants me on 1 bt. and 1 lt. only (which is very reasonable to me) My doc reduced the quantity of my regular bt med and started me on a lower dose lower quantity of Fentora. The Fentora has run out and my regular bt. med will be out by Monday. I say this because is all plays into how I will approach my discussion with my doc.

With the Fentora, I will either need a stronger dose or a larger quantity. I absolutely LOVED the Actiq, except for the sugar issue. Because the Fentora I was prescribed has run out (about 3 weeks into the month)I'll be discussing this with my doc. I think that once the dosing is figured out, Fentora will be a good med for me.

I am so blessed to have found a doc who is so willing to work with me on trying new meds, being flexible with dosing, letting me listen and respond to my body, etc...I respect her and the medication she is entrusting me with and she respects me as a patient. We seem to be a good match. But...that's another subject for another thread and another day.

Back atcha on Monday!

xoxo,
Annie B.

[twotoejoe]

Has anyone tried the generic Actiq? Is it as good as the brand?

[BlueLakeBlue]

My husband got a presciption for the Fentora which he will be getting Thursday b/c the pharmacy did not have enough to fill his script. I was wondering how any body was getting along with the Fentora. Does it seem to work good for a break thru pain medication? How big is the tablet and were is the best place to let is disolve in the mouth?

Thanx!

~blue~

[paigiesmom]

I got my first script for the fentora this month. They are very small, maybe the size of an asprin. You put them between your cheek and the upper molar. They said that if its still there after 30 min you can wash it down with water. Mine only took like 15 min. They taste like baking soda, unlike the nice sugar taste with the actiq. Now strange, my doctor didnt know about the dosing instructions and gave me 400mcg just as my actiq. I didnt notice a big difference. I think pain wise they helped about the same but I think the fentora wore off VERY quick like maybe an hour. I did get really sleepy but it didnt last long. I dont like what the actiq is doing to my teeth but im not sure how well these really are. I may ask for like half acitq and half fentora for my script next time. let us know what your hubby thinks about it. Is he switching from another med or just starting this? what dose did he get? I had to wait for mine as well. Even once they got it in they just had not even heard about it.

Good luck, Kritsin

[AngylHeart]

Thanks again for the info.

I have Blue Cross insurance. They are just now recognizing Fentora, so I will be seeing my GP in two weeks to change from Actiq to Fentora.

In Sept., I filled a script for the new generic Actiq (which seems to be the same as brand) - and Blue Cross didn't reconize the generic and charged me $45 instead of the $15 copay I have for generics! I called them and they didn't even acknowledge the generic, so last month I returned to name brand for the $30 co-pay! Unbelievable!


I'll let you know how the Fentora works out.

(BTW, I am super lucky to also have a GP who is great about working with me and all my pain issues and meds

[RSDGirl]

I went to my PM doc and switched back to Actiq today after being on Fentora for nearly a month. I loved the fact that Fentora was sugar-free, especially since I have several broken teeth due to the Actiq... however, I have HORRIBLE mouth sores from the Fentora! I'm not sure why this happened and my PM doc said that it was a reaction to the "effervescant" (sp?) agent in the medicine. Some people have had major problems with it so I know I'm not alone. It is a shame b/c I really liked Fentora. I was taking 200 mcg six times a day, and I am now back to the 800 mcg Actiq five times a day.

Someone mentioned that their doc didn't know about the difference in levels. That could have been VERY scary! Going from 400 mcg of Actiq to 400 mcg of Fentora is like you being put on a 1200 mcg Actiq stick. That could have been a very bad thing. You might want to let your doc know about the difference... not only for you, but imagine if someone in his office was on 1600 mcg of Actiq. Giving a person that much Fentora could kill a person if they are not very used to fentanyl. Just a suggestion. :D

Anyway, I hope others have better luck with the Fentora. The only negative besides the mouth sores was the $100 co-pay! :eek: I had my generic Actiq filled today and it cost $10. Much better!!! OH! And someone asked about the generic... just to let you know it is the SAME as the Actiq. I looked at a package of generic and then a box from Actiq... and they had the same things on them (except for the word Actiq)... right down to the same LOT NUMBER! So, they are the same. The only difference in the pops themselves is that on the lollipop the word says "fentanyl" instead of "Actiq".... no other difference. Packaging the same, ingrediants the same, taste the same, made by the same machines in the same place.... only difference is the co-pay.

Hope this helps someone!

Cindy
~ please ignore spelling... I'm dyslexic ~

[Ranger92]

I have been on the Actiq 600 and 800 for a while now. my Dr. has just offered me the new fentora. first off the sugar free thing really grabbed my interest for obivious reasons. the info put out about the fentora apparently is that it is stronger and longer lasting than the same doasge conterpart of actiq, I disagree. I started out on the 200 of fentora at first. that had little if any effect at all on my relief compared to the actiq 600. for the most part the tablets would disolve within minutes, leaving me thinking that I was not getting the proper doasge from the medicine. then reading, it seems unlike the actiq it is designed to be absorbed later by your small intestine. regardless, the 200 of fentora was useless to me. My Dr. then had increased my fentora dosage to 600 and now I am recieving the level of relief given by the actiq 600. although it seems to drop off sooner than the actiq. personally, I will accept that trade. even though I may possibly need a few more tablets in a days time. the loss of the sugar is really nice as I too have experienced dental problems from the actiq.I am thinking also once used for a while the drop off may become more gradual? I still use my actiq 800 for the big breaks in pain for now, but in time expect that to change as well.

[fieldgoal]

dear Kristen,
I have been dealing with actiq from 2003-2007. From 2007-present I have been on fentora, and I take a large quantity. was happy to hear that the fentora is sugar free, I had developed very bad tooth decay from actiq. i was on actiq 1600mcg, 1 every 2 hours. I was getting relief, ut it was not nearly as potent as fentora 800mcg. IMHO, i think fentora will be the drug of the future and replace actiq. It is 1.8 times as potent, the bioavailbility is 65% and releases the medication in 15min. and will absorb the total dosage in half the time of actiq. They have found that the quicker you get the meds into the patient, the less pain they will feel, and the less meds the will need to get the job done. I cam understand that if you only take actiq 1-3 times a day, it may take time to get used to, but if you use it at the 1st onset of pain, it will work better for you. It is also 20% cheaper, and it has a good Chance of being approved for non-cancer pain., unlike actiq. This means the insurance will pay. Give fentora time, if not for your pain, for your teeth.

[goodwillstacy]

Question... how are you guys getting your insurance to pay for Actiq or Fentora?

I was on the Fentora clinical trial and would love to go back on it, or Actiq.
stacy

[Nana4&cntn]

Stacy,

My PM did a lot of documentation from trials and other medical evidence showing it has efficacy for chronic pain patients, who are NOT cancer patients. I have been using Fentora as a bt med for over 2 years. I also started wearing the Fentanyl patch for my main pain reliever.

Your doc really has to go to bat for you!

I hope this helps,
Kathy

[goodwillstacy]

Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your reply. I was on the clinical trial for Fentora (for non cancer pain) for a while... I was asked back by Cephalon because I did very well on it. I find it ridiculous that after the trial ended, I couldn't still get the medication! Of course unless I wanted to pay over 6,000 dollars a month!
Anyway, so your doctor sent this documentation to your insurance company?
Who is your insurance company, if you don't mind?

Thanks,
Stacy

[goodwillstacy]

duplicate post. sorry.

[Nana4&cntn]

Medicare D, Aetna, the were a bear, but eventually gave in, prior to them I had Cigna, same story.

Again I hope this helps!
Kathy

[paigiesmom]

I feel bad even posting this for those of you using this for daily pain when this is all that works. I use this as a PRN for bad headaches from a disorder that I get but only use 15 a month but I have never had any issues. My doctor wrote the scripts for both actiq and or fentora and I pay a 5.00 co/pay I just dont understand. Pain is pain??????????? No one has ever questioned anything. I guess it does say on my script use for headache??? Im soooo sorry you guys have to deal with this. I have had to stop the actiq because although they work so well even with the few that I use my teeth are falling out left and right. Someday I hope we get to the point where our pain is the top priority and not insurance I hate it.

[Nana4&cntn]

Stacy,

I forgot to ask my PM today what study he referenced to the ins. co. First the insurance Co made me try Actiq as it is now a generic. Didn't do as well as the Fentora. I do know when he writes the script he note "for worst pain" Also Fentora only come in boxes of 28 and Pharmacies will not break up the boxes. I receive a total of 84 tablets per month. That is a max of 3 a day. I do like that it gives relief almost immediately.

Paigesmom, If you rotate where you put the tablet you shouldn't get sores. I place it both on the top and the bottom molars and the gums. I also used oralgel in the beginning after I used it. I haven't had sores in ages. The best part is it doesn't rot your teeth.

Hope this helps,
Kathy