Actiq Users Please

[Peter B]

Hi,
My doc and I have been considering a switch from Oxy to Actiq. I've been on the patch before and I thought it worked ok but I think my dose was too low. Switching to the patch hasn't been ruled out but I'd rather not have to put multiple patches on. I'm not sure how many it would take but I'm guessing it would be at least 3.
If there are any Actiq users here would you tell me how well it works for you. I know we are all different but I'd like SOME sort of frame of reference.

Thank you all very much,
Pete

[Rozia]

PLEASE BE CAREFUL ON THIS DRUG

http://www.schmidtandclark.com/Actiq/

[Nana4&cntn]

Peter,

I am so sorry you are having to deal with such pain. I hope the following info is useful to you. I am concerned!

I have used Actiq as a break through med, never as primary pain med. I am not sure why a doc would consider using it as such. The real risk aside of addiction is severe tooth decay and loss. I now take Fentora for break through, my primary pain med is methadone. I was unable to use the patch due to side effects. I have never had to increase the methadone and it gives relatively decent pain relief. I am never pain free and never believe I will be, however, I am able to tolerate the pain for the most part.

I know how hard it is to find decent pain relief, but using Actiq as a primary med is scary. I hope you give this serious consideration and talk with your doctor again for other options.

Please take care and let us know what happens.
Kathy

[Peter B]

Hi,
Thank you for your concern Rozia, Kathy. Please don't think I'm ignorant about the possible negative consequences of Actiq use. I've done all the reading on it and am aware of how potent it is.
Rozia, like with all Sched.ll's there have always been and always WILL be some deaths associated with them. the link you had me look at was from an ambulance chasing lawyer. I'm not challenging the info they give but a lawyer will always make something look worse if your negative perception will be of benefit to him/her. The article WAS of interest though. Thank you.

Kathy, I'm sorry. I wasn't clear on what I said. We are thinking of switching my breakthru. Right now between my SR and BT I'm on a total of 500 mgs. of Oxycodone per day. Me and my doc were talking about switching and he suggested that I try a change on my BT before I switch my long acting. If the Actiq or Fentora (same thing), works better for me I'll switch back to the patch, even though they're a pain in the butt. If I get a measurably greater amount of relief I won't mind AT ALL. I'm sure everyone here can understand that.

The year that preceded my amputation I was on Methadone. Except for Demerol, which is toxic, Methadone has been the most effective med I've taken. I hesitate to tell people this but I was taking 160 mgs. every 8 hours. The problem I had with meth., even on much smaller doses, was episodic narcolepsy. It didn't matter whether I was standing or sitting I'd fall to sleep for about 15 minutes or so. I know that I could take an amphetamine to counter that but I'd rather not. When I think about what COULD have happened, I shudder. I could have killed myself or worse, someone else. If I ever hurt someone badly, I don't know if I could live with myself. A child? Forget it.

In regard to my teeth. They won't ever cause me problems again. Ever. LOL

Thank you ladies for taking the time,

Pete

[Mountain Man]

Hi -

I'm a Central Pain (Thalamic Pain Syndrome) victim, and I've been using Actiq as my breakthrough med since it was introduced (more than 5 years ago) Obviously, I find it very effective.

I find it acts in 10-15 minutes, as opposed to 45-60 minutes for oral oxycodone (my other short term med). When I started taking Actiq, my oxycodone:fentanyl ratio was about 3:1. Today, it's about 1:3 - I use very little oxycodone these days.

Actiq doesn't last as long as oxycodone - I find it gives me a little more than an hour's worth of decent pain relief. But, most importantly, it works, it works consistently, and, in my case, it works well.

YMMV

MountainMan

[Boxerlover]

Peter, make sure you check with your insurance first because Actiq is very expensive and as it is only FDA approved for breakthrough cancer pain your insurance might not pay for it. I know recently a lot of the insurances including medicare stopped covering it. Good luck and I hope you find better pain control.

Take care
Melissa

[Peter B]

Mountain Man,
Thanks for responding. It's gratifying to know that someone finds relief, no matter what med they're on. I guess congratulations are in order.


Boxerlover,
I did think about this. I do get Medicare, as I am perm. disabled but the state of NJ has a program called PAAD, Prescription Aid for the Aged and Disabled, where a program recipient gets their meds with just a $5.00 co-pay. I'm going to ask my pharmacist about it. He'll know. Thank you for answering my post.


Continued luck,
Pete

[Nana4&cntn]

Pete,

I had to ask the doc to do a bunch of pre auth for my Fentora (same Fentanyl different delivery system and sugar free) I have MedicareD and receive help from Social Security for my meds. The PM sent a copy of a significant study regarding chronic non-cancer pain and the efficacy of the Fentora and it was approved. Medicare was willing to pay for the Actiq as it comes as a generic now. The Fentora doesn't.

Praying you get some good relief soon,
Kathy

[Mountain Man]

I had to get pre-authorization for Actiq on my employer's policy (administered by Great West). They turned me down first, and I had my HR department appear the decision (that tends to work, since, in most cases, your employer is actually paying the costs, not Great West). You also have to the prescribing physician be willing to write a "letter of medical necessity" - without that, you probably don't have any hope.

Good luck, and I hope it works for you.

MountainMan

[fieldgoal]

Hi,
Thank you for your concern Rozia, Kathy. Please don't think I'm ignorant about the possible negative consequences of Actiq use. I've done all the reading on it and am aware of how potent it is.
Rozia, like with all Sched.ll's there have always been and always WILL be some deaths associated with them. the link you had me look at was from an ambulance chasing lawyer. I'm not challenging the info they give but a lawyer will always make something look worse if your negative perception will be of benefit to him/her. The article WAS of interest though. Thank you.

Kathy, I'm sorry. I wasn't clear on what I said. We are thinking of switching my breakthru. Right now between my SR and BT I'm on a total of 500 mgs. of Oxycodone per day. Me and my doc were talking about switching and he suggested that I try a change on my BT before I switch my long acting. If the Actiq or Fentora (same thing), works better for me I'll switch back to the patch, even though they're a pain in the butt. If I get a measurably greater amount of relief I won't mind AT ALL. I'm sure everyone here can understand that.

The year that preceded my amputation I was on Methadone. Except for Demerol, which is toxic, Methadone has been the most effective med I've taken. I hesitate to tell people this but I was taking 160 mgs. every 8 hours. The problem I had with meth., even on much smaller doses, was episodic narcolepsy. It didn't matter whether I was standing or sitting I'd fall to sleep for about 15 minutes or so. I know that I could take an amphetamine to counter that but I'd rather not. When I think about what COULD have happened, I shudder. I could have killed myself or worse, someone else. If I ever hurt someone badly, I don't know if I could live with myself. A child? Forget it.

In regard to my teeth. They won't ever cause me problems again. Ever. LOL

Thank you ladies for taking the time,

Pete

Though both fentora and actiq both have the same base medication. Fentora has a different delivery method which allows fentora to have a 1.5x higher bioavailbility. Ex fentora 400mcg= actiq 1000mcg. Though when you change from actiq to fentora the use the dosage of fentora 400mcg= actiq 1600mcg. IMO fentora is the best breakthrough pain medication, but most people would say that fentora isn't the most euphoric btp medication. I take fentora 800mcg 1 every 90 minutes, but after an hour the pain will comeback. Also once you do use actiq or fentora, it is very hard to switch to another breakthrough pain medication.Most insurance companies will not pay for fentora or actiq unless it is for cancer pain.

[rod52]

Fieldgoal,

I'm guessing you are a drug rep for fentora and actiq. You seem to be laying it on pretty thick. :rolleyes:

[jtroy]

Hey Pete:

I sent you a pm...thought I'd just send you a pm instead of posting...hope you are doing well. Thanks, Troy