ALinza

[Burr]

Hi all,
I'm new here and would like to ask a question. I've just had a doc visit with my neurologist and he informs me about a new pain med, Alinza. I've been on 40mgoxy for awhile now. He tells me I can switch to avinza without titration down fro oxy. I have always been told you can't just stop oxy, but he says you can switch because they are both opioid pain narcotics. What does anyone think? Is Avinza a good med ? Thanks for any replies.

[Burr]

Did I ask for replies the wrong way? I hope it's not because I'm new here.

[jimac]

Hi Burr,

Welcome to the forum. :)
You did not ask in the wrong way. I am sure that someone will respond to you very soon. ;)

I don't have any experience with Avinza to offer.

Take care.
Jim

[Pharmacist.steve]

There is no hard and cold formula for switching from one opiate to another. IF any doc tells you that there is... has been listening to the rep and not reading the literature...Avinza is MORPHINE .. which is suppose to last a full 24 hrs .. so it is dosed once a day... Avinza is typically 2-3 times the cost of Morphine SR ... which you take every 8-12 hrs .. for the same mgs/24hrs.

[lobelsteve]

The benefits of a long acting product like Avinza are the theoretical reduction in in psychological dependence due to less frequent administration. Taking 6 MSIR 15mg per day vs a single 90mg Avinza may lead to increased pill taking behaviors and acts as a frequent reminder that your pain is still there. Taking a single pill with dinner every day makes a lot of that psychological overlay lessen.

Also, think about going into the pharmacy with an Rx for MSIR15mg #180 vs Avinza 90mg #30. They look at you and treat you differently and you are getting the exact number of mg of pain medicine for the month.

Bigger pills, fewer pills.

Downside is the cost.

Disclosure: Dr. Lobel serves as a paid consultant to King Pharmaceuticals and provides educational lectures to physicians regarding opioid management for chronic pain. :D

[Burr]

Thanks everyone for your replies. So, this med is more expensive than oxy ? The reason I ask is the WC ins. co. is paying for all reasonable and necessary meds. I don't want to send up a red flag for then to reject the meds, causing another battle in court. Thank you.

Burr

[Pharmacist.steve]

The benefits of a long acting product like Avinza are the theoretical reduction in in psychological dependence due to less frequent administration. Taking 6 MSIR 15mg per day vs a single 90mg Avinza may lead to increased pill taking behaviors and acts as a frequent reminder that your pain is still there. Taking a single pill with dinner every day makes a lot of that psychological overlay lessen.

Also, think about going into the pharmacy with an Rx for MSIR15mg #180 vs Avinza 90mg #30. They look at you and treat you differently and you are getting the exact number of mg of pain medicine for the month.

Bigger pills, fewer pills.

Downside is the cost.



I love the way that the Pharma's justify their products and higher prices...

theoretical reduction in in psychological dependence

Taking 6 MSIR 15mg per day vs a single 90mg Avinza may lead to increased pill taking behaviors and acts as a frequent reminder that your pain is still there.

Morphine SR is available in 30mg tabs.. so the SIX TABLETS/DAY argument is more Pharma's "smoke and mirrors"

think about going into the pharmacy with an Rx for MSIR15mg #180 vs Avinza 90mg #30.

The Pharmacist is probably going to question the fact that the doc wrote for 180-15mg tabs when 90 tabs of 30mg are available.

For the Pharma's to suggest that Pharmacists look at the volume of tabs dispensed over the mgs/day prescribed...just shows how low they will stoop to convince docs to prescribe their product.. OR .. how STUPID they believe the typical Pharmacist is !

Disclosure: My opinions are not influenced by any "drug money"