Since then, two things have happend. One, I've heard some bad things about the generic patches, and two, the original post has become the most popular post in hospiceblog history. Last night someone who has had a bad experience with the generic patches wrote in, so I figured it was time to update.
To make a long story short, I sent my top nurse to a pain management seminar recently, and she was told in that seminar that the generic patches don't work nearly as well as the brand name. The problem is that this info came from someone who makes a living as a Rep. for the company that sells Duragesic. The info sounded good, but who do you trust? So we asked our pharmacy to find out the truth.
They found out that there are two different generics of Duragesic Patches, and there is probably a difference between the two. Here's the summary e-mail from my pharmacy.
What we [the pharmacy] have is distributed by Sandoz. It's manufactured for Sandoz by ALZA Corp., which are the same people that manufacture Duragesic for Johnson & Johnson. In fact,ALZA is a subsidiary fo J&J. I wasn't able to find much more info on it so I just straight up called the FDA to figure this out. One of their people called us back and [the pharmacist] talked to them. This Sandozbrand generic and the Duragesic are identical in everything but name. I believe that J&J licensed the trans-derm technology out to another company so that they could compete with the other generic and keep the cost down. The same company manufactures the exact same thing for both generic and brand, just different names.
That's all I got for you. The FDA guy assured us that there is nodifference whatsoever between the two and especially in the time-release feature of the trans-derm film.
The difference that the Duragesic rep. noted was in the time release film. The rep. said that the company still held the patent on the film, and that the film used by the company making the generic wasn't as effective. What the rep. failed to mention was that they have licensed use of their film to one of their sister companies.
So, to summarize. We have no proof that the truly generic Duragesic Patches don't work, but there are mounting claims they do not. We have been given word that the other "generic" Duragesic Patch is truly the same thing as the name brand. Our decision is to make sure we use the one manufactured by the Duragesic people until we know more about the other. You can make your own call.
37 comments:
I am concerned about your findings. I have chronic pain and the Duragesic is the only pain medication that works without all the unpleasant side effects. The generic delivery system is NOT the same. Please do not be fooled by the license that Jansen has granted. The same problems exist for many narcotic pain medications that are produced by generic houses. I had a very bad experience with OXY IR, 5 Mg. capsules that were made by Malek. I am also very concerned about the price of brand name medications, however the delivery system for Duragesic can be potentially fatal if it goes array, especially at high doses.
The Sandoz generic is the same patch as the brand-name patch. The Mylan generic is actually newer technology then the Duragesic Brand/Sandoz generic, and is a LOT smaller. For 100mcg/hour you don't need a monster patch like the one sold by JNJ/Sandoz. Personaly, I feel that Mylan's generic is superior to the brand/Sandoz generic.
-A Duragesic User-
i haver chronic pain and was put on a duragesic from mylan and to tell you the truth its not much stronger than hydrocodone and it wont stay on your skin either i am very disapointed at this point.
RE: The generic Duragesic patches. I had been using the "Name Brand" Duragesic patch for over two years, they have been very good and controling my pain. When the generic became available earlier this year, my insurance company switched me to the generic patch. I was told by the doctor and several pharmacists that the patches are the same, maybe by stats for the government/fda, but not by me. The patches would not stick very well, I used bioclusive wrap, I have used medical tape, anything...the patches would not adhere to my skin. I tried several different places to a[[ly the patch to my skin. The time release was not a steady stream release, my pain increased and I could nver get the pain to subside. I thought, may it was me....Then the infections started! I had to go to the hospital! The generic patches are causeing horrible infections on and around the area of the application! My arms swelled up and thr applied area beame very bloody and "soupy".
I feel that these generic patches need to be pulled from the market. I talked with my medical insurance company to get swithcd back to the "Name barnd Duragesic" which the company will now do...since the insurance company has had many, many complaints, the rep advised me. My doctor's office has since told me that they too, have had numerous complaints. Just F.Y.I.
RE: The generic Duragesic patches. I had been using the "Name Brand" Duragesic patch for over two years, they have been very good and controling my pain. When the generic became available earlier this year, my insurance company switched me to the generic patch. I was told by the doctor and several pharmacists that the patches are the same, maybe by stats for the government/fda, but not by me. The patches would not stick very well, I used bioclusive wrap, I have used medical tape, anything...the patches would not adhere to my skin. I tried several different places to apply the patch to my skin. The time release was not a steady stream release, my pain increased and I could nver get the pain to subside. I thought, maybe it was me....Then the infections started! I had to go to the hospital! The generic patches are causing horrible infections on and around the area of the application! My arms swelled up and the applied area beame very bloody and "soupy".
I feel that these generic patches need to be pulled from the market. I talked with my medical insurance company to get switched back to the "Name barnd Duragesic" which the company will now do...since the insurance company has had many, many complaints, the rep advised me. My doctor's office has since told me that they too, have had numerous complaints. Just F.Y.I.
I am a chronic pain physician. I just discussed the generic sandoz patch with Sandoz representatives. They state that the Duragesic and Sandoz patches are identical in all aspects. They are listed in the FDA orange book as A and B of the same item. This means that they are the same. Why some people get better results form one or the other is unclear other than the fact that CNS chemistry plays a huge role in pain regulation.
I am a chronic pain person, and have used name-brand Duragesic for a couple of years. I tried the generic type, and it's awful! I liked the smaller size, but they don't stop the pain. They don't even look like they have any fentanyl in them, like the name-brand patches do. The generic I tried was completely useless.
I was on the Duragesic patch almost three years when I was switched to the generic Mylan patch. I had been using this for about five months with a couple of problems which I didn't have with the Duragesic. I sweat all the time and could not keep patch dry and stick. With Duragesic, I was able to order dressings (tape-50per)at no charge to cover my patches from J&J. I contacted Mylan and they do not have a tape available for this problem and I even gave them the J&J part number for the tape. The second and biggest problem is that I was not getting the full effect of the patch. I told my pain Dr that the pain seemed to be greater and he indicated the either the change to a generic was not working or I had developed a tolerance for the patch. After reading these comments, I am seeing my Dr in two weeks and having my script written for Duragesic again. I have my patches replaced every 48hrs and I am on 100mg. Thankyou everyone for your comments
I was a bit dismayed to learn that I would be forced to use the generic version of Duragesic. I have used the Duragesic patch since 2000 with great success and no change in dosage. I first tried the Mylan generic and it was very unreliable. I am very sensitive to dose and I was ill on several occasions from too much drug and more than a few times the drug ran out well before even 48 hrs. It is the inconsistency that scares me. While living in Germany for two years I was on the "German" Duragesic (Janssen) and it is the same company that makes it here- but they had switched two years ago to the new technology with the non-reservoir patches (like Mylan's patches). Not generic- just a change in technology. They were great. They stayed on, consistent dosage and you could cut them to calibrate your dosage up or down. Now I am trying the Sandoz for the first time. I'm bummed to have to use the older larger patches--but it's worth it to know that i'm getting the correct dose with each patch. I've heard of the 80% rule of generics (maybe it's an urban myth) that they can have a 20% difference in accuracy/dose up or down and still be acceptable. I'm hoping it's not with the Sandoz!!!! Good luck to all of you.......I'm sure hoping that my insurance company will let me go back to Duragesic if this one doesn't work. So far they have balked!
I ran across this site looking for the people who make the patch, and I have been using it for almost 2 years with little problem. Since they have come out with the generic, I thought, great, save money. But at what expense? I am also glad to find that I am not alone in thinking that the generic is NOT the same as the name brand. I too have found, that they do not last as long, are inconsistent , and have caused me to break out to a point where my skin looks like I got beat up. I just put mine on yesterday and I am on 275mcg per 48 hours, and already this afternoon going thru W/D's and little pain control. Was begining to wonder if it was just me, but, by chance ran across this site and read a few posts re: this, to find out that thank God, I am NOT alone, and NO< I am not losing it, or, all of a sudden, gotten tolerant to this medication. I am going to ask my ins. co. , if, my Dr. writes DAW, if they will fill and charge me the generic, as I have had to do with another med.)DAW is dispense as written_ for the dummies out there like myself, who are learning how to deal with the system. They are not created equal!!! Generic vs Brand! Generic =0, Brand = 1 )won) How about have a vote on it? Just my .02, from a lowly consumer and patient
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My husband had been using brand-name Duragesic with much success to control chronic arthitis pain. When the generics came out my insurance forced us into using the generic or paying the difference in price. We tried the Mylan version to dreadful results. They do not work as well, and are hard to make stick to the skin. When informed there was a 2nd generic (Sandoz) that was closer to the brand, I asked our pharmacy if they could special order it. I was told it was not on their approved list. I then attempted to special order it in the other local nation-wide chains. None of them could get it in. It is not able to be sold in my state. Now my husband must take other painkillers on top of the patches in order to control his pain, while I fight with the insurance company to try to get them to cover the brand because we cannot afford to pay $500+ a month for one medicine. How can they say the Mylan patch is identical to the brand Duragesic when it doesn't use the same delivery system? It is NOT identical!
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Hello Hospice Guy. I'm out and about surfing sites that might have some info on generic drug information. Your site, Update: Generic Duragesic Patches, caught my eye so I thought I'd stop in and say hi. I need some information that I can use at generic drug information and I figure that the best way to find it is to see what others know about generic drug information. You take care and keep up the good work.
Hi Hospice Guy. Nice post here--glad I saw it! Was just blog hopping while looking for information on lifewave when I landed here. Glad I did too. Although Update: Generic Duragesic Patches certainly is not my final destination, it definitely is worth the look. May see you later--gotta keep looking for lifewave related sites.
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Hello Hospice Guy. I'm looking for information on generic brand drug and came across your site. Eventho Update: Generic Duragesic Patches wasn't exactly what I'm looking for it certainly has grabbed my attention. I'm a gambler and hang out at generic brand drug, and I just like looking at everything as you can probably tell. You never know where you can discover generic brand drug info that just may turn into a treasure. You did good and keep up the good work.
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I am up late, once again, after having gone through HELL from withhdrawl? in less than 48 hours from the mylar generic 100mcg. patch! I am scared to death! I am running through the patches too fast and I am afraid of running out and my doctor cutting me off cold turkey! After what I have been going through these last few months (since my insurance made me switch from the name brand) has been a roller coaster of misery! I would appreciate any advice anyone has to offer. I am SO happy to have found this site. Before reading what you all have to say I thought I was alone. Thank you!:)
I am reading all posts regarding duragesic name band vs. generic. I've been on duragisic 50 mcg for 3 years, with actiq for breakthough. I've had 2 hospitalizations with use of the generic patch and my doctors said I can no longer take this in generic form. I am only able to use name brand. Only problem is, ... I have to pay well over $200 a month because my insurance is making me pay the difference in price. I can no longer afford to pay this, and therefore am requesting to be taken off this medication, even though it's made such a difference in my life. So sad that I am forced to do this. I've tried everything with my insurance, including appealing this with letters from my doctors and the hospital. Can you believe they still deny me the same coverage, even though I've been hospitalized twice, due to severe withdrawl, and what my doctor believes... an alergy to the generic form. Yes, that is what is noted in my chart. I don't know what else I can do, except try other medications like I have done in the past. Unfortunately, with the many that I've tried, the Duragesic seemed to be the only one that worked. Good luck to you all. My heart goes out to you.
I have been using the Duragesic patch since June 2005. The pain I have is due to peripheral neuropathy in my leg. Duragesic 25 mg works for me and the Sandoz generic is OK too. I had tried the Mylan generic and it did not work at all. I was in a lot of pain and began perspiring profusely and had a "jittery" feeling all through my body. I couldn't sleep at night and then I realized that it was due to the patch. My doctor wrote "no substitutions" on my prescription now, although I wouldn't mind using the Sandoz brand.
I have chronic pain and after three back surgeries remain on duragesic 100mc every 48 hours rather than 72 hours. When the generic patch came out, my insurance company would no longer cover the brand duragesic. I now find the generic version difficult to stay on the skin. For a while J&J provided free Tagaderm bandages to place over the patch. And sure enough, they now only provide those free bandages for the brand patches. Guess what, the brand patches don't need it, but the generics do. I've also tried every known type of medical tape, but they do not work well at all. The Tagaderm bandage is $3.30 plus tax so now I have to pay another $600/year jut to keep this generic brand on my skin. And unless this patch remains on the skin well, the drug will not be released as prescribed which causes my pain to elevate periodically as a result. Any suggestions?
Haven't seen much activity here, but let me add my .02. I'm on 75 mg patches... but I had my doc write them for every 36 hrs, effectively doubling the amount I get from insurance. That was the only way I could use the generics.
- Duragesic is by far more reliable delivery than the generic method. HOWEVER
- I'm an active person, and the generics are MUCH more comfortable and much less hassle. Therefore I always ask the doc for the Mylan generics. (the other generics are the same as Duragesic)
- BOth have adhesion problems, but very thorough scrubbing of the area with rubbing alchohol and careful drying definitely helps. I've found a couple places on my upper arms that don't flex a lot regardless of arm position, so that's where I put the patch. I'm also allergic to the Duragesic glue, another reason not to use those. The generics cannot be "taped down" like Duragesics. Because the delivery requires full contact... once the bond breaks - that's it. Duragesics will continue to work so long as the edge is taped down - not so with the generics.
- Withdrawal symptoms start with me after around 30 hours. The idea that a generic would last 72 hrs is ludicrous. Loose stool, sweats, general maliase, neuropathy (ultra-touchy skin/hair) - all the usual "dope sickness" symptoms. I barely make it to the 36 hr 'deadline'. If I waste a patch putting it on - I'm screwed.
Stronger patches are not what I want - I want them to last longer. I'd love to make it 72 hrs without feeling like an addict entering rehab.
On the positive side, these patches destroy your appetite, and I've lost around 40 lbs since going on them. Not great for a 'foodie' but I'm happy to finally get the wt. off - it was making my problem even worse.
If anyone has any tips for making the generic patch "last" longer - I'm all ears. Appreciate it in advance.
hello there, fellow sufferers...
am using the generic mylan 100mcg patches
finally found a cheap solution that keeps them adhered to skin
using smith and nephew opsite tape in 20 foot rolls and smith and nephew opsite adhesive spray
first i stick mylan pain patch to skin...then spray on each side once with opsite spray and then smear it around with hand (do not spray the opsite on before you stick on mylan patch as this will coat the skin and prevent flow of medication)
then cut two 4-inch long pieces of tape and cover mylan patch so as to lap over the center of the mylan patch
cost is about 60 cents per usage, and stays on for 3 days showering every day
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