Opana Pain Med for Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis
#1

Has anyone tried Opana ER for pain?

I was sitting on a boat last weekend in the middle of a lake tied to a bunch of other boats. Everyone was parting and drinking and being crazy… and I was drinking my gatorade and curled up in a ball from the pain and nausea of being on a bouncy boat and rocking with the waves. A man came up to me to make small talk and said that he was a drug rep. We talked alittle bit more and I told him a bit of my story. He asked if I had heard of Opana. He said it’s a extended release opiate pain med with better pain releaf than Vicodin (which I’m currently taking) and much fewer of the nasty side effects.

I know he’s just a drug rep and trained to sell a med but I’m really currious about this one. I’m probably not a good candidate for it now because my pain is relatively under controll (when I havent been on a boat all day). It’s just another idea to add to the list of figuring things out on our own.

I’m going to ask my GI about it for when I’m having a flare up. (which hopefully will NEVER happen again… hey I can have hope!!!

Has anyone tried this med or heard about it???

-Patti

#2

Patti,
Seeing my doctor tomorrow- will ask him. I hate the side effects of Vicodan!
Will let you know!
Jackie

#3

Patti,
I googled this med . Read about it on Drugs.com. It appears that it might be contraindicated for those of us with Pancreas disorders. It has a whole list of reasons not to take it such as pancreas dieases, a slow thyroid, curvature of the spine, etc.,etc… I don’t know if this should be our "drug of choice"
I guess we’ll all have to do further reading and asking doctors A LOT of questions. Unfortunately, doctors don’t always know all the ramifications of a medication. I will ask my doctor about it tomorrow,however. Google the med and let me know what you think- Jackie

#4

I am a pharmaceutical purchaser and I had never heard of this med. I checked my references and, in my opinion, one should be very cautious with this med.

#5

I checked online and I get the same impression

#6

I was wondering how safe it was because it’s been out since 2006 and none of my Dr’s had mentioned it. After googling it there are alot of “Black Box” warnings that I don’t think I’m willing to risk. Oh well, it was worth researching.

Thanks for all of your imput.

-Patti

#7

I take Kadian which is extended release morphine. Vicoden and percocet, et al are actually combination drugs with some type of opiod and an anti-inflammatory, for vicoden it is acetaminophin as well as percocet. I would recommend only having morphine or other opiods as too much acetamimophin can fry your liver. I already take 3000 mgs of acetaminophin for my back so any of those combo drugs would not be good. As I said, on a daily basis I take Kadian and for bad days, I take Oxycodone.

Here are the drug-disease contraindications for Opana per Medscape.com:

Most Significant

Pseudomembranous Enterocolitis, Respiratory Depression, Toxin-Mediated Diarrhea

Significant

Acute Asthma Attack, Bradycardia, Chronic Disease of Respiratory System, CNS Depression, Head Injury, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Intracranial Hypertension, Intracranial Lesion, Suicidal Ideation

Possibly Significant

Acute Abdominal Pain, Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, Biliary Spasm, Conduction Disorder of the Heart, Disease of Liver, Drug Dependence, Epilepsy, Gallbladder Disease, Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery, Hypotension, Hypothyroidism, Mood Changes, Primary Adrenocortical Insufficiency, Procedure on Urinary System, Renal Disease, Substance Abuse, Urethral Stricture

#8

Teresa,
You are so right. I am going to the Cleveland Clinic for this. Thanks so
much for all your input!

Jackie

#9

Hey, Dream, sorry to hear that. :frowning: Most of the ER drugs are meant to be taken every 12 hours. Your doc might want to put you on 40 mgs twice a day which is what I am on. As for whether it helps- some. You know how we have pretty much constant pain and nausea everyday. It does help for the most part (I could probably use a higher dose like 80 mgs twice a day), but for really bad days I still use the Oxycodone. So, yeah, some help, but no panacea. I guess there really isn’t one out there though- we just keep going.

#10

Dream

ER means extended release. Depending on the vehicle used to make a med ER, it could last 12 hours or 24 hours. Of course, everyone will respond differently to an ER med where an immediate release (IR) med such as Vicodin or Percocet is more predictable. Black box warnings are coming out in large numbers for any new ER form of opiod medication and they should be taken EXTREMELY seriously. At my institution, we do not use many ER opiod meds due to safety factors, they are just way too dangerous, even in the hands of professionals. Remember, a GI specialist is just that, specialist in GASTROENTEROLOGY, not pain management. Seeing a good pain management specialist is definitely a must in all situations like ours.

Good luck and prayers for pain free days and nights.

Teresa

#11

The pain therapists in my area refuse to see me anymore saying that there is nothing more they can do for me. None of the docs can figure out why I 'm having this pain or whats causing it. The GI doc said that it wasn’t coming from my pancreas, it is across the entire top of abdomen now(started in the middle top, radiated out to the right, no radiating out to the left as well). My family doc got me into the cleveland pain clinic, but due to certain circumstances I’m unable to go. Family doc started me on the kadian saying that he didn’t want me taking so much hydrocodone, when I replied that the pain was just too bad to not take anything he started me on that. I’m still having to take hydrocodone with it, I go back to see him the 8th of next month.
Hugs and prayers for all,
Dream

#12

the dosage of 60mg/day is ER. the GI dr suggested to increase it to twice a day instead of just once. I know I’m a dreamer but I keep praying that someday soon the drs will come up with a solution for all of us to finally be free where we can all have pain/nausea/etc free days for good. I’d settle for more good days than bad though. :smiley:
Dream

#13

Dream,

I can totally relate! My specialist keeps telling me that the horrible pain
shouldn’t be coming from my pancreas- even though my pancreas is irregular
and pancreatitis has been the diagnosis. I am going further to Cleveland
Clinic and probably the Mayo. My pain is exactly like yours. It is
disabling and I too get sick of Vicodan.

Patti has been so helpful and supportive. Pancreatitis is a very mysterious
disease and hard to treat I am told by other doc’s. We’ll all find our way
out of this and Pancreatitis will be a thing of the past soon, I hope. It is
my prayer for all of us!

Hang in there. We know our bodies better than anyone. I am so sorry that the
pain doctors have given up. Don’t you!

Perhaps you can go to Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins?

Sending you hugs and prayers!
Jackie

#14

I’ve had two celiac plexus blocks, one was done as outpatient. Neither one helped at all. I want to go to the clinic in cleveland very badly, but unfortunately there are a lot of personal things going on right now that prevent it. I’m also having to look for a part time job so that I can support myself (they say that I can get into low-income housing). I’m afraid that I might not be able to do it. I’m trying very hard but there are days that just knock me down and I’m left on the couch with a heating pad and as much pain killers as I can safely take. I’m just grateful that I can always turn to you guys for understanding and support. It really means a lot to me.
gratefully,
dream

#15

Jackie,
Thanks for the kind words and support. If it wasn’t for this site I wonder what all of us would do, sharing ideas, tips, recipes, funnies, etc with people who are going through similar things is so important.
Dream

#16

okay, I think I prefer ER to IR now. I didn’t know the difference in the dangers of it before. This might sound stupid, but what is a pcp? I hope that ur pain is doing better today.
Hugs and wishes for a great weekend,
Dream

#17

PCP is just primary care physician which is usually either an internalist, a family practice physician, or a general practitioner. Thank you for your well wishes. Today was not too bad at all. :slight_smile:

#18

I am on the fentanyl patch. You stick it on and change it every 3 days, and
delivers a certain amount of medicine every hour. My GI switched me to this
years ago as I was needing pain control all the time. I still have pills
that are IR for break through pain, but with the patch I am not taking them
on a regular basis. I do not have a pain clinic in my area, and my GI and I
have struggled for many years trying to find some kind of pain control, so
this has really helped. The patch comes in many different strengths so
hopefully there is one that would be effective for you.

I didn’t see this option on any posts lately, so I thought I would share it
with you guys.

Hope the bellies are quiet today and the minds are strong. Take care,
2dogs…aka…k

#19

I so agree. It has keep me sane…especially when the pain is terrible and
the doctors don’t know what to do but tell you to take a pill!

#20

You’re in my prayers. What about disability benefits?