User Reviews for Subsys sublingual

I am not satisfied with the delivery method of this med. I am finding 6-8 DUDS in each box, plus one fourth to one half the medicine in other containers. I have reported this to the Company and after four weeks, no changes have been made. Extremely frustrated.

I have had a lot of problems with the packaging, empty containers or less medication. Reported to company but they never returned call. Reported to Dr.'s office & Pharmacist. Very difficult to get ahead of pain.

I have lung cancer and have used this medicine for break through pain. During the last two months I have received over 10 duds, with with no medicine or very little. I have contacted the company and have not heard back.

I am a kidney stone patient generating 2/3 stones per week. This medication has been very beneficial in pain control. I have also experienced at least 1 to 2 "duds" per box. Have sent the duds back to the manufacturer with no batch/code numbers included. No compensation for loss to date.

When the units spray properly it's highly effective. I have found more like 1 in 4 either didn't spray a full dose, sprayed & missed the spot due to the spray pattern, didn't have enough or any (it seemed). It should be easier but there's one way to spray it, seems easy enought to aim yet it just doesn't do so consistently. Wonder why we can't just open a little vile & pour it under our tongues? It's so hard to get from my insurance and doctor (b/c of my insurance). There are other diseases that are painful & terminal, lucky for me I guess that I have cancer too (the disease that is killing me hurts more & this fast-onset type medication is incredible. If you are having pain but still can get around & do fun things, don't get this RX, it will make you too tired to do much other than lay around & watch TV (if you don't nod off). It's incredible for the severe episodes, INCREDIBLE. Just wish they would fix these defective units AND replace them.Read More Read Less

I, too, have had the 'duds' that others have mentioned. It's very scary when that happens because you're only allowed so many, and you fear running out if medication. I h I oe that the manufacturer will maje some corrections on this.

I have to help my mom with the dispenser because her arthritic fingers have a hard time with dispenser. It helps with her pain. I brought up to her doctor about the duds as you call them. She said give her 1 and if it doesn't work giver a 2nd one in 30 minutes. It's in the patient information. My mom is fortunate that her doctor gives her extra for the same problem with no spray or less spray coming out. My moms doctor said other people complained too. I wish more doctors listened to their patients like hers do. You both aren't crazy. The spray thing doesn't always work and doesn't have consistent med in it.Read More Read Less

I'm relieved to know I'm not crazy regarding each unit having different levels of medication in them. I call them "duds" when it's as if no medicine is released. My doctor doesn't believe me and he's never questioned anything I've said previously. I agree that it's really frustrating. Because I don't have cancer, but two other very painful and terminal diseases, my doctor won't increase the dose for fear the insurance company will deny it altogether.

I take this for breakthrough pain and also find the same issue as other users about the inconsistency in the spray unit. I had one with no medication in it at all and others with so little that I am unable to get a full dose. It's not just 1 or 2 in a box that don't have enough meds in it. It's probably 1 out of 5 that are bad and I only get 4 per day. I don't get enough dosages for a repeat dosing like it is directed therefore I must suffer until the next dose is due so I don't run out early. When it works properly it is great for the breakthrough pain. It doesn't work for 6 hours though and the directions say to take no more than 4 times per day. I would like information on who to contact about the inconsistent spray. I told my doctor but I feel as if they think I am trying to get extra medication and that is not true. He doesn't even discuss it with me. Just stares at me and changes the subject. I would like to find more people with this issue so it can be reported to the manufacturer. I am not sure where to go to complain about that. Other than the bad containers the product is really good for pain because when it works properly it immediately helps me. Read More Read Less

Fentanyl in general has been the best medication for me. I do have a problem with the consistency of the sprays.Sometimes it does not work properly and I can tell I am getting half or less of the actual dose. The plunger does not go down properly a good deal of the time...This is especially aggravating when you are in pain and need a full dose. It also is horrible because narcotics are extremely regulated and it causes me to be short in my medication because I need to take a second dose after waiting the half hour and still being in pain.Other than that this would be great for me, but the constant worry about it not spraying properly is so stressful and even more stressful running out early because of it, and having to hope that I am believed. Totally understandable because of the worry with narcotics and addiction, but I am just sick and trying to get by feeling as well as possible so I can have a life. Not a doped out life but a life as normal as possible considering my condition. Read More Read Less

I used fentenal citrate loz. It has a better effct on curing body brake throu Pain. But I am feeling it a little more in my head not my body with subsus. But it does cure the brake throu pain. It may be what I am used too. ???

This medication is The BEST for BTP that I have ever been able to use! I have also tried The buccal lozenges which are also excellent. I found that even if scissors are not available, the top of the packaging can be easily poked open with the push of my finger, and very little effort. I do take one package in my purse for breakthrough pain, and no scissors needed; just need to be sure to discard safely in one of the small white bags. I am very grateful for the co-pay assist, so I am able to use the best drug available in my opinion, for severe pain.Read More Read Less

Due to an accident of falling 12ft.from a church addict,causing severe migraines.DHE-IV Injections,a nerve stimulator surgery on my occipital nerves did NOT work after a year. Triptans only provided moderate relief and only demoral worked. I have tritrated up to 400mcg twice daily as needed has given me my life back. Insomnia is the one side effect.The two hardest side effects are heavy night sweats.In the morning my pillow is wet.The tougher one (I am a 40 year old man) is having to urinate and having difficulty to the point where my bladder is literally sore like it was stretched down the road a mile. And of course...impotence,unable to have an erection, but testosterone shots help with that. It is safer than demerol and is very effective. For migraines we discovered fourfold attack. 1.A 12 Hour Opiate. 2.Marinol 10mg for naseau along with phenegran. 3.An opiate taken up to 4 times a day (NO TYLENOL IN ANY OF THESE MEDICATIONS.) And lastly Subsys 400Mcg up to twice daily as needed. I no longer drink ANY ALCOHOL (which you have no business doing in the first place.) I do not smoke marijuana,or street drugs (since it is illegal,secondly drugs should never be inhaled,and finally you have NO GUARANTEE of what is really in the marijuana you smoke.) The marinol is THC,in a controlled monitored dose.Read More Read Less

Having tried everything else I think for breakthrough pain (also using Opana/hydromorphone 160mg per day for long-term med), I hoped this would work better than Oxycodone or Dilaudid/hydromorphone, but it didn't for me. It worked less effective at the largest (800) dose size, when it had any effect at all on me. Everyone's different with side effects, but I had none, as is usually the case with opioids for me (incl. the other two mentioned). When it had any effect, was quicker due to being liquid sprayed under tongue, but also wore off more quickly, leaving more hours per day without any BTP in effect. Ease of use is only marked down due to packaging. Opening the package each single dose is in REQUIRES scissors (0/1 out of 5 stars), or can't use it at all. But once cutting open the dose's package, it's ease of use is clearly 5/5 stars: just spray under tongue with the single-dose sprayer quite easily and quickly, and no fluid required so you can do it anytime at all (assuming you have scissors with you). It tastes kind of bad, but who cares if you're in enough pain to be taking this med. Not a real problem. I hope it works better for you, though. Again, it did work at times for me even if never powerfully (maybe around equivalent to 90mg Oxycodone or 24mg Dilaudid), but wore off all too quickly (maybe MAXIMUM of 3 hours, range 1.5-3.0 w/average maybe around 2.25 hours). I'm extremely resistant to opioids or any type of pain meds, so your experience will hopefully be much better with this med. Personally, I guess I'll go back to rotation between Oxycodone (300mg per day) & Dilaudid (80mg/day) with Opana long-term med (160mg/day), although I might ask my doctor to replace just one dose per day with a dose of SubSys so I have something to try for the very worst BTP episodes that works much more quickly than any tablets or capsules possibly could. And used less frequently like that, it's likely to maintain more effectiveness (i.e., less of a tolerance problem).Read More Read Less

I had been on Actiq for a number of years and found the effect rather erratic. Sometimes it helped and other times, helped very little. I have now been switched to Subsys and am far more satisfied. It has been very helpful in easing my level of pain. I also find it far easier to use. No one sees me using it and asks me what it is. My only complaint is the ridiculous enormous packaging. It needs to be in a smaller box. Right now, one week's supply is in a box larger than a shoe box. Also, it is almost impossible to tear open a dose, especially if your hands are arthritic, as mine are. I have to cut each dose pkg.down in order to open it.Read More Read Less