User Reviews for Actiq buccal

In 2000, I slipped & fell at my job (yeah..worker's comp claim..but what else could I have done?). I "shifted" by saccrum, right hip, & tailbone & have severe, chronic low-back pain &, because I'm Hyper-Mobile (meaning my joints are looser than the average gymnast), the results of the fall were worse than what would be considered normal. After starting out on Lorcet & Flexeril, in 2007 my pain management doctor put me on the 200mcg "lollipops" & they worked pretty good but, after about almost a year, he had to up the mcg to 400. They worked GGGREAT for breakthrough pain while I waited for my Lorcet/Norco to "kick in". Then, in early 2008, work. comp. denied payment for them any longer because I didn't/don't have cancer so my doc is BACK to "trial & error" trying to find something that works and so far, nothing does. I am taking Kadian SR(morphine sulfate), Roxicontin, & Lyrica &, all 3 combined, don't even come close to doing what the Actiq did!! My doc, attorney, & I are fighting to get the Actiq back but I don't know if it will happen. Like so many others who's ratings I have read, it just blows my mind that these insurance companies have NO CLUE of the effect that non-payment for this med is having/has on people who are in chronic, EVERY DAY pain! God forgive me, but I PRAY that ALL OF THEM "will have their day" when something that works so GREAT for pain is denied to them!! Let THEM see for themselves!! GRRRR!Read More Read Less

Ive used Actiq suckers for yrs for severe, chronic pain from several med conditions with no hope for cure. Ive taken Methadone,Morphine...Now Opana for pain control & at 1600mcg evry 4hrs or 800mcg evry 2hrs, I find this med to be extremely effective against breakthrough pain. However, the combination of Methadone & Actiq was the worst on my teeth. By the time I realized there was problem Id already lost several teeth to decay that turned them so soft they could be pulled apart with my fingers. ive been devastated at the loss of my previously beautiful straightened smile. Heed this warning & See your Dentist for prevention rather than repair! Good Luck with Actiq- Resoect how it helps but Be Wary how it can hurtRead More Read Less

This medication is a life saver for me. I am a 33 yr. old female whom is disabled. I have used every pain medication that is available to control my pain that stems from more issues that I have time to explain. Before my Dr. prescribed the Actiq 1200mcq to me I would visit the ER 3-4 times a week for pain relief. After I spent almost a month in the hospital diagnosing all of my issues he has tried me on Oxycontin 20 mg 3x a day and then when that didn't seem too work he put me on the Fentanyl patch 100mcg. During the trials of these two meds he also gives me 8 1200 mcg Actiqs per month. It ended up that the Oxycontin and Actiq seems too be the best combination for me. I hope that if there is anyone else out there who is struggling with chronic debilitating pain that you can find a doctor as compasionate and caring as the one that I have that has been caring for me since 2001 and will do anything in this world for his patients!!!! Good Luck.Read More Read Less

It was working well, until it was pulled away since i do not have cancer. I have been FIGHTING HARD to get it back again... I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and severe pain. I hopefully will be able to use this again in the future, since it got rid of ALL of my pain, not just some of it.

I've been living with chronic low back pain for almost 9 years. I did physical therapy, water therapy,multiple epidural injections, 2 surgeries and many different medications for break through pain.My pain management dr. placed me on Actiq and it worked. After 2+ years my insurance company will no longer pay for it. They denied the perscription and I went through withdraw. I am in my thrid appeal to get reapproved. Insurance companies have no right to say what you should have or can't have!! It should be up to your Dr. and you. Now I'm back to suffering. Can anyone help???Read More Read Less

This medication is very wuick acting an provides significant pain relief within minutes. I have suffered chronic, unrelenting pain (neck & back) for over 8 years, had numerous surgeries and been through the gambit of treatments, Epidurals and have an Implanted Drug Pump that is filled with Fentanyl so I thought it might be wise to use just 1 medication (in the pump) for chronic & breakthrough pain - I have noticed 2 serious side effects in just over a month: 1.) pain is worse when the Actiq wears off usually in 2-3 hours and worse of all 2.) a significant change in mood - have had several bouts of Rage (I don't mean simple anger but all out Rage to the point where my wife has been afraid of me. I have been on all Pain Medications (Dilaudid, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Morphine, Ultram, Methadone ad nauseam and this is the only medication that I have such a significant change in mood, I'm going to switch off of it for this reason unless my Doctor can counteract this.Read More Read Less

I have severe migraines this abortive treatment makes pain tolerable, faster than short of IV thearpy. I have allergies to most meds or they raise my heart rate/BP. Anyone researching please come up with eye drops that numbs the back of eye and brain plz

This medication usually works well for me. I'm taking it at the lowest dose of 200mcg. The "lollipop" form helps it act faster, but of course this is less convenient than a pill. Also if you have children make sure to lock it up. I have herniated discs with stenosis and will probably be getting surgery later this year. The Actiq helps when the percocet isn't working as well. Neuropathic pain can be difficult to treat, even with powerful opiates, and Actiq helps me control breakthrough pain. Often I'll combine it with 1/2 the normal breakthrough dose of Percocet. I also take Lyrica. One other reviewer rated this drug badly because she claimed her sister was addicted. Look, if she is taking it without a medical condition then get her help. If she is taking it for legit reasons, and it helps with her pain, I suggest you be a little more sympethetic. Also, you need to understand the difference between tolerance and addiction. If you've never lived with chronic pain, consider yourself lucky.Read More Read Less

I have been taking 1200 mg daily for almost four years plus I use the duragesic patch. The first two years I felt like a new person but I believe my body has built up a tolerance to the mg's and now it no longer helps my pain. I need the dosage increased instead of feeling like a human pin cushion from all the pain blocks I have done.

This drug us a very effective medication, however, due to the high sugar content (by the way, makes it absolutely delicious!) the stakes are high for your teeth. It changes entire chemical makeup of your saliva and continues to do so even though you are not actively using one. I get mine sugar fee- by a special compounding pharmacy. Ask your doctor to write "OK to compound" on the prescription. ExpressScripts has paid just like always. I did have to appeal though. My husband takes 500mcg lollipops that are 1555.00 for 90. The painn doctoor should warn patients that a regimine of mouth washes and soaking your teeth frequently in medicated trays is very effective if using sugar-based Actiq. Don't wait until dentures are the only option!Read More Read Less

After dealing with chronic migraine headaches since I was 12yrs old, I am now 48 yrs old and my headaches went from bad to worse. I thought going through a total hysterectomy would help ,but it did not. Also, my headaches changed location from the top of my head to also behind my eyes. They became so severe that I was vomiting constantly and if I went to the E.R.,I was accused of trying to get drugs and told that I had a drug problem! I ended up with 5 bleeding ulcers do to all the motrin I was forced to take and with little or no relief. I finally went to a wonderful pain specialist, and he did try many other treatments before starting the Actiq. It was a miracle and today I don't get them nearly as often and when I do,I can usually stop it in just a few minutes. I just wish the "MAJORITY" of physicians would send patients with pain that does not go away by normal treatments to pain specialists! And I also wish that every one of them would go through some kind of pain like a migraine because they would hopefully be more compassionate. I wouldn't actually wish this on anyone ,but thank goodness for Actiq!! It gave me my life back!! thank youRead More Read Less

I've been using Actiq since 2003 with great results in relieving breakthrough pain. My insurance is now dening it because of the cost. It doesn't matter to them (Express Scripts) that I'm back to being in constant pain with nothing even coming close to helping. Typical insurance company; it doesn't matter how bad you are and it doesn't matter if there is a drug out there that gives you back some of your lost quality of life because it's expensive. I'd like to trade physical conditions for a month with them and see who is singing a different tune after the month is up.Read More Read Less

it works great; i can use the entire stick or a partial one just enough to take the edge off until my other meds kick in, which puts me in charge of my pain instead of my pain in charge of me and it takes effect quickly; but my insurance company will no longer pay for it.

this meds is the 1st med in 14years that has really helped me with my pain and for the 1st time in 14years with no pain my dr will not give it to me anymore but the dr dont care how you fill when it helps you

I have been on durgesic patches 100 and 50, taken 7 30mg of morphine, but aactiq relievs the pain most. Now my insurance company is dening it so do not no if I will ever get it again, too expensive

I have had RSD for over 7 years. I've been using the Actiq for breakthrough pain relief for over 4 years. It does a pretty good job at controling my pain.I would recommand it to anyone with chronic pain.

I had stomach cancer when I was 18 years old, which turned into lymphoma of the gastric post. I had four stomach surgeries. I am now 60 yrs old and I am dealing with systemic scleroderma and raynauds syndrome. I actually have CREST SYNDROME in which each letter in the word crest is a disease and if a person has two out of the five diseases they are considered to have crest syndrome. Unfortunetly I have all five. I also have neuropathy in my feet and I have had a major back fusion. When I first tried the Actiq lozenges it was the first time I felt some releif from the horrific pain I am continuously in however my pharmiscist gave me fentanyl lozenges one month and I had difficulty breathing. I don't understand WHY there is a difference between the two medications?Read More Read Less

I have been on narcotic pain managment for 12 years. This medication seems to be the only thing to relieve my breakthrough pain. I only wish there wasnt such a stigma attached to narcs in this country.

I have been on Actiq 400mcg x 6 per day now for approximately 6 months. It worked incredibly well when I first started the medicine, but again, as with every other pain med I have taken (Oxy, Vicodin, Percocet, Roxicontin, Morphine Sulphate, Tramadol, etc) it has become virtually non-helpful. I'd say by taking one, I receive about 1/2 the original relief (bringing severe chronic back pain from my nerve degeneration, 10 dissocated discs and 4 herniated discs along with severe muscle and tendon tightening/cramping to a moderately tolerable level) for approximately 30 minutes. I require 2 of the lollipops to get myself out of bed and moving in the morning. I am also on 80 mg Oxycotin every 12 hours for constant pain, while the Actiq is for breakthru pain. I hesitate to move up to the 800 mcg dosage due to the inability to anethitize (sp) for the soon to be required back, neck and ankle surgeries. I worry that there is not many drugs stronger than Actiq to rely on if my tolerance continues to strengthen. Even as a child, adult-dose pain meds after my 2 surgeries did not work. I am simply extremely tolerant. They do work extremely well for everyone else I have personally known to take Actiq. The side-effects mentioned have not affected me: no teeth issues whatsoever. Maybe I haven't been on them long enough? I did notice some gum degeneration at first, but with good teeth maintenance combined with restoring mouth wash, the problem dissappeared within weeks.Read More Read Less