Duragesic or Sandoz vs. Mylan Patches

[Young Professor]

I'm switching from Oxy to the patch....25mcg for chronic pain, every 48 hours. Anyone have a opinion on whether the Duragesic/Sandoz or Mylan are best? Doc said that the Sandoz are made by the same company that makes Duragesic, so they are identical. However, the Mylan is different. He said to get the Duragesic/Sandoz and not Mylan, but was rushed and didn't go into specifics. When I mentioned this to my pharmacist, he said people get the Mylan all day long and no one really complains (or maybe he just wants the sale). Seems that not many pharmacies stock the Duragesic/Sandoz, but will order them for me.

This site seems to have posters with lots of experience. I would appreciate any help that you could provide. I'm concerned about getting the wrong brand and being screwed for 30 days.

Thanks.

[Princess]

I've been on the Duragesics for just over 4 years. Only once, due to an insurance problem, I was given the Mylans and they didn't seem to work AT ALL. So the following month I went on the Patient Assistant program to get the Duragesic.

I have never used the Sandoz.

They work wonders for pain. Don't abuse them though or you'll be screwed like some of us!

[pun1178]

dude mylan sucks no gel sandol is good loots of gel my fav and the most strongest gel is by Abrika fent patches mmmmm super good mylan sucks

[skank69]

I'm switching from Oxy to the patch....25mcg for chronic pain, every 48 hours. Anyone have a opinion on whether the Duragesic/Sandoz or Mylan are best? Doc said that the Sandoz are made by the same company that makes Duragesic, so they are identical. However, the Mylan is different. He said to get the Duragesic/Sandoz and not Mylan, but was rushed and didn't go into specifics. When I mentioned this to my pharmacist, he said people get the Mylan all day long and no one really complains (or maybe he just wants the sale). Seems that not many pharmacies stock the Duragesic/Sandoz, but will order them for me.

This site seems to have posters with lots of experience. I would appreciate any help that you could provide. I'm concerned about getting the wrong brand and being screwed for 30 days.

Thanks.
it depends on what your going to do with it .if your just going to put it on and not try to abuse it i think the mylan's are the ones . if you want to start smoke'in it then you'll want the ones with the gell i guess .but with the mylans you can chew them and they work pretty good . well good luck with what you decide and be carefull they are very strong go esay :D sorry i mean a deargsic i'm on the ones with out the gell but there called ratio - fentanyl 100mcg's or 16.5mg's they work good for me

[Young Professor]

it depends on what your going to do with it .


I plan on using them as directed. I was on Duragesic a couple of years ago and switched to Oxy due to issues with the patch in general:

(1) Itchy as shit
(2) Generally annoying, especially if you want to swim in the summer, exercise moderately, or whatever.
(3) Inconsistent methodology...I have a high metabolism and burned through them pretty quick, even @ every 48 hour change directions.

But for the last 6 mths or so, the Oxys just aren't working. I can tell the Doc isn't excited to move me up in strength (I'm guessing because our area of SWVA has been hit hard with the whole Oxy shit in the news). I use the Actiq pops for BTP, and they work great, so I'm thinking more fentanyl is the way to go. I've just read and heard so much shit about the two generic versions that I thought I'd get some advice from the pros here @ Opiophille.

Again, thanks to all.

[Uncle Wiggly]

I plan on using them as directed. I was on Duragesic a couple of years ago and switched to Oxy due to issues with the patch in general:

(1) Itchy as shit
(2) Generally annoying, especially if you want to swim in the summer, exercise moderately, or whatever.
(3) Inconsistent methodology...I have a high metabolism and burned through them pretty quick, even @ every 48 hour change directions.

But for the last 6 mths or so, the Oxys just aren't working. I can tell the Doc isn't excited to move me up in strength (I'm guessing because our area of SWVA has been hit hard with the whole Oxy shit in the news). I use the Actiq pops for BTP, and they work great, so I'm thinking more fentanyl is the way to go. I've just read and heard so much shit about the two generic versions that I thought I'd get some advice from the pros here @ Opiophille.

Again, thanks to all.

Since you're going to use them as directed you might want to think about going with the Mylan brand. They have a solid type delivery matrix so aren't as disposed to hold in heat and they are also smaller in size than the Duragesic/Sandoz patches. Now as-far-as sticking goes - I've heard it both ways and it could simply be a matter of your bodies PH. i.e. Do you sweat a lot?

I belong to another forum that consists mainly of Fentanyl users and the biggest complaint I've heard about the Mylan patch is they take a bit longer to kick in than the gel-type matrix. There are a few tricks to get the patches to stick well. One is to heat it with a blow-drier on low heat for about 60 - 90 seconds before putting it on. This makes the plastic more pliable thus allowing the air bubbles to be smoothed-out of the patch more effectively. This works with the Sandoz/Duragesic patches. I know because that's the type I use. I've only read on the other forum about it's effectiveness with Mylan brand. Hope this helps and best of luck.

[reddragon3668]

I would go with the Mylan patch if your using as directed. Much smaller and they stick better, imo. Just the size alone is a big enough issue for me. I hated those big ass duragesic 100mcg patches... and they didn't stick worth a damn to me. I mean, if you don't like them, you can always switch to the other. In fact, I suppose you can try both (gel/non-gel) and see how they work for you before making a decision either way. Good luck and it would be interesting to hear what you eventually ended up with.

[sweetpain]

My doc upped my patches from 75 to 100mcg. Instead of the Sandoz, I noticed they were Watsons. They of course were bigger than the other ones, but noticed it took little more to get off than the 75mcg. Usually I can make a 75 last a couple days but winded up doing a whole 100 in one day.

I am into my second patch (first one today) and nearly gone again. My doses are the same (not like I'm stretching it cuz I just got em my script). Tonight, I tried my normal dosage the first time, but the second go round, I upped it little more and still didn't get much of a buzz. This has never happened to me b4. Could it be that they are Watson?

I've done 3 hits and nothing. Feel like I've wasted 2 patches. Perhaps I should try larger dosage but leary of keep upping it. It's been almost an hour since last try. Think I should try upping it again? I'm not going to do anything til I hear from someone for fear this shit will hit out of nowhere. I doubt it though, cuz last night didn't happen. I caught tiny buzz last night but that was by end of one whole patch. No noddin like a normally would be at end of the patch.

[Young Professor]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

BTW, there is a re-call on the Duragesic and Sandoz 25mcg.....Effective Feb 15th. All patches with expiration before Dec 09 are being re-called, which is about the entire supply chain. I wouldn't expect them to be commercially available for a while. I may be forced to try the Mylan.

The Duragesic website provides all the info you need on the recall.