There are 70 ratings for the drug: ACTIQ in the Askapatient database.

Key to ratings for actiq: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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Rating	Reason	Side Effects	Comments	Sex	Age	Time Taken and Dosage		Date Added
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5	severe cronic back pain neck &low b	Like just about all pain meds. DRY MOUTH is main one. if these other people would have read the inclosed drug info they would have read that BRUSHING YOUR TEETH more is necessary with sugar content of Actiq. Any dentist will tell you side effects of dry mouth: the decaying of teeth & gum disease!! drinking soda is the worst...but it worked for me. Dentists can also prescribe special toothpaste to help. The best side effect.....I was able to have somewhat of a more normal quality of life! So many meds. make you feel so tired, ACTIQ didn't for me. Can someone tell me why it's so expensive?????? The cost is just not right. The people that need it can't afford it.	ACTIQ name brand works. It's the only one. The first generic to come out did not! Not at all. Pharmacists kept telling me they were the same. Who would you believe the person one it for years or someone that never used it! Most Insurance company's would then only pay for generic (which wasn't much cheaper) then they said unless you have a severe form of CANCER that they will not pay for it. It was the best pain regiment I had when ACTIQ was included. I told my Dr. that it made me feel like a real person again. I felt great! now I can"t have it. Why is it so expensive??????	F	50	800mg 4X D		7/31/2010
1	spinal surgery and constant pain	Why is there no class action law suit on this drug??? Everyone I meet that has taken it has lost their teeth or half their teeth and my doctor will not even prescribe it any more because all his patients had tooth problems. I brushed before, after, it does not matter. This stuff just sits on your teeth and rots them away. THe company is now in trouble because none of the insurance companies are willing to pay for it anymore. So between the price and the rotting teeth the company has some real PR work to do. I think a big law firm should take them on. There are thousands of patients who have lost their teeth and this company could care less.	Stay away from this drug at all costs. That is my best comment.	F	45	5 days 1600 mcg 6X D		7/5/2010
1	CANCER	EVERY SINGLE TOOTH IN MY MOUTH HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH 4 OST AND WORKING ON AT LEAST 2 MORE. THE COST BETWEEN ORAL SURGEON AND COSMETIC DENTIST WAS 75,000 BEFORE THEY EVEN STARTED THE WORK. I JUST REPORTED MY DENTIST TO THE BOARD OF DENTISTS AS HE SKIPPED TOWN BEFORE THE JOB WAS COMPLETE.THE REVIEW BOARD SAID THAT ALL OF THEM NEED REPLACED AS IT WAS A SHOTTY JOB. NO PAIN MED IS WORTH THIS KIND OF PAIN AND COST. DO NOT ADVISE TAKING IT. I AM AN ATTORNEY AND AM CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AFTER SEEING THIS INFORMATION. I HAD NO IDEA OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. MY DOCTORS TOLD ME IT WA BECAUSE I HAD A CANCEROUS SALIVA GLAND REMOVED AND MY DRY MOUTH ROTTED MY TEETH. SEEMS THAT IS NOT THE CASE.		F	45	4 years 800MCG 6X D		6/15/2010
5	chronic breakthrough pain	worked great back to a normal life again	insurance stopped paying for actiq in 2009 now my quality of life went from 85%-10% cannot afford without insurance. insurance won't pay unless I have cancer, why did they pay it for 5 years?	F	43	6 years 1200mcg 4X D		3/22/2010 History
1	Cronic back pain arachnoditis	Complete decay of my teeth. There are no warnings about this terrible side affect. My dentist even noted that there was more decay on the right side of my mouth because I am right handed and I naturally place the drug on the right side of my mouth	There is no question whatsoever that Actiq caused all of my tooth decay according to my dentist and other dentists that I have seen	M	58	3 years 800 mcg 4X D		3/4/2010 Email
4	Severe back pain-surgery/ sciatica	the only side effect I've had are to my teeth-they do not warn you of the sugar content in this drug. I always use it on the right side of my mouth & all the bottom teeth on that side of my mouth now have cavities at the gum line. I just had to have a bridge made for a cost of over $3200 all because of this drug. We should all sue them to get our dental paid for-this is horrible. I'm disabled & don't have the money to pay for the rest of my teeth	Besides the teeth the other problem is insurance. I will not be able to afford this drug much longer as I've had to pay out of pocket. Even though AARP Medicare D assured me 4 times they would pay for the drug no matter what my DX, once I signed up they refused to pay because I'm blessed not to have Cancer. What a rip off with these companies. This drug costs very little to manufacture, why does it sell for hundreds of dollars a box? What is wrong with this picture. The generic brand from Barr is just as expensive, basically, as the original-	F	60	2 years 400 mg 3X AN		2/7/2010 Email
4	Broken in half by car accident	At first my stomach was up set, but that faded away. I was on this drug Actiq for 2 years, until I could not pay for it anymore. And, disability refused to pay for it. The drug was good the side effects now are devistating, making me home bound because like other's I no longer have teeth. I spent 5 years in braces, first 3 through Jr. High then when my wisdom teeth came in,they had to pull them and I had to spend 2 more years in braces and while I was just about done with my retainer at 16 I had a car accident where the car rolled 5 times and I went halfway out of the sunroof the car rolled over ontop of me, broke me in half, and rolled 2 more times. While in intensive care with a resperator and no retainer my teeth all spaced out so about 8 months again in braces. Now with Chronic pain, closed head injury, back broken in 7 places, and 33 corrective surgeries since. Actiq worked good compared to other pain med's. But, now I have 7 teeth left. I am so embarassed to go out. Who would wan	If I knew then what I know now, I never would have taken it. At this time my next option is a Morphine pump or shotgun. I didn't go through all the pain of wearing head grear, the throbbing of the orthodic rubber bands. The stanless steal smile as a teenage girl. Actiq did work sure, but I really would like to actually EAT SOMETHING that is solid SOON. I have no molers, both gold crowns snaped off and my last 5 on the bottom in the front are not looking so good. So, they will be next. What the HECK is a person TO DO? I sure hope that the Manufacture and Disributor get to read some of these. Being Disabled is bad enough, but the medication they give you that is suppose to help make's all your teeth fall out, is a very-VERY BAD thing. I am in Tampa, FL is there anyone out there that can help. I get $599 a month, how am I suppose to pay for the dental surgeries, extractions then dentures? HELP! Any Pro-bono Dentist's around?	F	50	2 years		1/8/2010 Email
5	DDD, Cervical Radiculopathy, etc.	4 surface cavities plus 11 teeth with no enamel at the gumline (high risk for future cavities). These were my first cavities ever. I brush my teeth 3x/day & that's probably why I went 6 years with no problems, but now my teeth are a mess. It is not just the sugar, but also the citric acid in Actiq that supposedly contributed to them. I always put the medication on one side of my mouth -- that's where all the cavities were & most of the teeth with the stripped enamel.	Works great for pain. Fentanyl is the only narcotic I'm not allergic to. Tried Duragesic, but even the lowest dose available caused an overdose. No other side effects besides the tooth decay. I've gone off it for a month or so at a time to manage tolerance & didn't have any issues.	F	32	7 years		12/19/2009
3	RA, DEGENERATIVE DISC, FYBROMYALGIA	LONG STORY VERY SHORT- BEEN ON THIS ABOUT 10 YEARS, the tooth decay warning WAS NOT LISTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS then added a few years ago...the story of why i had to keep this med. is long, but the bottom line is this, I had NO LIFE prior to this med.& was suicidal. Although it gave me a "life" ALL MY TEETH ARE FALLING OUT NOW AND I CANT AFFORD 30K WORTH OF DENTAL WORK. I AM A YOUNG-LOOKING ATTRACTIVE WOMAN WHO NOW HAS THE SMILE OF A CRACK AND METH ADDICT. LOVELY. NOW WHAT?	DONT TAKE THIS MED IF OTHER OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND WORK FOR YOU!!! THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A LAST RESORT MED FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, INCLUDING THAT IT IS 100X MORE POTENTANT THAN HEROIN AND MORPHINE. COMING OFF WILL NOT BE FUN...	F	42	10 years		6/16/2009
3	for R.A.	LOST ALL MY TEETH	IT WORKZ GOOD FOR SHORT TERM PAIN. I AM ALSO VERY UPSET BECAUSE I LOST ALL MY TEETH FROM TAKIN THIS MEDICATION. LOST TEETH ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER TAKIN MEDICATION.	F	66	4 years		2/22/2009 Email
4	Severe Back Injury 9herniated discs	I have been on Morphine(200 mg. 4x daily) & Actiq-Fentynal(1600mcg. x 8 daily) for severe back pain since 2002. I have suffered with serious side effects - Respiratory Problems, bouts of unconsciousness & waking in middle of the night uncontrollably freezing with severe hallucinations. Also, mouth ulcers, tongue lesions, Dental Problems - losing 4 rear molars, having 4 or 5 root canals , multiple bonding's to repair crumbling teeth, and many, many cavities since 2005 . Just recently, I had a very painful root canal done which almost ruined my entire Christmas, only to have 1/2 of another tooth fall out in my hand a week later. That day (a few days ago) I seriously felt like I was losing my mind and realized that there must be something way more serious going on with my teeth than I had imagined. Miraculously, I happened to go on the Internet and read on a web site regarding Actiq and Tooth Decay Lawsuits. It gave me the answer to my constant horrible teeth problems that no	Actiq does help with the excruciating back pain when Morphine is'nt enough, but they should have "worked out all the bugs" before they put it on the market & get chronic pain sufferers addicted to it. I would definitely like to see Cephalon punished for their GREED, keeping people in the dark about all the side effects. Getting some type of settlement to recoup my losses would definitely help give me some needed relief. I could buy some new teeth for starters and then get surgery done to fix my back so I could get off these evil suckers. Does anyone know of a Law Firm that is suing the makers of Actiq for all the EVIL side effects associated with Actiq use? Please Email me the information.	M	45	5 years		1/31/2009 Email
5	Chronic Back Pain Syndrome; RSD	My ONLY side effect was the rotting, decay, breaking of, all my teeth that are in desperate need of extraction, to the average person this side effect is similar to photos of "meth mouth!" When first prescribed Actiq it contained NO dental warnings, approximately 1 year later the package insert was changed and included consulting and visiting your dentist. However the damage to my teeth had already been done. I'm in desperate need of dentures with no way to pay for them due to this medication. No physician, pharmacist, or dentist warned me of this problem. My dentist seems to be unaware of the problems it has caused to date. Next: I will find a caring dentist.	Actiq allowed me to participate in my life; for the first time in over 5 years! The back pain and bilateral radioculpathy was so unbearable became totally bedridden for 5 years. Actiq afforded me the luxury of a pain tolerant life. (I controlled the pain, the pain no longer controlled me.) During my divorce proceedings I quickly learned that Medicare and Medicaid would not pay for this MIRACLE drug. I stop taking this medication because I lost the luxury of private health insurance during my divorce in 2004. I stopped Actiq cold turkey on my own without side effect or symptoms (pain came back with a vengeance). Was placed on 100mg MS Contin, 3x a day and 2 Narco 10mg 3x a day. I am bedridden again! I hope one day all clinicians will learn to be more sympathetic when treating their pain patients and realize they're not "drug seekers" attempting to get high. We need more medications like Actiq, and less governmental control and limitations over the usage of such wonderful medi	F	48	2 years		9/4/2008
5	Chronic pain (degenerative joints)	Lost all my teeth, constipation (mestinon provides relief along with otc stuff), hearing loss	Actiq is a godsend for me as well. I couldn't even get out of bed before I started taking it. I was taking tons of morphine until I collapsed with respiratory failure, double pneumonia from loss of cough reflex. Actiq allowed me to live again.	M	56	10 years		8/17/2008 Email
5	Chiari pseudotumor cerebri ischemia	Severe tooth decay while taking brand name	Actiq is the worst! I was lucky enough to find a pharmacy that makes sugar free fentynal pops I get 1200 mcg 120 per month for 300! They actually work better for me then actiq. But after 5 yrs of brand name my teeth are shot & I'm only 36! I think the new formula did more damage with its sweettart texture! Swirling those against your teeth was bound to eat away at enammal! So my 5 is not for actiq but the ones my pharm. Is authorized to make. If you live in IL email me for info. I also take Mscontin 75 mg 3 times a day soma & a few other things. I can't use patch due to systemic lupus. Actiq was 5 yrs generic is 3 plus	F	36	8 years		8/9/2008 Email
1	D.D.D.neck and low back RA.fibromya	I was on 1600mg pops 4 to6 times per day.My insurance quit paying for the medication and the dr.I had to detox cold turkey and almost died.Now one year after Iam off of them my beautiful teeth are falling out one by one.Iam sick about this and very depressed.anyone knowing a lawyer I can contact please email me @alyciaarebalo@msn.com thank you and God Bless everyone else this med f d up its a dirty rotten shame and I pray I can be compensated for yrs of the best dental care gone to hell over night.		F	56	5 years		6/24/2008 Email
1	failed back surgery	it eat all the enmal off my teeth.lost all my teeth	if your teeth matter to you do not take this actiq!!!!!	M	39	2 years		5/21/2008 Email
5	chronic facial/head pain	bad constipation,but my doc recommended MiraLax powder,works wonders but take daily as long as you take daily meds. ask your doctor.can buy over counter.	I take 1600 mcg x4 a day, insurance will allow no more. how do some of you take more? Also I have new ins., Aetna and I think they are going to cut me off.. Anyone with experience w/Aetna?	F	48	4 years		4/4/2008 Email
5	rheumatoid arthritis	dry mouth	This is an excellent medication for severe breakthrough pain. I have rheumatoid arthritis and use this for my severe pain mainly in the evenings. It works quickly and has been a wonderful medication for me.	F	31	4 years		3/8/2008
5	DDD Spine collapsing 3X Surg/fusion	First month was hard in summer getting used to slow breathing/then no side effects until 5+ yrs later teeth began to decay/breaking off. Though part my fault-poor dentist habits may have been controlled otherwise. Issues with coming out of anesthesia from surgery. I have such a tolerance-I wake up way too soon and am totally coherant within minutes while everyone around me is out cold. Nursing staff amazed. Euphoric when I'm very tired and sleep deprived. Weak cough reflex. All in como w/fentanyl patches-lethal dose.	I see alot of the remarks about Actiq and wonder how many of these neg. issues are from a combination of the additional narcotics we are on. I don't believe Actiq on its own is causing all of these dependency problems. I have been taking Duragesic patches for nearly 7 years along with Actiq for break through. Quickly got up to lethal doeses @ 400mcg every 48rs and 1200mcg Actiq 6X a day and could easily raise both of those now to 500 & 1600 mcg's. Have been at current dose for 3 years. Took 5+ yrs b4 teeth became an issue, though I take care of them at home I also have not seen a dentist in over 18 years since I had perfect teeth and no known problems. Was wheelchair bound and could not stand/walk straight. Fentanyl has been an amazing drug after the full gamit of pills for years ending w/oxycontin 80mg and the 20+ useless epidural injections. Within 1 month I was walking and now living in a warmer climate can go 90% of the day pain free! However it is not a cure. My pain	F	40	6 years		2/28/2008 Email
5	18bone/jnt surgeries/100's of falls	None to speak of.I was free enough of daily/nightly constant excruciating pain, to be in my yard this past summer first time in TWO years.I was cooking again and able to do most household chores.Always on a walker , slight ,very slight dizziness at first then no more.	Insurance as of 1-1-08 will no longer allow it because I do not have breakthru cancer pain. I am again limited to bed and lounge chair.Drs. are helping me fight this w/ an appeal.Fingers spine ,knee areas,shoulders back to constant agony.Now buying Dilaudid (nausea) and wearing 2 Fntanyl patches ,12 and 25.Barely relief but insurance APPROVES this route.	F	56	400 days		1/20/2008
5	IVC filter removal & TPA		I couldn't feel a thing while they were doing the procedures. I was extremely nervous and even though I was wide awake and able to communicate with the doctors and nurses, I still didn't have any pain.	F	24	5 days		1/16/2008
5	failed back fusion & severe pain!!!	cold/hot sweats, and some teeth problems	I've suffered ALL my life in pain. I've tried everything they can give for pain,(along with many muscle relaxants that didn't work) After a failed spinal fusion surgery that went HORRIBLY wrong I was left with pain from head to toe! Unless you deal with severe pain every second of the day you probably shouldn't be on this type of pain med! I Thank God I found a doctor that gave me this option. I take Avinza (1 a day)with my Actiq and I am finally able to tolerate the "left over pain." If you think this will erase all your pain it won't and shouldn't. Even with Actiq my pain is never less than a 6 (on scale 1-10). I'm tired of people judging others that suffer as I do. Believe me there are days I wish I would just die since I've had to live in so much pain ALL MY LIFE. There is no "perfect solution" for some of us so we weigh out the side-effects over "trying to deal with it". I take GREAT OFFENSE to being group into the "addicts" category, if	F	40	2 years		11/11/2007 Email
5	Abdominal Pain and swelling	constipation	Actiq is a miracle drug. I get severe abdominal pain and can't eat or drink for days due to swelling in my stomach. Instead of ending up in the hospital monthly I was given Actiq. I was finally able to eat again without pain. After being on the drug for a year the Oxford will not pay for Actiq. So now they will have 3x the bills to pay every month while I am in the hospital. Oh the drug is approved for me to take while in the hopspital! When will these insurance companies ever learn!	F	29	1 years		8/31/2007
5	arachnoiditis/severe nerve pain	none	This has been the best drug fro breakthrough pain, much better than the patch, I am on Oxycontin 40 and actiq 800, and Aetna just decided to stop paying the 3,ooo bill, this is after I increased my month payments to 2,500/month. There was an article in the Wall Street journal that stated that the insurance companies were suing the manafactuer of Actiq because their salesman were "hawking the lollipops to neurologists and pain specialists and not just oncologists as it had an FDA approval for cancer pain. Physicians can prescribe a medication for a condition even if it was not FDA approved for that condition. I would put my nerve pain against any cancer pain any day. My pain radiates into my testicles and every morning I feel like I just came out of the OR without medication. Aetna is making this decision to save $$. Making Billions a year isn't enough.	M	50	3 years		8/15/2007
4	Degenerative Disc Disease	The Usual	As I spend my 24 hours every day in pain, I am thankful I have meds to turn to, and it is MY RESPONCIBILITY to review meda and weigh the benefits vs the side effects. Please those of you considering suits....next time leave the meds alone and just commit sucide which is what my next option is. YOU ARE responcible for you and people like you will be the reason these meds will be even harder to get again....GET OVER IT.	M	52	5 years		8/10/2007
5	back pain due to 3 level fusion	None	I've been taking Actiq for 5 years and it made a tremendous impact on my life. The previous pain meds I had taken didn't provide the relief of Actiq as quickly or as long, as well as didn't give me the mental buzz feeling. After using this medication without issue for 5 years, all the sudden Aetna isn't going to cover it unless you're a cancer patient. This reeks of a big insurance company trying to save money due to the popularity of Actiq. Instead, it's being presented as their team of doctors and consultants have determined what's best for the patient. It's amazing without ever seeing me, they know better than a Pain Managment doctor who specializes in treating patients who live in pain. Oh, but if you do get their approval, they'll allow 15 lozenges for 30 days. Why bother? Again, it's all about money rather than what's best for the patient, regardless of the amount of money paid monthly for premiums.	M	46	5 years		7/11/2007
1	Migraines	Severe constipation, personality changes, dependency	Found to be a great pain reliever if taken in time. Better than ER visits every week. Had to go to rehab twice to get off it for good. Accupuncture & herbs & anti-seizure medication work better w/NO addiction/dependency. Visit MAGNUM website if you suffer w/migraines.	F	40	2 years		6/24/2007 Email
5	Migraine	I had nausea and vomiting from the Actiq (on top of the nausea and vomiting from the migraine) until I learned to titrate the dose better. Slower dosing & removing the lozenge from my mouth after a minute of application and waiting a few minutes before using more has eliminated the opioid-induced nausea I used to get (unless it's tolerance that explains it). I was concerned about my teeth from the start so I always brush after Actiq as soon as I feel up to it.	Actiq has been wonderful for my migraines. Nothing else had worked, and trips to the ER had been miserable experiences. The rapid time to onset of relief coincides perfectly with the time from my migraine aura's time of onset to the onset of pain. My migraines, averaging about a dozen times a year, used to make me non-functional for a couple days feeling like I was going to die in tremendous agony. Since Actiq, they are now just a tolerable headache through which I can function adequately. I can't benefit from oral meds because my migraine makes me vomit whatever I swallow (and I didn't respond to injectable Imitrex). Now, I can often even avoid vomiting from the migraine if I am cautious about the rate at which I absorb the fentanyl.			4 years		4/15/2007 Email
1	migraine	it help right away but I needed to take more very fast, very addicting, this drug was only approved by the FDA in 1998 for cancer patient and the company allows the representative to go to othher doctors office like sport medicine and medicine to peddle their drug for pain management, knowing very well that this drug is extremely addictive	I had sever problem getting off the drug, develop severe abdominal pain, had abdominal surgery. This drug has totally messed up my life. I wished I had never taken it. It has 8o times the strengh of morphine, it should never be in the hands of people who have a life to live. It should only be given to terminal patient whom addiction is no longer a problem. This company is a joke. All they were after is making monies at the expense of the patients. The docs are not to blame, they found out too late that it was not what is was intented for. Shame on the pharmaceutical company. many people have dies from this drug, children thought this drug was a lolipop and died!! I think they should go to court and pay for what they have done to all the patients who have been administred this drug and who were not cancer patient. This is negligence at its worst!!!!	M	42	35 days		3/17/2007
1	migrain pain even after neck fusion	Took actiq after neck fusion & along with the durigesic fentynal patch around 1999. It was working great & every 4 hours, my migraine would come back & then the actiq would stop it. This continued until they changed the production of it from the US to the european method. For some reason, the actiq in the new formulation never did work. As soon as I used it, the migraine continued & continued without working at all.	I have no idea why the new formulation changed the working of the fentanyl in the med but it no longer worked. Besided it not working, while using it, the new formulation was so rough that it rubbed sores on my cheek for the time I was trying to see if it was going to somehow start working.	F	48	6 months		2/16/2007
5	anti and posti neck surgery	none pain goes away .No tooth decay , No addiction 800 mcg bid lolipop	stop complaining people about the drug .Cant deal with it change meds	M	40	1 years		1/25/2007
4	9 compression fractured vertebrae	constipation, sweat"flashes", and my upper teeth have $10,000. worth of damage to them. No decay on my lower teeth where I never put a stick.	the only way to sleep when you have level 10 pain is to put one or two sticks in your mouth against the upper teeth (more natural placement) and let them sit and slowly dissolve for hours. I wasn't aware that they were made with confectioners sugar. My tooth damage happened below the gumline first so by the time the damage was discovered, it was bad. One tooth fell in half one day! I have had root canals and pulled teeth. I am only 41 years old, so I didn't want to go with dentures yet, but I am very interested if anyone has filed or heard of someone filing a lawsuit against Cephalon Inc. to try and get reimbursed for the dental damage. Please email me if you have any info.	M	41	4 years		12/12/2006 Email
1	Nerve Damage - 9 years	Lost, broken teeth. Still affecting teeth after switching to Duragesic. Personality changes.	Why the hell would they put sugar in something like this? I set up equipment at Pharmaceutical Trade Shows and have talked to the reps from Cephalon. They have two more formulas in the Pipe Line. One is like the instant disolve breathe sheets and the other is suger-free. Since switching to Duragesic, I'm doing better than ever. Between the patch and Vicoprofen, I can manage my pain with less problems. Everyone is different, so I won't pass judgement on some of the other comments seen here. I would suggest that people still taking Actiq wait until they are off the medication before giving an opinion. You don't realize how much the drug changes your personality until you are off of it. After 9 years of managing my pain and handicap, I can offer a pearl of wisdom. Accept your pain and your life the way it is now. You'll never get anywhere hoping to return to your former life. For most of us, there is no cure. Also, stop thinking that the drugs will take away all the pain, or	M	45	14 months		12/12/2006
5	chronic pain and Fibromyalgia	None thank God this is the best pain medicine that I take. I also have a infusion pump.	I take 800mg, for pain that comes out of no where.	F	53	3 years		11/12/2006 Email
5	chronic pain and Fibromyalgia	None thank God this is the best pain medicine that I take. I also have a infusion pump.	I take 800mg, for pain that comes out of no where.	F	53	3 years		11/12/2006 Email
1	pain in back	I had one side effect that will effect my life for ever,I lost 23 of my teeth.I don't smile ,I don't laugh,I don't go outside as I did before.People that you deal with every day,bank teller at the gas station,at the grocery store which every knows me ,well this is a small town ,so as you walk out your door, for a day of shopping the first thing i do "I put my head down"I look so ugly with no teeth,I did not deserve this torcher i go through every day of my life..I ask PLEASE PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS DRUG!!!!!!!!!!! MRS.BRILLA		F	30	3 years		11/5/2006 Email
5	Chronic low back leg and nerve pain	Occaisonal constipation which is manageable.	I have had great results with this medication. I have been in pain from a back injury/surgery for almost 18 years. In reading the comments I noticed that the word addiction and addictive was used very frequently. I believe there is a major misunderstanding of this word. Within the chronic pain community as well as within the general public. Addiction is an aberrent psychological condition where one beleives they must have this drug and would do anything to obtain the drug. Dependency is when a persons body becomes dependent upon the drug and one will suffer physical withgraw sysmptoms should the drug be stopped abruptly. I am dependent on actiq just as I have been dependent on the morphine, oxycodin, and methodone that I have taken to control my pain. Remove the pain and I do not need these drugs. If you are addicted the pain is of no consequence. You require the drug to satisfy your addiction, not to control your pain. Far too many people are labled with the word addict when the real	M	43	3 years		11/3/2006
5	3 lev spine fusion gone bad	constipation, some sexual diffs imediatly after use, OK within a half'n hour or so.	have read alot of bad stuff about Actiq here, but its been a godsend for me. Effect only lasts about a half hr for me, but I have an unusual tollerence for things. I wouldnt be much of a father if I didnt have my lollys to give me relief enough to spend some time with my kids. Bottom line, if you hurt bad enough you will take it. BTW, 4yrs now no cavities, and I chew tobacco too.	M	39	4 years		10/29/2006
1	Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)	Sure took away the pain but was very groggy in the betinning. I was started at the highest dose (1600mcg) at 12 pops per day. I've weened myself down to 6, 600mcg and 6 800mcgs but now my bod is saying 'WE'RE NOT GOING ANY LOWER' so I'm looking for REHAB. I've never searched out any other med unless I was in pain (including oxycontin) but this med I watch the clock and pray for the time to pass so I can take another. It's horrible!!!	TRYING TO GET OFF THIS HORRIBLE MEDICINE IS A HELL LIKE NO OTHER. NO ONE, UNLESS THEY ARE LITERALLY DYING, SHOULD TAKE THIS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE MED. I'VE FOUND A PLACE IN FL FOR $600/DAY SEEMS TO BE MY BEST OPTION. AGAIN, NEVER EVER EVEN CONSIDER THIS MED. YOU'LL BE ADDICTED BY THE END OF YOUR FIRST BOX.	F	42	2 years		10/4/2006 Email
5	Narrowing spinal canal	Used 1600 Micrograms as a means to control breakthrough pain. ACTIQ was the ONLY drug fast and powerful enough for the control of the breakthrough pain. My insurance company has refused to pay for it anymore, and I live in Hell!	I have a hard problem understanding the "sugar" issue, and the teeth. ACTIQ uses a substitute sweetener that is approved by the Dental Association.	M	58	6 days		9/3/2006 Email
4	Failed Back Surg x5	On 260mg day MS Contin, 8-1600mcg Actiq for 3 years, controlled pain,but had twisted intestine, heart attack w/blockage which I couldnt detect due to Actiq,had 3 teeth removed, 4 crowns collapse, and need another 3 root canals. Used Phos-flor rinse 2x day and brushed 3-4 times day to no avail....Could not feel any dental pain until it was too late...dmicohen@gmail.com	As the FDA states, probably should only be used in tertiary states of pallative care of cancer.... I was pleased with the level of pain relief and the versatility of the drug, but I'm now looking at at least a 5K dental bill dmicohen@gmail.com	M	53	3 years		8/17/2006 Email
1	Chronic Pain - (non-Cancer)	SEVERE TOOTH DEDCAY..... Many gone - remainder MUST be pulled. Years of taking care of my teeth GONE! Caused CHEMICAL DEPRESSION! Weight gain! G.I. Problems. Urinary retention! Sure, took care of the pain, but at too high a cost. I was on an ever increasing dose of this drug (and other opioides)for over five years.	I am working with a non-profit orq. to take this medicine OUT of pain management! Too easily abused. To detrimental to G.I tract and Teeth! By the time you notice you have a dental problem it is too late to correct! Already had 22 teeth extracted and the remainder of dental work must be surgically removed. Also WAS on Oxycontin, morphone (switched between two types), Skelaxin, Valium, Neurontin, and many many more! Went to Paihn ReHab.... NOT pain Management.... HUGE DIFFERNCE IN MY LIFE NOW THAT I AM OFF THESE MEDS.... However, NONE affected my body as BADLY as ACTIQ! This drug should ONLY be used in a HOSPICE Environment... NOT... repeat NOT...in pain management for those with Chronic Pain.	M	48	6 years		7/21/2006
5	migraine	euphoric high that led to minimum 12 hours of peace,relaxation, and PAIN RELIEF!! A little constipation too...	For others who take this for migraine I cannot imagine you taking so many dosages!! I have suffered with chronic, intractable migraines for 3 years. I use 2 Norco 10/325 2-3x a week, and am "allowed" by my neuro ONE 800mcg Actiq per month...MAX!!! But I get six at one time. It is my "when all hell breaks loose med" and basically in place of a trip to the ER. Honestly that's all the pain meds I take, the rest of the time I tough it out and pray that the Relpax works and my kids are a little quiet that day. I know chronic migriane pain, it is hell and sometimes you wish you were dead, but I really think there are some stories of Actiq abuse here which have led to all the teeth falling out problems. I just had a dental visit, with x-rays, no problem at all. Do I wish I could take it more?? Absolutely!! But do I want to end up in rehad with a mouth like a crack whore?? Hell no!! Bottom line is I really believe there is something in everyone, whether it's psychol	F	39	2 years		7/17/2006 Email
1	PAIN	LOST TEETH. No caries on tooth surfaces damage below gum line. Undetectable until it is too late to save teeth. Took exceptional care of teeth throughout life and while taking ACTIQ. Since teeth are gone cannot eat a diet rich in nutrients and fiber causing elevated cholesterol,bp ect. Rapidly exacerbating heart problems.	DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE. IT WILL KILL YOU.	F	61	2 years		7/10/2006
1	PAIN	LOST TEETH. No caries on tooth surfaces damage below gum line. Undetectable until it is too late to save teeth. Took exceptional care of teeth throughout life and while taking ACTIQ. Since teeth are gone cannot eat a diet rich in nutrients and fiber causing elevated cholesterol,bp ect. Rapidly exacerbating heart problems.	DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE. IT WILL KILL YOU.	F	61	2 years		7/10/2006
1	Chronic headaches from brain tumor	Hi, I have been on actiq between 5 to 6 years now. And yes, I have had teeth problems. In fact, I have lost every tooth in my mouth. It stunned my dentist when he saw what the actiq was doing to my teeth. Before the actiq, I had really good teeth, no cavities, just a couple crowns due to age. I have had many bad side effects from the actiq.	I am taking 1200mcg 8 times a day. My doctor will NOT go any higher. I have had a brain tumor discovered in Aug. 1996. Right now I have been on just about every type of pain killer with no effect. I have been on the max legal dose of morphine that hospitals can give walk-ins. It was like putting water in my veins. I have been through most of the neurologists in a major hospital to try to find something that would give me any relief. Nothing. I was sent to the best pain management center in my area of where I live. In the end, my doctor just threw his arms up and said he had nothing more he could do for me. Finally, a major cancer institute was built in a drivable distance. I was lucky and got to see a doctor in the Pain and Palliative Care unit. She has tried everything (including actiq) with just a little relief from the actiq. And I am still on the 8 a day, 1200mcg actiq. I have had many side effects including seizures caused by the pain. I am fatigued on a scale of 1 to	M	50	6 years		6/16/2006 Email
4	8 bldgng discs-rheumatoid arthr- fi	excited to find this site. on 150 duragesic and was on roxicet 30mg every 4-6 and valium 10 mg. Now on 800 Actiq 3xs a day. works great for 4-6 hours but 8 is tooo long. been on 2 1/2 mos none of these teeth probs. Scared of going off though, i am sure at this price they wont let me on forever..... no detox on insurance. How can they just stop dont they at least have to approve a titrate down??	Neuro surg wants to do anterior posterior fusion and decompression, but denied 3 times by ins. I guess they would rather spend 4 thous on meds. Didnt know there were higher doses, now have torn miniscus, cant sit down or stand up. Ive mentioned the 4-6 hour thing 2 Doc but he hasnt upd dosage?? Any one depressed at the thought of a lifetime of the unbareable pain that family is sick of hearing about??? Bad car acc 20 yrs ago, had breast reduc and bilateral carp tunnel b4 they figured out I had gone from 2 buldg discs in 03 to 8 in 06 w/2 protrusions. live in vegas nowbut moving and stressed bout finding a new doc in florida and having to start all over with the pain management thing, trying for social security/disibility. Does medicare cover this?? Hope you all feel beter, I thought it was just me..... you feel very alone.(did I mention 3 kids and a very patient 20 yr marriage)Pls if you email me, put actiq in subject line so I dont delete as junk or unknown :>}	F	43	2 days		6/12/2006 Email
5	L5,S1 Fusion gone bad, nerve damage	Dry mouth, constipation, The Rotting Teeth thing	It's been six yrs since my accident. Pain on scale of 1 to 10, 10 being worst, I run about a 7. I've been from Oxycodone w/OxyIR for break thru, Tried Methadone, thru the whole med gamute. With Actiq I've been able to drop my duragesic from 125 to 50. I use 800mcg pop 1 to 2 @ day now. With constant non-stop pain, no where to hide , nowhere to go from this pain, Actiq allows me to make it thru the day. Teeth can be pulled. Your spine can't. Anyone who doesn't have chronic pain doesn't really understand. If you know the pain will never get any better, and you might have another 30 or 40 yrs to go, loosing your teeth is not such a bad swap. I've been stopped from trying to end it all. I'm not saying this med is right for everyone, but get real. Do you have anything better? Stop your crying and try to deal with it. Your doctors and these companies are just trying to help. Join a pain support group, can't find one, start one. Help others from your experiance. True chronic pain is hard, I k	M	51	6 months		4/24/2006 Email
1	Chronic pain	All of my teeth have rotted. I have found a lawyer, if you have the same problems e-mail me at SuzanLind2@cox.net It was great for pain but now I have a 6 figure dental bill	I have found a Lawyer if anyones teeth are ruined or are a diabetic and had sugar problems e-mail me at: SuzanLind2@cox.net and I will forward them.	F	45	1 years		3/16/2006 Email
4	Spinal Damage, cronic pain, 1 op	Cavities ..Yes, but considering the alternative... I grind my teeth anyway so Im now realizing that I will proabaly loose my teeth as well. All you who are bitching about your teeth must not REALLY be in the kind of pain that I am. ACTIQ only works well as an adjunct fot BT, if you are not already on some other type of Opiod dont bother because this only works well combined with other meds. I do want to mention a side effect that I have not SEEN anywhere.... beware of CROSS-EYED vision. YUp my eyeballs are crossing alot... I cant think of any other reason why, not to mention liver failure. My poop is white and Im falling apart.. but I guess if IM gonna die sooner than later, I might as well be comfortable. THIS IS LEGAL HERION. jmbear3@hotmail.com	Addictive, expensive, can kill you very easily and will eventualy kill you anyhow , cause thes is nothing else like it and works outstading combined with other opiod narcotic meds. Im going to die early becasue of this meds but Id kill myself anyway if I didint have good pain meds so its better than nothing. email me for support for pain or any class action lawsuits jmbear3@hotmail.com	M	32	3 years		2/19/2006 Email
3	breakthru pain from spinal cord inj	quickly renders all other pain killers useless, ie Duragesic patch, Neurontin, Cymbalta, Percoset yada, yada, yada. It's the 'atom bomb' and everything else becomes the equivalent to a metaphorical 'firecracker'. Very constipating (creates blockages), tightens muscles or nerves (not sure but too much hurts) MOST OF ALL: --It becomes your only relief from neurogenic pain. --It is addictive --It is expensive --There is no substitute. --I read that CalMed has recently excluded it from prescription coverage. --It eliminates need for any other pain killer (breakthru becomes only pain you pay attention to) --It's real bad for your teeth. IT WAS A DESIGNER DRUG FOR TERMINALLY ILL CANCER PATIENTS. FOR THOSE UNFORTUNATE PATIENTS, THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS BECOME MOOT RELATIVE TO THEIR MAIN STRUGGLES. IF ACTIQ CAN GIVE THEM SOME PAIN RELIEF IN THEIR FINAL DAYS, THEN IT SERVED ITS INTENT.	IF YOU ARE SCI AND TRYING TO SURVIVE, ACTIQ BECOMES YOUR CRUTCH. I HOLD MY PHYSIATRIST RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ADDICTION. ANYTHING FOR BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.	M	46	3.5 years		2/18/2006 Email
5	Severe abdominal pain	Absolutely none	I have been using 5 1200 mcg a day for two years and my pain has been well controlled. Had to use it as my main pain med because all of the others I tried (methadone, oxycontin, etc) gave me severe side effects due to the amount of other medications I was taking for other problems. Now my pain doctor is getting out of the business because he can't take the political pressure and no other doctor in southwest Michigan will prescribe it. They won't give their real reason for not prescribing; they are trying to say they're afraid someone will break into your house and steal it or a child may get it but can't they get the other drugs prescribed too? Totally assinine coming from medical professionals. Let's just be honest. So now I have to use drugs that are not as effective and will probably end up back on my couch with a heating pad and of no use to anyone, not my husband, daughter or anyone else, most of all to myself. I'm sorry about other people and their teeth, but I would trad	F	49	2 years		1/2/2006 Email
1	For Sickle Cell Disease	Damages your teeth		M	31	2 years		12/17/2005
1	Chronic Pain	The drug was very helpful for pian, BUT IT RUINED ALL MY TEETH AT THAT TIMR THERE WERE NO DENTAL WARNINGS AND I HAVE LOAT MORE THAN HALF MY TEETH. THE TOTAL BILL IS GOING TO APPROACCH 6 FIGURES.	AVOIDI ACTIQ, YOUR TEETH AREN'T WORTH IT. ANYONE KNOW OF A GPPD LAWYER Suzanlind2@cox.net	F	45	12 days		12/7/2005 Email
5	7 Sinus and facial bone surgeries	BAD tooth decay. Sleepless nights. Bad night sweats. very quick pain relief.	I will sue if and when I find a way. I feel as the others, I WILL NOT give up my teeth without a fight. I had perfect teeth 4 years ago and I DID brush 3 times a day. It makes your mouth look like a crack users mouth. I was told today by my dentist I will lose 10 teeth. They are in such bad shape, they will not even take a filling. Is it me or are these teeth 90 - 95% on the upper and lower SIDES??? That is where the instructions say place the pop. Please email me if you want to try for class action. Remember it takes a small few to start, then everyone else joins up. But the few to start have a larger share for causing and starting the suit. Stadol lost several million dollar law suit and it is still selling like hot cakes.	M	44	3.5 years		10/26/2005 Email
5	Chronic LBP	Hot flashes. Could be from Norco, but onset of flashes noticed after starting Actiq.	I have been using Norco 325/10 x 3 daily for years to manage chronic lower back pain. Even at that level this amounts to too much Tylenol, as I am HCV positive. My blood levels are fine, and have been since contracting Hepatitus C in the early 80s. I developed stasis dermititus as a side effect of all this hydrocodone in my system. It's not serious, but I wanted to remove the Tylenol component. With pain meds all of my pain is break through, my pain is only chronic in the sense that it happens about three times a day, every day, especially if I am active. W/o pain meds I am in chronic pain 24 hours a day. So, I started up with Actiq 200, and now I only need one Norco a day and two Actiq to live pain free. As far as I'm concerned, this drug is a miracle, because there is no	M	51			8/25/2005
4	FBSS & RSD (nerve damage spine)	No real side effects other than begin problem w/teeth but noticed a high dosage antibiotic reduces syptoms...	I live with the worst imaginable pain the body and mind can endure. This is the only medicine that gives me real releif without making me loopy or tired. Problem is the body seems to become use to it quickly. I'm maxed out at 1600 mcg x 10 per day. Not sure where to go from here. Other drawbacks are the teeth issue but like I said I found if I took a HIGH dose antibiotic they got better but sensitivity came back after I stopped,I believe we are getting a gum diease which can be treated (try the antibiotic w/oral rinse Gly-oxide)and you have to COMPLETELY get rid of the diease or it comes back and/or gets worse. This concerns me greatly, I was mortified to read people getting dentures because of it. I talk to manufactor and they lead me to believe they never heard of the teeth problem before?? Because I have no dental insurance I wanted them to pay for dental bills, we should think about case action to get them to pay for bills, or simply back them in a corner to force them to hire the best dentist to figure out exactly what is doing this and how to prevent and repair damage done. I don't believe its just the sugar. I'll be damned if I'm loosing my teeth without a fight. Also, although I am struggling with the public asspect (even with those close to me) of being a chronic pain sufferer therefore needing a narcotic on a regular basis and the judgement of those who don't understand leaving me ashamed and guility with comments like	F	39	2 years		7/16/2005 Email
1	migraines	the medication was short lived in my body and tolerance builds very quickly by the time i stopped using this i was up (8) 1600 MCG POPS A DAY	IF I CAN JUST STOP ONE PERSON FROM TAKING THIS MEDICINE I'LL FEEL BETTER ABOUT MY SUFFERING I'M44 YEARS OLD AND I'VE HAD 6 TEETH PULLED THIS YEAR MY DENTIST TELLS ME THERE IS NO WAY TO SAVE MY TEETH AND I NEED TO HAVE THEM ALL PULLED AND GET DENTURES I BRUSHED AFTER EVERY POP AND USED LISTERINE. ALSO I FEEL I HAVE TO MENTION THE CONSTIPATION AND HAVING TO BE PUT IN THE HOSPITAL IT WAS SO BAD. I ALSO HAD TO GO THROUGH REHAB TO GET OFF THIS AWFUL MEDICINE MY MIGRAINES HAVE MADE MY LIFE HELL BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO HOW ACTIQ SCREWED ME	F	44	3 days		7/8/2005
5	Myofascia Chronic Pain	None.	I LOVE this drug for breakthorugh severe pain. I am on a durgesic patch, currently getting trigger point injections, I just lowered the patch dosage to 50 mg from 75 mg. I use a 400mg lollipop and it usually lasts for hours. I am spending a small fortune because Blue Cross Blue Shield will not touch it, even though it is the same drug that is in the stupid patch. Jansen has assitance in fighting/pursuing coverage w insurance. I save this drug for the emergency	F	43	13 weeks		6/14/2005
5	Myofascia Chronic Pain	None.	I LOVE this drug for breakthorugh severe pain. I am on a durgesic patch, currently getting trigger point injections, I just lowered the patch dosage to 50 mg from 75 mg. I use a 400mg lollipop and it usually lasts for hours. I am spending a small fortune because Blue Cross Blue Shield will not touch it, even though it is the same drug that is in the stupid patch. Jansen has assitance in fighting/pursuing coverage w insurance. I save this drug for the emergency	F	43	13 weeks		6/14/2005
3	failed back surgery	WARNING : THIS MED WILL DESTROY YOUR TEETH !, if taken long enough!	please i beg of you, if you need a long term med choose something else , i have been on actiq for about 3-4 yrs, IT HAS DESTROYED ALMOST ALL OF MY TEETH and I Brush and USE listerine after ea pop,- DO NOT use this MED , it should only be used by people about to DIE! where the issue of tooth decay is not a factor, Cephalon's sales people are selling a BS story about this crap to the Dr's.	M	43	4 years		5/2/2005 Email
4	severe joint pain	dry mouth, itchiness	This has allowed me to have a near normal life again when breakthrough pain occurs with my duragesic. It shuts down pain faster even thatn some injected medications.	F	44	4.5 years		2/16/2005 Email
4	back pain (BT med)	Tolerance build-up comes fast. Dizziness/lightheadedness upon using it the 1st time. After that no problem. Lower doses ineffective after 6 months or so. New formulation can cause raw feeling inside cheek.	This is the best BT (break-thru) med that I have used to date. It will nearly stop the pain within 10 min or at least make it more tolerable. EXTREMELY expensive. Mfg needs to make a sugar-free version to reduce tooth problems and/or increased glucose levels. Short acting, but better than any oral med available that can work this fast. Wished the relief would last longer though. But that is better than nothing.	F	40	2 years		1/23/2005
4	central pain (off label)		My wife's insurance plan now refuses to cover this drug for off label uses - it's very expensive.	M	57	3 years		1/17/2005
1	chronic pain-traumatic brain injury	Actiq was a terrible drug choice- AVOID AT ALL COSTS... DESTROYS your teeth... QUICKLY!		F	39	3 years		11/11/2004
5	Surgery on hand.	None. < don't remember. It was one of the narcotics the surgens/doctors used on me with several other drugs along with ketamine and nitrous oxide to put me under.	Worked, but when I came to my hand was in pain so I needed a shot of a ligher narcotic (demerol) and then when I was out of the P.O. room and was ready to walk out and leave I was in pain again so i was given a 10mg dose of vicoden before i left. She said something about me having a high tolerance, but thats just how my body workes I guess because she said most people are at least slightly naseaus after surgery and don't need extra pain killers right away. anyway, I got a ride home from my mother and I had the munchies so we went to get coffee at dunken donuts and I ate a dozzen soft tacos toco bell after because I remeber the nurse saying before I left surgery that eating greasy food would keep the drugs in my system longer. anyway, after that I took four vicodens watched some T.V. then went to sleep early. All in all what ever did what worked the day I had surgery.	M	23	1 days		11/5/2004 Email
5	migraines	dizzy, lightheaded. a little sleepy	worked great on migraine when traditional triptans failed and other narcotics couldn't keep down because of vomitting. It has saved me several trips to the emergency room.	F	38	3 months		10/11/2004
3	Cronic pain	Constipation,DENTAL CARRIES!!!!!	THE MEDICINE WORKED WELL FOR BREAKTHROUGH PAIN AND DID NOT INTERFERE WITH SLEEP PATTERNS, BUT BEWARE OF CAVATIES, BRUSH AFTER EACH USE	F	43	1 years		2/5/2004
3	central pain syndrome	Not many side effects, the most bothersome is very bad constipation. i also have had a colostomy about 3 years ago and due to the constipation it pushes the wafer off or comes off	another issue with this med is i am having trouble with my pharmacy getting it. i am currently getting it at Walgreens pharmacy in middletown, rhode island. it is prescribed by my doc at saint anne's pain management center in fall river, mass. before this med i was on oxyContin and oxycodone and before that on morphine sulfate. out of them all, i think the actiq is the most effective. i am currently on 8 a day of the 800mcg pops	F	52	3 months		12/5/2003 Email
4	Breakthrough pain 1200mcg 3Xdaily	No side effects to speak of. Initially a mild sensation of dizziness and dry mouth. Side effects didn't last long and the medication worked great as a backup for the Methadone 40mg 4Xdaily. I have chronic pain resulting from multiple fractures of the cervical spine and subsequent surgeries (5). I would recommend it for breakthrough type pain.		M	46	7 months		6/13/2003

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Average rating for drug: 3.5. This page is printer-friendly; use landscape print with background color turned on.

Key to ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine.

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