ACTIQ Reviews (FENTANYL CITRATE)Average Rating: 3.4 (104 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ACTIQ with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTIQ | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 [email protected] | 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 [email protected] | M | 53 | 3 years | 8/17/2006 | 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 | 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 |