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.) |
More on ACTIQ: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACTIQ | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 @[email protected] 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |