Apotex Corp Fentanyl Transdermal Patches?

Question

I was told by my pain management doctor that after getting the Mallinckrodt brand Fentanyl patches for about 3 years that it's now discontinued. Does anybody know for sure whether or not Mallinckrodt Fentanyl Transdermal patches are discontinued? He now gave me this new brand of patches by Apotex Corp. same dose, 100 mcg/hr. However, this patches are horrible!

The patch is extremely huge, like a very large band aid sticker, very thin, and about 3 times larger than the Mallinckrodt 100 mcg/hr patch which in contrast is much smaller and I've never had a problem with it.

Now, with this Apotex Corp patch, it's very hard to put it on the skin because its very huge and thin, and folds up with creases all over the place, and worst part is that it tears up the skin in different places especially at the ends and leaves redness and even bleeding.

I read that this company is from Canada. Bottom line is that I only used 1 box of 5, and never again. I got marks and redness and scrape-like bleeding open sores like carpet burns on the skins, and burns like hell. Patches are supposed to relieve the pain, not cause pain!

Does anyone know for sure whether Mallinckrodt patches are really discontinued, or is my doctor somehow deceiving me by pushing this new Apotex Corp product which came out only in January 2013 a few months ago.

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer

Mallenkrodt Is absolutely being made and dispensed at pharmacies as of October 2021. I believe the company has re-organized since the Mallenkrodt brand is now listed as SpecGx. The Mallenkrodt name It&rsquo;s still visible on the boxes even though it says it is being dispensed by SpecGx.

Answer

To answer your question, Mallinckrodt has not discontinued their Fentanyl Transdermal Patches. I am prescribed the 100McG/hr. and I receive 2 boxes of the Mallinckrodt patches each month.
Your physician does not decide which manufacturer you will receive. That’s determined by the pharmacy you fill the prescription at. Different pharmacies have contracts with different drug manufacturers. If you experience unpleasant side effects from Apotex, simply fill the prescription at a pharmacy that carries Mallinckrodt, or the brand of your choice.
Personally I prefer either Mallinckrodt or Alvogen. If Mallinckrodt is not available to you, ask about Alvogen…

Answer

I was on the Mallinckrodt patches for several years. I recently moved and the new pharmacy I chose gave me the Apotex brand. I just finished the first box of 5 and they absolutely DO NOT work as well. The only good thing about them is that they stay on even in a pool. They must have changed somewhat because they do come off easily when it's time to change them. As of this time, which brand are considered the best for control of pain, as this is the whole purpose in the first place?

Answer

To make a long, horrible story as short as possible is the Mallinckrodt brand of the fentanyl patch is still very much available. Unfortunately, in just the last ten days my regular pharmacy was out of the 50mcg Mallinckrodt Fentanyl pain patch... it was on order. I had no choice but to use a "Community Pharmacy" and what they had was the "Apotex" brand. In approximately ten years I have only worn the Mallinckrodt brand with absolutely no problems and on the scale that they love to use..1-10... I had next to zero pain. To put it bluntly no,one should put this Apotex brand any where near their body. All of the reviews and more are very true. This is a very dangerous patch, it has been recalled numerous times along with several lawsuits against what this patch did to them going on as we speak. My regular name brand pharmacist told me that they did no carry or order this patch at all. My skin is being treated with antibiotics for the next seven days...

Expand...

it actually looks as if it has been badly burned and not just in the area of where I place the patch and my doctor is assured they I will probably have scars. I pray that that is not true. Thank God I am now back on my Mallinckrodt patch and I will never so naively try another fentanyl patch. My personal answer to your question is "yes" the Mallincrodt brand is still very much available and "NO" never use the Apotex brand at all. My personal opinion along with thousands of other people who so sadly have chronic 24/7 pain that for me without this fentanyl pain patch I have no idea what I would do... this patch has been a God send to me and my husband and family who have witnessed me in such pain that no words can accurately describe this awful physical, medical and mental condition that one goes through. I pray that I have accurately answered this question and maybe a little more information. This is my personal opinion. God bless and good luck.

Votes: +2

Answer

Currently available fentanyl patches in the US are Mallankropt, Mayne, Apotex, Sandoz, Mylan and the brand Duragesic. The only one that is like the original that is left on the market is Mayne. They are distributed by McKesson and available at Walgreens. You can request Walgreens order for you. They must according to federal law.

Answer

Do not get the Apotex Brand. I filed an FDA report because they patches seemed to be overloaded, made my hurt and matrix was leaking outside the patch area. I contacted FDA on April 17. I opened box 2 expecting something better and they were worse. 3 to 4 mm matrix outside the patch area.
Apotex had me take one back to the pharmacy to send them via DEA form 220.
Furthermore, after the patch was applied, the matrix "balled up" and came out on my arm and shirt. Had to pick off with finger nail and dispose.

Answer

Definitely not discontinued as I've gotten them this month from pharmacy and I've gotten the apotex as well when I changed pharmacies so went back to the small chain pharmacy and they've got supply from mallinckrodt brand and I prefer these as well...

Answer

They aren&rsquo;t discontinued i was just receiving them until today. Now o have this brand. As long as it works that&rsquo;s all I care about lol just put my first one on and I can kind of feel it burning

Answer

Most of these post are older so Im sorry for the late reply. I have been on fentanyl patches, 100 mcg for many years. I have been using Sandoz brand and they worked good for me with less side effects and most of all kept my pain to a tolerable level. Sandoz has now been discontinued and they gave me Apotek 100 mcg. I have tried several of the other brands over the past 17 yrs but none of them have been this bad. There is no coverage with these patches. They itch and burn my skin, I have a horrible headache. I called tge manufacturee who do not and will not stand behind their horrible product. It has creased several times over the past 48 hours. I have never dealt with any pharmacuetical company that just does not care about the quality of their product. I also had to pay cash for these because I had run completely out before I found out that Sandoz quit making their patches and none could be found at our local pharmacies. Has anyone else had any experiences with these patches or this compaby? Thank you

Answer

I totally agree with you!! I do know that the Medicine shopp has your brand. I have been using Sandoz and had no problems. These Apex patches are terrible. I'm on 50 mcg and I started to get withdrawal symptoms after one day of using these patches. They give me a rash, they crease and fold, I also had the adhesive completely melt. Thanks for the NYS laws that I'm having trouble getting replacement patches. Good luck. Pharmacy stop trying to save money at the expense of your customers health.

Answer

Mallinckrodt still makes patches . I know this bc my pharmacist tried telling me he could no longer obtain the Sandoz brand which I have used since 2012. I knew he was full of it but I entertained him... He produced the 3 brands he could obtain, which included the God awful Gel Pouch by ? The Mallinckrodt patches that for ME, are the cheapest/worst of the all the generics and don't keep the medication steady, don't adhere well and are absurdly large beyond 12mcg size patches. Apotex out of Canada belongs in the toilet as well. Nonetheless, to my VISUAL CONFIRMATION 3 MOS AGO Mallinckrodt 25mcg and 50mcg patches are available. If your pharmacist says they aren't, go to the manufacturers site to double check THEN WHEN YOU SEE YOUR PAIN MANAGEMENT DR TELL HIM TO WRITE/ESCRIPT "Mallinckrodt Fentanyl Patches 100mcg One patch q72h 30 day supply dispense 10 patches" Have your doctor FILL IN DAW and add an electronic note to your pharmacy that THIS BRAND IS NECESSARY TO MEET THE PATIENT'S CARE. I'm replying years later but... why not! I was on here because before Sandoz I was using Mylan-Duragesic BRAND NAME until insurance forced me to use Mylan Fentanyl Generic. Very scant differences btw. One day, THAT PHARMACY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T OBTAIN MYLAN & IT WAS D/Cd. On my last PM visit we were discussing upping my dose during the winter bc, well... the cold hurts worse than child birth and my body is rotten with MANY illnesses so being a 6-7/10 normal pain level is a GOOD DAY. I haven't had a good day since mid October. Yadda yadda I remembered the Mylan story. Then I read your question and I feel validated that my idea of being lied to by the former pharmacy on Mylan was accurate. They held the patent for DURAGESIC THEN... WHY WOULD THEY D/C THEIR GENERIC? Pain makes us a little too agreeable I think. Sandoz recently changed it's appearance and I've noted two months of many NEW issues. I know the brand. I've used it nearly 10 years. If it's not sticking right suddenly, If I feel like I'm in early withdraw... something beside package has changed. I called the Sandoz Corp. ONE HOUR LATER WITH SEVERAL UNNEEDED QUESTIONS AND ATTEMPTS TO BREACH MY HIPPA AND HUMAN RIGHTS... I got no where and have no answers if other changes were made. I have since received a LARGE white ENVELOPE WEEKLY ASKING ME TO ANSWER IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS TO MY CALL - THAT DUH - I refused to answer. The envelopes will pile up and be mailed back in a box with a handwritten note lol. Meanwhile, years later I hope you are feeling better. I shall resume my inquiry on Mylan EVER being d/c'd AND if anything about the product has changed from when I used it (other than labeling).

Answer

I have always had Mallinckrodt patch,2 months ago changed to Santoz same complaints to big does not work well at all comes off in shower ect told pharmacy I only wanted Mallinckrodt got a month supply and this month gave me Sandoz again I am very ill and does not work ,If you ask your pharmacy to order maybe they get them? Stay away from Sandoz also

Answer

This is the last known number for Mallincrodt. It is 1-800-325-8888.

Always ask to speak to the pharmacist that knows about the product. Do not speak to general customer service, you either ask for the adverse reaction dept. Or the pharmacist of their company.
Best of luck

Votes: +1

Answer

The meds that you can't find anything on is still available, I am in the South and I have been using The brand Mallinckrodt small patches for about five years.Hope this help.

Answer

I had just the OPPOSITE experience. So I have decided after going through 4 1/2 months of HELL with yours-that it is not the patch- it is getting used to the patch- and my other one took over a year, while I lost 87 lbs, fell all the time, crawled around furniture, Then they changed brands on me and your brand would not stick to my skin, kept me up all night for two nights-and then the 3rd it did not help pain wise. And I was not told. I wish just one druggist went through all that for having a choice to change me without telling me or notification in any way.And now I have my old one back finally-after changing drug stores, which first made me take the same one I did not want-and I am itching like crazy and in pain. SO getting used to a new one again, or about-after that long.
And I stayed up all night two nights ago, but finally slept on the 2nd day.

Apotex Corp Fentanyl Transdermal Patches?

38 Answers

Related topics

Further information

Similar questions

What's the best generic Fentanyl Patch? SANDOZ? MYLAN?

Is Alvogen a good manufacturer of Fentanyl Transdermal Patches?

Fentanyl patches not giving me 72 hours of pain control?

Chronic Pain - Unwaranted, and protested discontinuance of "Fentanyl Transdermal Patches!"?

Fentanyl Transdermal - Will a fentanyl patch go bad if its opened but not used?

Search for questions