Xtampza ER and Nausea: What Users Say

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Like many others, I was forced off my 20 mg OxyContin ER twice a day by my insurance company that I was on for 10 years with no issues except constipation. My doctor switched me to Xtampza ER, and this medicine sucks! It doesn't control my pain, makes me feel generally unwell, woozy, and nauseous. I even took it with a high-fat, high-calorie 'meal' of peanut butter and crackers, as I heard that helps absorption. I'm sick to death of us pain patients fighting for our rights to medication that works for us! This new abuse-deterrent Xtampza is useless for addicts and useless for chronic pain patients! They design these meds with addicts in mind, not caring if they even do their intended job. I've had chronic pain since I was in my mid-20s due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, and I'm 39 years old now, and I just cannot believe I am forced to live the rest of my life this way. What a waste."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Have severe shoulder pain along with other bone problems and was taking OxyContin 20mg twice a day and seemed to get a lot of relief and able to sleep at night and get through most days without too much suffering. Living in Ohio has forced my doctor to take me off the OxyContin and prescribe the Xtampza 18mg twice daily. What a terrible medicine this turned out to be, constant diarrhea with nausea and almost zero pain relief! I had taken the OxyContin for 19 years and it worked great for my chronic pain. Ohio should be ashamed for this action, some of us take our meds as prescribed and are responsible law-abiding citizens!"

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2020

For Chronic Pain "After taking MS Contin for 5 years, I thought it was losing effectiveness and made the mistake of telling my doctor this. He switched me to this Xtampza ER. Horrible drug. It made me sick to my stomach, headachy, general malaise physically, anxious, and somewhat depressed. It wasn't any more effective than the MS Contin, and the pain relief it gave me wore off in 4 hours. Due to the side effects, I had no life. I didn't feel well enough to do simple things like go to the grocery store, do dishes, etc., which the MS Contin allowed me to do. I was taking it for 2 weeks, and the symptoms were getting worse, not better. I just wanted my old medicine back, and it was a big struggle to get it back. I got the sense from my doctor that this Xtampza ER was the king of pain medication. For me, it was far from that."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Dose: 27 mg, 2X per day, Hit-or-miss, minimal pain control, Side effects include IBS issues, dizziness, nausea, irritability, crying, elevated heart rate, hot flashes & insomnia. For the first time in 10 years, my pain is NOT managed. Government & big business insurance companies are forcing patients to use an ineffective medication. The definition of 'prejudice' & 'discrimination.' All CHRONIC pain patients complain to the US government, insurance companies & any legislators playing the role of 'doctor.' Statements such as 'all opioid patients/pain patients are abusing medication & one step away from heroin addiction,' is SLANDEROUS & DISCRIMINATORY! Chronic pain patients aren't 'addicted,' they're 'dependent' on the medicine for ADL. Contact your state chronic pain advocacy group and let's start taking back control of our lives!"

• Evi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I was put on Xtampza about a year ago due to current pain meds not working as well and amount of acetaminophen I was taking. This was the 7th medication the doctor wanted, the other 6 were denied by insurance, unfortunately. I cannot cook when I first get up and am nauseous for several hours but have to force fatty food down and force it to stay down, sometimes gagging, just to take this medication that barely works. My Vicodin works better but the PA won't up the amount of those and cancel the Xtampza, she swears by it. I wish she was forced to try it for 1-2 days, see how worthless it is. That's the only way it won't be prescribed by that person again. It just doesn't work."

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Stay away from this drug! I was prescribed 18 mg of Xtampza ER twice a day by my pain management doctor in hopes of it replacing a drug that my prescription insurance would no longer cover. The company that developed this drug did so during the opioid crisis to deter addicts from getting high. You can ingest this drug. It says so right on the instructions! Xtampza ER is hydrocodone/Percocet based and only lasts 3 to 4 hours at the most. It also destroys the stomach, causing severe nausea and vomiting. Plus, it is super expensive! Save your money! Trust me! One of the worst opioids out there for chronic pain patients!"

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2019

For Chronic Pain "In a word...awful. I've been on 2x18mg Xtampza ER for over a month now, after my sadistic insurance co refused to cover OxyContin, which I've been taking 2x20mg since 07 for severe pelvic floor pain. While Xtampza is designed to avert abuse, it most definitely is not designed for any credible chronic pain relief. First and foremost, it's doing very little for my pain. It takes FOREVER, like 2+ hours(!), to work, and lasts 3-4 hours, at best. I'm being generous saying it 'works', since it barely takes the edge off my pain. I still have to take breakthrough meds, even while this junk is supposed to be in full effect. I regularly experience strong side effects described by other reviews, including headaches, nausea, sleeplessness, and high anxiety. It's amusing to hear the claims of this med being 'exactly the same' as OxyContin - the one thing that actually worked."

• Rel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2018

For Pain "Xtampza gave me my dignity back. I was bedridden for over four years straight, and after literally trying every pain medication in existence (including Fentanyl, a spinal nerve stimulator, and a pain pump), I am now able to function at a much higher level. This medication is ideal for those who metabolize medications rapidly, which can be discovered by taking a P-450 blood test. Because of the abuse deterrent capsule, the beads of medication break down slowly. In my experience, this keeps side effects like nausea down. It lasts longer than any ER medication I have tried and is more stable in its release. I am losing weight gained previously. The capsule can be sprinkled on applesauce, but it needs to have a fat source to break down properly. A cracker or cookie easily solves this, which is a good practice to have in place with any medication to protect the stomach lining. I am prescribed a breakthrough medication besides Xtampza. I am thankful beyond words that this has worked for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Moved and had to change doctor. Was given Xtampza twice daily. I have found this medication horrible. It does not work on a consistent level, any relief that it gives quickly fades. Twelve-hour relief is a joke, maybe six to seven hours. Blood pressure has gone up, needed to increase my atenolol 25 mg. Nausea soon becomes a constant companion, with headaches to add to the original chronic pain. This has been my experience, I also see many others have issues with this medication."

• Inj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

For Chronic Pain "This product should not even be on the pain medication list for doctors. Nothing but nausea, headache, anxiety, and added pain!!! Don’t waste your money because most insurance doesn’t cover it!!! GARBAGE!!!"

• Dal...
• November 9, 2017

For Chronic Pain "My last post was taken down. Been on this for a few months. Honestly, we have to stop changing medicine that works, just because of the small percentage that abuse these drugs. Side effects: dizzy, nausea, severe headaches, which I never had before. I feel numb to the world, tired, and still in pain. Also found out that long-term effects of this drug have still not been studied, and there is a euphoric blocker in these that stops you from experiencing well-being. I get it, the well-being is what addicts crave, but for people in chronic pain, well-being is a good pain reliever, as moods affect our pain. The medication is supposed to last 12 hours, they don't, they last about 5-6 hours. It also only takes the edge off the pain."

• Dou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Dr. changed my Percocet to Xtampza ER after I refused non-effective injections. My dose I'm taking is 18 mg times a day. I have had severe migraines, dizziness, nausea, sharp pains in my side, itching real bad. Worst medication ever. Even took Benadryl and Allegra, doesn't help. Changed to 1 time a day, still the same. Dr. called in lower dosage but ignores the side effects."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I suffer from severe, chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain. This is one of the worst medications I've ever taken. The nausea and dizziness are awful. If that were the only negative side effect, I think I could live with it, though. What I found extremely disturbing was the psychological effects. After only two doses, I had terrifying nightmares that were difficult to awaken from. I, uncharacteristically, felt like Alice in Wonderland in an extremely unpleasant manner while I was awake. I can't believe this medication is on the market. Not to mention, it did absolutely nothing to help with pain."

• chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Did not notice any relief in pain. I did develop welts on my face, hot eyeballs, itching like crazy, nauseated most of the time. I also felt as though I constantly had the flu. I would like to go back on Norco 10/325 x 6/day or oxycodone 15 mg / 6 day. Oh - severe constipation. Really disappointed!!"

• Pat...
• November 2, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Been on this for months, just don't understand why I'm having side effects, as my doctor says everything is the same, just time release. The first 4 weeks, headaches so severe I couldn't put in a full day. I'm a secretary, so on the computer screen all day. This is what gave me the headaches I believe, along with meds. I also got very nauseous, dizzy, and extremely moody. I put on 20 pounds once I was told to eat a fatty diet with this meal, as I guess the fats help break down the medicine, doctor never told me this, but helped a lot with being sick all the time. Doctor finally listened, as I was tired of being in a cloud all day. Also, anxiety and sleeplessness... This medicine may work for some, just not me."

• Shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2022

For Chronic Pain "Was taking Percocet 10/325 for a very long while. It helped, but only for 4 hours, so I had bad ups and downs. So, the doctor put me on this rubbish. I've been taking it for a week now. This week has been hell. No relief at all. It's like taking nothing except for side effects. God-awful nausea. Worse back pain. I just want my Percocet back. This medication is worthless."

• Lef...
• April 20, 2021

For Pain "I’ve been on it a week. First off, I got nauseated, then realized I probably needed to eat with it. I’m not a breakfast eater, so this is going to be an issue. But I did start eating a few saltines with it. I’m on 18 mg. They do nothing for the pain by themselves. If I take them with my breakthrough med, they do seem to help a little bit more. But they do take an hour and a half to two hours to notice any pain relief, then they only work for like four hours after that. So no way they can be considered long-acting. Also, they make me sleepy constantly, so now I have absolutely no energy to get up and clean the house. So to sum up, they are pretty worthless."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2025

For Chronic Pain "A placebo could be more effective than this medication! Currently, there is a national shortage of MS-ER, causing my pain specialist to prescribe this useless medication. 5 years ago, the same doctor prescribed Xtampza ER, and I couldn’t function due to the excruciating pain 24/7! He actually admitted aloud that it was a huge mistake, so why I have been prescribed this yet again defies all logic and proper medical treatment. 18 mg, twice daily. An OTC Tylenol is more effective; in other words, it does not do anything to relieve ANY pain, but it certainly caused headaches, nausea, vivid nightmares, and extreme fatigue! Why is this medication still on the market? Very expensive, worthless for pain relief! I am currently unable to get out of bed, and my pain level is off the charts…"

• Rst...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Chronic pain from bone spurs in my neck and spinal degradation in my lower back. I have been on pain meds for ten years. I have tried everything except fentanyl. Hydrocodone worked best for me overall with no side effects like nausea or constipation. But my liver enzymes went above normal, and the doctor thinks it is caused by the Tylenol that is combined in the hydrocodone. I changed to morphine, which I had to stop because of the terrible nausea that got worse and worse after two weeks. She then put me on Xtampza. I do not like to wait over an hour for it to work. When it does kick in, it works okay, but it lasts only six hours most days...7 at the most. Pain relief is okay, but hydrocodone worked better for me even though Xtampza is supposed to be 1.5 times stronger. Xtampza does cause me slight nausea, but it also elevates my mood. I am going to try and talk to my pain doc to give me regular oxy. I don't know why she is reluctant to do so. Hydrocodone works better than Xtampza for pain in my case."

• Bog...
• December 5, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Causing horrible headaches and nausea."