If you have a question, please direct all inquiries to: aferreri@scripnet.com

Pharmacist Q & A

John F. Aforismo B.Sc. Pharm., R.Ph.Clinical Pharmacist

Question: With generic OxyContin® now no longer available from generic manufacturers and as supply in the marketplace (wholesaler and pharmacies) diminishes, What steps can be taken to help minimize the financial impact that OxyContin® presents?

Answer: As of February 1, 2008 the last of the generic manufactures (Teva Pharmaceuticals) have ceased sales and distribution of their generic version of OxyContin® (oxycodone controlled-release) tablets. This means that whatever product is in the marketplace, both at the wholesaler and pharmacy level is all that remains. Once this supply is exhausted, the generic product will be gone until the expiration of OxyContin’s® patent in April of 2013. To minimize the financial impact of Oxycontin®, physicians, claims adjusters, case managers and payors will need to determine, when is it clinically appropriate to use OxyContin®? It is our recommendation that no long-acting (controlled released) narcotic pain reliever be prescribed as a first line agent, roughly the first 30 days after an injury. It is recommended that it would be best to treat with short acting narcotic pain relievers (i.e. Percocet®, Roxicodone®, Tylenol with Codeine®, etc) or Anti-Inflammatory Agents (such as Ibuprofen, Voltaren®, etc) to allow for a proper assessment of the Injured Workers’ condition. Once an initial assessment has been performed, patient response to the short acting medications has been determined (side effects and positive outcomes), then and only then, will the administration of OxyContin® and other long-acting narcotic pain reliever be considered an appropriate choice of therapy. By conducting this baseline assessment, the use of costly powerful long-acting narcotics may be averted.

February 2008 JFA ScripNet Clinical Pharmacist