buey
Old Hand
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 453
Loc: USA
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The major difference is it is time released. Hycodan to me would be the equivalent to a 1/2 a norco (hydrocodone bitartrate)without the apap and an antihistimine. Tussionex has 10mg per 5 ml of hydrocodone polistirex and the antihistimine.
I'm not sure what the difference is between the bitartrate or polistirex or hydrochloride. I am guessing that because the Tussionex has the polistirex that is what makes it time released? Don't know. I am woefully ignorant in chemistry.
All I know is how both medications worked for me. The Hycodan DID work but it wore off too quickly. I was still suffering after a couple of hours and did not take another dose until I was allowed to; after 4 hours. The Tussionex gave me 10-12 hours of sweet relief.
Funny thing is...I had always taken liquid meds by taking swigs off the bottle. I thought I was a good judge of how much 5 ml was. Well when the pharmacist recommended Tussionex, I had no idea what it even was. He just told me to ask my doc for it, along with a Ventolin inhaler. That should give me relief.
I was hacking away waiting in the pharmacy to fill my meds, I paid for the meds, and went to the car and took a swig. Within 20 minutes my cough just stopped but I was as high as a kite. LOL! I mean really just out there. Called the pharmacist I know and asked him what the heck was in that stuff. Told him the condition I was in. He told me NEVER to swig meds like that and to measure from now on using a medication spoon. Told me it was basicallya strong dose of time released hydrocodone in liquid form. Those days I was not tolerant at all. I rarely used hydro...hadn't gotten to the point of trying it for my migraines-still trying all the other non narcotic drugs for them. So you can imagine how buzzed I got. I must have swigged two-three tsp of it because on my next dose, I measured and realized how far off my swigs are. Lesson learned. I don't do that anymore. I also would not recommend anyone doing that.
It does bother me that the OPs are charging a bit more for this med than if you saw your own MD and did not have med insurance, but it's really not THAT bad. I only used it one time in my life and insurance paid for it, so my cost was 10.00. But drugstore.com sells it for 41.00 for a 120 ml bottle. That's 24 doses at 1.70 a dose. One of the OPs sells a 473 ml bottle for 250.00 at 2.63 per dose. But if you had to go see a doc, you'd have to pay for the office visit which around here is 100.00 anyway. So if you didnt have insurance it would all even out.
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Reel_X_4U
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 255
Loc: Queens, New York City
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Well yea, of course if it's brand name and time-released, and both those properties exist in one preparation concurrently, then the drug company can justify the price, since there is no other preparation that is equally in terms of strength and delivery system. So pretty much they have a monopoly and can charge whatever they want, and if you have broncho or lobar pneumonia and grasping for air, of course, the price doesn't matter. Life is precious and priceless. I've never gotten pneumonia, so I don't know what it feels like. But the way you described it. It sounds scary. Hopefully I will never contract it, but if I do, I will definitely tell the doctor to write me a script of tussionex along with a good antibiotic. Thanx for the insight.
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Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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quincy
Board Addict

Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
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Are we done with this thread yet?
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surpri
Journeyman
Reged: 04/15/03
Posts: 59
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Tussionex Pennkinetic ER
liquid
8-10MG/5ML $22.99 $40.98
This is from drugstore.com and you can actually get $10 off that price. The 60ml is the most common one prescribed and thas where I got the $20 price and we don't need to see face to face on the price markups of certain drugs, the percentage of markup is high. As I said in previous post, Norco 10/325 is more expensive than 10/500 and even more expensive than 10/650-all generic of course. Obviously there is more product in the latter of the two (tylenol) and usually more of something costs more. Hydro users are aware of tylenol overdosing and they can safely take several more 10/325 per day than 10/650. It is only my opinion and my opinion is based on research of prices, but after reading about the abuse of Tuss, I could only come to the conclusion there is a reason for its high price. We are entitled to our own opinions and I will respect yours and you can do what you want with mine. IF I could be this is 100 font, I would, I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS DRUG AND SURE IT IS A LIFESAVER FOR CERTAIN ILLNESSES. I give up
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hkristof
Journeyman
Reged: 09/10/02
Posts: 65
Loc: Houston
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just fyi, that $40 price is for 120ml. The ERX price of $195 is for 478ml, approximately 4X the price you listed. To receive this amount from drugstore.com, one would pay $160. in this case, $195 is actually not much of a markup at all.
for the sake of accuracy, there is of course the consult fee and shipping to be added to the erx cost. i don't have the energy to go look up the exact numbers, but it ends up costing almost $300 bucks to get tussionex from them if you choose the most expensive shipping. of course, if one went the traditional route and had this med prescribed the doctors fees would be pretty close to the extra fees added by erx, so still not a bad deal. i am just feeling precise this afternoon.....
Edited by hkristof (09/15/03 11:18 AM)
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kjb595
Newbie
Reged: 10/14/03
Posts: 37
Loc: Michigan
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How well does this stuff work?? I have a bad case of bronchitis?sp and I have tried going without anything due to a codeine allergy that prevents me from being able to take the cough syrup that most docs prescribe. I am just wondering if this is well worth the $$$??
Wishing Pain-Free Days Ahead ,
Kelly
aka: kjb595
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