Avinza

Avinza is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain that is expected to persist for an extended period of time.

Avinza belongs to a group of drugs called opioid narcotics. These work by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain.

Avinza comes in extended release capsules and are usually taken once a day. 

Swallow Avinza capsules whole. Do not chew, crush, or dissolve capsules. 

Common side effects of Avinza include constipation, nausea, itchiness, and sleepiness. Do not drink alcohol or any foods or medications containing alcohol while taking Avinza as alcohol increases the risk that you will experience breathing problems or other serious, life-threatening side effects.

Avinza is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. Avinza is used for pain that is expected to persist for an extended period of time.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Take Avinza exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. 

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the type and severity of the pain you have
• other medical conditions you have
• how you respond to this medication
• if you have already started taking opioids
• what pain medications you were taking

Your doctor will base your dose on what dose of opioids you have been taking. Your dose will be adjusted as needed.

WARNING:

AVINZA capsules are a modified-release formulation of morphine sulfate indicated for once daily administration for the relief of moderate to severe pain requiring continuous, around-the-clock opioid therapy for an extended period of time. AVINZA CAPSULES ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE OR THE CONTENTS OF THE CAPSULES SPRINKLED ON APPLESAUCE. THE CAPSULE BEADS ARE NOT TO BE CHEWED, CRUSHED, OR DISSOLVED DUE TO THE RISK OF RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF AVINZA. PATIENTS MUST NOT CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WHILE ON AVINZA THERAPY. ADDITIONALLY, PATIENTS MUST NOT USE PRESCRIPTION OR NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS CONTAINING ALCOHOL WHILE ON AVINZA THERAPY. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING AVINZA MAY RESULT IN THE RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF AVINZA.

Avinza may be habit-forming. Take this medication as prescribed. Do not take more of it, or take it more often than as directed by your doctor. There is a greater risk that you will overuse Avinza if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness, or if you have abused alcohol, used street drugs, or overused prescription medications.

Do not allow anyone else to take your medication. Keep this medication out of the reach of children and in a safe place so that no one else can take it as Avinza may harm or cause death to other people who take your medication, especially children. 

Avinza may cause slowed or stopped breathing, especially when you begin your treatment and any time your dose is increased. Tell your doctor if you have slowed breathing and if you have or have ever had lung disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema that cause difficulty breathing), or other breathing problems. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment: slowed breathing, long pauses between breaths, or shortness of breath.

Taking certain other medications during your treatment with Avinza may increase the risk that you will experience breathing problems or other serious, life-threatening side effects.

Important information about Avinza:

• Get emergency help right away if you take too much Avinza (overdose). Avinza overdose can cause life threatening breathing problems that can lead to death.
• Never give anyone else your Avinza. They could die from taking it. Store Avinza away from children and in a safe place to prevent stealing or abuse.
• Selling or giving away Avinza is against the law. Avinza is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence.

Do not take Avinza if you have:

• severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems.
• a bowel blockage or have narrowing of the stomach or intestines.

While taking Avinza do not:

• Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Avinza affects you. Avinza can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded.
• Drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol.

Avinza may cause serious side effects. See "Avinza Drug Precautions".

Common side effects of Avinza include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• dry mouth
• sweating
• weakness
• headache
• agitation
• nervousness
• mood changes
• confusion
• small pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes
• flu symptoms
• difficulty urinating or pain when urinating

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms and they are severe.

Get emergency medical help if you have:

• trouble breathing
• shortness of breath
• fast heartbeat
• chest pain
• swelling of your face
• tongue or throat
• extreme drowsiness, or you are feeling faint

These are not all the possible side effects of Avinza. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. 

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil)
• antihistamines (found in cold and allergy medications)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal)
• buprenorphine (Butrans, Subutex, in Suboxone)
• butorphanol (Stadol)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• diuretics ('water pills')
• medications for anxiety, seizures, depression, mental illness, or nausea
• monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), procarbazine (Matulane), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• muscle relaxants
• nalbuphine (Nubain)
• other narcotic pain medications
• pentazocine (Talwin)
• quinidine  
• sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers

This is not a complete list of Avinza drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding. Avinza passes into human breast milk and may harm your baby.

Avinza is known to cause constipation. Tel your doctor if you experience constipation.

Do not drink alcohol or any foods or medications containing alcohol while taking Avinza as alcohol increases the risk that you will experience breathing problems or other serious, life-threatening side effects.

Avinza may be habit-forming. Avinza can be abused or lead to dependence. Take this medication only as prescribed. Do not take more of it, or take it more often than as directed by your doctor.

Avinza may cause slowed or stopped breathing, especially when you begin your treatment and any time your dose is increased. Tell your doctor if you have slowed breathing.