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What medication is best for long term pain management and offers extended release without causing drowsiness?
Question : What medication is best for long term pain management and offers extended release without causing drowsiness?
This is my second year seeing a pain management specialist and taking medication. For the first year I was prescribed Hydrocodone APAP 1pill 2x’s per day as needed (can’t remember the dose amount). Then we moved to FL. and my new Doctor changed my RX to Norco 10/325 @ 1pill 3x’s per day as needed because the prior RX wasn’t offering enough pain relief and she (Doctor) said my acetaminophen intake was to high. The Norco managed my pain very well for about 8 months, but by the 10th month I had to take Motrin as well. So, I asked my Doctor if I could change medications because I didn’t want to have to take more pills, but wanted something that worked as well as the Norco. I was prescribed Percocet 10/325 @ 1pill 3x’s per day, but it made me drowsy and the Norco actually offered more pain relief. When I went in this month there was a new Doctor taking over and I don’t feel he understood that I was trying to find a RX that offered extended relief so I wouldn’t have to take so many pills. BECAUSE….He prescribed me 120 Oxycodone 5MG @ 1pill 4x’s per day (they don’t offer much relief at all) and Norco 10/325 @ 1pill 2x’s per day, for “breakthrough pain” !!!! Anyways, if anyone knows of a medication that is as effective as Norco, won’t cause extreme drowsiness and offers extended relief (so I don’t have to take so many pills) I would greatly appreciate the advice.
release management
Best answer:
Answer by L&OF
My husband is going through kind of the same thing, I feel for you. He has a degenerative back disease in his spine. He has been prescribed everything from Percocet, Hydrocodone, Naproxyn, Prednisone and other muscle relaxers. He needs narcotics in order to function but he hates having to take pills that only cover the pain and not the actual source of it. It is horrible, I am sorry that I cannot offer you more than my sympathy. No matter how many doctors he has seen they all tell him he will have to be dependent on pain meds for the rest of his life and he is only 36. Then, the doctors turn around and scrutinize every pill that he takes making sure that he doesn’t become dependent on the pills. Messed up,isn’t it? I wish you luck and let me know if you find something that works.
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#3 written by dmzmed 1 year ago
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#5 written by The Dude 1 year ago
Oxycontin is one of the strongest opiates on the market. It’s like someone else said on here 5mg isn’t enough, especially since you have been using other opiates on a regular basis and have built a tolerance to them. He should have given you 20 mg Oxycontin’s, 4x per day. Well, here’s the problem with conventional opiates, no matter what you take you are going to continue to build a tolerance, subsequently you will have to increase your dosage periodically over time. In case you haven’t noticed from what you described, you have already been taking this route. for example. the first year you were only taking 2 hydrocodone tabs per day know you are taking 4 Oxycontin’s and 3 10/mg hydrocodone tabs per day (norco is 10 mg hydrocodone and 325 mg Tylenol).
I went through the whole routine for years before finally getting on methadone, methadone lasts long and has a constant affect through out the day. you will go through an adjustment period with that drug as well but eventually you will reach one constant and effective dose level. The down side is if you ever have to go off it, it is the hardest drug on the market to detox from. Usually they will have to slowly reduce your dose over a period of months. I quit 160 mg’s per day cold turkey and was sick as hell for about 2 months. I didn’t fully recover untill after 6 months. I definately wouldn’t recommend methadone to anybody who has a chance of recovery.
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Here is some advice from someone that has been dealing with pain and pain meds for a long time. Don’t take advice from just anyone with a computer and Yahoo. Believe me,, they don’t know more than your doctor. I’ve been through the hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine sulphate, and about every other med for pain. I find that oxycodone XR works best for me. 20-40mg twice a day, along with a few others if needed. 5mg. oxycodone isn’t much at all.
But here is the advice
Start a daily journal of your pain. I use a steno pad for each month. Record:
when you hurt
where you hurt
how badly you hurt on a scale of 1-10
and most important,, how the pain is effecting your life. What you cannot do due to pain.
Take it to the doctor with you. It’s hard to communicate with the doc in the few minutes you have with them. But with the journal you are giving them a much better idea of what you need to help control the pain.
Here are few pain management links that I use often for a spine injury
http://health.discovery.com/centers/pain/pain.html
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/default.htm
http://health.discovery.com/centers/pain/pain.html
There is no better person than your doctor to suggest what medication will work for you. They are the ONLY ones that know what other factors must be considered when determining what Rx is best for you. Good luck
And to address all the don’t get addicted advice you will get. Getting addicted to pain medication is just part of dealing with chronic pain.
Your doctor knows very well that you will get addicted, and he also knows very well how to ween you off them safely when the time comes.
I’m addicted to pain meds. Big deal!! If I were a diabetic I would have to take insulin. Without the pain meds I wouldn’t be able to live a somewhat normal life. I sure wouldn’t be typing this!!
The secret is not to abuse them!! There is a big difference. I’ve done both ways and paid dearly for the abuse. That’s why I never take more than directed no matter what. If I hurt to the point that I think I need to I call the doctor. It’s not a tough routine to live with.
If you or the girl that answered about her husband want more pain management info from medical professionals e-mail me and I will give you the links I have.