SWITCHING MEDS

Hi all.I am trying to keep my tolerance down.If I were to switch from Oxycodone in order to keep my tolerance to it down,what other breakthrough pain meds could I use?I take 300mgs of MS Contin and 60mgs oxycodone,if I were to switch to Hydrocodone 60mgs or Lortab would that work?Any suggestions would help,I find the dose I am on now is not as affective,but I don't want to go any higher.

[mimi1313]

You will eventually build up a tolerance to the new meds. Is there anything other meds you can take? You will be surprised at how much your pain goes down after being off opiates .

[avik7]

mimi is right...im addicted to lortab and i can remember in the beginning when i actually just took them for pain i would find that my back would sometimes hurt worse after they wore off. try some high mg motrin and do the scheme for you if your ready to get off the pills!

[JACEM5]

I have 800mg ibuprophen,it works sometimes.My back has no catilage left between my discs and my DR says I'll be on pain meds the rest of my life,I just don't want to increase what I'm already on.

[wannabefree330]

There is no way to get around building up a tolerance to pain medication.  You can quit using the opiate all together for 2 weeks then go back to it at a lower dose, but your tolerance builds much more quickly after doing that.  Percocet is stronger than hydrocodone/lortab.  About 1 1/2 times stronger (roughly).  How often are you having breakthrough pain?  Percocet has acetominophen in it.  You can get just the oxycodone (quick acting--different from the ms contin).  Or, get roxicodone which is fast acting (short lived), or MS IR (morphine sulfate Immediate release).  This keeps you w/the same medication but gives you that extra boost for times in need.  If you only take it for breakthrough pain and have exhausted other alternatives your tolerance will still build, but not as quickly as if you are taking it to get the high feeling.

[JACEM5]

Thanks for all the info,I take the breakthrough meds in between the MS Contin about three x a day.My insurance won't pay for 2 types of morphine which is why I mentioned the others.I know other people who get caught up in this whole "well I'll just take one extra and then 2" and before you know it they are out way too soon,I just don't want to get caught up in all that.

[worried878]

It will be hard not to get caught up in "all that" no matter what u take...300 mg of morphine daily is a whole lot....it is gonna take a strong med to break thru any extra pain u have due to ur probable tolerence to morphine...at doses like that it is just almost impossible to not become tolerent...be safe

[broknbck]

I have had both oxy and hydrocodone. i think the hydrocodone is the lesser of the evils. not as strong and tolerence didn't build up as fast. also the hydrocodone seemed to last longer when you take it.
from what alot have said, i think the hydros are easier to come off of too. but all of them will sooner or later get a hold of you. there are no good, safe opiates to take.
while you are taking them, you should use that time to get things done and seek out natural remedies, try to get in exellent physical shape. try to get things in order to accomodate your pain restrictions. very soon they will not even work, no matter how many you take.