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Avatar universal

Why dont the Drs tell us?

Why dont Dr,s tell you , warn you, put you on a schedule when prescribing opiates like Hydrocodone? I took them from Jan16- March 30. Had surgey on March 26 and shortly after my body started to reject the hydro.Now Im having the worst time of my life trying to recover from Cervical Spinal surgery and go through withdrawals and keep my **** together so my 3 yr old doesnt hink daddy is whack job! Im day 3 and feeling tired, nervous, blood pressure meds arent working well my sweating is less than desirable and stomach is cramping, im drpressed and trying to not cry and no matter what i do i cant get more that 4 hours of sleep!!!!!

Had i known prior to taking these drugs that this is what will happen i would have never taken them!!
Dr's need to take the drugs before prescribing what they do.
I was given 180 pills a month of Hydrocodone. Yes my pain was bad but was there an alternative? why is there no education before we undergo such trauma?

I hope this will be over soon, i feel like im missing out on my childrens lives cuz I feel like a junkie!
So much for medical Marijuana like i asked for " oh we dont belive in that" they said. ******** you dont get kickbacks for it !!
54 Responses
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5986700 tn?1380791380
Ignorance and personal agendas friend.  Hang in there, you're not alone. Keep venting.
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
Let me preface this by saying MY OPINION!!!!...hello!!!  but, pain medicines seem to help some and not others.  Just an example, my mother broke her back a few years ago, she is prescribed 150 hydros a month...her bottle is like 2 years old b/c she only takes them when she needs them.  They put her to sleep.  If that were my prescription, lol, they would've been gone in less than a week. B/C they don't put me to sleep, in fact, they do the exact opposite.  Some of us are addicts and some of us aren't.  I truly believe that addicts have the abililty to be addicted to ANYTHING!!!!  And honestly, if there wasn't so much freakin $$ to be made from these pills (which there are pills for everything now) then I don't think they would be so accessible.  When my kids were little their pediatrician had them on Claritan, once it came out as OTC he immediately switched them to a different "prescription" med.....coincidence, NO WAY!  No kickbacks once the item is OTC.....
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Hello and welcome!!

In a perfect world, doctors would educate us about everything they do and recommend, but the bottom line is, the onus is always on the patient to educate him/herself about the benefits and risks of any proposed treatment plan, to read the educational monograph that is supplied with EVERY Rx, and to ask questions if something isn't clear or if something is a concern.

To be honest with you, the course of treatment you were on with the hydrocodone was pretty brief, under three months.  It's not at all unusual for someone with significant pain issues to be prescribed an opioid medication for a few months, until the issue can be addressed (ie surgery), so in essence what you describe is pretty par for the course and not out of the ordinary.  The vast majority of patients on a similar course of treatment would have either very mild, or no issues with tolerance and dependency after only 6 weeks.  That COULD be just one reason your doctor wasn't overly concerned.  He knew it was only going to be for a short amount of time.

I'm not at all dismissing the way you feel, and I'm sorry you've run into this, it's terrible that you're dealing with the opiate issues on top of trying to recover from your surgery.  I just wanted to point out that it's kind of knee jerk reaction for people who find themselves in these unfortunate situations to always blame the docs, "why didn't they tell me?" kind of thing.  I'm just trying to shed some light that you weren't going to be Rx'ed an opiate for an extended period of time, and I'm sure your doc's primary priority was treating your pain until your surgery.  I totally agree that docs don't spend nearly as much time educating their patients as they should, but I don't believe that all of these situations are the result of bad doctors not giving more warnings.  Patients should always do their homework, even if they have the most THOROUGH doc!

The good thing about this is, you should be feeling better pretty quickly from the w/d, because you weren't on it very long.  Definitely keep communicating with your doctor about how you feel as well.  

You're feeling emotionally frustrated and angry, which is why you feel the way you do when it comes to your kids...that's also a result of the w/d.  There is a big emotional component to opioid w/ds.  Just be patient with yourself, and trust me, I'm sure your kids understand that Dad isn't feeling like himself, even with the whole pain pill debacle put out of the picture, my goodness, you're healing and recovering from major surgery, and that cannot be rushed!  Make sure you're having people help you, and don't be in a hurry to do everything.  This all will take time.

I wish you the very best....hang in there!!
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Avatar universal
My bro is a head and neck surgeon and he agrees drs should take the meds they prescribe to understand what thier patients are going through. My mother is a nurse and agrees as well ( i know my mother will agree w me cuz she is my mother) but i guess what im trying to say is if soooo many ppl here are expreiencing these issues and yes some are doin it to party. why is it legal? have we no other alts? and being  nurse you should know better than to expect a non medically educated patient to research meds, as we all trust our drs.dont tell me ppl read the pamphlet that comes with the med, that is as long as the bible and has the smallest font in the world.

drs need to do a better job of educating patienst of the dangers of long term opiate use before prescribing and then its the patients duty to say thats fine or no way.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
drs need to do a better job of educating patienst of the dangers of long term opiate use before prescribing and then its the patients duty to say thats fine or no way.

Again, I AGREE with you that doctors need to do a better job educating patients, and I've already said that.

but i guess what im trying to say is if soooo many ppl here are expreiencing these issues and yes some are doin it to party. why is it legal? have we no other alts? and being  nurse you should know better than to expect a non medically educated patient to research meds, as we all trust our drs.dont tell me ppl read the pamphlet that comes with the med, that is as long as the bible and has the smallest font in the world.

Well, you cannot compare someone with an addiction to someone who has just become dependent.  The medications themselves are not inherently bad.  Doctors have to have options when treating patients in pain.  You cannot take away pain pills because a portion of the population abuses them and becomes addicted to them.

As far as a patient educating themselves?  I disagree with you.  In this day and age, where there is SO much information available to people on the internet, there's just no reason people can't tale a minute to read up on a treatment plan a doctor is suggesting, be it a medication, a referral, lab work, etc.  And as far as trusting doctors go, of course there needs to be a level of trust, but never blind trust.  I would never just take a medication because my doctor recommended it, without doing at least some basic reading about it, the benefits, risks, etc.  

Again, I'm very sympathetic to the situation you find yourself in, and I wish more doctors stressed the importance of patients doing their homework.  Some do, and probably more do not.  My only point was that I don't feel it's fair to put the sole responsibility for these kinds of things on the doctors.  I will always always encourage people to be their own biggest advocate, and to make sure they understand the importance of educating themselves.  There are so many sites that offer patient friendly educational approaches.  

Good luck to you, I hope you are feeling better quickly.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Those who know me, know I do a little research, yet I did very little on the drugs I was taking. I have often wondered about that. I have come the believe that I was looking at drugs with inductive reasoning. I took pills awhile for pain, off and on, but I could tell I would form an addiction and the fast ups and downs didn't work for me. I read just enought about methadone half life to know the positive results possible. I also figured that it was used to help heroin addicts stable enough to work and function. That was enough for me back then, I started my long spiral down with methadone. Now, I was looking to prove it was okay before I saw the info. I just wanted to justify it. I mean, I read the label on food and look up anything I don't recognize. I've studied the body and nutrition for 25 years, but somehow I didn't find it essential to know about the thing that made me feel so good I could work.

Now, there is a highly unlikely chance a person could mistrust and despise medical professionals any more than than me. I have a hard time respecting anyone due to a title or badge, they that won't stop me. I know a doctor I respect, one. Merits and compassion mixed with knowledge and skill demand my respect. Fact is, I am smarter than many of them, then I guess it's my fault for letting myself be duped out of ignorance. It stings a little.

At least I am healthy again, even if those doctors are still sick. You will be to.
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Avatar universal
I with you on this -- doctors do not do their due diligence in educating a patient on the many dangers of pain pills... I think the best way to describe their prescribing habits would be as "cavalier" -- not all medical professionals are guilty of the latter but to me ONE in to much!!! Outside of the pill mills where MDs are prescribing pills for big buck ($300-$500 per Rx) regular medical professionals do not make money on the pills themselves that goes to Big Pharma.. The MDs are more apt to prescribe pills because after a procedure (dental, knee, back, and etc.) they do not want you calling the office complaining about pain so by prescribing pills they greatly reduce that "hassle"... They give a person a 7-10 supply without telling them all the pitfalls because that will open up a can of worms for them to spend time on instead of seeing more patients... So regular MDs are not giving pills in the hopes that one will become addicted so they can make money off of the Rx -- They are doing it to save time and to a MD time is money... That's why I describe what they are doing as more cavalier than malicious... The good news is that many new laws are in place as well as coming down the pike that will save many lives when it comes to prescribing pain pills,  despite big pharma still trying to capitalize on the market with new types of pain pills.. Unfortunately there is to much money in the pain pill business to ever think it will be ONLY available for the people who really, really need it so its people like us who will have to educate other people on the true dangers of these pills....
Helpful - 0
4522800 tn?1470325834
Well I agree with it all so far..I do know that Many Drs are being more careful prescribing these pills. Some will ask if Addiction runs in the Family. Meaning did you parents drink or do drugs most of there Life..BUT again that still does nothing. LOTS of people can take these meds right and for a short time!! Tolerance Builds up so fast that people run out sooner. This is when the Addiction part can really start.
When I first came clean back in 2012 I too was so mad and calling the Drs the Drug pushers in the White Jackets..NOW this has all changed. I know I have the Addictive Gene and it is up to me to tell the Drs, Dentist any one who would prescribe ANY mind altering substance.
Also I have tons of paper work that states that they are going to start to swap peoples tongue to see if they might have the Addictive Gene (D2) which is just  lower Dopamines then a normal person..(at least this is what they came up with so far) As a retired nurse myself..I thought that was a bunch of hog-wash until I really started to share this with some Drs. I also do my own homework. The Drs do know that it is really getting out of control..Why do you think that they are now putting a wax substance in these pills too..So we can not shoot or snort them. I really think they are trying BUT there are so many that do not care and it is all about the money too. This is a Catch 22. Drs can learn alot from us too..My DR just listen to what I have to say on each drug and the detox..How things can be a bit different from person to person..Age can play alot too. I run into the only Sub Dr we have here in town from time to time..He said he went to a meeting where they talked about the w/ds from subs. I told him heck yes it can be bad and I see this on this site all the time..He also told me that they came up with 3 new meds to help get people through the Detox..OK we will see..Most do not want to play the merry-go-round.
I guess in TIME we will see the Changes that will come about on all of this..Remember that the ones that need there pills, and can do it right, gets mad at the ones that mess it up for them..BUT Again..Right or Wrong?? We will see!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
which is why i asked for the medical pot. its legal now in il , i dot need to smoke it , there are other ways to take it but they dont "believe in it " why is that?  perhaps if Pfizer or other companies had their name on the medical weed more docs would prescribe it!
Helpful - 0
1970885 tn?1435860428
As with anything in life, there are good docs and bad ones. Everyone is different, so I can only speak for myself, but as a member of a large HMO, I was not happy with the first two doctors I was assigned to, so I asked to be reassigned. I now have a doctor who does not BS; I'm not sure if he has ever taken pain meds, but ten years ago he told me that I had a problem with them. He was concern that I was an addict. Fast forward - I'm two years clean, and I owe a part of that to him. Granted, when I was using I lied to him about my pain, level of pain, etc., etc. And when he prescribed the meds he did so with hesitation and a stern warning. He usually started with something besides my DOC, but eventually my lies got me what I wanted.
I have to take responsibility for my own actions. The very first time that I put a pill in my mouth, I knew that I liked it. I made decisions that led to years of use.
There are millions who do not suffer with addiction (my wife is one of those). We don't hear from them. On this forum we are with other addicts, so opinions and observations are coming from a specific point of view.
Ultimately, we are responsible. The pills are dust; we make the decisions, and won't blame anyone for my choices.
K
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
when i domes to addiction i dont think im an addict. i partied with coke for a while and quit no problem, same with acid, vicodin and weed, that was my 20s. never an issue and never did i experience anything like this!! it feels a lil like less than zero. i have learned from now on DONT TRUST the docs but research first then decide.

i think we need more alternatives science is better than ever!
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Avatar universal
You can believe that doctors get kickbacks from Big Pharma, Bigfoot, UFO's, or the Man in the moon, but till you show some proof it's just so much conjecture.

Why don't you just ask your doctor how much money he gets for prescribing narcotics? I did. I came right out and asked my doctor if he got kickbacks from the drug companies for prescribing Suboxone.

He stated he was on salary at the place he worked and made the same amount of money no matter how many patients he saw or what he prescribed, and if doctors were getting money of vacations for prescribing Sub it was news to him.

It may make you feel better to vent and lay blame on the doctor, but taking responsibility for your own actions is what you should be doing.
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Avatar universal
very interesting about the swabbing of the tongue -- I have not heard that but it makes sense... I'm sure that would have to be an optional test for a patient as the "addict" tag would not be a receptive thing to many people, it would be interesting to see how that test would be matriculated into the medical field -- maybe HIPPA laws would give it a better chance.. interesting none the less.. Either way I already know that I do not need to take it..LOL

Thanks for the info...
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Avatar universal
naive.....
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Avatar universal
"And if you've done Cocaine, Vicodin, LSD"

That blows your excuse about not knowing opiates were addictive or that you'd go though withdrawals. Or I'm not the one who is naive...
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Avatar universal
never addicted...honest to god truth. and blow isnt an opiate.
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4522800 tn?1470325834
When I fill up to it I will add more of this to my Journal..I have put in 3 already regarding this info..BUT they are coming out with more & more..lol

NeverAgain..I have to agree with you & I find it strange..I too did all kinds of drugs starting at 14 ( I am not proud of it and feel very stupid know). Never did I have a w/ds from the Crank/Coke, Pot, ect..on & on. It was not until the later 90s that I felt my first w/d when I ran out of hydo/oxys. Then like a dumb ash I played the game to get the Methadone prescribed..NOW that was the worst w/d I have ever experienced and it also had to do with the Benzo I c/t. Also it gets harder as we age and I was 56 back then when I came clean.
Bless
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Avatar universal
" and blow isnt an opiate."

Vicodin is, they have Hydrocodone in them. Isn't that what you're addicted to now?

So you did Hydrocodone relationally and didn't suffer through withdrawals. Now you went through Cervical Spinal surgery and are blaming the doctors for providing you legitimate pain relievers?

What caliber gun did they hold to your head to force you to take them?
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1970885 tn?1435860428
Hydro and vics are one in the same. You probably already know that. So I wonder why you didn't react when you took the vics before, but now you are.
My wife can't take hydro; it makes her sick and she feels "loopy". However, the use of such pain medication is helpful when not abused; it lessens the pain and makes physical therapy possible (when needed). We all react differently; instead of blaming your doctor, just learn from your experience and move on. You'll be ready if this situations presents itself in the future. All the best.
K
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Anti kickback, Stark Laws, sunshine act, and the Pharma code guidelines have greatly reduced the kick backs in the last 5 years... I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it is more of the exception now than the rule...now 10 years ago it was the wild west and I totally agree with you but those things happened often.. Now Big Pharma and Docs get squashed big time by the FDA for any of that and the FDA is always on the hunt... They love banging the Pharma for billions and throwing the MDs in jail for that stuff so both parties have backed off big time from those things as its just not worth the risk anymore.. Also Pharma doesn't need to pay the MDs anymore because they prescribe it anyway... Pain pills are ruled by the Generic Pharma companies like Watson and etc the branded pain pill market is almost none existent except for that new one coming out soon... My point is that this pain pill thing is a machine that runs on its own now -- its feeding a world wide addiction epidemic.. its sad and I'm not happy about it but the real culprits is our government (FDA) for allowing it to get out of hand and not do the things necessary to keep it under control.. of course the insurance companies benefit because they always do (lol).. at the end of the day the medical professionals will do what the FDA tells them to do and they are really (but it is getting better) not doing anything, so yes the docs are not helping the situation but the problem goes much higher than that...    
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Avatar universal
what is your m.o? youre very cranky perhaps you need a fix yourself!?

good day to you
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Avatar universal
Amen...very well said!
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1970885 tn?1435860428
Very informative, and very true.
Thank you.
K
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4522800 tn?1470325834
NOW-NOW lets be nice or this Post will be removed. This is a very interesting subject. Not all of us are always going to agree..So take what you want and leave the rest behind. If you do find someone offending you, then ask them not to reply..OK??

I also found that each pill that is made from different companies put different buffers in them..this is why some feel different then others. Always liked the Watson and they are more costly then a more lesser genetic one.

Real180..Good Reply about the FDA.
Helpful - 0
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