Hydrocodone use

[MerrieJane]

Does anyone know if taking 6 hydrocodone (500 mg) daily is safe for the liver?

[cuteus]

if it was me, I would do a web search and check the toxicity section of the drug. drugdigest.com is a good place to start.
It seems to be less damaging if ibuprofen or tylenol is out of the picture.

[jmjm530]

Thanks for the slack in the post below regarding disclaimers.

I agree with you that it's not always necessary, but was being overly careful based on some recent criticism. I do think it important, however, to point out to first-time posters that none of here are doctors --  if we have any doubt that they might think otherwise.

Yes, many of our words here hold weight, including yours. We all have our own individual styles of expressing ourselves and that's great.

-- Jim

[painintheside]

Thats 3000 mg of tylenol a day. Thats more than my doctor advised me to take. He told me to try and limit it to 1000 mg daily. You can get pain killers with less tylenol in them. I take percocet with 325 mg tylenol and take 2 daily. They seem stronger than the vicodin also. I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Dana

[Chriskid]

Just wanted to pop in a side question here:

I’m scheduled to be sailing in the Caribbean for a week starting Dec 7.  At this point I’m debating whether to go or not for fear of being stuck on a boat sick for a week.  Although here in week five I’m actually feeling like my body is beginning to tolerate the cocktail a bit better, the up and down nature of how I feel has me concerned about low troughs. I’m wondering what the heat might do to me coming out of New England weather.

Also there’s the light sensitivity issue.  As I understand it the sun can be a big problem while on tx.  Does anyone have any experience or suggestions about this?

[friole]

That sounds pretty daring.  Have you done a lot of sailing before?  That is, how do you handle the open waves without tx?  Personally I am seeing that heat triggers the riba rash.  I have not experienced the light sensitivity, but it seems to be fairly common on tx.  

Being a daring person myself, I would probably do it, as long as I was sure I could always take my meds timely.  I know there are some fishermen aboard, so maybe they have some suggestions.  Snook, are you out there?

friole

[SnoWav]

Sounds like fun to me I would go for sure. The reward is in the journey.cheers jeff

[Chriskid]

This particular journey (tx) is way out of my experience hoard. I'm just hoping the reward isn't me being falling down sick.

[cuteus]

what exactly are you taking? hydrocodone comes in combination with anything from tylenol to aspirin and pseudoephredine.  It is the "combo" addition that should worry not the hydro.

chris; if you are out in the water there should not be too much heat felt with the breeze that always blows from the ocean. enjoy.
watch out for the anemia, it could be the spoiler.

[MerrieJane]

It is hydrocodone with tylenol.  Isn't vicoprophen the one with ibuprophen? Also, I get my Hydro on line in a clandestine fashion as my GI doesn't believe in prescribing it.  I hate "begging" for pain meds, and then having then come in a measly 30 pill supply. You know?

MerrieJane

P.S.  Thanks all for your quick responses.  You guys are all my saviors!

P.S.S.  As an aside, does anyone have words of encouragement of what you can say to people who think you look fine on the outside even when you tell them you are on treatment?  I feel like everyone wants the same piece of me they are used to getting and I can't seem to get to a point where they appreciate that I have very little to give during treatment.  I have 2 small children and a job, as well as a slob of a husband.  I am overwhelmed!  Peace

[BostonGirl]

Hi MJ;
      I was taking Norco and it really didn't help with my joint, elbow, wrist, finger, ankle, back pain. I hurt everywhere. My doctor switched me over to oxycotin > which has no tylenol at all. I am told that it very liver friendly.

I take 2 > 40 mg pills per day. It is much stronger than the vicodin or norco, but they were not working for me at all. Without the pain meds I could not keep up with my girls. I am hoping to taper off of it soon. I am not quite 4 months post tx. Hope this helps (((( Sue ))))

[cuteus]

Painintheside; I don't think merrie is taking the tylenol combo, she only mentioned hydrocodone, which does come without the combo.
There are some books out there on pain management and the undertreatment of pain. Most analgesics do not last 6hrs in the body, but drs still only prescribe in that manner.

chris; if you have the predisposition to sun and motion sickness, it will be enhanced during tx, most likely.
I had to take a special pass in the Summer at Six Flags, due to the anemia and the heat. I felt ready to pass out in line. I went to the Caribbean a few wks after ending tx, and did not find the heat too bad, it is not Summer heat anymore. Use enough
sunscreen so as not too burn but not too much, you want folks to drool over your tan, don't you? I don't know about the sailing part, though.

[Chriskid]

This is what’s called a bare boat, no crew provided by the charter company.  Six of us guys do this usually once a year.  Sailing out of Tortola, British Virgin Islands about a three hour flight from Boston.  It can get a little physical sailing the vessel. But it’s also pretty leisurely.

It can get a little drunk too but I don’t have a lot of interest in alcohol these days.  I’m more concerned with the unknowns of how I’m going to feel in the heat.  I’m wondering whether I’ll be handling tx better or worse a month from now.

I guess it’s just a wait and see over the next few weeks.  Thanks everyone for the input.

[suzieq2]

Hi, I have been taking Norco/Hydrocodone 10 mg, 325 of acetaminafin for a year. I have done extensive research and taking to my doctors. The danger on the liver is the acetaminafin. Everything I have found out is under 4000 mg/4 grams per 24 hr. period is safe. I am also taking six per day. I believe regular Hydrocodone has 500 mg. of acetaminafin. So with Norco I am taking 1950 mgs a day,regular hydrocodone would be 3,000.At start of treatment I was a stage 2,My recent ultrasound came back as unremarkable, so my liver damage has been revearsed.My Gastro,GP,Osteopath and Hepatologist says OK!I worried about the physical addiction to the hydrocodone. I do not anymore. I will just wean off those along with all the other meds at the end. The Norco helps me with sides greatly. Hope I helped ease some of your concerns with my experience.

[stc1993]

when I was on tx I stayed at our beach house in the florida panhandle alot during the summer close to 100 degree heat & I surf fished in the sun just about everyday & it didn't hurt me. The sun will drain you though keep water handy at all times I did.

Monte

[cuteus]

you need a doctor with a heart! MDs don't like prescribing any narcotic based analgesics because of the DEA breathing down their necks. The result is, many suffer from chronic pain unnecessarily.  It is a disgrace that people, like seniors, are given tylenol for their arthritis and nothing else. Chronic pain is undertreated in this country and people tip toe around effective analgesics because of the "addiction" issue. Studies have found that narcotics used by pain sufferers does not produce the same effect as it does in those taking it for "fun".
You need to look for a more compassionate dr. Mine has been prescribing Vicoprofen for yrs, he won't go "higher" though, And I feel I have to add extra Ibuprofen to get better results nowadays. Some benefits I found on the med while on tx was that it helped intestinal cramping and that cough that came in the morning.  Tylenol is a waste of liver energy for me.

[painintheside]

My ultrasounds had nothing wrong with them but with bx showed stage 4 outta 4 grade 3 outta 4 aslo cat scan showed nothing.......i dont trust anything but bx.

Sincerely,
Dana