Meds

[dnkmilr]

I am so glad I found this web-site.  I have been having increasing pain with my Advanced Multi-Level Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervicalagia.  Over the past two months, I have been on many meds and been thru Medial Banch Block and two Transforminal Cervical Steroid Injects, and Trigger Point Injections (last one yesterday, now I have pain from the darn injections in addition to having the same pain in my neck, back & arms) none of the procedures have lessened the pain and my current meds are:  Morphine 15mg, Oxycodone 10/325mg, Xanax .25 mg, and Zoloft 100mg.  I have been taking the Morphine and Oxy 3xs/day, 8am, 2pm and 8pm.  I take my Zoloft at 8am and my Xanax at 8pm.  I also take a stool softener for constipation and have to take Tylenol now and then when I get the Morphine headache.   Now that I have read several questions and answers, I will no longer take the Morphine and Oxy together, I didn't realize that they are the same thing basically. I should be using the Oxy for Break-Through pain - which of course, I have pain all the time, but I can take up to 3 a day of those, I guess my question is, when should I take the Oxy?  As indicated I take the Morphine at 8, 2 and 8.   Thank you in advance to those that answer.

[sandee1818]

Hi and welcome. We are so glad to have you here:)
The oxycodone is a break thru medication and should be taken in between the dose of the Morphine as needed.
More importantly though is this, how did your doctor instruct you to take it?
If it is meant for break thru pain then as I said you should take it as needed in between the Morphine doses.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Dnkmilr,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. We are glad that you found us too. I know how I felt when I stumbled across this site quite by accident. Our members are informational and supportive. It's a wonderful place to be.

Sandee is correct as is the decision that you reached not to take them together. But more importantly, how did your physician order them?

It is usual and customary to prescribe a long acting opiate such as MS Contin instead of just morphine and than prescribe another short acting opiate such as Oxycodone for break through pain. You are on a small dose of Morphine. Maybe a larger long acting dose would eb more beneficial. Or did I misunderstand and you are you on the long acting morphine? If not you may want to ask your physician about it.

Another consideration is the Percocet. Oxycodone 10/325 apap is actually Percocet which means it has tylenol (acetaminophen) in it. Thankfully your physician has ordered the smallest amount of tylenol he can in the Percocet. Just remember to add that into you daily acetaminophen count when you are taking extra tylenol for those morphine headaches. One want to be cautious not to exceed the daily limit.

It sounds like you have been through a lot. It is sad to hear that your treatments have not be effective in relieving your pain. I have found the same. I am so glad that you have found us and I hope that you will stay with us and become an active member of our community. I'll look forward to your posts.

Take Care,
Tuck  

[dnkmilr]

Thank you both for answering my concerns.  I actually had an appt this morning with my Primary Dr. and she has put me on 30mg of Morphine Sulfate CR. 2x's/Daily and Gabapentin 300mg, which i work up from 1 in evening to 3 per day and use the Oxy for break-thru pain when needed.  When i went to get my prescriptions today, I asked the pharmacist about all my meds and he informed me that I am taking them as prescribed and took more time to explain the meds and what they do and when I should take them. It seems the Pharmacist takes better care in explaining things than my own Dr. does.  I believe that my Pain Mgt Dr's PA is so busy that he actually has a patient every 10 minutes and actually walks out the door while I am talking to him and does not answer my questions.  A city as large as Las Vegas, NV with a Health Care Plan HPN (Southwest Medical Associates) and only 1 Pain Mgt. Dr. and 1 Assistant-a shame!

Thank you again for your words of knowledge.

Kristin