pain medication and dr.

[lynnecarter]

I have been on pain meds for years, now all of of sudden wants me to talk to a councilor, told him I was takin the 4 a day plus 1 1/2 at night that's why been running out to soon, so why talk to a councilor

[Ghilly]

If the Lortabs you are taking are the 7.5/750s, your daily tylenol intake is over the toxic level.  That being the case, it could be why your doctor wants you to talk to the counselor.  The current maximum dose of acetominophen is 1000mg every 4 to 6 hours, with 4000mg being the most that can safely be taken in a 24 hour period.  The FDA is trying their darndest to get this maximum lowered significantly and are trying to make any medication containing 1000mg of acetominophen a prescription drug, even if it is currently OTC.  They want to make the maximum dose of acetominophen 2600mg in a 24 hour period, which would cut the current limit almost in half.  

If I were you, I would talk to the doctor and tell him that the amount he has you on now is not helping your pain and because of that, you are being forced to take the extra 1.5 pills per day.  I am kind of baffled as to why he has you on Lortab ANYWAY, considering the condition you are taking the pain meds for is a lifelong, incurable condition.  It's not going to get better so you are most definitely looking at long term pain management.  Lortabs are most definitely NOT what he should be prescribing to you for long term pain management.  There are SO many things that are better for you and not dangerous to your liver, I really don't know why he feels Lortabs are a suitable drug for you at this stage of the game, unless he isn't a pain management doctor.  If he isn't a pain management doctor, that would explain a couple of things.  It would explain why he's prescribing Lortabs (and a small dosage of Lortabs at that) for a lifelong condition and why he is apparently alarmed at the fact that you are taking 1.5 a day more than he is prescribing.  Four pills a day is about the lowest dose that they can give you without simply making a stipulation that a pill is to be taken ONLY at bedtime.  The only way it could be worse for you would be if he was only prescribing the 5mg Lortabs.

Ghilly

[lynnecarter]

Has anyone has the same problem as I, about dr. Referring patient to a councilor, lynne

[lynnecarter]

Thank u tuckamore, I will take your advice, I go thurs to see councilor, lynne

[Tuckamore]

In my opinion you are not taking high doses of medications. Most of us with Chronic Pain are on more potent pain medications.

The concern is in the acetaminophen (Tylenol). They are lowering the recommended dosage per day of acetaminophen. It's not so much due to the acetaminophen in your Lortab.... it's every where. Ppl often forget to add up the amounts contained in all the other meds that contains acetaminophen.That's when the amounts can become dangerous.

I am guessing your physician is just evaluating your pain and mental health .... and then may consider going to a stronger opiate. However that's just a guess and what I hope he is doing. Again don't be afraid to just come out and ask, "Why?" You have a right to know and to have input into your care.

I'll look forward to your updates.
~Tuck

[lynnecarter]

I'm taking loatab 7.5 for severe arm pain arthritis, back and leg pain, thanks lynne

[geminigirl1963]

Your doctor probably wants you to talk to a counselor because apparently you haven't been taking the meds exactly as your doc had prescribed for you.  I'm only saying that becuase you said you've been running out early.

It's never a good idea to try and "self-medicate" as you have been by taking the extra 1 1/2 pills at night and when a patient begins doing this, doctors begin to wonder and worry about abuse.  your doctor probably wants you to talk to a counselor to see if they can find out if you are having a problem with abusing the meds, addicted to them, or simply under medicated.

[Ghilly]

What kind of pain meds do you take and what mg strength are they?

Is your doctor a Pain Management doctor or a GP that is prescribing pain meds for you?

What condition are you taking pain meds for?

Ghilly