tolerance

[rg1672]

Ive been on pain meds for 5 or so years, and am curious if anyone else who has taken them for that long, has experienced them 'not working' anymore? we build our tolerance, and eventually its not the same.  does that mean its time to stop taking them b/c they arent working like they used to? or wein down to get tolerance lower? does this get to a point where regardless of how hight the dosage, there comes a point where they stop working all together?

[Mollyrae]

Hi rg:

I would like to invite you to visit our group at "The Chronic Pain Couch" You might enjoy it. Please stop by. The address is:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/The-Chronic-Pain-Couch/show/413

Hope to see you there!

Mollyrae

[Tuckamore]

Hi RG,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum.

We all build some degree of tolerance but more often than not over 5 years your condition may have deteriorated. You either need a stronger prescription or a change in the narcotic itself. There is some debate in the medical community as building tolerance or worsen of condition or a bit of both.  

Discuss this with you prescribing physician. He/she will hopefully have better answers for you. In my case my condition is deteriorating. I have had to have my dosage increased in small increments twice in 6 years but I began on a very small dose.

I hope you will soon be more comfortable. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
Tuck  

[troubleinohio]

what are you currently taking..what medicine and dosage? and what condition are you taking it for? to answer your question, yes your body does build a tolerance to medicine especially after being on something for years. What you do about it depends on your condition and what medicine and dosage you are actually taking. You may need a higher dose of your current medicine, or you may need a totally different medicine, or an additional one added to your current regimen..or you may need a "drug vacation" and then hop back on if you can tolerate the WD's. Good luck to you. Keep reading and posting..