How many years is it safe to take Lorcet?

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My husband has been on Lorcet for about 2 years now for pain in his back.  They up his dose to 650mg 2 tables every 4 hours.  How many years can he be on Lorcet?   He is a different person I think it is because of the Lorcet but he says it is not.  He needs back surgery but will not have it done.  Please help me.

[CentralFLA]

Lorcet is not a long term pain med because of the high amounts of tylenol (acetimenophen...spell check).  If he is taking 2 tablets every four hours he has definitely established a tolerance to them.  If he refuses the surgery he needs to request a long term pain med because this will damage his liver.  Good luck to you, and let us know how he is doing.

[htp115]

this is something you really should talk to the dr. about. i've been on pain meds for yrs (hydrocodone) and recently landed myself in ICU with a blood transfusion from 2 bleeding ulcers. Because i suffer with endometriosis and chronic pain from so much scar tissue i'm considered a "longterm" pain management patient. For years different dr.'s have given me 800mg ibuprofen and naproxen (sp?) saying it wasnt good for me to be on so much hydrocodone, well turns out that long term use of these medications cause stomach ulcers and damage (the fine print on the labels state this and can lead to death, which i came about an hour from dying myself) my current dr's, primary care and Gastro dr., told me that the tylenol in the hydrocodone is much safer than the anti-inflammatories. they said you would have to take over 4 GRAMS of tylenol a day (for a long period) plus drink alcohol on top of that to do any real liver damage. so as you can see, OTC medications taken excessively can be more harmful (physically) than rx ones.

Hydrocodone is EXTREMELY addictive however, so that in itself causes a big concern. If he was to go to pain management they would probably want to put him on a "long lasting" pain med like Oxycotin which you take every 12hrs. BEWARE OF THIS....oxycotin is much more addictive and a horrendous drug to detox from. i've also had a few dr's rx my oxycotin, but have NEVER gotten them filled!!!!! i just told them i flat out refused to step up to a stonger, more addictive medication.  I'm sure he has built up a tolerance...it will happen when your taking it regularly. my suggestion would be for him to try and cut back on the meds and tough out "some pain". so his tolerance wont be so high.

and again please have him discuss this with his dr. ....

good luck

luv ya,
tink  :)

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Thanks for your comments.  They had him on oxcotin and he stop taking that becasue he could not stay a wake and work.  So he went back on the Lorcet.
He does not think he has a problem with them.  But I know he does.  He had a family member die this year from taking too much pain meds.  How do you make someone see they have a problem with the pain meds.  I have told his dr. but he does not listen to me.  I don't think the dr. should keep giving someone pain med for the rest of his life! Thanks for all the help