Is 2 10/500 Hydrocodones a day a problem?

[earl872]

I have been taking  1-2 10/500's/day Hydrocodone for about a year and a half for Disk degeneration, sciatica, and two bulged disks. Everytime the vicodin stops working with the OTC I cut the dosage down for a week or two and then it will start to work again.  The problem is that I can't get beyond 1 a day. I have had six cortisone shots, all the nerves in my facet joints killed and I plan to get another round of cortisone when I can afford it.

I have heard everything from this is not a problem to your a hard core addict. These opions have come from medical professionals. So what's the deal. Anybody know of a standard or a reference that you can go by?

[vicki595]

Fence~  He's right at 4 grams which is max. I agree,he could stand to get that a little lower.Doesn't sound like his doctors are very helpful...  CWE  LOL  It's not for everyone!!

[onthefence]

tylenol is VERY toxic for the liver , 4 grams 4000 mg. in 24 hr period, 2 grams if drinker.
when i mention CWE on here ppl freak out so i wont go there but talk to your doctor about somthing w/out tylenol, unfortuantly when they scheduled HYdro they wanted to keep it a schedule 3 so they had to mix w/APAP , SO  the next strongest thing w/out APAP (tylenol) would prob. be oxy 5 mg. but it is schedule 2 so it is more controlled.
dont be intimidated to talk to your doctor , he/she is ther to help......

[vicki595]

It sounds like you're doing your best to handle your pain. It seems to be working for you.
You have chronic pain and you need to be comfortable.  

Good luck to you~

[earl872]

Thank you all.
It is becuase of the pain and that I have maxed out the ibruprofen and tylenol, 16 of ibuprofen and 6 tylenol ( I have to limit it to 3g so if I have to take the vicodin I won't kill my liver) and it is always in the middle of the night.
At this time neither pain manaement, or 3 neurolgists have a clue other than to say my sciatic nerves are pinched and surgery is not an option as it will make it worse.

Again Thanks

[Jimmy1975]

I agree with all of the responders . The only thing I would like to add is that I got in to trouble with just one more 10/500 per day . Like you I would skip a day or two but I still ended up in trouble . Read my old post if you want to see my journey to this point ! Please be careful as that drug can grab you without you ever knowing what hit you ! Trust me on that .. It was not the physical but the phycological withdrawals that were the worst for me they lasted a few months .. Take care  . Jimmy

[onthefence]

if you take it like you would for instance, antibiotics, bp meds etc, everyday at a certain time like with meals, & you dont think about taking it beforehand, its just medicine that has to be taken type thing, then i would say that doesn't sound like a problem, (my g-ma took a pain pill with every meal for 30 years until her death at 92, never thought twice about it.).

Its when you start liking the feeling it gives, taking it on an empty stomach , then not wanting to eat (so as to not lose the feeling ), taking more than prescribed, at anytime of day, thinking about the feeling wearing off and when to take the next one to get back to that feeling etc.
planning things , events around when you have just taken the pill, making sure you have enough if you are away from home for any length of time.and justifying all that with pain.
Thats when IMO it becomes a problem.

[vicki595]

The standard may be different for everyone. You need to ask yourself if you could just stop. You need to consider your pain level. Do you THINK you're an addict?  You may be a person who needs to manage their pain and this is the only way. I don't know.
I didn't understand what you meant by not being able to get past one a day.  You can't cut back to less than one per day? If yes,why not? Pain?

Keep posting...we'll try to help...

[OverUnderBobo]

That dosage as is should be fine. The problem with that drug like so many others is that you build up tolerance to it and that dosage gets higher and higher until you are starting to take more than is healthy. You dont seem to have a problem with that or with addiction so you should be fine. But if you find youself slowly self medicating and increasing the dosage, be caeful