oxycodone

[lucyred68]

my husband just had major back surgery, and the dr. prescribed oxycodone for the pain.  he really needs it, but we are wondering how long he can take it before he becomes addicted. not that he wants to take it, he just can't stand the pain without it.  his incision is 10 inches long, down the middle of his back.  he is also itching a lot.  could that be from the drug?

[lovemypillhead]

Narcotics, such as this, will make him itch.  

There isnt a guideline about him becoming addicted.  Some people never get addicted. Some do right away, or so they say.  

If he takes his meds as prescribed and stops once he doesnt need them i think he will be alright....unless of course he has a history of abusing pills.

[ochooked]

A good rule of thumb is to take the Oxy for the amount prescribed but do not go back for more once it runs out -- that is about the time you start really enjoying it feeling.  Time to switch to another pain reliever - or get a Rx for 800 mg Motrin or a good over the counter med.  The most important thing that most chronic pain sufferers wish they had done is to not give in to the temptation to ask the dr for more opiates after that first week or two.  Opiates work well for short term pain - they do not work directly on the pain - rather on our perception of pain -- in other words - in the head.  Hope your husband will not be on this site in a year looking for help in breaking a powerful addiction to Opiates.  Good post and a caring wife --- Have him read the comments you generate with your post.  All the best.

[Ghilly]

If he takes the medication as ordered, and only as needed for pain during the recuperation period, he shouldn't have a problem.  Everyone is different, so it's difficult to say how long any one person has to take it before they become addicted, but in general, the recuperation period from surgery shouldn't be a problem as long as he follows the presciption instructions and doesn't adjust his own dosage and take more than he's supposed to at any one time.

Ghilly