Hi Again Jimbob,
Every site I have searched and from my education and training you should never break a time released Oxycodone.
From one site: Do not crush, chew, or break controlled-release forms of oxycodone such as Oxycontin. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release oxycodone slowly into your system. Breaking them would cause too much drug to be released into the blood at one time leading to a potentially fatal dose of oxycodone.
I would encourage you not to break them. It can also be viewed as abuse of the medication by your physician and you would not want that to happen.
Good luck. I hope you will soon be recovered from your surgery and not even need to take pain medications. Peace, Tuck
They are indeed time release 40mg oxy.
And Ive heard mixed stories on if you can break them up or not. Ive read and heard testimonials from long time users that say its perfectly fine and then even cut 60mg into 4 quarters is what this one guy has been doing for years and years now......
Now I also read what you guys are saying, that you should not do it and screws up the medication. I have even read that some manufacturers of the time realease oxy put something in there that if you break or crush or cut them, it releases another chemical that makes the entire pill null and void so you get nothing....
SO I dunno what to think about breaking a time release pill in half.......like I said, Ive hear and read both sides.....
If you cut the oxycontin then your releasing all the medication at once and this is dangerous plus you will not be helping your situation because yoy will have lost the 12 hour relief.
Welcome to our community!
Jimbo,
Now I understand your other post a bit better. I didn't not see this one. I apologize. Is this an extended release tablet? In my opinion you cannot cut a long acting or slow release tablet. It should say that right on the bottle. You can disrupt the intended action of the medication.
You apparently are not on a PM contract. So in that case if you can tolerate the pain you can try to stretch them out. I am assuming these meds are ordered PRN, meaning on an as needed bases.
Again, best of luck to you, Tuck
Thanks for the response. So you think i can cut one of these 40mg time release tabs in half?
Is it better to try and wait the longest you can wait before taking the next tab or should you just follow a strict timed plan?
It seems if I wait too long in between taking the oxy's, I have to take maybe 2 full 40mg tabs to even get it anywhere near back to tolerable pain level.
Any thoughts on pros and cons to waiting the longest amount time you can possible wait betwwen taking another tab...or following a strict 12 hour schedule or every 8 eight hours regardless if I feel like I need it or not?
Thanks!
I always cut my night time pills in half,then take another otc pain pill or benadryl, muscal relaxer ,any you have to help you stay asleep through the pain.This helps to make your pain pills work better,when you take a full strenth again.just my way ,hope it helps.I hope you get the help you need from doc. on tuesday.