I had a great Doctors appointment today:)

[sandee1818]

I know alot of members have been having a really hard  time finding oxycodone in stock or at a reasonable price, I too have had this problem. I refuse to pay the outragous prices that are being charged and most will not accept insurance so I went in to my appointment today dreading it as I had already decided I was not going to get my normal prescriptions the prices are too expensive.  I was very worried that the choice my Doctor and I chose would not work and I was upset. I have been on the same medications for many years so I was so concerned that I would not find an alternitive and would be in pain until the shortage or price gouging was over. My wonderful Doctor was very nice and explained all the options and so we finally decided to try the hydromorphone 8mg every 3 hours.  I took my first dose when I got home as I do not drive when taking new medicines and about 20 minutes later I am pain free! For the first time in problaly 10 years I am pain free. I have always just stayed with the same medications.  

[Mollyrae]

Sandee, I am very curious as to the side effects of the new medication. I have always wanted to try the Hydromorphone and was too scared to switch from the Fentanyl patch because of the potency and fearing that I would end up in some sort of W/D.

You said that it actually didn't make you so tired. Could you elaborate on this?
The Fentanyl makes me SOOO tired and I have been on the lookout for something that would be close to the Fent and also make me less tired.

I guess another fear is feeling euphoric. I don't like it as it keeps me up all night long and after a few nights like that, I am physically drained.

I would appreciate ALL the information you could give me on this.
Thanks so much,
Molly

[namnam46]

I'm so glad that it is STILL working well for you today. I was rally hoping that it would continue to give the same great relief that you got yesterday!!!

It's high time that you got significant help from your meds.

Looking forward to more updates from you....Sherry

[RunningMom]

I'm so happy for you are able to have relief.  I hope this medicine continues to work for you.

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm glad to hear a good report about the dilauded.  I'm really glad it's working for you.  As I said in PM, I was thinking that if the doctor had prescribed more than 3 4mg for me a day it would probably work just as well as the oxycodone.  
I'm encouraged now to give it another try.  
It's funny that you mentioned how we think of it as "big dog" medication.  When I went to the hospital for the not-a-UTI, I had to list my prescriptions to at least 3 nurses.  Each time they'd say "Oh wow", and I'd say "Yeah, not really".  I think I should have mentioned that I've been on opiate therapy for two years and maybe they would have understood.  I always take it for granted in situations like that that they understand what's going on with me.
I'm really glad to know it can work.  It seems like a better medication to taper off of than the oxycodone and with the price going up, my husband was ready to shell out whatever it took for me to be functional again.  This is very encouraging news.
Thank you for sharing! :)

[optimus22mac]

It's been a while since I had Oxycontin, but I don't remember any significant increase or decrease in price when I switched to the Hydromorph Contin.  I want to guess it's a little cheaper, but have to remember I live in Canada--so prices are different.  I did luckily just get the new insurance through my husband's work, so now we are saving a TON of money!!! If you add all of my prescriptions...we were paying about $650.00 per month!!! Now we pay $6.99 per prescription!! CRAZY!!!  If you do decide on the ER Hydromorphone, I hope you find it as amazing as I do...It works so well for me:) And the dilaudid I take is the 4mg pills, 1-2 up to 4 times a day.  When I switched, I was taking Oxycontin and Percocet, and was in so much pain...it just wasn't working.  I was amazed when I started the dilaudid because the pain relief happened, with no noticeable side effects--no tiredness, dizzyness...I was so happy!

[sandee1818]

I have noticed that I am not as tired and I just feel better. I had taken the oxycodone for so long it really had no more effect on my pain , I really see that now. I thought I was doing fine with the level of pain I was dealing with but I was not and now realize this.
The shortage has really been a blessing to me. I hope others find this to be true too.
The oxycodone 30mg here in Florida is so popular. Alot of the ones that come in from out of state people who come to the "pill mills" and this is why there is a shortage. My Doctor made the comment that Florida is like McDonald's 10 billion sold, referring to oxycodone.
The DEA shut down a couple clinics in Jacksonville on Thursday and I can only hope they will get to the many, many others.  

I am still supposed to be taking the oxycontin but have not as this seems to work by taking it every four to five hours and I see no use in taking more medications when I do not need them. I will have to email the doctor today and and let him know I am not taking it. I may need it down the road but for now I am good. He did ask me about the ER hydromorphone and I just decided to stay with the oxycontin and see how the new medicine worked with it.
Is the ER formula of Hydromorphone as expensive as the oxycontin is?