What is considered high dose

[Lindy125]

Hi All,
I have been on 240 mg. of Oxy Contin for about 1 year and 1/2.  Recently, my pain has increased to I was going to ask my Dr. for 1 more 80mg per day.  My pharmacist said he cant beleive how much I am already taking.  What is the opinion ofd those that are taking pain med?

[Bottine]

Hi, I just read your comment and I do the same I'm on 80mg Oxycontin 3 times daily and when I feel too much pain I do cut back for a few days and you are right it does work...I think it's better to do it like that then asking your doctor for some more...but I also agree some people need less and some people need more we're all different,but when you come at a high dosage like me I's rather do as woodsprincess do cut back and it does work like magic...but I also understand that for some people it wont work so I guess people who can cut back are really lucky...
                                                            Bottine

[concerned621]

Hi, We sound so similar. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand only.  It helped a lot. My hand has stayed very weak though. Insist on therapy after surgery.  I take 40 mg total a day of oxycontin.  My doctor says I am his worse chronic pain patient.  I too suffer with excruciating pain.  The thing with me is I refuse to act like or feel like I'm on anything.  In thinking about you my doctor tells me all the time he has chronic pain patients who are on doses as high as yours. I am so sensitive to medication and I guess that is a good thing. I Are you pain free?  I also take percocet for break thru pain. I limit that to 2 a day. You know those days where the pain is so bad you feel you can't go on, I will increase the percocet to some times 4 per day. I was diagnosed in 92 with FM, suffered in silence for many years, kept going in a demanding career, injured in a car accident in 03, 3 cervical surgeries.  Then injured in another accident 1 year later, 2 more surgeries.  I've had 7 total.  Low back is fused, neck is fused.  So you can imagine.  About 6 months ago I had had enough. I joined a gym.  I started just walking in the pool 15 minutes at a time. I'm up to 40-50 minutes and 20 pounds lighter. I can't tell you how much it's helped. The pain is still there but this helps me mentally as well as physically.  I can't swim, my neck and back hurt a lot and swimming would probably give me a migraine beyond repair but walking in the water-I'm pain free.  Then I sit in the sauna for 15 minutes, more pain free time.  So try that if you can.  Do you drive and go out on that dose of medication?  You take care and keep in touch.  

[Lindy125]

Well hello, I.m back.  It's funny you ask how I function on such a high dose, its more the opposite in that, that is the only way I am able to function.  I have fibroymyalgia as well.  I also have 3 degenerating discs.  Last month I was also diagnosed with severe carapel tunneI in both arms.  The pain I am in some days is excrutiating, from head to toe.  I am going for surgery in February for one of my arms.  I am hoping that it is the Carpal Tunnel that is causing most of the upper body pain and the surgery will alleviate this.  My family Dr. is basically saying that it is difficult to ascertain where the pain originates as all of my symptons in the upper body apply to all 3 conditions.  How much oxy contin do you take?  I agree with the tolerance thing.  When I first started taking Oxy Contion, one, 40mg. oxy would make me feel weird and now.....I don't even notice anything.  How are you doing?  Have you found any external factors making some days better or worse than others?  Look forward to hearing from you!

[concerned621]

Taking oxycontin myself I think that is an extremely high does. Now you did not say what type of condition you have that makes you need this medication so it could warrant such a high dose. What could be happening is your body build a tolerance you eventually you require more and more medication. Perhaps switching to a different medication.  A good doctor would discuss that with you rather than giving you more oxycontin. Are you able to function daily? my pain doctor always says it's a situation of taking enough pain medication to allow me to have quality of life but still allow me to function in my daily life.  I suffer with fibromyalgia and I've had 7 surgeries on my spine which all resulted in arthritis  and other complications.  I would be interested to know what you are suffering with. And also how you function daily on that high dose. I just stopped taking oxycontin and I am not on methadone.  So far so good.  I also feel like I can think clearer.  Best of luck to you.  I do trust what my pharmacist says. They are highly trained and often catch things my very over worked physician missed.  

[Storm007]

I do not take stock in what any pharmicist or Dr,who is not aware of my illnesses.
I have been in excruciating pain for over 23 yrs.
They say I have way too much pain meds and too high  doses..Well,I reply to them.."You do not have to live in my body..do you!!!??!
Plain and simple...Storm

[SHELLBELL79]

you cannot raise your tolerance in a few days. i was on fentanyl 150mcg for less than 6 months and my tolerance is sky high! fentanyl is the strongest pain med. in the world! its 100x stronger than morphine and 50x stronger than herion. i was off fentanyl for 3 months and my tolernace went down from taking 2 10mg norco to just 1 1/2 and that lasted only 2 days and then my tolerance went up and up. It takes at least a year and some times your tolerance can't be fixed. I dont think my can b/c of the fentanyl!! *****!

[optimus22mac]

What are your exact doses and times per day that you are prescribed the Oxycontin? And is it only oxycontin, or is some of it percocet--or some other IR Oxycodone? Do you take anything for breakthrough?  
I have seen many posts from people who take as much or more than you, so you may be able to get an increase, depending on the type and dosages you are on.  Severe chronic pain can often require those large amounts, so do not feel bad about taking that amount.  Tell your doctor that your pain relief is not sufficient, and ask him/her what they can do.  I would not specifically ask for the extra 80mg dose though, I would leave the entire thing up to the doctor.  In some cases, asking for a drug may seem like drug seeking behavior.  
When Oxycodone stopped working for me, my Dr chose to put me on Hydromorphone  (Hydromorph Contin for ER and Dilaudid for IR).  This has been very successful for me.  
So....talk with your doctor, and...Good luck! I hope you find better pain relief soon.

[woodsprincess]

It works great for me. why so angry Im tying to help her out.Anyway I cut mine in half for a few hard days and it really works!

[TrayCee]

its impossible to lower youre tolerance in a few days.  It doesnt work that way.

[Lindy125]

Sorry, not sure what you mean.  Cut down to what and for how many days?  I imagaine you get to the point where any dose is not enough.  Another site told me that 240 was not that high of a dose but they were on 900mg so...any ideas would be helpful!

[woodsprincess]

What I have to do is cut down for a few day, then you get relief again,on a full dose. try it it really helps.

[TrayCee]

240mg is considered a VERY high dose