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vicodin
I have been on vicodin for 5 years, prescribed by my Dooc, and I now take 10 a day and it does not work anymore. I realy do not want to go stronger so what do I need to do to make them work again. The pain is killing me. Please email me ***@**** HELP !!!!!!!
Hi,
you'll have to excuse me as I'm new to this forum/site. However, first I guess I would ask if there is anything that can be done medically, surgically for your pain and is it lifelong? While 10 Vicodin a day does not (on the surface) seem to be an overwhelming amount; I've been on much much more over the years. Two issues I would want to look into if I were you is the first mentioned above by Jaybay - all the tylenol you are putting in your body and of course, the fact that it no longer is working for you. If you have your medical records to bring to a good Pain Management specialist that's the first thing I would do. There are a plenty of medications that you can take as Jaybay suggested that are time released so you can be properly treated for your pain, with possibly some short acting meds (w/o tylenol and there are many) for breakthrough pain.
It is common for pain patients to become tolerant to the "same" amount of pain medication over years and years. You need a good doctor that understands Pain Management and can treat you properly. The positive aspect of the longer acting medications is that they don't "interfere" as much with your daily functioning as the short acting drugs, and you may only have to take something occasionally for breakthrough pain.
Let's just say, I've been there, done that! Good luck, but Jaybay is very correct when stating a PCP won't be able to treat you properly for constant, chronic pain. Get a Pain Management doctor. Good luck to you and sorry you are in so much pain. My best, patsgeadogs
you'll have to excuse me as I'm new to this forum/site. However, first I guess I would ask if there is anything that can be done medically, surgically for your pain and is it lifelong? While 10 Vicodin a day does not (on the surface) seem to be an overwhelming amount; I've been on much much more over the years. Two issues I would want to look into if I were you is the first mentioned above by Jaybay - all the tylenol you are putting in your body and of course, the fact that it no longer is working for you. If you have your medical records to bring to a good Pain Management specialist that's the first thing I would do. There are a plenty of medications that you can take as Jaybay suggested that are time released so you can be properly treated for your pain, with possibly some short acting meds (w/o tylenol and there are many) for breakthrough pain.
It is common for pain patients to become tolerant to the "same" amount of pain medication over years and years. You need a good doctor that understands Pain Management and can treat you properly. The positive aspect of the longer acting medications is that they don't "interfere" as much with your daily functioning as the short acting drugs, and you may only have to take something occasionally for breakthrough pain.
Let's just say, I've been there, done that! Good luck, but Jaybay is very correct when stating a PCP won't be able to treat you properly for constant, chronic pain. Get a Pain Management doctor. Good luck to you and sorry you are in so much pain. My best, patsgeadogs
One choice is to taper down and take an opiate holiday for a few weeks while your pain receptors in the brain reset. That is one strategy that doctor's with offer in chronic non-malignant pain patients. Even if you go to a stronger medication, this issue will crop up time and again. It's one of the many drawbacks to opiate therapy.
The bigger issue right now I think is the amount of tylenol you are asking your liver to deal with. 10 vicodin a day puts you at the upper limit of what is non-toxic to the liver. After 5 years, one would think your doctor would mention this issue to you.
The other option would be to try something long-acting that doesn't contain tylenol. There are several choices including the fentanyl patch, and time released pills containing morphine, methadone or oxycodone. If you aren't seeing a pain specialist, it is doubtful that a PCP or family doctor would be willing to prescribe these medications due to their abuse potential.
The bigger issue right now I think is the amount of tylenol you are asking your liver to deal with. 10 vicodin a day puts you at the upper limit of what is non-toxic to the liver. After 5 years, one would think your doctor would mention this issue to you.
The other option would be to try something long-acting that doesn't contain tylenol. There are several choices including the fentanyl patch, and time released pills containing morphine, methadone or oxycodone. If you aren't seeing a pain specialist, it is doubtful that a PCP or family doctor would be willing to prescribe these medications due to their abuse potential.
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