pedden
11-06-2005, 08:30 PM
Hello everyone!!! It has been awhile since I have been on here due to not having access to the internet. Just for information, I am currently on Duragesic 50mcg/hr every 3 days, Loricet 10/500 4 X daily PRN for BT, Lyrica 75mg 2 X daily, and Xanax 1 mg 4 X daily. Everything seems to be working alright, except the BT pain medication, the Loricet doesn't help with my breakthrough pain. With the medications I am on, anyones and everyones advice on the BT medication I should request is greatly appreciated. My pain is from PHN (Post-Herpetic Neuralgia{after shingles}). Any information on any change of medication or routine I can get into to stop the BT pain!!!! THANK YOU!!
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ARANGER
11-06-2005, 09:49 PM
You are at the highest dose of Hydrocodone that is made 10mg. Unless you have it compounded. You could ask your Dr to switch you to an Oxycodone based drug (Percocet, Oxy IR). When I was on Duragesic, I used Oxy IR 5mg for BT. Oxycodone is stronger than Hydrocodone so you could probably start with a 5mg dose either of Oxy IR or Percocet. Percocet contains APAP (Tylenol) like the Lorcet. If you go with just an Oxycodone only drug you can get single dosages from 5mg to 30mg(Roxicodone). It gives you a little more flexability when you don't have the Tylenol to worry about as there is only a 4000mg day max for Tylenol. Hope this helps.
Take Care
Take Care
friendly_one
11-07-2005, 12:34 PM
Hi Motte....have you ever tried Actiq? This is what I take. Basically, it's fentanyl (the same med as in Duragesic) on a stick (it's a lollipop). They come in 6 different strengths 200mcg, 400mcg, 600mcg, 800mcg, 1200mcg, & 1600mcg. I take the 1200mcg up to 5/day as needed. I also take Duragesic 125mcg (I wish they would make a 125mcg patch..one patch is bad enough at irritating my skin, but 2 patches really does it in...oh well, small price to pay for pain relief LOL). I change my patches every 3 days. This combination works well for me. All you can do is bring the Actiq up for suggestion, ya know?? One last thing, do you have insurance?? If you don't, Actiq probably isn't for you...it's very expensive!! I get 150 units/month and pay $20 for my copay. Without insurance, the cash price is $4012.09!! Needless to say, I wouldn't be taking it. Anyway, good luck! :)
pedden
11-07-2005, 01:45 PM
Yes, that def. isnt for me then. I dont have any insurance, luckily Janssen Corp. is giving me my patches for free or I would be in alot of trouble as far as those go. Thank You for the information, and any other suggestions would be wonderful!!
pedden
11-07-2005, 01:48 PM
I was taking Percocet 10/650 before, but I had an allergic reaction to it. So my doctor took me off and put me back on Hydrocodone. Now with that said, could it have been something in the Percocet and not necessarily the Oxycodone? I know they use different stuff on top of the active ingredients (oxycodone, tylenol) to give its shape and color. Could this be possible? Or any other medicines for suggestions? Thank You!!
cpapp31
11-07-2005, 08:55 PM
Not to sound mean. Please don't take this the wrong. But, many chronic pain patients are NOT allowed any breakthrough pain medication. Me included.
At least you have Lorcet to take when you hit a rough spot.
I am not allowed break through meds, my doctor does not prescribe them for any of his patients. Except, cancer pain patients. If this is what you are taking break through meds for, maybe your dcoctor should prescribe something stronger. Cancer pain sucks, I had a clode relative die not to long ago. What a long, slow and pain disease.
Good luck with everything,
Cpapp31 :)
At least you have Lorcet to take when you hit a rough spot.
I am not allowed break through meds, my doctor does not prescribe them for any of his patients. Except, cancer pain patients. If this is what you are taking break through meds for, maybe your dcoctor should prescribe something stronger. Cancer pain sucks, I had a clode relative die not to long ago. What a long, slow and pain disease.
Good luck with everything,
Cpapp31 :)
Chaddyfriend
11-07-2005, 09:21 PM
man, i didnt ready ur story clear enough the first time. I hadnt seen anyone else on ehre with shingels yet! i have the same thing, my shingles started 3 months ago and i am still going, I take avinza (long acting morphine) 90mg twice a day once in morning and once at night, as well asy oxycodone 10mg for br. I would like to know more about your shingles, how long have u had em and so on.thanks! and also where ur pain is and how it feels.
conductor
11-07-2005, 09:40 PM
Cpapp31,
I do not understand a pain doctor not Rx'ing BT medications for those times when the pain becomes unbearable.
Now...don't misunderstand me when it concerns the pain of cancer patients. I dealt with one of my aunts on a first-hand basis concerning her cancer pain. It was completely unyielding in nature.
I feel that my pain caused by my Lupus and Lupus Anticoagulant conditions is unyielding, as well.
Do a great deal of physicians think that BT pain is only a valid concern for cancer patients?
I'm thankful for my BT medications. I take Duragesic for my regular pain, and I use Actiq and Dilaudid for the BT pain. Frankly, pain is pain--regardless of the condition.
I just thought I'd put my two cents in (but I barely have that amount since the medications cost so much--and that's with insurance)!
I do not understand a pain doctor not Rx'ing BT medications for those times when the pain becomes unbearable.
Now...don't misunderstand me when it concerns the pain of cancer patients. I dealt with one of my aunts on a first-hand basis concerning her cancer pain. It was completely unyielding in nature.
I feel that my pain caused by my Lupus and Lupus Anticoagulant conditions is unyielding, as well.
Do a great deal of physicians think that BT pain is only a valid concern for cancer patients?
I'm thankful for my BT medications. I take Duragesic for my regular pain, and I use Actiq and Dilaudid for the BT pain. Frankly, pain is pain--regardless of the condition.
I just thought I'd put my two cents in (but I barely have that amount since the medications cost so much--and that's with insurance)!
friendly_one
11-08-2005, 07:01 PM
Same here conductor....I don't understand the reasoning behind the no b/t pain meds, except for cancer pain. Pain is pain, whether it is malignant or not. My doc is very understanding about pain (acute, chronic, malignant, non-malignant, and breakthrough). It makes me wonder how many patients are suffering in this doctor's care?? If you are happy with your treatment then obviously, don't change. But, this sounds like undertreatment to me and I would be looking for a new doc. To let a patient just suffer through b/t pain episodes sounds a bit barbaric to me, but who am I to say, I'm JUST a patient, not an MD. :rolleyes:
Director
11-08-2005, 07:31 PM
My doctor is not giving me any breakthrough meds either. I'm on 180 mg of Methadone (60 mg TID), with no BT. For the most part, I'm doing alright without any BT meds, but I have to admit there are times when I wish I had something. I've been on my current dose of Meth for almost three years now. I suffer from tumors in both lungs (benign) and have had surgery, but now I have neuralgia pain. I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other bowel problems. Both are very painful.
My mother passed away in 1998 and I ended up getting Herpes Zoster (Shingles) due to the stress of everything. Although mine cleared up in about two months, my doctor (my PCP) prescribed Hydrocodone 10/325 q 3-4h PRN for pain. So, based on that, it sounds like they are treating Shingles a little more appropriately now then what I got for pain. That's good, because one 10 mg Hydro did not take care of the pain. I had to take two to get any relief at all and then I would come up short on my script. At least my doc was understanding to this and wrote me new scripts early.
My mother passed away in 1998 and I ended up getting Herpes Zoster (Shingles) due to the stress of everything. Although mine cleared up in about two months, my doctor (my PCP) prescribed Hydrocodone 10/325 q 3-4h PRN for pain. So, based on that, it sounds like they are treating Shingles a little more appropriately now then what I got for pain. That's good, because one 10 mg Hydro did not take care of the pain. I had to take two to get any relief at all and then I would come up short on my script. At least my doc was understanding to this and wrote me new scripts early.
Chaddyfriend
11-08-2005, 08:24 PM
I have had shingels for 3 months, i am on avinza and oxycodone , is working better than the 100mcg fent path.In my case they have terated my pain very effectivley and i am happy with my pain plan.