vcfsfatigue
08-27-2003, 05:51 PM
Anybody else here take Hydrocodone/Apap for pain management? HOw does this help you.
Sponsor
hottrodd
08-27-2003, 06:23 PM
Hi,
I take Hydrocodone APAP 5/500 for pain. It used to help, but now it doesn't help much. I mostly have to take 2 at a time to feel just a little relief. I am also concerned about taking so much tylenol and harmful reactions to my liver, even though I have never had any red flags with my liver.
My doctor says if your taking 6 or more a day, then they need to switch to something else because of the tylenol. I have reached that point!
I have my first pain management appt. today at 3:30 and hopefully they can look into the possibilities of trying a different med.
I don't think it's a good med for chronic pain that is going to last all day or most of the day. We need a longer acting med that's stronger, instead of a roller coaster ride of high's and low's.
I am not sure what my doctor will put me on, if any switch will even occur. I am willing to give anything a chance, and move on to something else, if it doesn't work. If they want to put me on lortab 10, or percocet, then I will try them. Most docs will go through the chain of command meds before trying something longer acting. I say "most" because not all docs are that way. I am assuming that because I am only on 5mg-10mg of vicodin that they will try the others first.
Hottrodd
------------------
* 27 years old, male
*Chronic upper back pain for about 6 years, recently getting really bad, really stiff in the morning takes forever to get going, lasts all day everyday.
*Crackling sounds from rib cage area across upper and middle back when stretching.
* Pain, tightness and burning all day long, usually ranges from a 4 through 9 depending on the day and how my body wants to react. Usually it's at least a 6/7 all day recently, used to be an annoying 3/4 all day, which I lived with but hated.
*Problem areas are mainly around breastbone area of chest, across shoulder blades, dead center upper back, upper shoulders and back of neck. Feels as if it's muscles and bones/joints, possibly ribs.
*Muscles spasms, had a couple that were severe enough to go to ER, felt like I was having a heart attack, pain radiated through upper back to chest area.
*Taking Vicodin 5/500 Soma 350 and Celebrex 200, which also helps somewhat but not to where I am not bothered by the pain, burning, tightness ect..
*Chiropractic 3 years, PT on and off again, all of which produces results that do not last for more than the day I have them.
*Can't remember any trauma I had that would have caused all this. Don't understand how it's getting worse.
*Can't really do anything, lifting, heavy physical ect.. Try and walk and stretch when I can.
*Still undiagnosed and waiting
I take Hydrocodone APAP 5/500 for pain. It used to help, but now it doesn't help much. I mostly have to take 2 at a time to feel just a little relief. I am also concerned about taking so much tylenol and harmful reactions to my liver, even though I have never had any red flags with my liver.
My doctor says if your taking 6 or more a day, then they need to switch to something else because of the tylenol. I have reached that point!
I have my first pain management appt. today at 3:30 and hopefully they can look into the possibilities of trying a different med.
I don't think it's a good med for chronic pain that is going to last all day or most of the day. We need a longer acting med that's stronger, instead of a roller coaster ride of high's and low's.
I am not sure what my doctor will put me on, if any switch will even occur. I am willing to give anything a chance, and move on to something else, if it doesn't work. If they want to put me on lortab 10, or percocet, then I will try them. Most docs will go through the chain of command meds before trying something longer acting. I say "most" because not all docs are that way. I am assuming that because I am only on 5mg-10mg of vicodin that they will try the others first.
Hottrodd
------------------
* 27 years old, male
*Chronic upper back pain for about 6 years, recently getting really bad, really stiff in the morning takes forever to get going, lasts all day everyday.
*Crackling sounds from rib cage area across upper and middle back when stretching.
* Pain, tightness and burning all day long, usually ranges from a 4 through 9 depending on the day and how my body wants to react. Usually it's at least a 6/7 all day recently, used to be an annoying 3/4 all day, which I lived with but hated.
*Problem areas are mainly around breastbone area of chest, across shoulder blades, dead center upper back, upper shoulders and back of neck. Feels as if it's muscles and bones/joints, possibly ribs.
*Muscles spasms, had a couple that were severe enough to go to ER, felt like I was having a heart attack, pain radiated through upper back to chest area.
*Taking Vicodin 5/500 Soma 350 and Celebrex 200, which also helps somewhat but not to where I am not bothered by the pain, burning, tightness ect..
*Chiropractic 3 years, PT on and off again, all of which produces results that do not last for more than the day I have them.
*Can't remember any trauma I had that would have caused all this. Don't understand how it's getting worse.
*Can't really do anything, lifting, heavy physical ect.. Try and walk and stretch when I can.
*Still undiagnosed and waiting
grizzk62
08-27-2003, 07:05 PM
Vcfsfatigue,
Hello and welcome to the board. I was on any number of hydrocodone preps for the last 18 yrs since I broke my back. Its considered a potent narcotic and some may say mg for mg stronger than morphine. However it is a short acting narcotic and really like Hottrod said not a good PM drug because of the short acting nature. For longterm PM it is not recommended not only because of the short acting nature but because of the APAP in all of the various preps. As Hottrod said APAP can do damage to the liver in the long run. Their are some Docs that will use it in PM as a break thru med, meaning when on a longacting narcotic med has been Rxed and doesn't handle the pain that comes on suddenly then a BT "break thru" med is Rxed. My experience with it in the past was before I was put on methadone and Oxy IR for BT pain, is that it worked ok. While on it I experience fair pain relief it just didn't last long enough and because I have HepC a liver virus it was damageing my liver more than I could handle. When I finally got into a PM doc a year ago. He started me out on Oxycontin and kept me on Norco for BT pain. Norco being the least APAP prep out there. Then I was switch again because of side effects and my doctor not wanting me to take any APAP preps switched me to methadone and Oxy IR which has no APAP at all. And I'm getting great pain relief as well. I probably rambled on to much but theres my experience with hyrdocodone in a nutshell. Please keep posting and if I can help at all don't hesitate to ask.....
Matt
Hello and welcome to the board. I was on any number of hydrocodone preps for the last 18 yrs since I broke my back. Its considered a potent narcotic and some may say mg for mg stronger than morphine. However it is a short acting narcotic and really like Hottrod said not a good PM drug because of the short acting nature. For longterm PM it is not recommended not only because of the short acting nature but because of the APAP in all of the various preps. As Hottrod said APAP can do damage to the liver in the long run. Their are some Docs that will use it in PM as a break thru med, meaning when on a longacting narcotic med has been Rxed and doesn't handle the pain that comes on suddenly then a BT "break thru" med is Rxed. My experience with it in the past was before I was put on methadone and Oxy IR for BT pain, is that it worked ok. While on it I experience fair pain relief it just didn't last long enough and because I have HepC a liver virus it was damageing my liver more than I could handle. When I finally got into a PM doc a year ago. He started me out on Oxycontin and kept me on Norco for BT pain. Norco being the least APAP prep out there. Then I was switch again because of side effects and my doctor not wanting me to take any APAP preps switched me to methadone and Oxy IR which has no APAP at all. And I'm getting great pain relief as well. I probably rambled on to much but theres my experience with hyrdocodone in a nutshell. Please keep posting and if I can help at all don't hesitate to ask.....
Matt
SFangel
08-28-2003, 01:25 AM
I have severe chronic pain caused by Reflex Sympathetic
Dystrophy in the left knee/leg. I tried different types
of medications to control this pain. One of them was Vicodin 5/500 (hydrocodone with acetaminaphen). This medication was absolutely ineffective for me; it did not relieve completely or even reduce my pain.
The meds that work best for me are the strong narcotic painkillers such as Oxycontin and Duragesic. These meds
are lifesavers for me! Vicodin worked for breakthrough pain IF and ONLY IF I took Oxycontin or Duragesic for the control of my severe chronic pain.
Each person's body reacts differently to medications. What works for a person might not work for another. However, I strongly believe hydrocodone is NOT stronger
than morphine.
Dystrophy in the left knee/leg. I tried different types
of medications to control this pain. One of them was Vicodin 5/500 (hydrocodone with acetaminaphen). This medication was absolutely ineffective for me; it did not relieve completely or even reduce my pain.
The meds that work best for me are the strong narcotic painkillers such as Oxycontin and Duragesic. These meds
are lifesavers for me! Vicodin worked for breakthrough pain IF and ONLY IF I took Oxycontin or Duragesic for the control of my severe chronic pain.
Each person's body reacts differently to medications. What works for a person might not work for another. However, I strongly believe hydrocodone is NOT stronger
than morphine.
grizzk62
08-28-2003, 10:34 AM
SFangel,
I can total relate to how you think of hydrocodone after being on my long acting meds methadone and OxyIR hydrocodone is like taking candy. It is good only in the short term pain relief. Its not even recommended in treating chronic pain. It just doens't last long enough then you have the APAP aspect and liver function. Hey take care...
Matt
I can total relate to how you think of hydrocodone after being on my long acting meds methadone and OxyIR hydrocodone is like taking candy. It is good only in the short term pain relief. Its not even recommended in treating chronic pain. It just doens't last long enough then you have the APAP aspect and liver function. Hey take care...
Matt
SFangel
08-30-2003, 04:32 AM
Hi, Matt
I am sure hydrocodone has helped many people but this med was ineffective for me. I guess it is not strong enough to handle the severe pain I was in.
I wish doctors would understand that hydrocodone is appropriate for short-term mild to moderate pain only.
The strong and long-acting narcotic painkillers (such as morphine, methadone, fentanyl, etc.) need to be prescribed on a triplicate prescription form in California. Many doctors do not have these triplicates simply because they do not want to prescribe such strong narcotics. Besides that, they are afraid of the DEA and their State Medical Board.
I am sure hydrocodone has helped many people but this med was ineffective for me. I guess it is not strong enough to handle the severe pain I was in.
I wish doctors would understand that hydrocodone is appropriate for short-term mild to moderate pain only.
The strong and long-acting narcotic painkillers (such as morphine, methadone, fentanyl, etc.) need to be prescribed on a triplicate prescription form in California. Many doctors do not have these triplicates simply because they do not want to prescribe such strong narcotics. Besides that, they are afraid of the DEA and their State Medical Board.
grizzk62
08-30-2003, 10:57 PM
SFangel,
It's true about the effects of hydrocodone and it really should only be used in short term pain management. And sadly it's true also everywhere about Docs afraid of RXing only schedule 3 narcs instead of the schedule 2s because of the fear of the dea and other state agancys. Its truely unfortunate that most of have to suffer an eternity to finally get the pain relief that took us a life time to find and then upon finding that relief we have to endure the fear of it being taken away for what ever reason. Well I do enjoy this kind of discussions. i feel that we as CPers have a duty to be every vigulant in our fight to be given the relief that is out there. I also believe that we always need to be discussing this topic and creating change that needs to take place and change can only take place if we continue to talk and educate as many people as possible... Take good care...
Matt
It's true about the effects of hydrocodone and it really should only be used in short term pain management. And sadly it's true also everywhere about Docs afraid of RXing only schedule 3 narcs instead of the schedule 2s because of the fear of the dea and other state agancys. Its truely unfortunate that most of have to suffer an eternity to finally get the pain relief that took us a life time to find and then upon finding that relief we have to endure the fear of it being taken away for what ever reason. Well I do enjoy this kind of discussions. i feel that we as CPers have a duty to be every vigulant in our fight to be given the relief that is out there. I also believe that we always need to be discussing this topic and creating change that needs to take place and change can only take place if we continue to talk and educate as many people as possible... Take good care...
Matt
SFangel
08-31-2003, 03:08 AM
Hi, Matt
Doctors often prefer to prescribe schedule 3 narcs, none of which are appropriate for severe chronic pain. The narcs appropriate for this type of pain are all schedule 2 narcs. The DEA and State Medical Boards are responsible for this and for the suffering of millions of chronic pain patients in the U.S. They are also responsible for the deaths of people who committed suicide or applied for assisted suicide because they could not get available schedule 2 narcs for their pain relief.
I suffered excruciating pain for 9 months before I found a doctor willing to prescribe Oxycontin for me. Later, when I had to change doctors, I found another doctor that switched me from Oxycontin to Duragesic. These 2 doctors saved my life. Without them, I might be dead today because I would have killed myself or applied for assisted suicide.
Most chronic pain sufferers are not able to find a doctor willing to prescribe schedule 2 narcs for them. Those that are fortunate enough to get schedule 2 narcs indeed worry all the time that their doctor will lose their license because they prescribed schedule 2 narcs in an amount that the DEA and State Medical Boards judge too high. Who do they think they are to decide what is appropriate or not for a patient with severe chronic pain! Grrrr!
I trust my doctor: she is knowledgeable, caring, and nice. She has been prescribing Duragesic, a schedule 2 narc, for over a year. I am always afraid to lose the pain relief I get from Duragesic because her license is taken away.
I also do enjoy this kind of discussions. I often look at web sites talking about prescription narcs. I learn a lot. Yes, we, chronic pain patients, have the duty to learn more and to fight for the pain relief to which we have a right. I like to say: "Pain relief is a right, not a privilege!" If this pain relief means taking schedule 2 narcs, so be it! The DEA and State Medical Boards should get lost!
My orthopedists and neurologists always try to get me to wean off from Duragesic. They all failed. I told my latest orthopedist: "It is not in my plans to wean off from Duragesic and it is not in my doctor's plans to wean me off from Duragesic and I like it that way!" He shut up after that. I am so glad I put him back in his place. His job is to help my knee get better, not tell me I should wean off from a narc that has saved my life.
Doctors often prefer to prescribe schedule 3 narcs, none of which are appropriate for severe chronic pain. The narcs appropriate for this type of pain are all schedule 2 narcs. The DEA and State Medical Boards are responsible for this and for the suffering of millions of chronic pain patients in the U.S. They are also responsible for the deaths of people who committed suicide or applied for assisted suicide because they could not get available schedule 2 narcs for their pain relief.
I suffered excruciating pain for 9 months before I found a doctor willing to prescribe Oxycontin for me. Later, when I had to change doctors, I found another doctor that switched me from Oxycontin to Duragesic. These 2 doctors saved my life. Without them, I might be dead today because I would have killed myself or applied for assisted suicide.
Most chronic pain sufferers are not able to find a doctor willing to prescribe schedule 2 narcs for them. Those that are fortunate enough to get schedule 2 narcs indeed worry all the time that their doctor will lose their license because they prescribed schedule 2 narcs in an amount that the DEA and State Medical Boards judge too high. Who do they think they are to decide what is appropriate or not for a patient with severe chronic pain! Grrrr!
I trust my doctor: she is knowledgeable, caring, and nice. She has been prescribing Duragesic, a schedule 2 narc, for over a year. I am always afraid to lose the pain relief I get from Duragesic because her license is taken away.
I also do enjoy this kind of discussions. I often look at web sites talking about prescription narcs. I learn a lot. Yes, we, chronic pain patients, have the duty to learn more and to fight for the pain relief to which we have a right. I like to say: "Pain relief is a right, not a privilege!" If this pain relief means taking schedule 2 narcs, so be it! The DEA and State Medical Boards should get lost!
My orthopedists and neurologists always try to get me to wean off from Duragesic. They all failed. I told my latest orthopedist: "It is not in my plans to wean off from Duragesic and it is not in my doctor's plans to wean me off from Duragesic and I like it that way!" He shut up after that. I am so glad I put him back in his place. His job is to help my knee get better, not tell me I should wean off from a narc that has saved my life.