I posted a (much) longer version of this to the main Pain board, but I think I made it too confusing and so the answers are focusing on a side question I asked about tylenol. So here it is much more succinctly (I hope).
Is using 135 tablets of 5/500 tablets of hydrocodone (always within prescription dosing instructions) over a period of 90 days too fast?
Details:
Each time I visit the pharmacy I get one bottle of 45 tablets of 5/500 hydrocodone (it's for lower back disc degeneration pain). I get to do that three times, after which the doctor said just to have them call in and he'd re-issue another 3x45 tablet script. The dose instructions on the bottle are: "1 to 2 tablets, every 4-6 hours, as needed, for pain".
I usually take 0.5 or 1 tablet at a time, once or twice a day. Some days I take none at all. Occasionally I'll take two tablets. The most I've ever taken in a day is four -- two in the morning, and then two in early evening. My pain is long-term, but very spiky -- some days it's just a background hum, others I'm twisting to keep vertebrae from bumping together! :-) How much I take depends on how big the pain "spike" is, and how long I reckon it's going to last. I never exceed dose instructions.
I guess I'm concerned because although the dosing instructions "allow" a certain frequency of use, perhaps there was an expectation of something much slower. Maybe my 3 x 45 supply was supposed to last 6 months, or a year, or more? I don't want to have the pharmacy phone in and then be labeled some kind of drug abuser because I'm using them too quickly.
Last edited by smithesque; 09-20-2010 at 09:48 PM.
You're well within your limit for amount of meds you have, but one thing you should consider. A doc cannot "call" in a refill for a class II Narcotic, it requires an actual paper prescription. Just wanted to mention that before you run out of meds and get caught in a bind.
Hello Smith,
It usually says on the bottle x number of days. Look for that and it will indicate how long the prescription should last. If you don't find that I would ask your doctor. He's the one who knows.
Please keep us posted.
Peggy
You're well within your limit for amount of meds you have, but one thing you should consider. A doc cannot "call" in a refill for a class II Narcotic, it requires an actual paper prescription. Just wanted to mention that before you run out of meds and get caught in a bind.
Is Vicodin/Hydrocodone on the Class/Sched. II list?
My old doctor would always call in for those, though I would have to pick up prescriptions for Oxycodone, which I know is on the Sched. II list.
If you would take them as needed ever 4 to 8 hours
You, should have them for up to your 90 days...
Taking two pills every four hours would be taking- the pills eight times taking them within the 24 hour time frame- Which really is way to much and if you take it like that everyday it will not last you the 90 days
Taking two pills ever eight hours you would be taking the pills- four times within the 24 hour time frame. Your best beat is to take the pills as needed when it comes to those pills- they are not that bad for you- which people are always saying how much they love them- they really do not do anything to anyone- the pain does not ever go away for me when I take them- and I have taken them many of times and now I am on Methadone- I have had at least 15 different pain pills I have had to take- a lot of them were due to surgeries I have had to have done.
If I were you though take your pills as needed for the pain- make them last for 90 days. I always had mine way beyond the point of the 90 days. I still have some sitting in the other room- With other pills I do not take- the methadone though is not anything to mess with and you cannot take that one as needed though which sucks. I hate taking meds- I hate pills...
Hope you feel better and the pain goes away
__________________
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You're allowed up to 8 pills a day if the bottle says 1-2 every 4-6 hours.
That's 8x30=240 per month.
HOWEVER, some docs will write that but only prescribe, say, 60 a month max.
You should probably ask your doctor.
I have had 150 given to me- when I was on these- so no it is not the max for a month. I got mine from my pain doctor though- which I am not taking them any longer- I am on other meds
__________________
True Love is one of the rarest things to come by; once you do end up finding it treat is as if it was a treasure; because it is one of the most preious things to ever share with someone.
The max would be whatever the doctor says on the directions.
Check your math in your first post, and everyone's pain is different so always keep that in mind. You may have had a surplus of meds at the end of the month but most folks that need them don't.
Re: How long should 135 vicodin last me? 
