Problem with PM doc and switching meds. - Pain Management Message Board

REC73 · 01-13-2004, 02:09 PM

OMG I've never been so irritated or exasperated in my entire life.

My PM doc has me on oxycontin 20mg 3x's a day and MSIR 30mg. for breakthrough pain. I just started this regimen a little over a month ago. Before i was on percocet 10mg. every 4-6hrs. and that was for about 6mo. Before that he had me on tramadol, darvocet and vicodin.

Anyway, i gave the MSIR a month but it didn't work well for my breakthrough pain at all so when my Rx was up i asked if i could be switched to something different. The oxycontin works well for my base and i only need breakthrough meds maybe 2 days a week.

The nurse called me back and said unless i wanted to go back to darvocet or tramado there really wasn't anything else i could switch to. I was like..."well why can't i switch to oxyIR or a hydro prep" and she said that vicoden and oxyIR are extremely addictive and cause a little buzz so he doesn't want me to take those. I'm like you gotta be joking me, i've been on pain meds. for well over a year now and i don't get any kind of a buzz at all they just take my pain away. I was like.......i've been on percocet for 6 mo. before he switched me to oxycontin and oxyIR is no different that percocet except it has no acetaminophen in it. My PM already told me that with the condition of my back i'll more than likely be on pain meds. my whole life unless something else comes along. How in the world are they gonna have me on oxycontin and MSIR and then tell me they don't wanna give me vicoden or oxyIR for pain because i might get addicted. Can we say PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT not addicted. I take my meds exactly as prescribed and never abused them. I take them because i need them to have a half way normal life so i can take care of my children.

I have an appt. on mon. to talk to him and find out what's going on. Anyone else ever have something liek this happen to you? I"m totally confused because my PM has always been helpful and full of knowledge but this one has got me!

Thanks for listening to me ramble

twisten · 01-13-2004, 05:27 PM

I hear ya! My old doc was great but since we've moved I've got a new doc that I'm sure is opiod naive. Its like she is afraid to change anything or try anything different, even though I've been on duragesic and oxycontin in the past. Oh, sure she gives me what I need (other than 1 time when she cut me in half, she says by mistake) but what I'm on isn't helping a great deal. I see her next Friday and some type of change has to happen so we'll see. Good luck and I hope things get better for you.

vitonxl · 01-14-2004, 12:39 AM

I'm going through the same thing. I'm on oxicontin twice a day and 4 percoset a day. All they talk about is getting me off the pain meds. Not helping my pain. I told him the oxi works for 4 to 6 hrs then doesn't at all, so he put me on the percoset after. My pain is a 9 without anything, bed riden. With it a 6. I found out I have nerve damage from the back surgery I had 2 yrs. ago. I ask him if I could switch to percocet 7.5 instead of 5 mg and he said no mater what it's going to work the same in 2 months the body get's used to it. I understand that, but I thought I would just ask. I have a question. I get no "high" or weird feeling besides a little tired the first hour if sitting down, so how do you get addicted to something you need for the rest of your life to live?! I would be dead without it. I don't crush it, snort it, shoot it up or take more than I should. I take it the way I should because I'm grateful for it. Dr.'s only care about there license. People like Rush Limbaugh and the press make it hard for us to live.

NeedANewJaw · 01-15-2004, 12:15 PM

I agree you need to see the doc for med changes.
Who knows...she may havent even talked to the doc..that may have been her feelings about short acting meds.
MSIR didnt work for me either..even taking 2 30 mgs but I get great relief with roxicodone. This would be the equivelant since it comes in 15 and 30 mgs too, like the MSIR. Any since they know the oxycodone works well for you (hence the oxycontin) why not give it a try. Definately no more addicting than the oxyc right? at least makes sense to US.
but I bet you will have a good appt with your doc. hope so anyway

good luck and let us know how it goes.