Has anyone found it possible to take oxycodone on a p.r.n. basis? - Pain Management Message Board

wrenegade · 03-12-2006, 02:09 PM

Hi Friends,
I have a question about coming off of oxycodone. I have spondylolisthesis grade 2 and did pretty well without pain meds for about 23 years. Due to aging (48) and added stess (unrelated to pain), I felt I could not handle the pain without medication any longer. About 2 years ago, I started with hydrocodone for pain and something for sleep. I am now on 30 - 40 mg a day of oxycodone and 1 Soma and .5 - 1 mg of Klonopin for sleep. I really do not like being dependant on the medication and the constipation is a real problem. I thought I would at least try to come off of the meds and see how I felt.

My job allows me to take a month off this summer and I am planning to rent a cabin and just do a whole detox thing. We used to own a health food store and I have read on the Addiction board (though this is a dependance, not addiction, issue) and I am familiar with what it would take to detox (but still open to any suggestions).

I figure if I still experienced significant pain, I could always go back on the meds.

My question is, has anyone found it possible to take something as strong as oxycodone on a p.r.n. basis? I initially wanted to take only when "the pain was real bad, but ended up taking it on a daily basis, though not abusively. I would like to go back to square one and try again as some of the stress in my life has eased.

Thank you for any input.
wren

ARANGER · 03-12-2006, 03:40 PM

Wren,

To answer the PRN question, my breakthrough meds are always writted PRN. I take Percocet 10/325 for BT and OxyContin for my Long-Acting. I have many medical problems and failed surgeries in my spine and will probably be on some sort of medicine for a long time. So, for me, PRN usually means everyday, however the amount changes due to the pain that particular day.

I think I understand what your asking, but I'm probably not the best example of a PRN that would maybe be every two weeks or something due to my conditions.

If you decide to detox, best of luck to you. Take Care.

wolfmarket · 03-12-2006, 11:37 PM

I do not understand your question. I take 30mg Roxicodone for breakthrough. That is simply 30 mg of pure oxycodone and the directions are PRN 6-8 hours.

Oxycodone is usually used prn because it is a short acting med. On the hand, OxyContin, the time released version of oxycodone, is used as long acting base med and is not prescribed prn.

Alan

feelbad · 03-13-2006, 08:40 AM

I think what you are actually asking is can your pain be adequately cotrolled using this PRN?That would depend on just how bad your pain is and what you are willing to accept as far as when the pain gets out of hand.unfortuently,it is much easier to maintain much better control over pain BEFORE it gets to the point where you just can't stand it and have to take something to try and get it calmed down again.This just sends you on that continuous roller coaster ride of ups and downs in your pain.

like i said,alot depends on just what type of pain you are trying to actually control.I think you would probably do much better just staying on the lowest possible dose of a long acting med to try and maintain that more even keel in your actual levels of pain,vs putting yourself thru hell everytime the pain flares and you have to chase it down and try to reign it in.i do hope you can come up with a good plan for your type of pain.sometimes we just do not have alot of choices when it comes to actual treatment.unfortunetly the treatment all depends on the nature and levels of the pain as to what the best actual treatment should be.sometimes,our choices are rather limited at best.good luck,Marcia

wrenegade · 03-13-2006, 03:41 PM

Thank you to all three of you for sharing your advice and experience. I think Marcia, you put what I was asking better than I did

I have had some pain for 30 years more or less, but until 2 years ago, I controlled it with exercise, ice, chiropractic, etc. I thought I would try to see if I could go back to doing that again. I am concerned about the long-term effects of the narcotics -- liver, bone loss, those types of things. . . but it sure has been nice to be able to control my pain better.

It may be that I may not be able to go without some type of medication. In fact, my doctor has been hinting about Oxycontin for longacting. The only longacting PM I have tried was the Duragesic Patch and did not have very good success with it. I have been nervous about trying the Oxycontin because I have a distant (20+ years ago) history of drug abuse, and I heard the Oxycontin was somewhat like quaaludes. Is that true? I have been able to use the oxycodone and not abuse it and for that I thank the Lord, but I would rather not be on any opiates at all. Of course, as you said, I will need to evaluate how much pain I am in and how much I am willing to tolerate. Spinal fusion has been suggested several times, but the prognosis was "might help some with your pain" and I felt that was not a good enough tradeoff for the possible lack of success I have heard so much of.

Thanks again for any and all input which is very much appreciated.
wren