Oxycontin & Blood Plasma Levels - Pain Management Message Board

ms_west · 08-04-2008, 04:52 AM

Last Wed my medications were increased

Thank you Jesus!!

from: 40 mg of oxycontin to 60 mg of oxycontin per day. Here is my new dosing schedule:

2:00 am. 20 mg.
8:00 am. 10 mg.
2:00 pm. 20 mg.
8:00 pm. 10 mg.

FYI - my doc is pretty flexible and I can take my meds however I really want. My meds come in 10 mg. tablets.

How long will it be before one should know before this stabilizes and one knows if this is an effective dosage?

Prior to this adjustment, I would wake up dry heaving and vomiting due to pain of a 9/10 every morning. I was taking my meds at 4 am and thought maybe if I moved it back to 2:00 my meds would surely be in by the time I woke up and I would not be as sleepy. Now I wake up with slight case of a nausea and pain levels of 6/7 and am not as sleepy which is great since I need to begin homeschooling the munchkins in the morning.

Most mornings I am requiring a BT within 1 hour of waking up.

This disturbs me that I still am needing a BT. One would think pain would be lower after a sleep and increased in meds but for me it is one of the worst times of day. Any suggestions/ideas?

Will taking 20 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 10 mg. cause my bpl to ping pong since it is not one steady dose i.e. 20 mg, 20 mg, 20 mg, and 20 mg. ? Would I be better to go to taking 10 mg. every 4 hours?

Thank you for your help.

cmpgirl · 08-04-2008, 07:16 AM

Morning Pepper,

As I think you may already know, I have had a recent increase in my Oxycontin too. I've gone fro 20mg 3x/day to 20mg 4x/day. My doc Rx's in all 10mg tabs as well and has written the script to say 30mg a.m., 20mg mid-day, and 30 mg p.m. but told me right from the start that I could work out the best schedule for me, just like your doc.

I did try the 30, 20, 30 but it just didn't seem like the meds were lasting 8 hours, so I tried 20mg 4x/day and it is working quite well. It did take me about 3 or 4 weeks to start feeling consistant pain coverage, so I think, at least for me, it does take a little time to build up a new BPL.

I would say that even though you are less nauseated, etc in the a.m., a bump up to 80mg overall would put you in just about the right place and hopefully eliminate the am issues altogether. If I remember correctly, your doc didn't sound like he would have a problem tweaking your dose, so if it were me, I would go in that direction at the next appointment. My "rough" schedule is 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

Also, my doc changed my BT meds from 7.5/500 Vicodin to 10/325 Norco. He kept the daily max at 6, but I have gone from needing 6 of the Vicodin to usually only 3 of the Norco. There have been some days when I have been more active and needed 4 Norco, but it has really only been 2 or 3 days over the last 6 weeks. The true test will be when we go to Maine next month.

Hope this was helpful. I am sure you will be able to get to a place where you are able to achieve a steady 4 or 5 most days. Sounds like you are heading in that direction already. Take care hon, and let us know how it all turns out. Many hugs, CMP/MM

forginon · 08-04-2008, 08:29 AM

Pepper,

I would not go to every 4 hour dosing. It might smooth out your BPL, however, you will get your body used to LS meds every 4 hours, and at some point in time your dose will be adjusted, as it is with all of us, and I doubt any docs will continue LA meds at 6 times per day. So, I would not get my body used to that.

I fully agree with MM regarding 20, 20, 20, 20.

But before that, give the present regime some time. Even though the dosing is staggered mg-wise, it still provides a fairly regular level of consumption, and, in the long run, I bet it will improve for you, and you might be able to stay here. Ifg not, push for 4 20s.

Hang in there Kiddo. You really are doing great. And it's no sin to have to wake up with a BT med in your mouth. Just think of it as your passifier - uh oh - bye for now........

ste, er jack. That's it, jack

ms_west · 08-04-2008, 10:30 AM

Steve

Thanks it sounds like I am on the right track. I think my body is overall messed up and it may take time to balance everything out. I am still extremely messed up. My back has really deteroriated since my vacation. I would think I would have bounced back by now. It concerns me.

To be honest, Wed. scares me to death. I don't want to go up to fast on meds. I want to find the best dose for me using the least amount of medications. 60 mg. of oxy is ALOT. It scares me that my body is requiring that much medication. Is this natural to feel this way?

But at the same time, I am scared that if I don't speak up now that my doc might dig his heels in about raising the dosage amounts again. It took alot for us to break thru that wall to finally get my doc to raise my prescription amounts.

I am so worried about my future. I am loosing strength and my back has done nothing but deteroriate since my last surgery. I had to let this out. I know deep breath and concentrate on today. Worry about tomorrow later.

Thanks for listening and helping.

brianpain33 · 08-04-2008, 11:45 AM

dietdrpepper:
I really would not worry too much about the actual dose of the Oxy. And to tell you the truth 60mg is really not ALOT. Here is what you need to focus on

TAKE THE AMOUNT OF PAIN MEDICATION TO COVER THE AMOUNT OF PAIN YOU ARE HAVING..

Repeat this over and over in your head. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You are getting very sleepy.

You are at a point where the pain is much better controlled and you don't know what to do. You don't know how to accept it. It feels strange. Something is really weird and not right. Is that how you are feeling?

You just need to do whatever it takes to maintain your pain at a level of 5 or below, right Steve? Don't focus on "but it's this many MG or this high of a dose". Put that thinking aside and just focus on relaxing and taking it easy and enjoying life a little more.

I think the reason you may need a BT med in the morning is because you take the 10mg Oxy at night before going to bed and it's wearing out by the time you get up. Just my thoughts on the matter. Keep us posted on your progress.

brian