Trends Regarding LA meds and Short-Acting Meds - Pain Management Message Board

janiee08 · 12-01-2008, 11:28 AM

Hello everyone!! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I've been noticing a new trend where PM docs would rather give their patients the LA meds, rather then LA meds with BT's. When I first met my new PM, he said he did not care for any of these break-through meds, (short-acting meds), like Vicodin, Percocet, etc. This is when he took me off of Vicodan and started me on Oxycontin. First he tried me on MS Contin, but that gave me the n/v

So, his next step was the Oxy. and it has worked REALLY well. I am able to walk much more normally then I did before

Before, I walked like an old woman dragging her left leg

So, anyways, wondered if any of you have noticed this new trend of giving those of us with Chronic Pain a long-acting meds versus short-acting. janiee

backhurtz · 12-01-2008, 09:02 PM

Mine uses both, long acting and short acting in most situations. He tends to stay away from short acting because of the experiences he's had with people using the short acting as a base line med, in addition to the long acting, so with some patients he does not offer them both, prefering to adjust the LA to a higher dose, if necessary.

Alot has to do with the sales pitch they receive from the drug reps as well. Some drug reps toute their LA versions as replacements for using short acting, and that may not always be the case.

lifeaftr40 · 12-02-2008, 06:30 AM

If I could find a LA that kept me from having to use the SA I would be happy. My PM is still working out a strategy for me. The Duragesic patch is not working and I do rely on my Percocets for my pain control. Friday I am going to try another LA med . One NP swears by Methadone and one prefers MS Contin. I guess it is all trial and error until the right combo is found