Switching B/T med? - Pain Management Message Board

avogadro · 09-25-2003, 08:50 PM

I have been on Vicodin for over a year. I am now on my 4th day of Duragesic patch (25) with Vicodin for B/T pain. My doctor is not happy with the amount of Vicodin I take currently. I have found that I take much less in combo w/ the patch (5/day versus 10+/day). And, as I wear the patch longer, I hope to not have to take the B/T meds at all, at least not daily.

My question is this... I obviously have developed a tolerance to Vicodin. Could I switch to something else for B/T pain? A med that I have not taken before - percocet or demoral or...??? something else? Would I have less of a tolerance or would I still be taking more because of a general tolerance to narcotic meds?

Thanks,
AV

whaleylaker · 09-26-2003, 07:29 AM

Hi AV There are alot different meds, but one you may want to look at is OXY IR. It is oxycodone (the pain med in perc)without any APAP. It is liquid so you can measure out your dosage (using an eye dropper) accurately. It might be me but it seems to work quicker also. Good luck and take care, Lake. P.S. how do you like the patch?

ruko4 · 09-26-2003, 08:45 AM

Oxy ir also comes in tablet form 5,10,20mg tablets the drug in them is oxycodone which is also found in percocet but without the acetaminophen.I have found any oxycodone product to work really well and oxycodone is stronger than hydrocodone I think that is how you spell it which is found in vicodin.Here in Canada we don't have vicodin we do have hycodan but it is only used for a really bad cough and the way it acts is to supress to cough reflex this is a common effect of all narcotics.Some cough syrups will also have codiene or hydrocodone in small doses to help with a bad cough.Anyway I am getting off topic here sorry,I hope I have helped a bit,Ruko.

BigJoe777 · 09-26-2003, 06:35 PM

We are all different in how we develop tolerances. I was on Lorcet 10/650 and Soma 350 for a tear since my neck surgery, and it finally got to the point where it just wasn't getting the job done anymore.

So my PM doc switched me to Oxycontin 20 x 2 and Oxy IR 5 for B/T. (btw, my Oxy IR is in capsule form) This stuff is totally useless on me, and the Oxy IR does absolutely NOTHING for breakthrough pain. I'm really sorry to have switched. I've had percoset before, and it never really did the trick for me then either, but I figured I'd give it another try.

In my case, I'll hope I can get the Oxycontin dose upped, and see what else is available for b/t. I got over my fear of addiction issues long ago, when I finally realized I am going to be on pain meds for the rest of my life, most likely. NO, I don't abuse my meds in any way, shape or form, as I have always had a healthy respect for any narcotic pain med.

But like you, what I'm currently using isn't getting it done. So I too, am intersted in all replys to your question. Maybe we can both get it figured out and try to be as pain free as possible......

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C6/C7 Fusion W/Plate 11/02
T8/T9 HNP W/annular tear 5mm into spinal canal
L5/S1 HNP W/annular tear 7mm into spinal canal
L2/L3 HNP
DDD, foot-drop, use a walker to get around
12 MRI's, 3 ESI's
Worker's Comp Nightmare

avogadro · 09-26-2003, 09:16 PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses. The patch seems to be working OK. I do not have to take as much Vicodin but it is still not the HUGE difference that I had expected. I have a lot of nausea on the first day I apply the patch but it does not seem to last very long.

Take Care,
AV