Can you help me please?

[Prince31]

Hi all,

I have been a chronic pain patient for years. I also see a chiropractor. Unfortunately, this last year, another chronic pain issue has occurred and I now suffer with 3 painful conditions.

The pain clinic treats me with medication therapies. They include Ibprophe, Duragesic Patch (25) and Percocet 10/325. I was to take up to 6 a day and/or 8 a day on really bad days. This allowed me to take 2 Percocet at a time. 20 Mg. Each time. However, my doctor preferred I stick to 6 a day which became impossible the last several months. He said to me “when you are ready, we will discus changing your medications. Methadone is a great medication for chronic pain.” I panicked at this point and never mentioned that I needed up to 8 Percocet every day instead of just 6 (and 8 on really bad days because with my condition, there is no telling how many bad days there will be!!!) because I do not want to take Methadone! But I finally had to give in and tell him it was time for a change on one condition...Anything but Methadone. I am just not comfortable with that. So he asked me what I wanted to try and I said “I don’t have a clue. I don’t know how this works” He then prescribed me Roxicete 15mg 4x’s a day.

I just started taking this Roxicet today and the problem is, I see absolutely no difference! Well, that’s not exactly true. My pain control is worse than when I could take 2 (10mg) Percocets at a time. With Roxicet, you can’t take 2 at a time. He explained to me that even though I am used to taking 20mg of Percoet at a time, the 15mg Roxicet will work better. It hasn’t and it’s frustrating!

Now what? Anyone else switch from percocet to Roxicet and benefit from it? Have I not given it enough time? I am afraid to call him and say “uhm, this medicine sucks!” Well, you get my drift. It just doesn’t work as well and I guess it’s because it’s along the same lines as percocet which he already said I had a tolerance to so why give me this other than?

[Shoreline]

Hi Prince, What exactly is the benefit of usin a long acting continous release opiate like Duragesic if you stillhve to ride the 4 hur rollercoaster? Most people are limited to 2-3 doses of BT med a day and when you take it every day at the same time, it's not a BT med, it's simply part of the routine and regemine you figure out to maximize pain relief by taking the most possible pain meds. It makes it tough to treat a patient that dictates the terms and meds they are wiling to try. Why is methadone out of the question, is there something you know about methadone that scares you more than taking the most potent opiate known to man, one that was developed fas an elephant tranq and is measured in micrograms "milionth of a gram" , But your OK with Fenatnyl and methadone is bad in your vast research or experience?

When you take on the role of your own doc, decide what you willor wont take, it's kind of hard to complain, your already being treated so far outside the way long acting meds are intended you aren't benefiting =by using one, maybe you ought to let the doc do his job and leave the shopping list at home and go with what the guy with 10 years of advanced edecucation, specialty training and fellowships in that certainly trump what you might have heard or read and been able to sort the misinformation from the actual truth about methadone. 10 years ago, Youtherer was no such thing as 10 mg percs, they didn't use Fentanyl outside hopsice or anesthesia, and you kniw what's best? You cremade you list of what you will and won't use, it's hard to complain when the doc gives in and allows you to prescribe and take your meds when and how you want.

[copnpain]

Hello Prince I hope you are doing well. I may be wrong but what it seems to me that your doctor has done is basically change nothing at all besides taking you off the tylenol in the percocet. You were taking all together 60 mgs of oxycodone with the percocet and you are taking 60 mgs of oxycodone with the roxi. Absolutly no change. I dont know if he did this on purpose or not but that is weird.

[Prince31]

SHORELINE,

I remember you from a few years ago when I was on under a different name and recall you being much more helpful and pleasant. I didn't ask for a hostel response, just help. I have every right to take or not take medications that I am uncomfortable with! EVERYONE has that right and should be their own advocate. I learned that with an unfortunate experience while on Lupron for 2 years. The patch wasn’t my choice in the beginning either. I did not want to take that but he left me the choice of start with that or nothing at all (when I was his new patient.) My doctor does not treat me as though I dictate what he should or need to prescribe! He asks me what I want to take! His words! He also stated that with any medications it’s “trial and error” to figure out what bests works for you (me) and I greatly appreciate that as I am sure the rest of his patients do! And I have and can go without the patch for a number of days if necessary to no ill effects as of yet. Methadone, however, to me is a medication that I am not comfortable with taking due to what I have seen happen amongst 2 pain patients. Everyone is different, I realize that. But for me, it’s not my choice now nor ever. And furthermore, my requesting help did not revolve around Methadone. It was about going from Percocet to Roxicodone.

[Prince31]

Originally Posted by copnpain

Hello Prince I hope you are doing well. I may be wrong but what it seems to me that your doctor has done is basically change nothing at all besides taking you off the tylenol in the percocet. You were taking all together 60 mgs of oxycodone with the percocet and you are taking 60 mgs of oxycodone with the roxi. Absolutly no change. I dont know if he did this on purpose or not but that is weird.

COPNPAIN,

Hi there,

Thanks for getting back to me. I thought it strange too! As a matter of fact, I questioned the Dr. As to whether or not the Roxi would be beneficial after going from 20mg of Percocet at a time to 15 mg Roxi 4x’s a day. He said it would so I assumed maybe it was an entirely different kind/family of medication and that’s why it would be better after all these years of taking the percocet. But as you stated, it’s the same thing just without the Tylenol? No wonder I am having more of a problem then. I did tell him about 6 or 8 months ago that all this acetaminophen worried me. I finally went for blood work and liver function was normal. He also told me if need be to take Tylenol with the Roxi so I am not sure what the deal is if, as you stated, it was just to cut down on the acetaminophen. Hmmm, strange. I guess I will have to call him next week and let him know this isn’t working. I was just curious if anyone else experienced any benefit from changing from Percocet to Roxicodone. I was wondering, too, if I didn’t give it enough time since it was a new medicine but that sounds like that shouldn’t be the case either.... Again, thank you for taking the time to get back to me and I hope you have a pain free holiday....