Re: Re: Vicodin VS Oxycotin

[Guest guest]

BTW, if you live in FL, the legislature is rushing through a law that will create a database of those prescribers of, and those prescribed for, several drugs. One of these is Oxycontin. If this law passes and you take any of the drugs on their list, your drug records will be available for anyone who can tap into the law enforcement computers. Or any cop who just wants a look see.

Our tax dollars at work.

in ville

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Re: Vicodin VS Oxycotin

Sheryl,I just switched from Vicodin ES(Extra Strength) to Oxycontin. Oxycontin is oxycodone, and Vicodin is hydrocodone with acetaminophen. Vicodin, as well as other hydrocodone meds, are short acting narcotics. Oxycontin is a sustained release narcotic. It has a shell around it, called a "matrix", that only allows a certain amount of the med to be released at a time. Crushing the pill and destroying that matrix is how people who abuse Oxy get "high" on it...all of the drug is released at once then. Very dangerous though, especially when you get into the higher dosages! My doctor told me that Oxycontin is definitely stronger than Vicodin. The strength of Vicodin I was taking was 7.5mg hydrocodone/750mg acetaminophen every 4-6 hours, and now I take 10mg of Oxycontin every 12 hours. It works a lot better for me, and lasts a lot longer, so I don't have to take it as often. It also doesn't make me goofy like Vicodin did! I hope this helps!Jen

[Guest guest]

Dear Jen,

You are taking the weakest dose possible of the Oxycontin. The doctor

started me off on 10 mg. but I could not even tell that I was taking

it... no pain relief at all, so he quickly increased it to 20 mg. every

12 hours, which worked until a couple of years ago, when it had to be

increased to 40 mg. every 12 hours, and this is where I am at now, with

Lortab (Vicodin) for the breakthrough pain. You did an excellent job of

explaining the difference to Sheryl between the Vicodin and Oxy.

gentle hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

[Guest guest]

Dear Gaill,

Ideally, I would recommend a pain specialist, if there is one in your

area. I ran into the same thing... the one rheumy that I saw back in

1997 refused to rx pain meds, and she was SUPPOSEDLY an fms expert! My

internal medicine doc is who rx's my pain meds, but it was not an easy

thing to obtain. It took me 2 years of office visits and referrals to

every known specialist (pain doc, neurologist, neurosurgeon, etc) and

trial of every kind of treatment, such as PT, before he FINALLY put me

on Oxycontin in Feb. 98. You might also consider a neurologist. Mine

did at least rx Neurontin, which helped a little bit. But the battle to

find a doc who will rx pain meds on a constant, long-term basis will be

a long one, cause every doc now is trying to cover their own posteriors

in light of the Rush Limbaugh scandal. Every single doctor is scared of

losing his medical license, which is why my internist cut me off cold

from the Lortab that I take for breakthrough pain, although he did

grudgingly call me in a few last week for tendonitis to last me until I

could see the ortho doc on the 16th.

gentle hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

That is a *HEFTY* dose of pain meds that you are taking, especially the

80 mg of Oxycontin every 8 hours. Would love to see the doctor you

have. I struggle to get by on my 40 mg. of Oxy every 12 hours with only

Lortab for the breakthrough pain. I can't remember... do you have other

conditions besides the fms that contribute to your pain?? What area of

the country do you live in??? Am just wondering if location has

anything to do with the way doctors practice medicine. I know that a

couple of states (California and one other state....right now the fog is

too dense for me to remember) have laws to protect doctors who rx pain

meds for those with chronic pain. I think all 50 states should have

such laws!!

hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

[Guest guest]

Dear Donna,

Duragesic patches are wonderful, but many doctors are reluctant to rx

them for chronic pain patients. And even with the Duragesic, often

there is so much " breakthrough " pain that a short lasting pain pill such

as Lortab is needed. I take Oxycontin, which is a sustained release

Percocet that is supposed to last 12 hours. But it has its highs and

lows, and I do normally take Lortab for the breakthrough pain. However,

my internist has quit rx'ing the Lortab for me, so am taking megadoses

of tylenol, ibuprofen, and aspirin, all at the same time, to control the

pain. Have 2 Lortabs that I am hanging onto for dear life for that

emergency pain that will not respond to anything else. Have an appt.

with my internist on the 29th, and this is one of many meds that are

going to be discussed. The sole purpose of this visit is to discuss

medications. He will not return my phone calls, so I will confront him

in person and discuss changes that need to be made.

hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!