Re: Vicodin VS Oxycotin

[Guest guest]

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]

Jen,

I take oxyicontin 80 mg three times a day or every 8 hours. and

percocet 10 mg. for break thru pain. [get a bottle of 100 ct.] and I

take neurotin 300 mg. three times a day.

When I was in the hospital this week My Dr. had ordered vicodin

for the break thru pain which I was taking every 4 hours and the

nurse I had on said with the Fibo on top of the pneumonia and

cracked ribs I needed to be on something as strong as I took at home

so she called my Dr. after hours and got it switched back to the

percocet.

So..... give me the oxycontin and percocet anyday.

Just Me k

[Guest guest]

Dear Sheryl,

I take BOTH Oxy and Lortab, which is just another brand name of

hydrocodone, which is what Vicodin is. It is like comparing Maxwell

House and Folgers... both are coffee, just different brands. The only

difference in the two is that Lortab is availiable in a 7.5 mg. tablet,

which is what I take, as well as a 5 mg. tablet, while Vicodin is

available in a 5 mg. tablet only

Oxycontin is a sustained release form of Percocet, is a Schedule II

narcotic that requires a doctor's signature for each rx. It CANNOT be

called in over the phone and you cannot get more than a 30 day supply at

a time. It delivers a measured dose of the drug into your bloodstream

over a 12 hour period, with the result hopefully being that you will not

need other pain meds. It is *MUCH* stronger than Vicodin, and therefore

much harder to get a doctor to rx. In 3 years of living in Arkansas, I

never did find a doctor who would rx it for me, meaning that we made the

7 hour roundtrip to Memphis every 6 months or so to see my internist

here. My internest was very good about mailing me the written rx

required for this drug as long as long as he saw me every 6 months or so

to document his records. A hint about taking it, however. Do not

immediately drink hot coffee or other hot beverage within 15 minutes of

taking this drug. The hot liquid will dissolve the wax coating on the

drug, meaning that initially a larger quantity of the drug will be sent

into your bloodstream, but the pain relief probably won't last a full 12

hours`Under no circumstance should this tablet be broken, cut, crushed

or chewed... to do so can dump a potentially deadly amount of the

medication straight into your bloodstream.

Unfortunately, many times there is what doctor's term " break through "

pain with Oxycontin, when the level of the drug dips and resulting pain

ensues. For this, many doctors rx either Tylenol #3 or Lortab

(Vicodin). Now that the Russ Limbaugh episode has surface, many

doctors, including my internist, have gotten scared of losing their

medical license and are refusing to rx anything along with the Oxy.

This is why I am being forced to look elsewhere for a doctor who will rx

both these drugs for me. I don't like having to go to another doctor,

as Dr. Finn has been my family doctor since 1994, but even he has said

that I really should see a pain specialist. Never mind that I saw two

of them back in 1997-98.... at this time, what do I have to lose but a

little time? There are still 2 pain specialists in Memphis that I have

not seen, and I am willing to give both of them a try in hopes that one

of them will work for me.

If you need more informatiion on either of these drugs, please don't

hesitate to ask. I have been on both of them since 1998, so pretty much

know what makes 'em tick.

gentle hugs,

Sharon

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

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

The 10mg works pretty well for me, as I'm using it only

intermittently. So far, it gives me relief I am happy with. I know

that's not the " standard " dosing, but it was what my doctor and I

both felt comfortable with. I have a pretty low tolerance thus far,

but with this flare, I've had to use some of my left-over Vicodin ES

for BT pain, which really sucks! My doc is really hesitant to go

over the 10mg dosage. He said that if it fails me, he wants to try

MS Contin, which I am against. I don't like the idea of taking a

morphine based drug, as I've heard and read that morphine is harsh

on the body.

Thanks for the compliments on how I explained Vicodin and Oxy to

Sheryl. I had a VERY extremely severe drug reaction in June of

2002, which is what caused my Fibro, so I am very adament about

researching any drug I take. Whenever my friends are taking a drug

they aren't familiar with, it's always " Go ask Jen. She'll know! "

LOL!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Dear Gail,

I was reading your 'conversation' with Jen about meds.

I agree that your doc should have you on some other basic meds which

are critical to FMS treatment. Antidepressant, to help with pain and

eventually depression that can follow FMS caused loss of the life

you knew. And muscle relaxors, as pain is not inflammatory but

tightening of muscles. And generally we need something to help us

sleep.

If your rhuemy says they don't do pain management, CHANGE RHUEMYS!!!

That's ridiculous. A good Rhuemy with experience treating FMS

patiencts is the best doc for us. An 'Internal Medicine' doc can

treat us also, & are better informed and have a wider range of

knowledge than GP's.

There is a book From Fatigued to Fantastic by Dr. Teitelbaum. It's

on Amazon and not that expensive. The first part of the book, a

small-medium size paperback, is clear easy to understand info re FMS

& CFS & related problems and treatments, actually it can be taken as

a 'treatment plan' which I have done while adding things from other

areas of medicine. The second half is for your doctor if they

aren't up on FMS. I'm sure a doc would love us giving them the

book. Ha! But the point is in your part of the book it tells you the

tests you have the right to have done, what rx's can be effective

for what symptoms, what vit/mineral deficiencies may be and what to

do about them and how they affect FMS/CFS.

I recommend this book for everyone. And of course there's our

FMS " Big Book " FMS and Myofacial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Guide,

authors Copeland and Starnyl........most here are or should be

familiar with this. it's a big paperback, but again straightforward

and easy to read and includes information we all should have. Mine

has sticky notes flagging loads of pages and highlighting is

rampant. I got it in 97 when dx'd from my DO specializing in

manipulation. I still refer to it when I need info or support from

within.

We must be informed patients because so many of the doctors are not.

We must be informed patients becauase if we become medically

disabled, as many of us are, we need to know our disease to advocate

for our benefits/rights.

Blessings, and Hugs, Judy in AZ : )

" For I know the plans I have for you, Says the Lord, ...a future and

a hope... "

Turn to Him, He is there....... " sometimes he calms the storm, and

sometimes he calms the child "