Re: Re: FRANK (Bev)

[Guest guest]

Dear Bev and Sharon,

Lortab is a narcotic analgesic (pain killer) containing Hydrocodone

and acetaminophen (generally known as Tylenol). It is an opioid

product and can be addictive. It is a controlled substance.

Lortab is like a stronger version of Vicodin, with less acetaminophen.

It is a short acting pain killer, taken anywhere from 4 to 8 hours apart,

depending on the person and/or the type of pain. Hydrocodone is also

available with aspirin instead of acetaminophen in similar products that

I can't remember right now (What's a memory?). Some people may be

allergic to one, henceforth they take the other. I take it

for breakthrough headache and back pain or any other pain that pops up

during my day. Like Vicodin, Lortab comes in different combination

amounts of hydrocodone and/or acetaminophen. I take the 10/500 pills

(the stronger one with 10 mg hydrocodone/500 mg of acetaminophen) to limit

the amount of acetaminophen I consume, because of possible liver damage.

It's like taking a pain pill PLUS one extra strength Tylenol. Sometimes

I will take 2 Lortab if my endless headache is really bad (not recommended

by me nor most doctors) so, in my case, I can get maybe an hour of pain

relief and, maybe, feeling stoned, but I don't generally admit to that

because of my drug history and being otherwise drug (marijuana, psychedelics

and cocaine) and alcohol free. Sometimes I'll take 1 Lortab and 1

Tylenol. I just have to be careful not to take more than 1,000 mg

of acetaminophen at a time for liver safety.

Oxycontin contains Oxycodone and acetaminophen (also available

with aspirin, I think). It is also an opioid narcotic, may be addictive

and is a tightly controlled substance. (In the U.S., it is a Schedule II

narcotic, requiring triplicate prescription copies in some states, cannot

be prescribed by telephone, nor can a prescription include refills; a new

prescription is required every time.) It is similar to morphine,

I believe. It is a stronger, time-release, and longer acting pain

killer. (*IMPORTANT NOTE: Oxycontin is NOT to be chewed, crushed,

cut or consumed in any other manner except as prescribed. It has

a protective coating that limits the release of the active drug.

Chewing, cutting, crushing, SNORTING, or any NON-PRESCRIBED consumption

can cause your body to absorb too much Oxycodone too quickly and can result

in death or permanent injury. You have been so warned by a recovering

addict and alcoholic that this is serious stuff.) I take three 20

mg Oxycontin per day, which is a relatively low dose but because I also

take the Lortab and Robaxin (a muscle relaxer) my pain doctor prefers to

keep it that way. He knows about my drug abuse history and wants

to prevent me from getting too much Oxycontin at a time so I don't abuse

it or kill myself with all these drugs. But he also knows about my

medical situation and the pain I am in, so he doesn't deny me the meds

that help me get some pain relief during the day.

Even with all this (plus Neurontin, Wellbutrin, Klonopin, Effexor, Remeron,

Celebrex and Tegretol) I feel lucky if I have a few hours of pain relief

a day. I only experience an hour or so of relief per dose, per day.

There are some days that are less painful than others and there are times

of near meningitis intensity episodes that, if I didn't have all this medicine,

could develop into meningitis and require hospitalization.

Oh, just called me for dinner so I don't have time to proof read

and edit this post. Please excuse any errors here. Please write

back if you have more questions.

Everyone, please take good care of yourselves tomorrow.

Love, Peace and Happy New Year,

ie

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