[Lucky]

Hi all.

I'm currently on 40mg twice a day of Oxycontin & 10mg of Oxynorm 3 times a day.

Anyone else on the above and if so how much?

Cheers and all the best.

[kewlcatkez]

Lucky, on Oct 29 2007, 02:37 PM, said:

Hi all.

I'm currently on 40mg twice a day of Oxycontin & 10mg of Oxynorm 3 times a day.

Anyone else on the above and if so how much?

Cheers and all the best.

Hi lucky,

nice to meet you, I think that I have read your story here and at the spinal.org pages ?? or maybe it is someone else. nice to meet you anyway.

I too am taking oxycontin and oxynorm ( the slow release and the normal one). I used to yake a lot more than I do now, but I have weaned back some since I just didn't get any more relief from a higher dose, just had more drowsiness etc. I have two lil ones and I didn't want to be out cold when they need me.

Due to the fact I need to be alert etc, ( for the kids and for driving) I take a baseline lower dose of the Oxycontin ( 20mg twice a day) and then take 10mg Oxynorm every 3 hours when required. It says to take every 4 hours, but I do know that in hospitals it is an as needed drug, and I only do this with the full backing of my specialist. Also I am 5'3 and petite built, female if that helps. Did take 60mg o/contin and 10mg oxynorm prn a while back..as reffered to above.

Sometimes I will take it every 3 hours, but if I need to be driving more I will space it out more etc.

I get some relief, but not neuro pain relief. I also dislocate very easily and it helps a little with the pain from that as well as my pain issues regarding the paralysis etc. What I would say is that it just takes the edge off, doesn't really do much more, but it is better than no help whatsoever!

I was very very reluctant to take a controlled drug, but I really didn't have anywhere else to go in terms of analgesia. I also take the tabs/capsules as my skin tears with the opiate patches (such as fentanyl) which some folks use.

Of course everyone is different and their tollerence for opiates is too. What I would advise is that folks only take meds on the advice of their dr and at the spacing and dosages they reccomend.

As a final point, I did take Topirimate too ( like gabapentin) which did help a little with the nerve pain, however i had to stop taking it due to arrythmias.

Hope this is of help

K

edited typos

This post has been edited by kewlcatkez: 29 October 2007 - 02:58 PM

[Gwest78]

Hey there Lucky and K,

I'm currently taking 40 mg OxyContin 2 to 3 times daily and 5 mg of Valium one time in the morning.

I'm interested in learning about OxyNorm, because what I will do is cut a 40 mg OxyContin pill into halves or quarters for short-term relief.

When I wake up in the morning I would take a whole or half of an OxyContin (depending on how I feel) along with a 5 mg Valium (keeps me spasmless all day). Then, normally around 1 p.m. I would take a half or a quarter depending on how I felt. Around five or 6 p.m. I would take another half or quarter and finally around 9 p.m.or 10 p.m. I would take a half before bed. Now, that would be a typical day, but if it were a Friday or Saturday night it would look a little something like this: and finally around 9p.m. or 10 p.m. I would take a whole one. If the night took me out past 2 a.m. I would take another half, but if not then I wouldn't need to.

One good thing about cutting the pills in halves and quarters is that I normally take less than if I would just take two whole pills daily. By the end of the month (a good month) I would have a surplus of about 5 to 7 pills.

Thank you for listening and I look forward to hearing from you.

-Glenn

This post has been edited by Gwest78: 31 December 2007 - 08:14 PM

[kewlcatkez]

Hi Gwest78,

I worked as a qualified Nurse in a 'former life' so to speak, and so I have had experience of Oxycontin and Oxynorm from both sides of the situation.

Firstly, I would not advise that you cut the Oxycontin tablets up, since if they are constructed the same as they are here in the UK, they are not scored and so you do not know that the medications active ingredient is equally distributed across the whole pill. Also, cutting them, breaks the coating which renders them more potent and instant than they are ever meant to be..You could potentially get 30mg in one quarter and just base agents which they use to bulk in the other 3 quarters! Also, the type of Oxycodone (in Oxycontin is not meant to be taken instantly, it is titrated for slow release and so is in effect more potent than its equivalent in Oxynorm ( in theory). The oxynorm capsules are safer as they are a smaller dose ( 5mg, or 10mg typically).

I would advise that you talk to your dr/pain specialist about the oxynorm. Generally, in order to determine how much medication you require, they will in a controlled setting, administer Oxynorm or Oramorph ( similar liquid opiate) when required and then work out how much is needed over 24 hours and then down regulate it to the Oxycontin slow release ( you need less of the slow release in theory). Of course, most of the time if a clinic/hospital stay is not possible for whatever reason, they can add a small dose of Oxynorm ( so called instant release) to your current dose of Oxycontin and titrate/increase it until you are better controlled, situation and circumstances permitting. The instant release Oxynorm is meant to only be taken for breakthrough pain. However, some people like myself, under the instruction and guidance of a dr, do take Oxynorm regularly, whilst taking a lower dose of the slow release form, for reasons I explained earlier in the thread.

I don't want to sound like your mum or anything (I'm only 32!, lol) but please do be very careful, splitting Oxycontin or any drug which is not scored (ie a line on it to break it) is potentially very dangerous. Also NEVER split Oxynorm capsules, as I am sure you won't, but many do not know just how potent they are without their capsule on the outer.

I hope this helps,

Take care,

K

edited: typo

This post has been edited by kewlcatkez: 31 December 2007 - 09:01 PM

[Lucky]

All the above is true but then your on the meds and get the same leaflet with them everytime so you know all that.

I think all this 'don't break up the tablet' is fine and makes sense unless you use strong opiates all the time, then 300mg+ in one go isn't unheard of.

On the oxynorm, comes in 5, 10 & 20 mg capsules and shes right again, is for break-through but is a good little instant back warmer when things get a bit achey.

Unfortunatly, its the same with all opiates..... after a while, you just build up a huge tollerance.

I'm on 150mg / day but would be fine on 3 times that.

Bring out some big instant diamorphine capsules eh? about 250mg

[Mikerowaved]

I have a prescription for Levorphanol, which is a fairly fast acting, opioid. They come in tiny 2mg pills and I'm "allowed" to take 4 a day. Instead of letting my body build up a tolerance for it, I take them only as needed. This allows 1 pill (or sometimes just 1/2 a pill) to be VERY effective, as long as I don't take it more than once or twice a week. I spoke with my pain management specialist about this and he told me this is actually the most effective way to take opioids.

It's hard to explain, but sometimes just knowing that if things get out of hand, I have a little pill available to take the edge off allows me to work through the pain easier. Does that make any sense?

[kewlcatkez]

Hi Lucky, guys,

Having worked on the other side of the situationn and now finding myself on the receiving end, I have quite a unique perspective, I think

I personally was very reluctant to start taking Opiates, or any 'controlled Drug'. I see how some stigmatize CD usage and have to admit that I felt a little bit that way myself. I have actually been on the receiving end of inappropriate comments about my taking Oxycodone. On one occasion at the Drs surgery, a Locum clearly thought that I am an Habitual Drug User - addicted to Opiates. He felt that only those with Cancer etc and/or were confined to bed and 'issues' which you can see obviously were people who should validly take Opiates. He saw me, in a chair but otherwise I look well (so I am told) My dislocations, unless you witness then are somewhat 'hidden'. For all intents and purposes to that dr, and perhaps others, I was 'drug seeking'. If I am honest, it did make me reduce my dosage, and keep a 'cap' on the amount I do take, as I suppose I do want to demonstrate that I am in control, whilst to some extent at the same time feeling that way.

The truth is that I am 'reliant' upon them for some sort of lessening of my pain. I would say relief, but to be honest I don't get that. Research has shown that those of us who take Opiates for valid medical reasoning do not have the same dependency as those who take it purely for recreational reasons. Yes, its possible to feel like you 'need' to take some medication, but I like the studies suggest, do not get 'withdrawal' symptoms, nor did I when dropping dosages dramatically. this would be less important to me if I didn't have young dependent children and probably if I wasn't used to looking from the other 'side'.

Lucky, on Jan 2 2008, 05:43 AM, said:

I think all this 'don't break up the tablet' is fine and makes sense unless you use strong opiates all the time, then 300mg+ in one go isn't unheard of.

On the oxynorm, comes in 5, 10 & 20 mg capsules and shes right again, is for break-through but is a good little instant back warmer when things get a bit achey.

Although I understand what you mean Re:" making sense unless you are on strong opiates" Unfortunately, as I am sure you are probably aware, it is more complex than that. Its thought not to be the dosage of the Opiate that you have, (as the folks this happened to were used to much much more) but the way it is made up in those tablets. This unfortunately has led to Oxycodone getting a 'bad name'. Like all drugs its good if treated with respect. Why take the risks if there is an alternative, made of the same?

I have Nursed people who have been long term users of opiates, at high doses who have been in ICU or I have been Nursing them 1:1 on CCU b/c they broke up a tablet and got the drug in one half and wound up with Arrythmias and Cardiogenic shock/CCF. (Not to mention that if the other half is used later on, it would have no opiate at all, potentially). Of course, this is true of any drug I suppose - there are always 'horror' stories which do nothing but stress people who take the drug as directed. I did not mean to come across as 'someone's mother' or as the 'take as directed' police, I just wanted to share my experiences from both 'roles'. I hope that you can see what I mean.

I used to take a hell of a lot more of the slow release tablets, with just 2 or 3 O/norms for break through. However, I now do the other way around, taking a smaller dose of the Oxycontin slow release combined with very very regular 10mg O/norm capsules. I am a petite female. To be honest the higher doses of slow release did not seem to do any good, like at a certain point it evened out. I find the 'instant' effect of the o/norm capsules to be a little more effective. It works on my Dislocation pain and some of the underlying pain I have, but has little to no effect on my 'neuro' pain.

Yes you do build up a tolerance ( ie get used) to them, like many medications. The way I combat this is every month or so, I take fewer capsules then usual, and do this for a few days. If I have more dislocations than I anticipate then I go back to the usual amount, but if I can get away with having fewer, its a good time to do this. Then, when I do go back to the usual amount, I do see a little difference in its effect.

Take care,

K

[kewlcatkez]

Mikerowaved, on Jan 2 2008, 08:25 AM, said:

I have a prescription for Levorphanol, which is a fairly fast acting, opioid. They come in tiny 2mg pills and I'm "allowed" to take 4 a day. Instead of letting my body build up a tolerance for it, I take them only as needed. This allows 1 pill (or sometimes just 1/2 a pill) to be VERY effective, as long as I don't take it more than once or twice a week. I spoke with my pain management specialist about this and he told me this is actually the most effective way to take opioids.

It's hard to explain, but sometimes just knowing that if things get out of hand, I have a little pill available to take the edge off allows me to work through the pain easier. Does that make any sense?

Hi Mikerowaved, ( like the name btw! )


It does make sense. However Levorphanol is much like the oxynorm.

The difference btwn it and the o/codone is the fact that o/codone is available in the 2 forms: the one you take which is slowly released ie the O/Contin and the Fast acting, ie the o/Norm ( norm for normal).

So if you were to take Oxycodone, you would be expected to take Oxycontin , the slow release one regularly - every 12 hours. The amount could be fluctuated a little. The Oxynorm would be the one which you could take in the way you take the Levorphanol.

The other difficulty comes when the pain is not lessened by any of the medications you take and only reduced very slightly by the Opiates. In this case, its tempting to keep raising the dosage and or how often you take. Obviously this should only be done under the direction of your Dr etc.

Do you take other pain relievers in between? Or is it a case of holding out as long as you can? IS this the only pain med which works for your pain?

I ask as it seems a pretty hefty drug to be taking once a week if other medications can touch it. I am not meaning to question you! its just that I came across many people who were initially given Opiates in an acute stage and then never given an alternative when there pain may have responded to something less aggressive. This may also be of use if you are reluctant ( as you appear) to take opiates. If other pain relievers such as Tramadol an Opiate Salt but not an Opiate as such, it may be beneficial as you may then wish to take it regularly rather than 'holding out' for the Lev. like you so now.
Of course, I am unaware of your situation and perhaps you wish to handle your medication that way so that you don't take it as often, or maybe you are like many of us who have gone through all the other meds before taking the Opiate.

Just wanted to mention this

Take care,

K

[Mikerowaved]

kewlcatkez, on Jan 2 2008, 04:09 AM, said:

Hi Mikerowaved, ( like the name btw! )

Thanks. After several decades as an RF/Microwave power engineer, I think my body's been microwaved sufficiently enough to earn it.

kewlcatkez, on Jan 2 2008, 04:09 AM, said:

Do you take other pain relievers in between? Or is it a case of holding out as long as you can? IS this the only pain med which works for your pain?

I've tried several things (certainly not everything out there) and the most reliable in taking the edge off is a high dose of Neurontin. I'm currently taking 3600mg/day (yeah, I know! pretty much the max), but I'm considering trying Lyrica this year in place of it. Fortunately, I don't have very many side effects from the Neurontin. The pain is manageable most of the time, usually staying between a 3-5. It's just when it gets above a 6 that I start considering taking something else. Every few weeks it reaches a 7, then there's no question. So far the Levorphanol takes it right down to a 4 or less, which I can definitely handle.

kewlcatkez, on Jan 2 2008, 04:09 AM, said:

Of course, I am unaware of your situation and perhaps you wish to handle your medication that way so that you don't take it as often, or maybe you are like many of us who have gone through all the other meds before taking the Opiate.

Yeah, I've been on (and off) of other opiates and they all seem to work at first, but then the old tolerance problem sets in so the dose has to be tweaked up to compensate. The end result is only a little better relief, only then I have to take a fist full of stool softeners and laxatives to have any kind of BM.

No, I kind of like the plan I'm on now. I'm actually off all laxatives, except in the rare case they are needed. I'm just holding out hope that Lyrica can give me slightly better relief with a much lower dosage. Sure appreciate your input though.

This post has been edited by Mikerowaved: 03 January 2008 - 02:31 AM

[kewlcatkez]

Mikerowaved, on Jan 3 2008, 02:27 AM, said:

No, I kind of like the plan I'm on now. I'm actually off all laxatives, except in the rare case they are needed. I'm just holding out hope that Lyrica can give me slightly better relief with a much lower dosage. Sure appreciate your input though.

Hi Mikerowaved,

interesting to hear how you acquired your name
Thanks for the reply, it makes perfect sense. I wasn't meaning to question you, I guess I just can't help trying to 'solve' stuff for folks, even when its none of my fricking business!

Good luck with the Lyrica, I know/have heard of a few who have had great success with it. I haven't taken it personally though. I did take Neurotonin ( made me vomit a hell of a lot) and Topiramate ( Topamax) which I had a little success with, but which I was forced to stop by my Cardiologist after I experienced SVT arrhythmias which would have be shirked off as being benign if my Heart rate had not been >200 I am sure. <eyeroll> LOL.

Talking of which, it is almost 3 am here and (oddly??!!, or coincidentally) I have to go see the aforementioned Cardiologist tomorrow...So best be off,

Good talking with you,

Take care,

K

This post has been edited by kewlcatkez: 03 January 2008 - 02:52 AM

[Gwest78]

K,

Thank you very much for the great advice. I stopped cutting the pills and made an appointment to talk to my doctor about oxynorm. When I saw her in the beginning of November, I mentioned that I was cutting them up in quarters. She said that I might be getting too much of the medication at one time, but that I would be able to tell and to do what works since I know my body.

Thank you again and I will let you know what happens after I speak with her later this month.

-Glenn

[Motor]

Gwest78, on Jan 17 2008, 06:41 PM, said:

K,

Thank you very much for the great advice. I stopped cutting the pills and made an appointment to talk to my doctor about oxynorm. When I saw her in the beginning of November, I mentioned that I was cutting them up in quarters. She said that I might be getting too much of the medication at one time, but that I would be able to tell and to do what works since I know my body.

Thank you again and I will let you know what happens after I speak with her later this month.

-Glenn

Was on oxy and had to stop fast. Got hooked. Even crushed them up and did stupid things early on after my injury. Detoxed real bad! Now take Percocet PRN, Lodine PRN, and use Lidoderm pain patches. Actually deal with pain daily. Accupuncture worked.

[qbounce]

I was given vicodin after I was released from the hospital. Obviously all of these drugs are extremely addictive and my wife started stealing my stash to cope with my injury her own way. First I got rid of the meds and now only use ibuprofen (neck injury. . .the longer I've had the injury the less it hurts). Then I got rid of the wife. Turns out you can get online scrips from fake doctors just about anywhere . .$$$ FOR A PRICE $$$. She's been hooked ever since. such is life

[erickk12]

i take o/cotin 80mg tramadol 50 mg gabapent 300mg baclifine 10mg and tradizedine 10mg two and 3 times a day all for pain.i think its too much now but i hate pain.

[qbounce]

Hey man,
we just lost a pretty famous Ausi movie star who died from mixed pain/ depression med's. BTW, Baclofen is a spasm med, at least. . .but all the others. . . just be careful, I guess.

[Courtney20]

I have to take 2 Oxycodone 5-325mg every 4 hours for back pain. It helps alot.
Also, Gabapentin 100mg for the nerve pain. It also helps alot.

This post has been edited by Courtney20: 09 March 2008 - 04:56 AM

[RetiredSkater]

Hi all,

I just thought I would echo the sentiments about the backlash from using Opiates. I take an extremely low dose of Vicodin daily (5mg 2-3 times a day) and have since after my fusion. I also recently started on Lyrica (75mg twice daily). It allows me to be an active person and not hold back with my life. Yet, people see it as a way to "get high". I wish sometimes it had that effect on me lol... after 5 years on the same dosage, that never happens. People have a real lack of understanding when it comes to those types of things. They don't understand how chronic pain interferes with your life and how it affects everything you do.

Especially where I live in East Tennessee it is bad... they call it Hillbilly Heroin. I can't even tell you the steps I had to take when I moved here and switched pain clinics. Three months of going to visits before they would prescribe same dosage I've been on for years, consult with psych, drug test, medication management class, signing 8 page front and back contract, fill scripts at same pharmacy, scripts have my photo on them, random pill counts, etc.... Anyway, I'm glad they do that if it allows them to keep prescribing me meds I need, but just illustrates how people have the perception that a lot of people take them and don't need them.

[carole338]

I take Oxycotin but only 5mg when I get bad break through pain. My usual pain medication is gabapentin 400mg 4 times a day.

[marlee]

I am currently on: Morphine Sul 100mg ertab 2x a day, Oxcycodone 10-325mg every 3-4 hrs , Gabapentin 400mg cap 3x a day, Tizanidine 4mg tab every 6 hrs. Right now my doctor can only treat me with medication; no insurance=no referal to a specialist. I filed for S.S.I. and now I'm waiting for an award (or denial) letter.

[Lucky]

marlee, on Apr 8 2008, 10:01 PM, said:

I am currently on: Morphine Sul 100mg ertab 2x a day, Oxcycodone 10-325mg every 3-4 hrs , Gabapentin 400mg cap 3x a day, Tizanidine 4mg tab every 6 hrs. Right now my doctor can only treat me with medication; no insurance=no referal to a specialist. I filed for S.S.I. and now I'm waiting for an award (or denial) letter.

Thats quite a lot of opiate medication.....

I was on MST and now take Oxycontin but wouldn't be able to get them together.

Why between 10mg and 325mg of Oxycodone???.....why the huge gap?

What sort (where abouts) is your pain?

Cheers.

[Trinity]

Lucky, on May 16 2008, 10:48 PM, said:

marlee, on Apr 8 2008, 10:01 PM, said:

I am currently on: Morphine Sul 100mg ertab 2x a day, Oxcycodone 10-325mg every 3-4 hrs , Gabapentin 400mg cap 3x a day, Tizanidine 4mg tab every 6 hrs. Right now my doctor can only treat me with medication; no insurance=no referal to a specialist. I filed for S.S.I. and now I'm waiting for an award (or denial) letter.

Thats quite a lot of opiate medication.....

I was on MST and now take Oxycontin but wouldn't be able to get them together.

Why between 10mg and 325mg of Oxycodone???.....why the huge gap?

What sort (where abouts) is your pain?

Cheers.

Lucky,
The 10-325mg oxycodone is an American thing, the 10mg is oxycodone (oxynorm I think) the 325 bit is paracetamol. As far as I know it's not available in this form over here but I may be wrong! I used to take 30mg of oxycontin twice a day and 5-10mg of oxynorm every 4-6 hours if I needed it. Am off it now, I hated the way it made me feel. I just take pregabalin now and tramadol and co-codamol if it all gets too much.
Trinity X

[Lucky]

Cheers trinity, that would make sense.

[evilmac64]

i take oxycotin 20mg every 12 hrs and 10mg percalone [oxycodome] 4hrs with a phentenol pach 50 mg every 72 hours. At this time thats what it takes to mng. my pain.It goes to show we are different

[Scribbler]

Hi to all of you,

I've read this thread with interest as I had constant pain most of my SCI life. The drug I took, but cant spell ..lol 'Coproximal' (something like that) was taken off the market as it was too easy to overdose. I know we're all different but it was ok for me and took the edge off the pain.

My pain was so bad it sometimes made me scream; night time was worse. I was given a Fentinyl patch, which spaced me out and sent me to cloud cuckoo land

I was eventually given Gabapentin, which I built up and took 300mg 3 times a day and the pain went. It felt great to be more or less pain free.

That was a year ago and now the pain has come back, so knowing I could take up to 6 per day I increased my Gabapentin to 4 a day. This worked for a while but the pain is back and worse than before. I'm dreading going to bed as I'm unable to move around for some light relief. I think I'll increase my Gabapentin again and also knock myself out with Nitrazipam.

People don't know what constant pain is like, it can really drag you down physically and mentally. I try not to show I'm in so much pain but I think it shows in your face. My GP's haven't much of a clue and its difficult to see the consultant at my Spinal Unit, its so busy my annual check up gets put back by months.

I'll write down some of the meds you've all mentioned and get more information, as I'm desperate for something to ease this continual pain. Thanks guys.

[evilmac64]

hope you get what you need.pain sucks