Answer/Reply:

this does seem to be a high dose. I take 3 a day,but, I've been taking it for years. My dr changes my dose about every 6 months. I will go back to 2/day for a while, then back to 3/day. I actaully take as needed but never more than prescribed. I would talk to Dr about dosage. It does make some people drowzy, but, if your child can function while taking it, he should not be missing school. If the dose isn't working well, ask dr to try something else. Never tell a child they will be on pain meds forever, this will reenforce the negative side. The mind will accomodate what you say. Give the kid hope that the pain will be manageable so he doesn't become so dependent on pills. Good luck.

57 year old Female

Posted: 2009-03-29 15:58:23

Answer/Reply:

I've been told that the hydrocodone is not addicting and probably the best of the narcatics out there to be on .Have you tried arthrotec?I would watch the 2000 mg per day acetaminaphine
for the liver-organ damage. Maybe you could have that dosage reduced to 7.5/175mg or
7.5 /375mg. I hope this helps AA

50 year old Male

Posted: 2009-03-31 09:31:53

Answer/Reply:

It's just my opinion, but if your kid is only 14 years old and is taking 4 pills of that kind a day, you have got to see what other options there are and if you have tried, then I'm out of line, but a child should never have to take pills like that. I know what 1 5/500 pill does to me and I couldn't even imagine having to take 4 at a higher dosage and I'm 31 years old. I really hope everything works out for you guys. I will keep you in my prayers.

31 year old Female

Posted: 2009-04-02 22:17:21

Answer/Reply:

Don't worry. Go there, they help alot. And if they don't go to another one. Find a pain management place that makes you feel better. I have fibromyalgia and they have helped me ALOT. They will try to keep you on what works for you the most and what you have been on. It isn't you hun, it is crazy people who abuse them. Pain Managment is GREAT. Mine has me on more then just meds. She gave me a TENS unit the other day and right now it helps alot. I went for 5 years swearing not to go to it, but now wish I would have years ago. Feel free to email me, anyone, about just talking about fibro. I have found that I talk to a GREAT lady about our fibro and it makes us feel so much better to know we aren't alone. email is jlhaines_2003@yahoo.com . that is a little L after the j. I am a 33 year mom of 2 boys, that are fabulous to me. So, not a stalker...lol Easy hug to ya hun and I promise if you find the one that helps you and works with you, you will be feeling better in no time. :)

34 year old Female

Posted: 2009-02-17 21:33:38

Answer/Reply:

I meant to tell you to talk to your doctor about still getting enough to make it until you go to pain management. Have them make the appointment for you. That usually makes them feel like you are going to go. And they, the family doctors, have rules as to how much they really can prescribe for you. So, they are probably just following their rules is all. And my pain management lady kept me on my lortab, even upped it a little for me. :)

34 year old Female

Posted: 2009-02-17 21:36:08

Answer/Reply:

I too have Fibro and DDD, among other things. I moved from Oregon (where I was getting the pain meds needed) to Texas. I found in Texas they don't seem to believe in pain managment with pain killers, as a rule. I surched for 6 months to find a Dr. that would prescribe the meds I needed. I have found in having many different Dr.s some will prescribe and some wont. I have to wait 3 months between appointment and sit in the office for 8 to 10 hours to see my Dr. as alot of people are in the same boat as I in Texas. I pray to move back to Oregon but in this economy it is highley unlikely I will live to see that happen. The best advise I can give you is don't wait for six months and alot of needless money spent on the DR you have. Find a Dr that will get you what you need. Remember they work for us! They are not the final answer and can and have been fired. Good Luck....Tina

48 year old Female

Posted: 2009-03-05 15:11:03

Answer/Reply:

My regular doctor put me on hydrocodone for my back issues. He sent me to pain management and they left me on it and added Mobic. He just wanted to send me there to better manage my pain since he is just my regular physician. You should make an appointment with pain management.

44 year old Female

Posted: 2009-03-06 11:00:11

Answer/Reply:

Most Doctors send thier patients to a pain managment because it is long term treatment and they could perscribe you something better for your pain. It was a good choice and it will help you in the long run.

43 year old Female

Posted: 2009-03-17 15:56:01

Answer/Reply:

I went to a pain management center for a while and found it to be a waste of time, and probably
a way for some to get pain meds that are not needed. My GP sent me in hopes of better treatment than she could provide and because most GPs are afraid to prescribe pain meds.
The first time I went to the clinic I was interviewed by an ex-cop. I was treated somewhat like a criminal, as he demanded that I tell him what he wanted to know as he would find out when he did his urine test. I told him that what I took was in my chart and that it was all he would find in my urine. A part of me understood the need to urine test as I was living in an area where the abuse of pain meds was scary, but I don't think that I needed to be treated as I was. The urine test came back as I told him it would. At this point I was allowed to see the physician (had there been something in my urine that was not supposed to be, or something not there that should have been I would have been sent packing). I saw the physician for approximately 5 minutes. He asked what meds I was on, and the dosage. He did no x-rays or other diagnostics, wrote me a prescription for what I was taking and told me to make an appointment
for one month. Each time I went I had to go through the urine test, had the same 5 minutes with the physician, never any tests, no pt, nothing, just left with another appointment and a prescription. The co-pay had to be in cash, so I eventually quit. I was moving to another city, so my GP covered my meds until I could find a physician there. It took over 2 years to get to a neurologist for a diagnosis and treatment. I now have no insurance, having been taken out of work over a year ago by the Neurologist. I don't trust Pain Treatment Centers. I won't go to the GP anymore as they sent me to the wrong doctor and in the process put me on meds that I should not have been on, doing more damage to my system. As of this time I am running out of my meds and don't know what I will do. But, I will not go to a Pain Management Center. I have managed on the same dosage for over a year, most of the time using less than allowed on any given day. I am hoping my Neurologist will phone in refills in the hopes that I can find a job and get insurance within the next few months. They want you to go to Pain Management so they won't have to prescribe narcotics. Talk to your doctor again. In this state they can pull a report showing who and how much medication is prescribed. If it shows that you are not doctor shopping, or getting the scripts from different docs and going to different pharmacies, usually that takes care of the situation. I so understand how you feel. I have been bounced back and forth for over 5 years, treated like I was faking it, being given the wrong diagnosis,
and then when I finally get to a doc who has started to nail down the entire diagnosis I lose my insurance. I am angry with the system all the way around. Good luck to you.

58 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-04 13:06:40

Answer/Reply:

I have heard they are trying to take Hydrocodone off the market because of the liver issues with it. That may have some thing to do with not being able to get it any more. A pain management Dr will prob perscribe it to you again till its pulled from the market.

56 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-21 10:26:51

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

I have never taken oxycotin. I would love to go back to pain managment. At least they can help me some of the time. My Dr. has tried to get me in somewhere, but the place does not take medicade, I'm on SSI you see. What do you think. Could you get me into a pain-managent clinic? I am no longer on workers comp. The back pain Dr. in my clinic won't see me because, I don't have the paper work saying I'm no longer on workers comp. How do I get a letter saying" I'm no longer on worker's comp"?

Posted: 2009-01-22 13:51:13

Answer/Reply:

You are taking hydrocodone, and oxy??? Oxy is much more powerful, wouldn't seem you would need both, but I'm not a Dr. I know oxycontin is very addictive, as is hydrocodone, if you've been on both this long, I am positive you have some addiction going on. I was on
hydrocodone from a shoulder surgery for the 2.5 months of recovery, and was heavily addicted in that short time. Took another month of conscious, and dedicated "weaning" to come off
them. Good luck in your continued battle with pain. I had another problem with severe pain in my neck, and pain management, in conjunction with a chiropractor got me off drugs, except for over the counter Advil, and a TENS unit for electro stimulation. The pain management people prescribed me oxy, and I refused, hydrocodone, and refused it. Told the doc with me weaning from hydrocodone, and then we went to other methods. I still live in pain, but it is much more manageable now.

53 year old Male

Posted: 2009-03-04 00:18:32

Answer/Reply:

In response to the previous posts about hydrocodone and oxycontin: My sister (55 y/o, who I cannot/will not speak to now) had back surgery approx 5 years ago. She was put on Vicodin initially and was also supposed to follow a physical therapy plan for recovery to keep the prospect of NOT being on pain meds "forever" a possibility. She belongs to a huge HMO (Kaiser) who basically gives her the meds as long as she goes to her follow up appt once a month. She has "graduated" to oxycontin 4 x day with and increase in the vicodin dosage from 5 to 7.5 mg 3 x day for what she calls "breakthru pain". She is definitely addicted and always has an excuse why she will not even try alternative methods...I don't think she even has a chance to ever know if she really IS in any pain, since she is so heaviliy drugged up all if the time. A warning to all who use these meds! She has alienated her children and family because of her personality change!!. It is awful to be around her. Be careful and try to maintain, not increase dosages/frequency if at all possible. It's destroyed our family!!

46 year old Female

Posted: 2009-05-03 17:52:20

Answer/Reply:

The best and only way to find out about any questions having to do with prescription medications is to ask your pharmacist. I have found over the years by having fibromyalgia myslef and by working in the medical field that doctors know how to write out the prescriptions but are totally ignorant to any contraindications with other medications and the side effects. My pharmacist is great and knows me very well by now as I call her with any questions concerning my medications. So call your pharmacist tell them your diagnosis, all of the medications and the dosages you are on and they can tell you if your at risk in combining these drugs. By the way I take hydrocodone 10mg and if I'm having a very severe pain day have taken two at a time as I have been taking this medication for over a decade and it's losing it's effectivness. I do know for a fact that antidepressents and pain medications taken together can cause seizures. My sister was having neck pain and migraines from an auto accident and her neurologist put her on an antidepressent and a pain killer. She had a seizure one day at work from the two drugs. One had the risk of causing a seizure and the other lowered your threshold against seizures. However, she was not taking the combination you are taking, her prescriptions were something else. So ask your pharmacist before starting anything your doctor has prescribed. I hope this information helps.

47 year old Female

Posted: 2008-12-28 22:12:33

Answer/Reply:

I too am taking hydrocodone, effexor, and amatriptaline. I have gone through many pain management , physical therapy, injections, and every other thing they can think of to get rid of my back pain. Nothing seems to really help. I do try to take 15 minutes every day just to relax my back and i also have the the Miracle Ball Method ( you can get at any book store) that seems to relieve some of the stress of the day.

43 year old Female

Posted: 2009-03-21 02:07:48

Answer/Reply:

If indeed you have been taking this medication for three years and if you are at the same dose for three for atleast 3 months. You should not be feeling as if you are high at that point.

46 year old Female

Posted: 2008-12-22 22:13:09

Answer/Reply:

Hi there, I was just wondering, does taking Milk Thistle prior to taking this medication really help protect the liver? I have mild liver disease and take this medicine and really worry about that at times. I am open to finding out ways to protect my liver with this medication. I take 10/325 2 times a day. Thank you.

59 year old Female

Posted: 2008-11-25 10:15:19

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

what effect does hydrocodone have on the liver taken 3 times a day?

Posted: 2009-01-19 14:19:38

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

I DONALD EVANS. AND IVE BEEN TAKENING HYDROCODONE FOR OVER 8 YEARS. AND I [KNOW ITS THE ONLY DRUG] THAT I DONT FEEL TIRED ON,OR FEEL ANY SIDE AFFECTS,E.T.C. I HAVE BAD BACK PAIN. AND I CAN TELL YOU ITS A LOT BETTER THAN DRINKING FOR PAIN. YOU DONT HAVE THE HANG OVERS! OR STOMACH TROUBLES,OR HANGOVERS!! AND IVE BEEN ON A [LOT OF DIFFERENT MEDICATION] FOR PAIN. AND THIS [IS] THE ONLY THAT DOSENT AFFECT ANY OF MY ABILITIES! I DONT KNOW WHY YOU CAN WALK INTO A STORE AND BUY BEER AND LIQURE.AND EVERY BODYS THAT THAT IMPAIRS YOUR JUDGMENT W A Y MORE SEVERLY THAN THE HYDROCODONE. AND I BELIEVE THE REASON THAY PUSH ALL THESE OUTHER DRUGS,THATS BEEN RECALLED,OR HAS A LAW SUIT PENDING AGAINST THEM.IS THE MONEY THAY MAKE! THAY MAKE A KILLING,PAY OUT A LITTLE,AND THERE IN THE CLEAR,ALL THE RICHER. DONALD EVANS. P.S. YOU CAINT WATCH A COMMERICAL THAT MOST DRUGS ARTENT BEING RECALLED,OR THEM-DRUG MAKERS-BEING SUED FOR SOME KIND OF SIDE AFFECT,OR DEATH. IF HYDROCODONE IS USED WRIGHT. THEN TO BE ITS THE THING OUT THERE FOR PAIN!!

Posted: 2008-12-16 17:07:41

Answer/Reply:

Re weight gain: I am 45 y/o female who has been taking vicodin 5/500 anywhere from 1 -3 times daily for about 2 years. I have gained 8-10 lbs., but try to keep in good shape by working out a few times a week. (I used to be a personal trainer in my 20's and a dancer in my 20's and 30's,{ a definite link to the back and neck pain} ) so I know how hard we can be on ourselves regarding our body image). I would say that you need to look at your height actual amount of weight gain and your BMI (body mass index) also of intersest may be to have a lipid panel, TSH, and LFT's blood test done. Constipation is another side effect, so the weight gain may have a little bit to do with your GI trac not being regularly "cleared" Try to incorporate more fiber in your diet, maybe even a "cleanse" to detox your GI trac (of course, see an MD b4 doing this on your own ). Good luck

46 year old Female

Posted: 2009-05-03 18:10:34

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking hydrocodone products for over five years, and will be for the rest of my life. I have chronic pain in my knee, including neuropathy, from a severe accident in 2002. I also take it for chronic lower back pain due to spinal disc degeneration and fracture. I too, feel that while I wish I could manage my pain without it, I know that I cannot and I would not want to have to try. My doctor knows what he is doing, and he is kind enough to want me to be as comfortable as he can help me to be. You are not alone, good luck to you.

49 year old Female

Posted: 2008-11-18 15:30:19

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking this medicine since I got Lyme disease in 2001 and I found out the hard way even though the pill seems to be wearing off before the six hours are up. You have to either take some Advil or Naproxen in between. Even though I have this disease I still have to work and go on with my life. Yes this medication so far is the only thing that works for me. However I am so tired of when it is time to renew your medication my doctors seems to be very forgetful and they don't call it in at times. So I start to go through with draws and then I can not work. I am so tired of wondering how am going to plan my week wondering if I am going to have enough medicine to do anything or go anywhere. I know my doctor says he does not want me to get on the suboxone because that will label me as a drug addict and I take the medicine for my pain not to get high. However although they say it suboxone does not work for pain. That is not true. I did try it and you know what it does. Also when you take the suboxone you won't be able to take the hydrocodone. So you eventually get out of the habit and if you do not take for a day or two. You are not sick in bed from not taking the medication. I am just so sick of being sick. You know. People need to know that it does work for pain and it is not just the heavy drug users.

46 year old Female

Posted: 2008-12-22 22:40:31

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

HAVE YOU TRIED THERAPY OR CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES

Posted: 2008-09-13 14:03:13

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

I am right there with you . . . . I have been on Norco 10/325 for about 5 years. At one point i was up to taking 10-14 pills a day. I have read others that take more than that at once! CRAZY BUT TRUE!!!
Anyways, to get to my point here. I have been slowly titrating down the last year or so . . . . I got down to taking about 4-6 a day and have now moved to a liquid solution of hydro. 7.5/500 per 15 ML. This is working great! You might want to evaluate your pain by being off the hydro for a while to get your body use to not being on any artificial pain reliever.
Oh ya . . . .by the way. . . . I was in a horrible motorcycle accidnet back in 2004 and have metal in me everywhere! Both legs! wrist! Heel! Had pins . . . . Have screws! YOU NAME IT!!!
The pain sucks but it definitely is not as bad as i thought it was.
I am not a doctor but was able to find one that helped me realize a lot!!!! SHE IS GREAT!!!!
ONE TOUGH COOKIE BUT GREAT!!! : )

Posted: 2008-10-29 12:44:11

Answer/Reply:

40 yr old female-Concerned for "get me out of pain"

I too have fibromyalgia, epilepsy (3 types of seizures) and I battled breast cancer when I was 32. I know what you're going through with your fibromyalgia pain. The hydrocodone definately does help. There is just so much more that goes along with the Fibro. Fibromyalgia alone causes depression. The brain fog that comes with it, going somewhere you've been 100 times, and forgetting your way, or forgetting where you parked your car. Talk to your dr about getting on a good anti-depressant. I take Effexor xr for mine. Since my chemo, the effexor is the only thing that stops my not flashes.

41 year old Female

Posted: 2008-11-16 15:26:40

Answer/Reply:

The HYDROCODONE exacerbates pain and depression with continued use. I stopped taking it and felt as though I had been reborn.
GET OFF THIS DRUG IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED!

57 year old Male

Posted: 2008-11-23 14:33:19

Answer/Reply:

I feel the same way about it. I've gone days without it once but no more I thank my God that there is something for the pain because I wouldn't be able to do anything without it not even watch TV.

64 year old Female

Posted: 2008-11-08 12:37:06

Answer/Reply:

If I were you I would change doctors. Every doctor I have been to for my fibromyalgia (I've had to change a couple of times because doctors will decide to stop accepting certain insurance coverage and then you have to find someone new that will accept your coverage and then I was put on Medicare and had to find another doctor to accept that) but anyway back to the doctor. Any good doctor knows if you are on narcotics for an extended period of time for chronic pain you are suppose to have a complete blood profile every three to six months to monitor the organs it can damage such as your kidneys and liver.

47 year old Female

Posted: 2008-12-28 22:26:46

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

try smack

Posted: 2008-08-07 13:09:57

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

i have been taking this med for a long time i am just like you if i dont have it afor a while i am on the pot all the time i have tryed everything for diarea but nothing seem to help and i get the shakes real bad lack of energy in bed all day and all my pains seem to be worst i was toold to drink alot of water but the more you drink the more times you are on the pot

Posted: 2008-08-29 08:59:24

Answer/Reply:

Amen. I thank God for my doctor and his understanding of my pain and my need for this medication. I get 120 7.5 lortabs per month, and I take them as prescribed because I CANNOT run out or I will be miserable.

49 year old Female

Posted: 2008-11-18 15:36:26