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Help needed in Adjusting to Pain meds!

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Posted 6/2/2008 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.

I know most of you will say, "talk to your doctor"  but I figured I'd ask for your personal opinions/advice as well.

I'm having a really rough time adjusting to my pain medication.  Here's my dilema: I am suppose to be taking my pain medication, which is oxycodone every 4 hours.  It's a small dosage.  So in the morning, when I'm in a ton of pain, I take my first dosage....everything is fine, pain somewhat settles down and I'm OK.  However... when I go to take my 2nd dosage, I get nothing but side effects...pain is somewhat taken away as well.  Then when it comes time to my 3rd dosage and so on...its soooooooooo awful the side effects.   I feel like I'm going to die sometimes, feel sick, major migraine headaches, can't sleep, feel wired etc...   It makes me so scared to even continue taking my meds throughout the day.

Now...I thought this was this particular medication..but it is NOT.  It happens when I take anything!  I have tried Vicodin, Tramadol, Darvocet, still all the same things happen, but they didn't take the pain away.

I did tell my pain doctor this PLUS the pharmacist, and they both kinda said "Oh, thats odd, I haven't really heard of something like that happening."

So I really don't know what to do.  I can't be scared to continue on with a 2nd and 3rd dosage and know I'll feel so ill from the side effects.

Does anyone else have this happen to them?  I am a very low bodyweight ( I'm 5ft 8, 85lbs) and I keep thinking maybe I just am not metabolizing these meds properly.  I dont know.  Anyways, thanks to anyone who can offer some advice.

I have my pain in my abs from Crohns disease.

Thank you all,

 

Posted 6/2/2008 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Ever considered being alergic to opium derivatives? My mother has similar but milder reactions to opium derivates. Can happen, although it's rather rare.

The solution might not be that obvious. Opium derivatives are considered to be the best cause of action for people with abdominal pain (it actually is unless you're allergic). you could do a medical test to determine if, and to what degree, you are allergic, although tiny doses of opium derivatives won't be sufficient to relieve your pain.

I don't know any alternatives. I use opium pure and simple for my intestinal problems and I respond very well to it. I'd say: "talk to your doctor" ...
Posted 6/2/2008 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think i am allergic considering the first dose I'm always fine with. If i were allergic to it, I think i wouldn't be able to tolerate it at all. Thank you for your help though!
Posted 6/2/2008 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
eyes  Hey Jenna,

 

    Sounds like you have a lot of things going on right now and I'm so sorry yet I wouldn't be so quick to rule out the allergie thing.

Our bodies act differently, individually so your symptoms might just be a little different. Maybe. On the other hand the thing that stood out to me from your post was your hieght and weight - I'm 5'7 and weigh right around 150 lbs. I buy most of myclothes in the juniors dept because they are the only ones that fit. You weigh just about half of me... I can't imagine that your whole metabolism and stomach issues are at their best levels and that is not good. I don't have any legitimate advice for you just these observations and I hope you get what ever help you can fast so you have a little peace and calmness. Take care.

Toritoo 

Posted 6/3/2008 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jen--thought I'd give you my opionion b/c I have ulcerative colitis--we're both IBDers--and I take Oxycodone.  If I don't eat, at least a little, on a constant basis (I'm talking thoughout the day) on this drug I get sick too.  I know us IBDers can't eat a lot at times or there's nothing staying in the system, so I really have to watch how I take pain meds.  If I take a pill on an empty stomach I'm good for awhile, but if I don't eat something 1/2 hour to 45 minutes I will get extremely nausous and feel, well, really icky (for lack of a better word).  Thought of this b/c your weight is extremely low for your height, thought it might be IBD related, can't eat, keep weight on, etc.--so, think about how much food/fluids you're ingesting.  At least that's the way it is for me and pain meds.  Good luck.

Posted 6/3/2008 10:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jenna,

Have you ever tried anything that is slow or time released?  I'm on Kadian, which is morphine but released slow.  I'm sure there is something equivalent to Oxycodone that is time released.  I also agree that eating something helps.  Best of luck, and hope you find something that works.

Posted 6/5/2008 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
On a personal note, be careful of time released pain medications. I tried kadian and oxycontin and had bad side effects. I now take percocet (oxycodone and tylenol) and the only side effect I experience is a little tiredness from time to time.

Good luck with your medication search.

Lindaloo
Posted 6/7/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Oxycontin is time released, it's called Oxycodone SR generic (which manufacturers have stopped making).

Lindaloo: what side effects did you have w/Oxy, just wondering b/c percocet it basically the same as oxy but rapid release, so I would think you would get SE from percocet also. Just wonderin.
Posted 6/7/2008 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Most of my side effects were from the Kadian. I got bad muscle contractions that lasted for twelve hours and kept me up all through the night. The only relief I got was in a hot tub. The oxycontin made me light headed. That's all I can remember. I know it didnt't work as well as the percocet did, so that's why I went back to the four hour dosing.

Thanks for the question, Lucy.

Linda
Posted 6/9/2008 7:52 AM (GMT 0)

I have to add here that since it seems to be happening with all meds your taking or have taken for pain even the tramadol that you might consider a drug reaction. YOu didnt state what else you were taking but if you rlike most of us the first thing you get into you in the morning is your pain meds and then you work on whatever else you have to take and it may even be something you take later in the day that can affect it.

So many meds out there can cause a reaction to occur when they come together and even may effect some an dnot others or at differing levels of severity.

To name a few that can and do interfere pay particular attention to the ones to treat GERD,acid reflux,IBS, and even some of the Vits and minerals used for replacement therapy. Also meds use to slow down or speed up absorptions times in the digestive tract as well as the urinary tracts such as those used for bladder incontinence or spastic bladders can cause side effects with opiates.

A OTC med used for UTI's sold as "uristat" and store brand names can wreck havoc with opiate treatment as it has a tendancy to decrease the levels of opiates in your blood stream at any given time making your pain med all but useless.

There are some wonderful sites via the net that deal with drug interactions and a google search can bring some of those up for. They are going to ask you to put in all of the meds you take and be sure to put even supplements such as ensure,boost,any of those along with iron or other minerals and vits you take occasionally or on a daily basis. OTC meds need to be added as well especially those like immodium,pepto,tums,some of those things you dont consider meds as they also can have interactions with opiate uses.

I want to point out here also that alot of fruit juices and especially the citric ones can and do effect absorptions rates of opiates so you also might want to google these and if you come up with anything during your search that looks suspicious print it out and take it to your Doc,it may be switching times of meds or simply types can make a difference for you.

Good luck to you and please let us know what pops for you in the search.

NVR

Posted 6/9/2008 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Jennca - You said that you are taking a small amount of oxy every four hours - it is a medication that is said to stay in your body for 6-8 (I think) so it could be very well that the reason you start having side effects with the second and third dosages that maybe the fact is that each dose is putting more into your body when the old stuff isn't out of you yet. So basically by the time you take that third dose it's almost as if you'd taken three right around the same time. I personally have an adjustment period to any new medication where I feel sick to my stomach and my level of concentration goes to zero because it's bouncing all over the place.

Also - you didn't say what dosage you are taking - but at 85 pounds even if you are only taking 5mg that is a lot of medication per your body weight. I take percocet 5/325 (has 5mg oxy in it) and at one point was close to 300 pounds - and it worked for me. I can't really imagine how if it worked for me at 300 pounds what it would do to you at 85lbs. At your weight even if you are only on 5mg of oxy - at the third dose for you at the 8 hour mark (1st dose is 0 hour, second 4 hour, third at 8 hour) you have 15 mg of oxy in your system - thats a great deal of it to have in you.

I wish I had more to tell you but you may want to make sure you aren't getting in too much to quickly. Also if you are like me your pain gets worse as the day goes on - so the pain first thing in the morning may feel better with pill one, but five hours later that one pill can't touch the pain your in...
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