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Posted 12/4/2009 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Is anyone on this? Does it help your pain? Is this stronger than being on oxycontin and oxycodone?

I've just started on the oxycontin as I was needing more oxycodone and it wasn't helping my severe headaches so she put me on oxycontin 40mg 2x/ day. Is that a low dose? I hope this helps? i was wondering if this doesn't work then watch is next in line? Would it be the F. Patch or Lidocaine patch? i need to research both those patches. I've been on MS Contin and MEslon with no effect.

Thanks for your opinion.

Suzane

Posted 12/4/2009 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Suzane,

I've been through all the pain meds there are... at about every different dosage... so this is just my experience, not to replace that of a doctor..

Fentanyl is a strong pain medicine. It is often compared to be being 80 to 100 times the strength of morphine; but I've never really understood what that's comparing, because morphine is dosed in milligrams, and fentanyl in micrograms... Anyway, let's just say that it is one of the strongest pain meds out there.

The fentanyl patch is very effective for some people. It actually was the best thing for me personally in terms of controlling my pain issues. Unfortunately, my skin couldn't handle the patch despite everything I did to keep it on. I would get horrible rashes from the patch. I also run very warm...which would also cause issues keeping the patch on. The skin issue seem to occur more frequently w/ those that are fair skin, from the research I've done.

In addition, the patch didn't last the entire 72 hours that it is supposed to last...but that was just for me. I had a supportive doctor that let me change it at the 48 hour mark... but some doctors will not do this. Between the skin issues and such, for me - I had to go back to oral meds. I do, however, use Actiq...which is the fentanyl "lollipop", for breakthrough pain. However, it's very expensive and most insurances won't pay for it, except in cancer patients...

Re: your question re: the fentanyl patch and the lidocaine patch... they are two completely different things. The lidocaine patch is just a topic anesthetic (numbing medicine)... it isn't a narcotic pain reliever... Many people use the lidocaine patches in addition to pain meds....but they are two different things.

Re: oxycontin: you asked if the 40mg 2x/day is a "low dose"... (again, this is just my own experiences and I'm not a medical professional, just an informed patient!)... There are people on a lower dose than this...as it also comes in 10mg tablets... On the other hand, I've been on 3x that amount...but I also have a HUGE tolerance for pain meds....so I'm not the "norm" either. That's why it is not good to compare to what others are taking, or to compare dosages....because everybody is individual in their tolerance, side effects, etc.

Anyway, I hope that helps somewhat. I hope you get relief from your new meds/dosages... Let us know how you are doing...
--Tina
Posted 12/4/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)

    Tmjpain...I'm also on Oxycontin...and it has helped me greatly! I was and still am taking the Percocet #10 325mg as needed for breakthrough pain. The Oxycontin is 30mg x2....if you are on 40mg x2 it is the same as taking 8 #10 percocet's The Oxycintin is a pure form of Oxycodone...and is released over a 12hrs period. Some of it is released right away into your system.....what ever you do...do not break one of these in half...or you will get the whole dose all at once! :(  Take care my friend!

     Michael

Posted 12/4/2009 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on just about every pain medication that there is to date, and at various dosages as well.
Oxycontin takes a few days to build to a steady blood plasma level, since it is an extended release medication, it releases a certain amount of the 40 mg per hour over the intended course of 12 hours. As far as if it is considered a high dose, I have to agree with everything that Mom said about comparing doses with someone else. The tolerance issues , metabolism issues etc make it difficult at best to compare what dose you are on to what someone else might be.
Fentanyl is considered the top of the line in the pain medication lineup. It comes in a patch, and now most of the designs have the fentanyl in the adhesive , rather than in a gel matrix that they used to be in. It seems that the adhesive now helps also with the skin reaction problems. I have had those in the past and so far this time, I haven't had one reaction to it. Thankfully.
Lidocaine is a topical anesthetic as Mom explained and those patches can be cut into different shapes and put in areas that are painful. You put them on the painful areas and can leave them on for up to 12 hours and then take them off.
There are a lot of other medications between oxycodone/oxycontin and fentanyl for you to try, before having to head to the fentanyl route.
Like all medications, some will work well for you and others won't, and it really depends on our individual makeups that will dictate that. My best suggestion is to give each medication at least a month before deciding it is or is not working for you. And if needed to give it at least one dosage adjustment if the original dose isn't working. You'd be surprised how many times I have tried a medication and found that at the initial dose, it didn't seem to do much, but after a dosage adjustment, it worked much better.
Most of the time, when doctors change a medication from one to another, there is a reduction in the dosage of the new medication, made by the doctor due to what is called cross tolerance issues. For example, if you are going from oxycodone to a morphine derived medication, they will figure out the new dosage and reduce it by anywhere between 10-25% depending on the new medication for cross tolerance, instead of a straight conversion from medication to another. The reason behind this , is that the new medication may work better at relieving the pain, but at a lower dose and the idea is to keep the dosages down to minimize tolerance problems.

Sandi
Posted 12/4/2009 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Crazycolitis... Oh, yeah - I forgot about that Intervention episode that was just on! First of all...I have no idea how she got that many of the lollipops to use... not only is it difficult to find a doctor to prescribe it, most insurances won't cover it - and it is thousands of dollars out of pocket. Second of all, she "was" abusing the meds...but she had a mental issue on top of it, as stated at the end of the episode. But, I agree...I wouldn't use this med except for it's one of the only things that works for me.

Sandi... Good point about the reduction of dosage when starting a new medicine... I remember when I was first started on methadone - the doctor I was seeing messed up on the conversion and moved me down about 40%. I was not only in pain, but going through withdrawal, too...

Suzane... How's the oxycontin working? Hopefully, it's helping you....

--Tina
Posted 12/5/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
TMJ I hope your meds are working for you. You have been given some great info from the others here. Like they say there is really no telling how any one person will react to medication because of how we metabolize it. What may help you, may not someone else. I was on Fentyl and hated it. They did not last 72 hrs and I had trouble getting them to stay on. It was summer time when I was wearing them. If I got too hot outside then too much medication was released and that really shortened the life of the patch in addition to it not lasting to begin with. The withdrawal effects were the pits. I always felt like I was a yoyo, up & down, it was awful. I bought Tegaderm patches and took care of the non-sticking problem. My daughter said I was terrible while on the patches. When my dr bumped me up to the 75's I was unable to urinate and thats one of the potential side effects. So, I was taken off of them and it was none too soon.
Posted 12/5/2009 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Mom,
With the methadone conversion it is even harder to figure out the cross tolerance problem because it has the long half life, so doctors tend to go too low on the original dose to see how the person is going to react, and then increase slowly over several weeks. At least that's been my experience with it and with doctors prescribing it.
I saw that episode of Intervention too. That woman was punishing her parents for her alleged problems. In fact she had her youngest brother who gave up his own life to take care of her and she abused him as well. She did have mental issues, and was abusing every medication that she was taking to deal with her delusions. I'm glad that they got her help, and I hope that she continues to stay in treatment for a long time. I hope that her family , in particular her mother doesn't fall prey to her again.
Posted 12/5/2009 9:06 PM (GMT 0)

I never had any luck with the Fentyl Patch, it made me break out and I could never get it to stay on...The Lidoderm Patch is only a numbing med. so I attribute it to using Oragel instead of taking a pain pill.

I have never taken Oxycontin but I do take Oxycodone IR 30 mg. 4/day along with Methadone 120 mg. a day.  and that seems to help for the most part.  I am considering a change myself.  Maybe Opana ER along with the Methadone.

Have you tried Opana ER?  I have heard some very good things about the relief that people are getting so you might want to think abou that.

Good Luck,

Rhonda

Posted 12/6/2009 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
I use fentanyl patches. They have worked fairly well for me. I take 50 mcg patches and I switch them every 48 hours. that was the key for me. Every 3rd day was really crappy. doc said I may metabolize the meds faster because my temp is at least 99.5 at all times.

I also have a muscle relaxer zanaflex and oxycodone 15 mg 3x a day as needed.

Today i didnt need any break thru meds until 6 pm.

My doc says some people dont need break thru meds.

I fell asleep without a patch one night and I woke up like the tin man I could barely move. so they definitely work.
Posted 12/6/2009 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I tried the Opana ER and IR after I went off the oxycontin. It was a brand new med then, only out a few weeks. I didn't get much pain relief from it, even after increasing the dosages. Morphine makes me extremely nauseated and it was the same with the Opana, it is a hydromorphone derived medication, and the morphine made me sick. The higher I went on it, the worse the nausea was, so I had to stop it.
I have heard great things about it for those who can take morphine based meds, and not so great from others. I truly think that like all of the meds, they work really well for some and not so well for others.
I hope Uniquely that you are one of the ones that gets great relief from it.
Good luck,
Sandi
Posted 12/7/2009 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi To All,

Wow i can see that alot of you here on the forum take similar meds especially oxycontin & oxycodine.

Years ago i was prescibed ms contin, then that dr left and i explained to my new Dr to check my file as i was to trial Ms contin, My dr said you should have got a script from him, becuase i wont give that to you

In Australia about 6 months ago there was a major news break that was almost on every chanel about people ontaining these two types of meds to sell on our city streets , they showed teenagers that overdosed and dealers selling these meds to kids off the street, they showed the kids in a very scarry state of mind, foaming from the mouth etc... BINGO! they did an investigation and caught a lady in her early 60s going to different pharmacys to collect the meds after faking pain, then the woman got her daughter to sell them for her.

Then split the proffit 50/50- The lady was a conartist and faked severe pain, got a wheelchair and really came across to the medical proffesionalas a genuine lady in need, she later goes back on national tv and said how she would cry and cry and scream in pain, when there were no pains.

It was all about the money and at $40.00 AU for one oxy- she was loving it

Also it was uncovered that this ladies eldest daughter was a psyc nurse. access to write up scripts

Since this hit the tv, and it was going on for at least a week, now for us genuine perons that require these meds are refused, the meds i have stated are so difficult to get, you bascally have to have a arrow through you heart and your bleeding to death before the dr will give any oxycontin . When things like this occur it genuinly wrecks it for all us other people that require simialr pain meds, dr are so so cautious, and i can understand this, but we a genuine people that have medical issues and chronic long term illnesses and dieases

So now the genuine Australians that has tried different meds and other options are still being turned away and these meds are very difficult to obtain these days here in Australia basically unless your on your death bed, this makes me furious so so angry

Punchfit x
Posted 12/8/2009 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I appreciate it. I'm also writing to bump this up as someone was recently asking the same question.
I have decided not to take the oxycontin. I just don't want to go there again, the side effects and withdrawal once coming off it just scares me too much. i was not feeling too great after taking the contin for a few days. I'll try to stick to one or two doses of oxycodone just to get by. Nothing has helped the pain of my continuous headache. I think it's time to start working on having to live with this pain (which is very difficult to do). Something that also scares me because i have such a hard time getting thru my day. I just don't know what to do anymore!!
Posted 12/8/2009 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I appreciate it. I'm also writing to bump this up as someone was recently asking the same question.
I have decided not to take the oxycontin. I just don't want to go there again, the side effects and withdrawal once coming off it just scares me too much. i was not feeling too great after taking the contin for a few days. I'll try to stick to one or two doses of oxycodone just to get by. Nothing has helped the pain of my continuous headache. I think it's time to start working on having to live with this pain (which is very difficult to do). Something that also scares me because i have such a hard time getting thru my day. I just don't know what to do anymore!!
Posted 12/9/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
TMJ, have you been seen by a neurologist for your headaces? There are many different types of headaches out there. Are these soley related to your TMJ or what? If you haven't seen a neuro you may want to consider one. I sure hope you get some relief.
Posted 12/9/2009 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
TMJ, maybe you need to talk to your doc about trying a lower dose of oxycontin to start with. They also make a 10 & 20mg. I just started the 20mg along with oxycodone for bt. It is going pretty smooth so far. There are also other extended pain meds out there besides oxycontin too. Just living with your pain isn't the answer. Please talk to your doctor about your pain levels and maybe between the two of you some relief can be found. Good Luck!
Posted 12/10/2009 12:12 AM (GMT 0)

straydog said...
TMJ, have you been seen by a neurologist for your headaces? There are many different types of headaches out there. Are these soley related to your TMJ or what? If you haven't seen a neuro you may want to consider one. I sure hope you get some relief.

Yes I have seen a  neurologist. She said she couldn't help me that my headaches are not migraines. She offered botox but I have already had two sessions of that with no effect. The problem is not tmj now. That was corrected. And the orthodontist I have been seeing since oct 08 has been trying different mouthguards and that is not helping the pain so my thoughts are that is not where the problem is since nothing has worked.
Posted 12/10/2009 12:54 AM (GMT 0)

bsjaguar said...
TMJ, maybe you need to talk to your doc about trying a lower dose of oxycontin to start with. They also make a 10 & 20mg. I just started the 20mg along with oxycodone for bt. It is going pretty smooth so far. There are also other extended pain meds out there besides oxycontin too. Just living with your pain isn't the answer. Please talk to your doctor about your pain levels and maybe between the two of you some relief can be found. Good Luck!

I talked to my dr. last week and this week. I started the oxycontin but then got so afraid of what it does to you as I've been on it before. I affects my body so much. I can't void, i can't have a BM, I am nauseated, I am sleepy, I have fallen down the stairs, i can't drive. by monday I was crying and decided I can't do it, what kind of life is that, no better than before. So I will just take the oxycodone as necessary. 

Suzane

Posted 12/10/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Suzane if you have those type of side effects I would not consider the medication either. It may or may not happen again, its a matter of taking a chance and finding out. I am with you on this one, the fact that it affects whether you can urinate or not is reason enough to never take this medication. that is just too dangerous.
Posted 12/10/2009 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thankyou for understanding Straydog. One day at a time. I am just finding it hard right now to find the strength to do anything!!
Posted 12/10/2009 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
suzane...I will talk to you on fb...and we can discuss the problems that I have had with it too. Im going through the same thing. take care my friend!
Posted 12/13/2009 8:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have heard alot about the patch itself, but thats just from the chemical side of the compound. Other than all of the commericals that come on about all the people OD'ing from it no thanks. Patch delivery medication is amazing, but putting people in charge of their own dosage of such a strong med is nuts. I would love to see if it helped my situation. Ill just say I have Fibromyalgia :). I would like to see alot of other medications put into a patch (the non habit forming). It delivers a very constant dose with many of the after effects.
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