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Posted 2/7/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
 

     Can one of you members tell me what the purpose of Acetaminophen in the Percocet's and why is it scripted that way, if it is harmful to the liver. Why not just script Oxycodone IR and do away with the Acetaminophen.

     Sorry if it is a dumb question, but I would much rather be on the Oxycontin for long term care of my pain.

    Thanks!

    SE wink

Posted 2/7/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I think that it is included to boost how the medicine works. The opiate (oxy) works on the part of the brain to lessen feeling pain, and the acetominophen works by relieving pain. It is an analgesic which means it can reduce pain.

As to why they are always prescribed together, who knows? Personally, there are such stigmas with opiate use at this point, I am surprised they are prescribed at all. There are always going to be people who abuse medications whether intentionally, or because of a lack of education on the effects and amounts safe to take. Sadly, that may also be a reason that the acetominophen is included with opiates, so that instead of a straight, higher-strength opiate, they can use a smaller doseage to "keep the abuse down."

I hope you get some better answers than what I have!

Mindy

Posted 2/7/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
 

          Thanks Mindy! I'm getting to the point that I hate the name of Oxycontin because of the stigma it has these days. I just saw another news artical about the Pharmacy's being targeted for theft of it around the country. Some of them are even posting signs that they do not carry it, in hopes of deterring thief's.

       I'm in need of long term pain care, so the Oxycontin is a better choice for me. However, my Dr is still not all the way on board, and continue's to script most of my pain meds in the form of the Percocet (Oxycodone with acetaminophen) I have been on this med since 1996 or so. It still is efficitive for me, but does not last as long as I would like for it to.

      It is so much nicer to have a med that does not have the up and downs several times a day. I know when I started back on the Oxycontin, it sure smoothed the downward ride of the Percocet. Overall I'm still not recieving enough to be comfortable during my working hours. I dont think it would take much more, but it is surprising what 20 more mg will do for a person, if scripted correctly.

       Have a good day Mindy!

     SE wink

Posted 2/7/2011 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
I completely understand where you are on this one. I hate the stigma of CP and the name oxy just brings out "druggie" to most people. I do, however, find that the tylonal in my Ultracet boosts the Tramadol and helps much more than Tramadol alone. Try telling that one to the ignorant people at our local hospital. I wrote oxy IR 5 mg 4 x daily and they immediatly said I was taking oxycontin.....duhhh...that would be oxycodone. What trained staff we have some times.
Posted 2/7/2011 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
 

     retiredmom, a quick question if you will! I see that you have failed back syndrome (failed Fusion) listed in your signature line. I would like to know your thoughts on if you are in better shape today than before your surgery. Was there any improvement after the surgery.

     I understand that we may suffer some long term pain, but do you feel that it made a difference. I will share my thoughts on this as I come up on the 12month anniversary of my surgery. Didnt mean to change the subject but I have been wanting to ask you this for a long time now.

 SE

Posted 2/7/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
What an interesting question rolleyes and a hard one to answer.  I was told that I would not be able to walk if I didn't have the surgery and I honestly believe that.  I had no choice and would have to have it done again under the same circumstances.  It was considered emergency surgery and was done within a day of knowing what was wrong. I would not, however, recommend a fusion of L5-S1 if there were something else that could be done to reduce the pain and allow a person to live with reasonable comfort.  So that's kind of a catch 22.  It did help with the nerve pain, but the pain that resulted from the surgery is really bad and doesn't go away.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this too!

Posted 2/8/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello dear friend,

I was on Percocet for a short period and as I had been on Lortab 10/500 for over 5 years, one doctor finally mentioned the harm all of the acetaminophen over the years could have done to my liver. On that day about a year ago, my PM doc put me on Oxycodone and Oxycontin.  I wouldn't go back to the Lortab for anything in the world. On occassion I take Ibuprophen along with the other, but for the most part, what I am taking doesn't upset my stomach like Lortab did and it has a real pain relieving property to both of them. I guess I would ask your doc to take you off the acetaminophen and straight on to the Oxycodone which is straight up Oxycodone and nothing else. Just a suggestion......

Stac/Catz4

Posted 2/8/2011 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Stac,

I'd make the same suggestion, but I'm having a serious problem getting my oxy right now at the pharmacy. They don't have it and don't know when they will be able to get it. I even call a week or two before I'll need it to let one of the guys start ordering, but they often have to fill a small amount at a time to get the meds in. It's much easier to get my other meds, but the oxy is really difficult right now. One suggestion given to me by my pharmacist is to see if the Dr will prescribe liquid or tablets, rather than the standard issue oxy, since it's easier to get in.

I hope this helps somebody facing a similar problem.
Posted 2/8/2011 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have not had any problem getting my oxy IR - but I take 30mg pills, so that may be why.

In the past when they had the oxycodone shortage, I was prescribed the liquid. I found that the liquid that had 5mg per teaspoon or something like that absolutely tasted horrible to the point that I almost vomited every time I tried to take it. It tastes like the robitussin cough syrup with codeine in it that they give you in the hospital inpatient.

The condensed liquid oxycodone is much easier to take. I believe that 5mg would be like 1/2 of a dropper. Tastes differently and much easier to keep down.

Just my input.

I have problems with both my kidneys (chronic kidney disease stage 3) and had extremely high liver enzymes when I went through my bone marrow transplant. So I am advised not to take either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Occasionally I do still take the ibuprofen because it does help to make the pain meds work a little better on extremely bad days. Acetaminophen does absolutely nothing for my pain and that is what is mixed in with percoset.

Good luck!
Trudy
Posted 2/8/2011 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SE. I have read that it helps the oxycodone work better.

Also, the FDA just passed a regulation that limits the amount of Acetaminophen per tablet to 325 mg. because of overdose potential.

Anyway, I think they do it to try to curb abuse. I mean, you can always take a tablet of Acetaminophen if you feel it helps your pain. So, that's why I think they do it.

Just my opinion though.
Posted 2/8/2011 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Acetomenophen is an anti-inflammatory medicine.
Posted 2/8/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
 

      Thank you all for you're responces! Good Stuff!

             Flower I did read about the limits put on the Acetaminophen. It didn't seem to effect me since I'm already on the 325mg. I suppose it will make a difference to others though, and they will have to make some sort of adjustment with their daily intake.

 Again Thanks!

     SE wink

Posted 2/8/2011 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
 

   Retiredmom, I didn't mean not to answer your question about my thoughts on how Im doing at this time. I had planned on doing so at my 12 month anniversary which will be in March.

   However, another member has also asked me this question via email, and I'm working on a responce for them.

         I will post it just as soon as Im done writting it. I have really had to think about this, and like you said it is a hard question to answer, and I suppose so because we are holding on to some hope at this point so early in the game of recovery.

    SE wink

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