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Starting Oxycontin

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Posted 10/31/2009 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I'm 18 and starting Oxycontin for endometriosis and associated back pain what should I expect from this medication versus a shorter lasting narcotic?
Posted 10/31/2009 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Miri!

Welcome to the Chronic Pain family. I'm so sorry you're having to take this medication at such a young age. It's not often doctors will prescribe it for people your are so you must have some serious pain going on. I have never had endometriosis but have heard that the pain is excruciating. Is your doctor planning any surgical remedy to the problem? I'm sure this is hard to live with.

What other medications have you tried? Maybe I can relate the Oxycontin to one of those. Also, what strength and how often does your doctor have you taking Oxycontin. Doctors don't prescribe Oxycontin unless they've tried many other pain medications without achieving reasonable pain control.

Oxycontin is meant to stay in your system 24/7 which is what the 'long acting' is all about. You have to be extremely careful about operating anything like a vehicle until you know what your reaction to the medication is like. If you are suffering from chronic pain then you most likely not feel the 'high' that drug seekers look for. It's almost as if the medication is "used up" by the pain. But it will leave your mind impaired to some degree. That is why there are "black box" warnings on Oxycontin. It's a good medication when used properly, but not good if the user doesn't understand the dangers. You are wise to ask.

I have taken this medication for several year with fairly good results. It does cause side effects other that grogginess like constipation, headaches mood changes and sweating to name a few. Realize that no pain medication will totally take away all of your chronic pain, but it should reduce it enough so you can live a reasonably normal life.

Here's a site with information on this medication. Good luck and please keep in touch!

Chutz

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682132.html
Posted 10/31/2009 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Min19

Welcome to the Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum! To answer your question, I have felt that Oxycontin was a real Godsend for me, it does and excellent job of taking away the pain, without making me dopey or any thing like that! The only thing I have noticed is the pain is gone! or if not completely gone at least in a very manageable state! Everyone is different though what works for one person might not work at all for another. So how it will work for you? Well you will have to come back her and tell us! But for allot of people with Chronic Pain this med has been a Great help! I do hope that you will find that it works really well for You!

Min19 I am glad you found us I am sorry you are having such a hard time with pain at such a young age, but you have come to a very good place, we have allot of very good caring and compassionate people here that will listen to you and give you support! I wish you well and hope to see you often here at this forum!

good Luck to You

White Beard
Posted 10/31/2009 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, and welcome to the forum! I just posted a comment about my first experience with the Oxycotin. Thought you might want to read it, as you are now starting this same medication. My PCD just put me on 40mg of it, and Im to take it every 12hrs. I can tell you that it has given me some much needed relief. Im a fairly new member, but PaLady, and White Beard has been here for quite some time, and they are well versed in many areas of CP. Bottom line is......ask your Doctor and follow his instructions to the T!
Posted 11/1/2009 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Miri,

I was on oxycontin at one point last year. Everyone's body responds differently to medications, so what helps one person might not help another, etc. It can be a very personal experience. I will say though, that if your doctors ends up increasing your dose, make sure you increase slowly. If you go up too fast, it can build up in your body & kinda of hit you all at once. This happened to me with the oxycontin & it made me really sick for several days, so I ended up switching to something else.

Also, many people (me included) feel that the oxycontin only works for 8 hrs (it's supposed to last for 12). If that's the case with you, you may want to talk with your doctor about the possibility of taking it every 8 hrs instead of every 12. Just always follow your doctor's instructions, don't take more than prescribed under any circumstance.

Good luck, I hope the meds help!

Skeye
Posted 11/1/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Skeye, that was an excellant responce! I have also just started this same medication, and noticed that it did not last the full 12hrs. It really lasted me closer to 9 to 10hrs. So far it has worked wonders for me, but I feel the dosage is too high, and will ask the PCD to lower me to the 30mg from the 40mg he now has me on. I have really been suffering for the last 6mo or so, and it was a welcomed relief for my worn out body and mind. Buy mind, I mean that constant pain really wears on you.
Posted 11/1/2009 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Screaming Eagle,

I'm so glad to hear that you have found some relief! That's fantastic! I wish I could say the same! I know exactly what you mean about having a worn out body and mind! I think most, if not all of us can understand that! Having chronic pain is very draining both emotionally & physically. Hence why chronic pain & depression often go hand in hand! You must be overjoyed to have found a small break! It's amazing how a little relief can make such a difference in our lives! Good for you! :-)

Do you have any meds for break-though pain? I was just thinking, since the oxycontin only seems to last 9 or 10 hours for you, you might be able to take a shorter acting med, like oxycodone, to get you through hours 9 - 12, as an alternative to increasing to oxycodone 3x a day. Obviously this is for you & your doctor to discuss, but it's just a thought that came to mind.

hugs,
Skeye

Oh, and Miri, one more thing I just thought of. Because oxycontin is a time-released (or extended-release) medication, do NOT for whatever reason, cut the pills in half. This will destroy the time-release mechanism & could lead to a fatal overdose. Also, look carefully at your pills before you take them. If you see a crack or a chip in the coating of one of the pills, do NOT take it, as once again, the time-release mechanism has been compromised. If that is the case, you may be able to bring that pill back to the pharmacy & ask them to exchange it for a non-damaged tablet (not sure about this, but it would be worth a try, since you really do not want to skip any dosages & risk going into withdrawls).
Posted 11/2/2009 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
      Hello Skeye! to answer your question about the break through med, yes he told me to follow through with the Percocet's that im on, but told me to try to cut back on them. I have already done this, and have only had a couple of them since last Friday. You and I both understand the relief from a med after you have goon for a long period of time in pain. You are so right! It is a wonderful feeling, and relaxes the mind, body, and soul all at the same time. Keep in touch with me ant let me know how your doing on them, and we will compare notes.
Posted 11/5/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Miri19, I'm just checking up on you to see how you have done on the Oxycontin. Is it working for you?...and how do you feel now that you have been on it for a while?

Posted 11/6/2009 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
i take oxy 30mg 2 times a day and percocet as needed for breaktrough pain no more than 4 a day this combo works well i have back and knee prolems the key is not to take more than prescibed
Posted 11/6/2009 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
lugie, what mg do you take for the breakthrough with the percocet?
Posted 11/8/2009 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
percocet 10/325 for breakthru
Posted 11/9/2009 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
lugie, we take almost the same dose! When I get some quality time, I will ask you a few questions, if you don't mind. I'm headed to bed......so Scram! :)
Posted 11/10/2009 9:25 PM (GMT 0)

What happened to Miri?  When people post then disappear it makes me wonder????? Especially when they start off asking about drugs...ya know what I mean?

Me.

Posted 11/10/2009 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Rhonda - absolutely know what you mean! The people who are seriously interested respect the time and thought put into our responses and at least say thank you! Which is only one of the reasons I often don't respond too early to people asking about medications. Just my choice in this matter, though.

PaLady
Posted 11/10/2009 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
     Yes, I was disipointed Miri19 didn't comment again. We like to help new members, and are concerned about them. Who knows what is going on in there lives, but we wish them well.
Posted 11/11/2009 10:27 AM (GMT 0)
Im on sevredol, but am looking for a long acting pain reliever. Judging by everyones responses, i might look into oxycontin. I think i tried it a few years back, and got really nauseated with it but my memory sucks, so maybe not. The doc will know anyway.
Any other suggestions for slow release pain relief?
Thanks xo
Posted 11/11/2009 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
I was using Avinza, babycakes, which is a once a day morphine but switched to oxycontin 2xdaily because the Avinza didn't seem to last the whole 24 hrs.  My PM's assistant had me try taking the Avinza twice a day but that made me extremely nauseated, light headed and I just couldn't handle it. 

Posted 11/11/2009 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Miri if you are just starting on narcotic pain meds they pretty much all can cause constipation.  Everyone is different but using Mirilax really helped me.  It is over the counter.  I started out taking a whole capful then slowly cut myself back to .5 capful every other day and now that I'm used to the med I can take care of things myself with no help, if you get what I mean.  I mixed mine in kool-aide and couldn't even tell it was in there.  Alot of fluids helps and their are others that can control this problem with fresh fruit.  The oxycontin did give me a little high when I first started on it but that passed after my body got used to it.

Posted 11/11/2009 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks jag, ill speak to my dr about it today.
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