how often do you switch your pain medications and which would you recommend

I have been on the same pain medication for the last 7 years going against what my doctor wants. I take large doses of norco and valium as my primary pain relievers for my trigeminal neuralgia and crohns/colitis. since the age of 10 they were giving me daily demerol injections which lasted 8 years. I then went through many drugs which made me ill, percocet, regular morphine methadone, diladid, etc. and stayed with norco. My doctor has been advising me to take oxycodone 15mg/300 month for sometime but I have refused. My current meds are no longer working (I have a school aged child and cannot be zonked out which is why I am stubborn about this) I need a change. how often do you change your meds to keep them working and what do you think about the oxycodone change from norco? can I expect to be feeling badly for awhile? I should have switched years ago, I have been in constant pain for the last 3 months and have been nervous with all of the bad things you hear about oxycodone

Hi Equest, there really is no time limit so to speak on switching pain meds. Its more a matter of when they become less effective in controlling our pain, that is when we know its time to either increase the medication or move to something different. You are lucky to have lasted 7 years on one medication to control your pain. I would think when switching you to something new your dr would take into consideration your dose in order to keep your pain under control, rather than start you off on something lower. Have you talked to him/her about the conversion of these two medications?

I was on Norco at one time and did very well until it just stopped working. From there I went to 15mg of Oxycodone and I had no problem. But, keep in mind we all metabolize medications differently. I am not saying you will have a problem, but I would be at least be willing to try the change, otherwise you may miss out on something giving you relief, you will not know until you try it.

One thing I would like to point out to you is all studies have shown that people that suffer with chronic pain rarely become addicted to their medications. They may become tolerant to something, which is no differentthan becoming tolerant to say BP medications. Addiction is for those seeking drugs illegally and not using them as they were intended. People looking to get high and not have a medical condition. I have been on BP meds over 20 years and often have to switch because they become less effective after a period of time. My pain meds can do the same thing.

I saw in your other post about the drs wanting to do an injection into the scar tissue I believe from an old surgery. If you have lots of scar tissue or adhesions which is pretty common with surgeries, yes, that could very well be the source of your pain. Its worth trying the injection to see if you get some relief. At least the dr is trying to help, so many don't anymore. I have crohns and understand the horrible pain very well. I am really surprised you were not put in the hospital by your gi. When flares get that bad mine puts us in the hospital until we can get things under better control. Sure hate to see you suffer.

Take care.

i've been on percocets and now oxycodone (without the acetomenophen) for the past year and a half- i'm up to 6x15 mg a day. it works for the most part- the pain is managable so i can go to work and play with my daughter etc...there is definitely the dependence factor- but i went in with my eyes open- my pain doc told me it happens to everyone on long term narcotic pain mgmt. when the time comes to get off the meds we'll work on it as a team- my butt will deal with the misery but they'll be there to support me and help. but the plusses definitley outweigh the negatives. without the oxy i would not be able to get out of bed and function bc my gut hurts so bad everyday. i need to worry about that and then when the pain is resolved i'll figure out how to safely get off the pills.