Starting dose of med's?

According to the Narcotic Equivalence Converter chart, the starting dose would be 20 Mg but.of course this is strictly up to your Physician (not professional advice!)
But usually they still give u something for BTP (break-thru pain - like hydrocodone)
I hope this helps you! Have u considered other CR (controlled release) meds like Ms Contin? I use the Fentanyl patch so don't have to worry about tolerance buildup which is a very real concern for other oral meds! I took Oxycontin for a short period of time & I've never in my life "craved"meds like on that 1. Pls be careful! My honest opinion is that the FDA will eventually remove it from the market. Sadly its the highest abused drug right now in suburbs so Drs are very reluctant to prescribe due to liability concerns. As usual the druggies have screwed it up for patients w legitimate pain issues!

Part of the reason I want to get on an ER med is that I wake up in severe pain every day. I am hoping to stop that as it usually takes about 2 hours before I can begin functioning. Also I often forget my pain med on time until I end up in a lot of pain and then have to dig my way out of that mess. I am hoping just for better pain control on a more consistent basis. I keep going back and forth with whether I want to switch or not, but I am going to keep my appointment and just see what my doctor has to say. He may not be willing himself to do a change. I trust my doc and I know he will do right for me. If he thinks what I am on is enough, then no problem for me. I will just have to try and figure out what I can do differently about the mornings. The problem with taking them onetime, well, I can set recurring alarms on my phone to remind me.

Good morning JoJoGal!

From your description, it sounds like you may indeed need an increase! The only advice I can give you is to be honest with your Dr, and tell all about how you feel! Let him know that your struggling, and if he ask you your thoughts on a dosage, then you may tell him that you would like to stay on a lowest dose possible to start with, and also see if he will be willing to continue the BT med's, but at a lower dose as well. Maybe 7.5 Percocet's X2. This very well could build up some trust by giving a little to get a little, and many would advise you to stay on the lowest dose, with realistic comfort in mind.

There are a lot of options in dosage's and types of med's, so be open to his offers if any. Let him suggest what you are to be put on, and simply tell him that you are suffering more than you like, and give him an example of what your pain scale is. It may also do you well to keep a pain scale journal and take it with you, even if it is a personal study of one week.

Is your Dr a PM?…..I find that even with my Dr he is not up to snuff on pain management. Be patient, as it may take several tries for him to see that you are suffering to a point that he needs to consider a change in either your med's or dosage of your current ones.

Please bare in mind that most CP patients will not fine complete relief, but there should be an acceptable level at some point for you. I know that may be hard to understand, but trust me, it is more than likely that you will continue to build your tolerance and you will need some room to adjust up on the dosage as long as you can. I hope that makes sense. Also, if he will work with you and script an ER med, than shoot for a target that will allow you keep from using your BT med's for other than what they are designed for. Got It! They should not be used as a part of your baseline, but as a BT when you are having an episode of higher than normal pain, due to an activity that is not within the norm of your daily duties and or play.

Good luck, and I hope you have not taken my suggestions as a for sure way to go, because they are suggestions, and the final decision should be that of your Dr's.

Thanks for asking these types of questions here on the CP forum, as it may help other members and or visitors as they read these post.

Take care, and please do visit us again, and let us know how you faired with your DR. If you run into a brick wall with him, well we are here for support, and if you have success, then we will share in your celebration!

SE