How long... | Arthritis Information

How long does it take for your pain meds to kick in?

I took a lortab about 25 mins ago and it still has not kicked in.

I guess for me it depends. I have had them kick in in one hour or thirty minutes...every day is different. Drink some more water.

Ok... I just know it is taking a while for them to kick in, and I usually wait to take them until the pain gets bad. I mean I do not want to take one when the pain is tolerable, because what if it goes away? Well, that is my way of thinking anyways... it has never just went away on its own

Joonie...I know I usually wait until I can't take it and am a nightmare to live with, but for right now, maybe you need to stay a little more medicated, so the kids can see their mommy smile just a little. I love you, and would rather have you sleep a little more than be in excrutiating pain...it is not good for you, your family or your body.

Just a thought. Are they twelve hour? or six?

Darn, I am thinking I should get that outta my way of thinking

Joonie...Lindy is very wise...listen to her! Yep, keep hittin' the bottle girl. Mine are not the capsules they are actual pills like tylenol. I half them, and it numbs most of the pain, and I can just relax enough to make dinner, and converse with the kiddies.

Yep, you have got to tackle the pain for now. Your kids deserve to hear from their mom, and see her smile.

Joonie Lindy is right, my Dr told me when I am in a fibro flare to keep the pain meds in me as prescribed, that way you keep a head start on the and pain and it is much easier to control. He said to take them even if I don't feel pain in the four to six hours, like I am now

Oh yesterday when I got home I took the pain meds every time it was time to take one. I slept a lot after the 2nd pain med.

Good idea about the taking half, Shelly. I might do that. I do not have anymore refills on my lortabs that she just RXed since they are a test to see if I still get paranoid.

I might call in for the pain med I found on the internet, Combunox, it sounds like I might benefit from it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am learning

My dr told me it is better to take the pain meds before the pain gets severe, because then the pain may be very difficult to get under control with the med. So don't wait so long to take them. Taking one when it is starting up may calm things down enough so that in the long-term you are actually taking less pain meds and having less pain. After a while you will start to recognize when you need them before the pain gets so bad. I always wait too long to bump my pred when needed and my doc keeps telling me he would have to increase it by less if I would do it earlier on in the flare.

Laker

Yeah, I might start taking a half when I feel it starting that way if for some strange reason the pain does go away on its own I will not be all doped up I know it will not go away on its own. I just wish it would. I just hate having to take pain meds, I was fine just taking IBU, but that does nothing for this pain I have been having recently. It does help with the swelling, but I am not sure if I can take it when I take a pain pill. I need something for the swelling. Pred is not doing too much for the swelling unless I am taking over 10mg. I just cannot do more than 10mg as it messes with my head. Plus I do not have enough pred to keep doing 15mg. Joonie. We tell patients that Lortab should work in about 40 minutes. If you
are not getting good pain control or it is not holding you, consider an
increase or a change in med. After a while, narcotics quit being as effective
as when you started taking them and an increase or change is usually
needed. Do you guys take your pain meds every 4 hours? My RD only wants me to take one every 8 hours and that's never enough. I think he's real conservative on the pain meds.

< =text/>_popupControl(); Kweenb...what is the pain med you are taking? Some are only every 8 hours or every 12 hours. Like my maintenance pain is extended release...I only take that every 12 hours. I have break thru pain meds I can take every 4-6 hours.

Sometimes pain meds can take up to 1 hour to work. Like Lindy said...the key is to hit the pain before it gets severe. Your pain meds are less effective the longer you wait and you can't get the relief you so desperately need and deserve. Don't rob yourself of pain relief!!

I take Lortab and they are only the 5 mg ones. I have a friend that takes the 10 mg ones and she takes 8 of them a day! I have to admit, there have been a couple of times I took two of them I was in so much pain.

< =text/>_popupControl(); You are ok taking Lortab more than every 8 hours. It was ok that you took 2 in one day. Follow the 4-6 hours with the Lortab. If your pain level is increasing, please be sure to call your doc and let them know. Something is going on to make that pain level go up.

You can also take your pain meds as a prevention. Like for instance...say you are going to the mall today and you know it will cause you pain and wipe you out. Take your pain meds 30 minutes before leaving the house. You can use them as prevention for any situation that may be a situation you are going to do more than you usually do.

I've noticed it takes about an hour for mine to kick in

Well, the ones I took last night fr my ankle feeling broke, lasted like 3hrs and it took an hour to kick in.

I am going to see about that other pain med I found on the internet. It does sound like it will help me out. I think the Lortab 2.5 does not make me paranoid, but it also does not work well for this broken bone pain either

I understand about the paranoid feeling. I had that happen once when I took Talwin. The feeling was horrible! I'd definitely try something else. I wouldn't think 2.5 mg Lortab would help much. I don't normally take pain meds either and my 5 mg don't do much for me.

When I took Darvocet, those took an hour to start working. The Lortabs do work faster - about 30 to 45 minutes, but I don't think they are much better. Well, unless I take two - that helps.

wouldn't it be nice to have instant relief, like we get instant pain.

I would want a few of those pills around the house. < =text/>_popupControl(); What pain med did you find on the internet you want to check out? Is it narcotic or is it natural?

it is a combo of Oxycodone and Ibuprofen it is called Combunox. IBU helps me with the swelling and since someone said it will take 3 months for Imuran to work and I seem to hurt where the swelling is most. I figured it would help me. And it is to last for 6hrs.

Here's the website on it http://www.combunox.com/

< =text/>_popupControl(); I have not heard of that one before. From looking at the website it is for sure worth a try! It is exactly what you are looking for in a pain killer. I can not take Ibu...but for those that can...I would go for it. Cuts down on the number of pills you are taking everyday too.

Remember...it can take 3 months for the Imuran to work. Hopefully you are going to be one of those people that respond quickly to meds.

I guess if the lady calls back I will ask for an RX of this pain med, because it sounds like I will be needing it, now.