I called my pain doctor yesterday to get some refills. I have been taking 10mg norco and 5mg vicodin every 6 hours. I got a phone call this morning from the nurse, they are changing it to oxycontin 20mg every 12 hours and oyxir (sp?) for break through pain. I have to sign a drug contract saying I will not get narcotics from any other doctor and will have to submit to random pill counts and blood tests if they suspect that I am abusing it. Ok, no problem. I definitely will not be abusing it.
I am not sure how I feel about this, it is a bit scary. I am still suffering from a lot of pain so am hopeful it will help with that but you always hear so many horror stories about overdosing and people abusing it.
So far, from what I read, as long as I take it exactly as prescribed, it should really help with the pain as it is a sustained release formula. Apparently, the overdoses you hear about are when people break the pills up and snort them as than they get too much of the drug at one time.
Is anyone else taking these drugs? I go in tomorrow for my next round of treatments and will sign my contract than and hopefully be able to get it filled tomorrow night.
Micheleb, Oxycontin and Oxy IR (immediate release) are a much better,
smoother pain reliever that the hydrocodones. Also, maybe a bit less
stomach upset but be sure to take them with food. I have never heard of
people having to sign a contract. Is that something new? It just sounds
kinda strange to me. It almost sounds like a doctor trying to cover his own
butt.
Before using the duragesic pain patch, I had tried oxycontin and oxycocet. Neither one worked for me and both made me feel sick and most of them time I did get sick.
I never had to sign anything though in order to take these.
Good Luck, Michele...I hope they work for you!
Thanks girls. I guess the contract thing is standard with a lot of the pain clinics. Its not my actually rheumy giving me the new pills. I don't care too much about the contract because I don't plan on abusing them or selling them or whatever, I just want to hurt less!I can't take anything like that and work myself....luckily for me I have never had to make a choice between the two. Thankfully I have been able to manage only using prescription pain medication on a "as needed" basis and I can choose to only use it while I'm at home.
I have heard of some doctors taking precautions like Michele mentions. I think with all the drug abuse we hear about these days he's probable just covering his butt like you said Lorster. I wouldn't have a problem signing anything like that if asked. Seems like eventually with the prescription fraud and abuse out there now a days I imagine their insurance will likely require it eventually.
Do try and take this medicine on a Friday and not drive until you know how it will affect you. They tried me on morphine and I couldn't handle it. Some people can. Some can't.Hearing you say that it reminds me of all these commercials on TV for these sleep aids like Ambien. They say "Don't drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how you react to this medication" Well Duh; if you are taking these and driving you aren't exactly taking them for they are prescribed for now are you? It just sounds so strange to me that they would mention not driving when speaking about sleeping pills....but I guess they have to say these things to cover themselves just incase that one idiot decides to take his sleeping pills and then decide to run to the store and get some groceries.
Sorry......totally off subject; but Deanna's comment reminded me of those commercials.
She's absoultely right though. Several folks here take these type of pain medications and carry on with daily life and don't miss a beat. I personally need to be home in a controlled enviroment......not managing an office and other peoples money! Too many opprotunities for mistakes to be made. I can't risk that myself.
Hi Michel, I hope I'm not repeating myself, but when I was screaming with pain, and before prednisone, (and waiting for mtx & Remicade to work, I took oxycontin. It was the only pain pill that really was instant relief. (I also too gabapentin from a pain specialist, so I took the gaba, then if I couldn't stand the pain in the middle of the night or early morning I took oxy. My doc's didn't want me to take it even though I got the original prescription after heart surgery, my GP & RA docs. (I had taken them home from the hospital and got a prescription filled before I left).
This is tricky medication and you do have to be careful taking too much, etc. but they do work!! I took too much and up-chucked. Good luck, Sarah
The other thing you want to consider if you have to take these meds and