Just me wondering again. I take oxycodone (percocet) for my spinal pain issues.

I believe that Oxycontin is just more of percocet but long lasting.

Has anyone had any experiences with either and/or of these pain meds?

Thanks, Nikko

p.s. Calling my PCP tomorrow.

I was thinking about this subject from the other thread we were talking in and I think you might do well to post this in the Chronic Pain forum here Nikko, the people there will have experience with both meds I am sure. I have only taken Percocet before and it knocked me out along with the pain.

I picked up my cymbalta and took one right away.

I am only a few days off, but maybe that did make a big difference, not that I think it would, since it was only a few days.

Hugs, Nikko

Not taking your Cymbalta can make a HUGE difference in how you are feeling. If your other med isn't working for you, then it has to be the Cymbalta. (Slap on the hand) don't do that again!

I do feel somewhat better today , I took my Cymbalta yesterday as soon as I picked it up. I usually take it at night, so it was yesterday afternoon.

I guess it really did matter that I missed a few days. I will never do that again. I will see how the day goes.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will feel even better.

Thanks everyone......Nikko

Dear Nikko,

"Percocet" is oxycodone and APAP. Oxycontin is timed release pure oxycodone. My limited experience with Oxycontin is that it works better than it should seeing that it is basically oxycodone. That is, the analgesic relief is better than that found from the same amount of oxycodone.

Oxycontin was available in generic form for about a year. However, Purdue won back its exclusive patent right to manufacture and it is now only available as brand name, "Oxycontin", rather than generic, "timed release oxycodone". The generic was inferior, in my estimate, so I have mixed feelings about this occurrence. It is enormously expensive, and has become significantly more costly over the past two years. I can't help but wonder if the manufacturer feels free to gouge patients because Oxycontin is so roundly condemned for being used recreationally on the street.

Highhat, thanks for your reply. APAP - what is that? Is it some type of Tylenol or something like that?

I do have prescription insurance - Humana.

When you say highly expensive, would that depend on your insurance though?

Or are you saying it is highly expensive for people w/o prescription insurance?

I am still debating on whether or not to make the switch.

So, I appreciate all the info. Did you have any upset stomach problems with the oxycontin?

Thanks, Nikko

Dear Nikko,

"APAP" is another name for, "acetaminophen", the generic name for., "Tylenol". It probably is an abbreviation for, "N-acetyl-p-aminophenol", the chemical name for Tylenol. I have never seen the wisdom in combining the meds. Oxycodone is an analog of a naturally occurring endogenous chemical, and so does no harm to the body when used appropriately. APAP is a poison is high dosages and harmful to the kidneys.

The reacquisition of patent rights to Oxycontin by Purdue has actually made it cheaper for some people with medical insurance. Many prescription insurance plans will pay for the entire cost of a brand name drug with a very small co-payment if there is no generic available. When the generic was available, getting the brand name by choice was hugely expensive. As I said, my experience was that the brand name was superior.

I have never had stomach problems with taking a narcotic med. I take hydrocodone for arthritis. The problems come when the weather gets warmer and I can reduce the dosage. I inevitably go through a period of "withdrawal" that produces relatively mild diarrhea that I control with Imodium. It only lasts a few days. The worst time of year for me, oddly, is the spring. Here in SF, the high temperature can vary 25 degrees from day to day, and the humidity is as variable as well. This results in weird dosing patterns with concomitant side-effects.

I got in touch with my PCP yesterday, she is on vacation next week. So, I have an appointment with her on the 28th, then we can discuss my pain issues and once again what pain med I should take or change to.

We tried Vicoden, then Percocet, then Morphine (made me sick) then back to Percocet, when she had mentioned the Oxycontin, but I was afraid due to all the news/press about the drug.

Now I wonder if I would just be better off with the Vicoden. I don't think it is as strong as Percocet, I guess that is why she switched me to Percocet, I can't even remember at this point.

I just don't want to be taking too much Tylenol, not sure if Vicoden has that in it. Since too much Tylenol can do damage to your liver.

Back East I was Percocet with my Pain Mgmt Dr. along with injections in my c-spine.

But now my spine is worse, so we will see.

Nikko

I take lorcet, 10/325 so it has less tylenol in it then the lortab/vicoden did. You might ask about it, though it is nowhere near as strong as percocet. I wish that was working for you Nikko. I hope it gets better for you soon.