Hi all

As the title says, I need a new break-through medication. I have been using percocet as a BT med for many years (at the same strength - 7.5mg) and it is not very effective anymore.

I want to talk to my doctor about changing to a different BT med, and I was wondering what all of you would suggest as a replacement.

I use oxycontin 60-80mg daily as my base medication, and that is working just fine... it's just the BT med that isn't working very well anymore.

Any/all suggestions are welcome...

Thanks in advance,
Liz

Hi Liz!!

Have you ever tried Norco (hydrocodone/apap)? It comes it different strengths. I used 10/325 and take 1/2. If it isn't helping enough in 30 mins. I take the other 1/2.

Dilaudid is also good (hydromorphone). This is my main med.

Good Luck!! Changing, or adding, meds is my worst nightmare.

ss

There is a new FDA approved drug called Opana that comes in ER and IR forms. It is Oxymorphone, very potent, and I am sure very expensive. Roxicodone 15mg/30mg maybe? If you have insurance, give it a try. I just lost mine (divorce) so I am on my way to hell and may not come back!!! E
Good Luck.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((ENK))))))))))))))))))))) )))

I'm so sorry. Hang in there and come to us for support. You are a very special guy to us that know you. We'll be here for you in every way possible.

Love, Hugs, Prayers.........sent by express angel

ss

I use the Dilaudid for B/T pain. Before that I was on Percocet like you for two years. I find that the Dilaudid actually works faster, better, and has a relatively short half-life, so I don't feel so hung-over later on. It can make me a bit drowsy at times, though. And the first couple of times I took it, it made my skin burn a little. Not much, and it disappeared in just a minute or two. Dilaudid is supposed to be roughly seven times as potent as morphine, and from what I've read, the "usual" dosage is 1,2,4 or 8mg every four to six hours as needed. I quit taking the Percocet because I was concerned about ingesting so much acetaminophen every day for so long.

Thanks for the suggestions

Yes, the tylenol intake is one of my concerns... of course it wasn't a big concern when the percocet was working, but now that it is not doing what it used to do in terms of pain control I would prefer to go to something without tylenol in it.

Enk - I'm so sorry to hear about the divorce and the loss of medical insurance

I saw the doc late last night.... (I love doctors who have 6:45 appointment slots).

Anyway, we decided to tweak the Oxycontin slightly, and raise the dosage of the percocet to 10mg to see if that helps at all.

I see the doc again in 2 weeks, and she said if these changes don't help within the next 2 weeks we can then switch to a different BT med at the next appointment... my git is telling me that I will be switching to a different BT med in 2 weeks because so far today I feel no different with the changes that were made last night.

The good news is that my doctors office is accepting several nursing school students who need clinical hours in a doctors office... and my doctor asked me if I wanted to talk to the nursing students about my experiences as a pain management patient at my next appointment... I'm excited (and nervous) about talking to a future generation of nurses about pain management.