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 know I am stupid...but I have never known...what is a Break Through med? What exactly does it do?

A break through med works quickly for fast pain relief. In general, when a person takes a BT med they will get relief in 10-30 minutes that will last for 2-6 hours (depending on the med).

Common BT meds are --
percocet (oxycodone)
vicodin/norco (hydrocodone)
dilaudid (hydromorphone)
MSIR (morphine)
Actiq (fentanyl)

Some people do just fine on long-acting meds and do not need a breakthrough med... other people use short-acting breakthrough meds only without a long acting med... but some people (like me) need both a long-acting med and a break-through (short-acting) med.

Hope that helps.
Liz

Wittesea, I am on Fentanyl Transdermal patches. Would that mean that the pills are for BT? And the patches are for long term?

The fentanyl patches are a long-acting medication - meaning it gives a constant steady supply of medication 24 hours a day.

Other long-acting medications that do the same thing are-
OxyContin
MSContin
Methadone


I'm not sure what pills you take, so I can't say whether the pills are a breakthrough medication or whether they are something else entirely.