I have always needed RX pain meds because OTC ones do nothing for me, well if I have mild pain or mild headaches Naproxen Sodium (Aleve) will take the edge off.

Well every time I ask a Dr for pain meds I end up getting something with hydrocodone in it. I always tell the Dr.'s I'm allergic to vicoprofen, ultram loratab & norco well all these have hydrocodone in them so I must be allergic to the hydrocodone, Right?

Surly there are pain meds that don't have hydrocodone in them. Every med I look up says "Do NOT take if you are allergic to any other codeine- or morphine-related medicine (eg, codeine)".

Funny you should ask, today of all days. I just got back from having a molar pulled and I can not take codeine either (because it conflicts with LDN, and I am sensitive to it anyway). The specialists rx'd me Ketorolac Tromethamine 10 mg, which is apparently in the same family as Naproxen, but stronger. I often take 1000 mg of Naproxen a day (which I have to stop to take these), but both he and the pharmacist said that this is more effective anyway.

... I'm assuming he's done his homework and there is no codeine in it.

I haven't tried it yet, but I guess I'll find out how well in works in about one hr.

Cherie

Thanks a bunch and DO tell me know how you feel in about an hour.

Here's what I found on the drug (not for more than 5 days use, so it would be OK for those every once in a while pains).

http://www.drugs.com/pdr/ketorolac-tromethamine.html

Good thing I heal fast.

The bad news is I am still bleeding, so I can't nap yet. The good news is that the freezing is out and it doesn't hurt. I took the pill about 1 hr ago, so it must be doing the job.

Thanks for looking that info up . . . it's good to know.

Cherie

hydrocodone is not codeine

I take Hydrocodone (Vicodin) for my low back pain (opate)

Codeine would be found in things like Tylenol 3.

An alternative would be percocet or percadan, which is oxycodone (opate)

So are you allergic to codein AND opate's?

PS: profen is the ibuprophen in the opate...it's usally a mix like 5/500. The bigger the pill, the more ibuprophne in the pill.....which is an anti-inflammatory...which also helps stop the pain, but is not the 'pain killer'....

I found this: I could not take Vicodin, it made me sick like Codeine does, but I loved Darvoset...it worked like a charm.

Hydrocodone is a semi synthetic opioid (narcotic) derived from two of the naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine.

What kind of pain are you having that you need a strong Rx med for it?

Erin,
She has: "Feels like needles poking my arm/hand/body"...the one from the "Ouch" thread last week....But since it's nerve pain (?) I don't know if conventional pain meds would work for that.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're suffering again Julie.


I also suffer from nerve pain. For me it's optic nerve pain, and although I take an anti-epileptic medication regularly, I do still get really nasty pain from time to time.

My doctor started me on Oxycodone which must be very similar to Hydrocodone, (except it's not a medication that I'm familiar with, and I'm not sure it's even available here in Oz). I've had no ill effects from the Oxycodone even though I suffered a very nasty broncho-spasm from Codeine, and now list that as an allergy.

I've heard it said that opiates will not help nerve pain, but believe me, I'm proof that they can. Initially my neurologist was surprised to hear I was getting relief for nerve pain with Oxycodone, but he told me that although it's unusual .... it's not unheard of, and he was happy for me to continue taking them.

Toradol (Ketorolac Tromethamine) was formerly used here in Oz as non-narcotic treatment for moderate pain, but I've not seen or heard of it being used for many years now. It may still be around, but I only retired from hospital work 6 months ago, and it was at least 5 years prior to that since I last saw it used. There's NO Codeine in that medication Cherie.

I hope you get some relief soon Julie. Nerve pain is the pits!