I've started seeing the docs at the VA and they have prescribed me hydrocodone 5/500. I started taking these a couple days ago. Doc instructions 1 -2 every 4-6 hours as needed for pain not to exceed 4000gm in 24 hour period.

Problem is I took one pill on Tuesday evening for pain and after 2 hours had no relief. I then took a second pill and pain went away and I was able to sleep. Woke Weds and felt in a fog till just after noon.

I then got home from work and took 2 pills at 7pm. Woke the following morning and was dizzy and light headed. Did not go to work (afraid to drive). I did not come out of it till 2 or 3 pm. That was 18 hours off two pills.

I've decided that I can not function on these. They took away the pain but left me unable to function. Called the doc and he said to give it some time to get used to the effects. I have missed so much work this year due to doctor visits and rough days with SCA that I can't afford to take more time off due to the effect of the meds. Mostly venting but also wondering how others might deal with this.

Dewey

Have you tried breaking one in half, and taking 1 &1/2 instead of two?

Or you can take one with a plain tylenol 500mg. See if that works. 10mg of hydrocodone is alot for someone not used to opiates.

Your tablets are 5mg hydrocodone (narcotic) and 500mg of Tylenol mixed together.

I agree not to drive or do complex tasks until you get a good handle on this drug.

I take vicodin for gout and have for a number of years as needed. I take them with an NSAID. You'll get more use to it, and should be able to function. I remember feeling that way at first as well. Just be careful with them and take as few as you need.

I use it but use the 5/325. They try to minimize the Tylenol for me....I don't feel zonked on it....wish I did. It is only minimally helpful for pain....maybe the whole bottle at once would work....(no, I am not serious.)

I too have suffered from Gout attacks. Thankfully daily Allipurinol has kept my uric acid levels down. In the past when I have had an attack I've used a methylprednisone dose pack. Within 12-24 hours the flare up is gone.

I am hesitant to take an addictive narcotic for the rest of my life. At this point I think I'll keep looking for other pain management options.

Dewey

I took that stuff for awhile, but it never had affected me at all. It didn't take the pain away... didn't bother me... didn't make me loopy... I switched back to Tylenol with codeine #4

Do you still take that allopurinol? I ask because it has been implicated in neuropathies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8385614

While the cases are not common, I wonder if your problems started before or after allopurinol?

We have looked at the allopurinol as a possible cause. Have been unable to find a link. Neuropathy started before I started on Allopurinol.

Now that I have been diagnosed with SCA2 the doctors seem to agree that my Neuropathy is a wonderful symptom of SCA2.

Dewey

Just keep this in mind: CMT has lists of drugs not to use with this disorder because it gets worse.

It is possible the allopurinol is a facilitator of your progression. It is a pretty difficult drug. It can cause serious things in some people, like the skin falling off (exfoliative dermatitis). It only gets mentioned very rarely in this capacity but some people have developed ExDerm and so it depends on the uniqueness of the person.

I ALWAYS examine the drugs... they are really potential toxins, and they don't always affect people predictably.