Question about new pain med?
 

My doctor has now changed my pain med to a time released med oxycontin 20mg from a as needed med. I was told to take it three times a day. Do I take it morning noon and night about every six hours then I sleep from about 9-8 or should I take it every 8 hours and set me some kind of alarm so I remember to take it. I am finding that I forget to take it because the pain is at a low level and then when it starts getting worse I remember I did not take it. What do you all do as your experience or your opion on the matter. I hate forgetting it because the pain comes back with a vengence and then takes longer to get it back low again. Any opions welcome. Thanks!!

Hello There!
 

Good to hear from you!
Hope you are feeling much better now that the battery is out!

When I took the time-released, yes, like you said....spread it equally thru-out the day (approx every 8 hrs) to keep it consistent in your system.
I had to pay out of pocket for that med and it ran me in excess of $700 month!! :eek: So, I had better luck by switching to the Fentanyl patch and I didn't have to worry about forgetting to take pills all the time.
I have now titrated down to the lowest dose of the patch and am hoping to be able to get by on just Lortab for breakthru pain.

I'm not sure what the situation with the Oxy is to date, but when I took it last year, there was so much hassle in obtaining it due to something with the manufacturer and the pharmacies weren't able to keep it in stock. It was such a headache in keeping that script filled, I just got fed up.
I hope all that confusion has let up by now. And I hope you do well on it.
You deserve pain free days! Good Lord you've been thru the wringer!

Your Friend
Rae
:hug:

Somethings wrong here
 

OxyContin is an every 12 hour drug so I've never heard of it being taken the way you are. Since you're new to the drug, the dosage sounds correct, but the every 6 hours doesn't. I'd call up your doctor and make sure before he accidentally places you in la-la land. On a 12 hour schedule you'll find you'll acclimate to the prescription very quickly and that you'll enjoy the fact that you're always clear headed hence there's nothing better on the market for moderate to severe pain. Best of luck, Bob.

As a hospice/painmanagement nurse I have seen oxy perscribed for ever 8 hours around the clock. That is not manufacture recomendation so you may have issues getting it paid for by some insurance companies, you will probally be tired at first but most ppl "get over" that quickly. Did you take it at every 12 hours 1st? or was it straight to every 8?
:hug:

I was changed from the norco 10/325 straight to three times a day oxy. I have a hard time remembering it every eight. What if i sleep more than 8 hours is why I wondered if I should take it every 6 or 7 hours during the day. I see the doctor today and will ask him. Thanks for the info.

I see the doctor today so I will ask him about it. Thanks!

q12 hours is really somewhat of a gimmick......especially in a younger persons with quicker metabolism.....yes you should spread it out as close to q8 hours as possible.

Agree
 

Even the 40mg didn't last me 12 hours. That's why my doc was kind enough to do it 3 x/day. With breakthru meds on hand to boot.
Pain comes with a vengeance. :rolleyes:
Also, we develop our own individual levels of tolerance, which also should be kept into consideration

After doctors visit and I told him of my side affects swetty, itchy and I forgot the other, he then switched me to ms contin 30mg three times a day. I am getting so forgetful, I have to write it down to remember it. I started it today and slept another 8 hours after sleeping all night. We will see how this works. Thanks for the info.

oxy contin
 

As I just posted. Oxy contin was designed poorly. The active drug, oxy codone has a 3-4 hour hald life. The pill make is such that is releases half the medication immediately and then the other half in 6 hours. So from 4-6 hours you pain returns with a vengence and then at 6 hours you get the other half. This fact makes it very hard to dose it effectively.Three times a day is better but not perfect. I think ms contin is far superior as the pill substrate is waxy and the release is much more even and smooth. You just need a week or to to get used to the morphine floatiness, but it DOES go away. Of course talk it over with you doctor before changing anything as you ALWAYS should. You will dial it in, be patient, I KNOW it's HARD.But fast large dose and med changes with pain drugs tend to give uncertain and ineffective results. Maybe ms contin with percocet10/325's for break though pain. They also make instant release oxy. Good luck...be patient :) Brian