Which is more effective ... the goal is to take the least amount necessary for pain relief

[demtenjeep]

Oxycontin 12.5 cr one ever 8 hours

or Lortab 7.5 every 4 hours


I want to cut one out but the Lortab every 4 hours just barely takes away the pain, leaves me with a dull ache that never goes away

The Oxy seems to work,but it takes a little while to feel any relief. Also 8 hours is way too long inbetween times

thinking about going to just the Oxy if they will add a dose so I would be taking it every 4 hours and not 8. My pharmacist says this is a pretty low dosage because I talked to him about my fear of Oxy.

My GI doc is talking about going to a pain patch? not sure how that would work.


Any thoughts

[Warpy]

1. They're completely different drugs

Oxycontin (oxycodone) is the stronger of the two. The Lortab (hydrocodone) is usually mixed with Tylenol. What people in serious pain generally do is take the oxy around the clock and use the Lortab for breakthrough pain.

Pain patches deliver a drug, usually Fentanyl (sublimaze) through the skin, over a long period of time. The good news is that you don't have to think about taking pills on time. The bad news is that it's an incredibly strong drug, so disposing of the used patches properly is necessary. Junkies OD on the stuff if they find a patch in the trash.

You will likely still have a prescription for breakthrough pain with a pain patch.

Good luck, I hope you find a pain management regimen that suits you and allows you to get back to functioning.

[demtenjeep]

2. looks like I am stuck with both for a while

tried skipping a dose of the oxy and had pain so severe that the lortab wouldn't even work. Had to go into the office for a shot. I am assuming it was a demoral shot...I don't remember much as my daughter had to take me and drive. All so I wouldn't end up in the hospital.

They are back to talking about pain patches I am to the point where I want to say just take the entire damn colon out and put some plastic in there

Should be getting results of the bloodwork we took Friday to see what has changed. I know the WBC was way too high and might make it necessary to have more invasive testing done. Although 10 tubes of blood seemed pretty damned invasive to me.

[Warpy]

3. yeah, you think they're taking it by the quart

but those tubes hold a lot less than you think they do, about a teaspoon each, at the most.

I'm really shocked that you weren't told to take the oxy around the clock and just use the lortab for breakthrough pain. Skipping the oxy is not a great thing to try at this point, which you now know.

Colectomies can bring their own problems, usually centering around fluid and electrolyte balance in addition to learning how to cope with a colostomy bag. However, it's something you can consider with input from your doc.

[demtenjeep]

4. so maybe they have the pain med routine backwards?

I think at this point, I could live with a colectomy. I am certainly tired of all the rest of this mess. Tired of the pain, tired of not doing things because of the fear of needing the restrooms.

I just would like to go back in time before all of this!

[Warpy]

5. Not really

You take the long acting stuff around the clock, oxy or patch. You take the short acting stuff when you get pain on top of the long acting stuff.

And you can't go back. I've been trying since I was fourteen to find a way back to when my whole body didn't hurt all the time.

[demtenjeep]

6. That makes sense.

I know I can't go back, but I wish. I am so tired of hurting all the time. I am so tired of having to find a bathroom all the time