pwptds
Journeyman
Reged: 09/02/04
Posts: 88
Loc: Highway to Heaven
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I was wondering if anyone out there could tell me the difference between butalbitals and hydros. for killing pain. My doc. wants to change me from Lortabs to oxycontins, because I've built up a tolerance to the hydros, and I have to be on something for the rest of my life, just to live normally. But the oxy is so expensive ; I don't know if I could afford it since I lost my job. So I was going to ask him about the fioricets, and was wondering if anyone could tell me something about them.
thanks
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 764
Loc: Texas!
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Fioricet contains butalbital, tylenol and caffeine. It also comes with codeine in it. The butalbital is a barbituate. Hydro and Fioricet really aren't related at all, in my opinion. Fioricet works best for migraines, tension headaches and other headaches. It really doesnt' have anything but the tylenol (325mg) to battle pain such as back pain. For me personally, hydro doesn't touch my migraines but the Fioricet will help. Migraines are caused by the blood vessels in the back of the head swelling and putting pressure on the nerves, which causes the pain. However, the pain is not in the back of your head, but up front. Caffeine has been known to shrink those vessels. I used to drink lots and lots of coffee when I got migraines before i got in to see the neurologist. Comparing the two is like apples and oranges.
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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WickedNoah
Member
Reged: 10/02/04
Posts: 122
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I agree with Sweetz completely. My brother had migraines for years where he'd see auras and stuff, so even though I get headaches, in deference to my bro, I don't dare call them migraines!
Still, the point is that Fioricet is specifically formulated for migraines, not pain. It doesn't work entirely by blocking migraine pain, but altering your system so that the source of the migraine pain is gone. It does little to nothing for regular pain, and sometimes makes things worse. It's like taking Viagra for cataracts...
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trixxie
Member
Reged: 05/23/03
Posts: 121
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I would say that fiorcet is for headaches(which works great for me)
Hydro for back pain...
oxyc is good for back/neck pain.
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The truth shall set you free!
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CARLITOS_WAY
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/27/04
Posts: 204
Loc: WASHINGTON, USA
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Fioricet and fiorinal are specifically for tension headaches. Usually tension in the neck or shoulders, which caused a tension headache. The Butalbital a class III barbituate is the sedative for the tension. Oxy/Hydros are for pain (any kind of pain that needs opiates, depending on severity. From a fracture to a sprain to back pain to dental work.
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AngelWolf13
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/07/04
Posts: 258
Loc: w/ my '91 CE-24 in SoCal....
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ditto to sweetz's comment. i take fioricets w/codeine for migraines. i have tried hydro for them but they don't work at all. never tried oxys, it's like a bad word in the medical community here. i don't know of anyone here at all who has ever been prescribed them, esp. since rather recently a doctor, who's practice is very near to where i live, made national headline news and got in HUGE trouble for rx-ing them. and they made Best if kept off the board clear that he was to be set as an example to any other doctor who was even thinking of prescribing oxys/narcotics. i'll have to see if i can dig up that article and when i do i'll post it and you will all know exactly why i'm "lucky" that i am even able to get rx-ed t3s, 45 for a month, what a joke, and a Best if kept off the board shame!
oh, sorry to get off subject. ok, i have never tried fioricets for anything other than migraines. have you tried darvocets? they're not that strong but might be more effective than butalbital. they're not made for long term, but might be useful for a hydro-holiday so you can reduce your tolerance. good luck.
c.(angel)
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"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps."
Emo Philips.
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Listvoer
Board Addict
Reged: 01/14/04
Posts: 384
Loc: New America
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Just my opinion from experience, but I wouldn't bother with the darvocet or any other med containing propoxyphene if you already have a tolerance to hydro (or even codeine). Propoxy is about as affective as aspirin for a lot of people, and it has dangers with it that aren't even a worry/consideration with the regular opiates/opioids. It has something to do with a dangerous dose of the med being not that much higher than a theraputic dose, and that it's metabolites stay in your system long after the pain relief has worn off. Because of that, if you take your regular dose, then dose again when the pain wears off, the original dose metabolites are still there, and now you have added that much more. You can see how it could add up and become dangerous if not watched carefully. If i'm wrong, somebody please correct me, but that's how I understand it.
There's a reason darvocet and the rest of that family aren't prescribed that often.... or discussed here. 
L
ETA - if it's just a week's hydro holiday, it may do you OK. I was mainly speaking of long-term pain management...
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Due to PM spam I rarely check mine so if you send me one, make sure to let me know...
Edited by Listvoer (10/19/04 12:31 PM)
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Krazidame7
Stranger
Reged: 05/06/04
Posts: 7
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My doc gave me darvocets after I had my daughter...they did nothing to ease the pain unless I took 4 at a time, which I don't recommend...I don't even think they should be given out at all..they don't work for anyone I know! I tend to overtake things if they don't work...even tylenol...I will keep taking them until I either fall asleep, or the pain goes away...I am not just taking about headaches or minor pain, I am talking about debilitating back pain, and I get desperate. My doc won't give me anything besides 800 mg motrin, and they make me puke now. Atleast he is letting me go to physical therapy, I pray it helps! I go tommorow for my first appt.
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AngelWolf13
Enthusiast
Reged: 07/07/04
Posts: 258
Loc: w/ my '91 CE-24 in SoCal....
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to krazidame,
we must be seeing the same doctor! by chance, do you live is southern california too?
good luck with pt (you'll need it!). i have been in pt this time for a couple of months and there have been times when i almost couldn't even drive myself home. the treatment is considered "successful" if, in the end, you are not worse. i am sure that pt has its merits for certain people, but i don't get enough pain meds to keep me comfortable for 4 hours in a normal day, let alone after an exhaustive pt session. my doctor tells me there is nothing that can be done (from a medical standpoint, that is, if my spine and ribe are all crooked/immobile/whatever i am sol), and i just have to "learn to live with it", to try accupuncture or yoga (like i'm made of money), and i end up in a crappy Best if kept off the board mood all the time becuase of it. one of these days i'm not going to be able to take it anymore, but i have so many Best if kept off the board things left to do....grrrrr.... every so often i have to vent, those who have read me posts know this, i am sorry again, but it's like opening the proverbial can of worms.
krazidame, i pray that pt will work for you, i sincerely hope that it does, especially if your doctor has the same prehistoric attitude toward pm as mine does. i can tend to over-take otcs and nsaids too, one day the tylenol will do me in, imagine that, in this enlightened day and age. but at least i'll finally be pain free once and for frickin' all! thanks to the extremist zealots in le and the dea, notice that i do not blame everyone collectively in le and the dea, but the worthless extremist zealots .
as you can well tell, i am hurting right now and it's taking a looooooong time to finish this post. i have to stop here, sitting on front of the computer is making things worse.
i apologize for the rant. please forgive.
be well.
c.(angel)
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"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps."
Emo Philips.
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