Opie_Yates
Old Hand
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 458
|
|
Any doctor with any good sense will tell you that it is not a great idea to self-medicate. Unfortunately, I have had to turn to OP's to get adequate pain treatment for three herniated disks. My PCP and several orthopedists I've been through think that a big strong relatively young (41) guy like me should be able to grit through the pain. As I've posted before, the pain is on between a 6-8 level daily. I've procured Norco and refills from an OP and don't want to get into the dependency and tolerance spiral that the OP doc and a few wise folks online have warned me about. The days my pain is a level six is about three days out of the week and the days it is a seven or eight is about four days.
My question is: If I just tough it out on the "six" days and don't take the NORCO and do the one every six hours on the "seven or eight" days, will this be enough to keep the tolerance at bay? Right now, when I take it on the really bad days, it works like a dream and I can keep my focus at work without the nods and giddies.
The online doc was adamant and forceful in her insistence that I strictly manage my doses, and try not to take it every day.
Long story short, does this sound like a good plan to not build up a tolerance? How do some of you other folks handle this dilemma? Thanks in advance.
--------------------
Better living through the pharmaceutical sciences.
|
rex
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 219
Loc: U.S.
|
|
Opie - I'm sorry that I do not have exact advice for you. I'm sure others have more wisdom on this subject than me. But my experience (which may also be your experience) is that my body can develop a tremendous tolerance to Norco over time (I take it every day). I had gotten to the point where it took 3-4 times as much hydro to get the same pain relief than when I was a hydro "virgin".
I used to think that my Primary Doctors were just paranoid when they would give me 30 Vicodin with maybe 1 refill. But I now do see their side of the story. When taken for chronic pain, I tend to gradually need more to get the same pain relieving effect, and I go into the "spiral".
Don't get me wrong, I am all for patients receiving adequate pain meds. I just don't know what the "right answer" is for using Norco for chronic pain. Many people take hydro "holidays" (a few days with no hydro) to get their tolerance back down. But, of course, the "holiday" is no holiday at all.
I've never been to a pain doctor (yet). But perhaps they use better meds and med regimens to get around this nasty tolerance problem. Hopefully one of our friendly DBers will chime in with their wisdom and/or experience.
I'm sorry for the situation you are in (I'm in it too). Hopefully we can find a way to manage it. I'm just tapering down to the recommended dose, and I will try to stay there. Take care.
|
Dante6677
Member
Reged: 08/14/03
Posts: 136
Loc: Fl. Panhandle
|
|
Personally I take my meds at eight in the am then hold off till five pm instead of every four hours. This long interval between doses keeps my tolerance from rising and a 15mg dose of hydro affects me the same now as it did months ago. I know everyones different though but the interval between 5pm and 8am is fifteen hours and I have been told by a Dr. that spacing like this will keep withdraws mild if and when I run dry~
|
PAIDFO
Member
Reged: 02/01/03
Posts: 148
Loc: southeast
|
|
My Pm Dr will told me up front that I would build up a tolerance to the percocet he has me on.He told me to take it as directed and when I built up a tolerance(not if)he would deal with it and simply up the dose or change to MS Cotin.So I guess what I'm trying to pass along is sooner or later tolerance will probably come.I hope this helped in some small way.Have a Great Day..Paidfo 
--------------------
"The difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is the Little Extra"
|
rfred2003
Newbie
Reged: 08/05/03
Posts: 35
Loc: Mid USA
|
|
My Pm Dr told me that when my tolerance level started getting high, that rather than increasing my dosage, "which never end's", he would cut back "but not off" my dosage. After taking less for a while, the tolerance level should drop some, at which point you can resume your normal dosage. Dose it work though, not that great, it doesn't take long before your right back where you started from. If you can handle your pain level, with out taking the medication, I would say do it as long as you can, cause it only goes down from there. But once your to the point where you can't really function anymore as a person, then take what you need to, there's nothing wrong with that. I wish you the best, , as do all of us I'm sure.
--------------------
He lived, He died, but he rose again, believe in Him.
|
tansun
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/02
Posts: 1152
Loc: southern USA
|
|
If you take the meds for 6 days straight , skip the seventh day , and go back to six full days again, you will build a tolerance. Your body will get used to not having it on the 7th day , and adjust. But unfortunately, just skipping one day a week, wont really slow the tolerance down that much. ( everyones body chemistry is different, but most likely it wont help too much ) Good luck
Tansun
--------------------
"Madam Meanness"
---------where theres a will, theres a way ----------
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
