Opiate/opioid tolerance

[Wfortney]

I recently had surgery and was taking 5/325mg oxycodones for about two weeks. I was only prescribed 30 pills and was still in a lot of pain at my follow up appointment so the surgeon authorized me to have a refill.  I suffered from some complications while  my incision was healing and at my 6 week appointment asked what I could take for pain because OTC meds just don't do anything for me. The surgeon then prescribed me tylenol 3s and said they should still help some but that he wasn't comfortable giving me another oxycodone refill.  I have taken 8 of the t3's in the last 2 days and don't feel like it's helping at all.  I haven't taken any oxycodone in 6 days and I still have a few leftover. Will my tolerance to opiates/opioids have gone up since taking the t3's?  If I take oxycodone tomorrow will it be beneficial at the same dose I was taking?  I was only taking 10 mg at a time but was also using the opiate potentiation guide's 45 minute potentiation formula to try and conserve my meds. Please help.

[Wfortney]

I didn't mean to post that yet because I wasn't done but anyhow, back to the topic....so, this time my wife offered to handle them for me and hide them so I didn't have access to extra pills and I said no because I can handle it myself now. Apparently I couldn't have been more wrong. I have found myself having cravings before the time that I should and also seeking out people who I know have access to street drugs to see if I can get more. So far I have been unsuccessful, which I realized after reading your responses is a good thing. I am going to get out before I take that road again. I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old with a much brighter future than I could have ever hoped for that I need to think about. Forming another addiction could jeopardize that and I will not be the man who chooses a substance over his children.

[Wfortney]

Thank you for your responses. I have just realized that even the fact that I was using the potentiation process is a huge red flag. I'm not going to lie, I like the way it makes me feel, even at the prescribed dose. In my early years of sobriety I had a surgery done and was prescribed Vicodin. I had my wife hang on to the them because I was scared of another addiction...this was literally less than a month after I made the decision to get clean from an almost 10 year alcohol addiction. I used to go through a half a gallon of vodka in 2 days plus sometimes a 5th of everclear, which if you have never had it, it is 190 proof grain alcohol.  Sorry I'm rambling but I wanted to give you some more of my history.

[jifmoc]

Ack! I wrote you a long message and it deleted. Okay, I will get to the point: since you are a recovering alcoholic (congrats on your time!) you are at real risk for addiction. Short term, if someone can hold them for you, get them only when prescribed, that's an option. I assume since you have such a good amt of clean time that you are in some type of program? A drug is a drug is a drug: we are addicts whether it's pills or liquid.

If you can do w/o them...that would be best (imo.) If not, give em to a trusted person. No, you won't get a tolerance w/ that limited amount. You could very easily get addicted, though. Trust me, you really don't want a prob (a monkey on your back) w/ these little devils!

[totalicsworks]

I'm far from an expert,  but many people on pain meds are dependant and will go into withdrawal if they stop takin the medication. Some people can take their pills as directed and not have issues, but then again there are some people with addictive personalities who abuse their meds and start that horrible roller coaster of addiction

[Wfortney]

I'm sorry, I guess I should have been more clear about what I was thinking. My main concern is that if I am building a tolerance will it eventually lead to dependence,  even though I have not been taking more pills at one time than what the recommended dose is?  That's actually the main reason I asked this question. I need relief but not at the price of having another monkey on my back. I say another monkey because I am a recovering alcoholic and have currently been sober for 6 years and 8 months. I guess a simple way of putting it is do tolerance and dependence go hand in hand?

[jifmoc]

Hi, no your tolerance would not go up from that. I have to tell you, this is an addiction forum, helping folks who think they have a problem.

Good luck to you.