drug switching

[jackpotsherar]

Hey, I have been on hydrocodone 5mg and then 7.5mg for almost two years due to severe physical pain. My doctor just switched me to a twice a day mscontin pill, am I going to go thru withdrawls? I am really worried. I have 5 children and they have had to deal with enough of my problems, not to mention the side effects of the hydros.

[broknbck]

the vicodins or hydrocodone is the easiest of the narcotics to get off of. switching to time release opiates is a bad decision (i think). you have chronic pain and therefore are ultimately going to become addicted to this also. and it is going to be harder to come off of.

if the hydrocodone is not working anymore, than you will have to stop taking it for a bit and then your tolerance will be lower and it will work again. but you will have to keep on doing that and that means going through withdrawl over and over again.

the pills do not work.
there is no good pain killer out there that is not going to get you in trouble and take away your pain.
you have to find an alternative way to deal with the pain.

i moved out to a low humidity climate- the desert and it has helped with the pain tremenously. i do not take anything any more and only have bad days when the rains come or i have over exerted myself.

[botchedup]

No, you should not experience any withdrawals as you are going to something stronger and longer acting/lasting.  The mscontin initially will help with the mood swings and rollercoaster ride.  You will no longer be fighting withdrawals every 4-6 hrs.  Just be aware that this too will eventually lead to tolerance and an upping of your dose.  chronic pain is a double edged sword.  Some refer you to a different post but you know that pain, meds, and dependence/addiction go hand in hand.  I've said it before, if you are under 60 and have non-cancerous chronic pain you will figure out how to manage it the best you can.  This involves taking meds and not taking meds, switching them around from time to time to avoid inevitable tolerance, detoxing and using non-narcs and major physical therapy.  I deal with chronic pain but often withdraw voluntarily as it enables me to track my progress and truly assess my pain.  It's almost impossible to track pain levels while in withdrawal---everything hurts and is exaccerbated.  If the mscontin works well and after 3 months you feel tolerant, I would try subutex as it does produce analgesia.  Sub for pain pts can be a great tool.  You may find it has a place in your pain management protocol.  Staying ahead of pain is #1...playing catch up leads to excessive dosing and faster tolerance.  Depending on the mg, and the type of pain you have, you might be able to do what some of us CPP's in my support group call the 'am ritual.'  Try to have coffee/tea/juice/shake/whatever, and use the bathroom BEFORE you dose.  Take your morning med and get your blood pumping....stretch, walk, a few push-ups sit-ups, something quick 5 min.  DO NOT take anything until the 12 hrs is up, however do not try to push your pm dose up/later.  Often times, people find they can eventually skip the pm dose, mornings can be a little uncomfortable, meaning sinusy, cold, loose stools, etc. (partial w/d) BUT if you can make it a habit, eventually your body is doing it's healing at night while you are sleeping, your mornings will get better, and you won't be over medicated or "numb", and your body will get used to the change.  Not to mention WAY less constipated.  I feel for ya with the kids.  Do not feel like you have to hide this from them. My kids know the nature of my injuries, my strengths and limits, the safety and importance of proper medications, but mostly that their helpfulness and independent responsibilities allow us as a FAMILY to have the power and control.  We are not victims.  I'm not a victim because someone almost killed me, I'm not a victim because I deal with chronic pain, my kids are not victims because I refuse to be.  Life handed us some lemons and we're making the best lemonade we can.  sometimes it's perfectly balanced, sometimes to watery, sometimes to sour, sometimes too sweet.  My kids are too young to understand stigma but they sure do understand dependence.  They were relieved when (a few yrs ago) my doctor changed me from short acting to extended release.    If you are injured or damaged there is no shame in using safe pain meds.  Balance is key.  Many will say,"oh no! oxycodone to ms contin???bad bad bad!  That is coming from an addiction standpoint rather that a pain mgmt standpoint. People without chronic pain don't understand having pain on top of w/d...and how it makes w/d 10x worse! DO NOT let the stigmas of any medications hinder your well being and quality of life.  Stick to the lowest dose you can and try to dose once a day. Stick to a night time routine and put kiddies and yourself to bed earlier.  The ups and downs will subside and you will be dependent on your meds not addicted.  With five kids you need to plan your detox(s) and prepare for time off or some live in help and support.  there are some doctors who will medically detox you safely in the hospital so you can evaluate your pain.  I swear part of managing chronic pain is getting mornings under control, getting up and moving- quickly, using the toilet bfore taking, and having med free REM sleep filled nights.  It will take some time and adjustments but you will eventually be in control instead of the meds.  Building up your strength/energy will be huge instead of letting the drugs be your strength/energy.  It is possible to manage pain and avoid the highs and lows of w/d but it is NOT EASY and can NOT be achieved without support from docs, pain specialist, family, and counseling.  Don't ever give up or give in and don't let society determine you and your family's quality of life.  Would you be depressed and unwilling to take an anti'd cuz they make you fat and being fat is depressing??? I myself would compromise and take the anti'd- only I'd take it for 3-6 mo. max when it does what it's supposed to.  After that it becomes a substitute rather than a tool, do ya get what I mean?? personally hydros made me hateful.  I never went over the 7.5's however they wer 2-4x a day.  After my next surgery, again, I will probably be like you, longer acting opioid.  If the w/d's last longer than a month I will do the SUB thing one more time.  If after post op  and w/d and 3 months I still have same area pain.....I'll have to manage the best I can.  After years of this **** and multiple surgeries, I'm over the stigma and societal bs, the most important thing is staying balanced, managing pain, quality of life, and overall health.  It can become very easy for doctors to focus on your pain and forget the rest of you.  I think it's also important for you to know if you already don't that opioids aren't the ingedient that does the damage, it's the apap (acetominophen)  Your doctor is changing the med to keep you from pickling your liveras well.  If you want to discuss any of this privately feel free to email me.  Good luck, and blessing to your family.

[Clamity2]

One thing I want to add is the "side effects" .....  I experienced with mscontin were just as bad as far as dealing with children.  I had moodswings and many other problems. I will pray for you and the kids righ now.

[worried878]

might be best to post over on the pain forum..there is alot of knowledge there for pain patients and the drug changes..good luck

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

No - you will not go through withdrawals as you are switching. You are just changing from one narc to a longer releasing narc. I hope the mscontin works well for you -