Script refills

[joeman33]

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask a question. My doctor prescribes me with Hydrocodone and they go within' a week or so. I don't abuse them, it's just on the lable to take them as prescribed, I was wondering how long should I wait until I call in a refill? I don't go up to my doctor for 2 months between each other and he gives me 2 scripts for 8 weeks, but they go in that week because I can't sleep at night unless I take one or two for the pain. I don't want people to think I'm abusing them or dealing them, what should I do? Keep doing what I'm doing and call them in every 10/15/20 days or just wait until I go back up?

Now I don't know which place to put this in, I figured you guys may have an answer. My friends don't know I have them so I don't let anyone else have any, I don't abuse them, even though that's what this forum is for, I appologize for interrupting. I just don't want them to cut me off or think something's up because of calling them in too much? I've also already talked to the doctor and what he did was higher the dose, but they still go within' a week or so's time.

[B33]

Ok...I'll just give you the medical side as far as the script was written...(I am a former RN)...first of all it depends on what dosage your doctor called in for you..if it was 5/500 and you are in alot of pain then he would recommend 2 pills of 5/500 at a time...if he called in the max dose it would be 10/500 q (every) 4-6 hours PRN (as needed) for pain. If you have a prescription with either of those doses then a quantity of #30 is actually a week's supply (MAX)!!! If they bottle says "take 1 every 4-6 hrs as needed for pain" then he is giving you about a week supply and probably seeing how many you take or need....you are nowhere near the max dose so please don't worry about your doctor thinking you are an addict with this dose (a one month supply with those directions would be #180 pills.
THAT BEING SAID....I would highly recommend talking to him ASAP to try to switch to something not so addictive...Hydrocodone is EXTREEMLY addicting...this is coming from a RN who is 5 months sober from HYDROCODONE!!!! And I started it for legitimate pain....I can tell you that not all doctors are bad at all but they are just very lax in prescribing them and YOU have to watch out for YOURSELF!!! PLEASE PLEASE email me with ANY questions whatsoever...either from a medical standpoint or an addict standpoint...I am a 33yr old female that is JUST starting to get it back together......
Good Luck and God Bless you!!!!

[tinyjennyl2002]

I too am on depression meds....Effexor as well as Xanax for when I get so anxious from the pain....I've also got high blood pressure so have to take something for that as well...I honestly feel like a walking pharmacy sometimes but depending on your situation....sometimes you NEED to be on these kind of meds....I've also been prescribed Lyrica recently but it's so expensive...even through my Insurance that I'm going to have to go off of them...I just can't afford that kind of cost every month...not with all the other meds I take.  You sound like you have just been stuck in a bad situation, it's not your fault.....it sounds like the car accident really did a number on you....God knows that our body's are never the same after bad accidents like that one...I was in one back in November of '07 and the guy totalled my car.....broke my hand and didn't help my back/neck/head problems AT ALL....

[joeman33]

I see what I need to do is just try and see him early and talk to him about it. Thanks some of you.

[dominosarah]

The pills play he!! with depression and your sex life.

[joeman33]

I know, that's why they also give me depression pills, they're for the sleeping and the marital issues. They sent me to therapy but they say this is ALL the accident, but I've heard the pills can do it.

[tinyjennyl2002]

Don't leave or be upset .......everyone on this Forum is just trying to understand your situation and help you out with constructive critisicm......I know what your going through EXACTLY because I take my Vicodin as needed as well....but it just so happens that it's three times a day depending on what kind of day I'm having......

[lovemypillhead]

But, if the label says to take 2 every 4 hours.............that IS from the doctor.  The pharmacy technician/pharmacist doesn't decide how many u should take and when.  That is all your doctor.

If u are taking 3-4 a day......then u are obviously NOT taking even close to what he is prescribing you which is good.  And yeah vicodin shouldnt be used long term because of the tylenol and your liver.

[10356]

Hi Joe I do not know your pain level.. but I can tell you if you stick with opioid's you will need to take more and more as that is the nature of the drug.. I take motrin 800 and it has been working for the pain.. If you can stop it would be saving yourself and your family a lot of heartache...Taking on a everyday bases is just not a option unless you are terminal or severely affected by pain.. You work you are not disabled.. I would try to get off them if I were you and look for alternative pain management.. Dr. prescribe them like candy.. I think every Dr. should feel the pain off wd just so they know what they are setting their patients up for.. Then on the other hand we have to take responsibility for our own actions and be our own advocate when it comes to our own health management... If he wants to up your dose tell him NO and to get med to help with wd.. Then discuss a better pain management that does not include selling your soul to the devil...

[Jambo62]

Hello Joe..... I though i might be reading a post i could have written......I only took the prescribed amount....1-2 every 4 hours as needed....welll heck after a short period I needed them all the time....PLEASE be careful those things can take over your life s quickly you will not even notice.....

I suggest you stop now....when you say i take 1 to relax....Man you sound just like ME..I could deal with the pain.....I couldn't deal with my mood without the pills...If you don't stop yo could be like me and wake up in 3 years...wishing you had taken nothing stronger than OTC tylenol.....

I would have a very blunt conversation with your DR...tell him you don't want to take opiates and ask him for an alternative....I wish you well

Let me close by saying you can be completely addicted and taking a legal script as it was written.......I did and I am 26 days clean after going through a tough WD process...

Jambo

[dominosarah]

I understand what you are saying so please dont leave.......... I know you said that you took maybe 4 at the most a day.......

[joeman33]

He doesn't tell me to take them every 4 hours. The label does. I too think that's crazy, like my wife told me. That's too much on the liver and I don't take that many, I take 3 - 4 a day. I suffered a serious back injury, do you guys understand that? 1 doesn't take pain away for an entire day, after working in a chair for 8 straight hours, your back does get a lot of pain, then at night, I just toss and turn and toss and turn, when the pain's away, I sleep. They are addictive, I tell you. But I don't abuse them, sell them or anything. I take them as needed when my back is in pain. I'm scheduled for X - Rays and surgery after the court date this Feb., the person that hit me doesn't want to pay medical bills and we're in over a fight with that. Sorry if I come out like an addict, but I was just asking, I'm sorry my pain insists of needing to take 1 when needed. I was just concerned, as far as I know. I was told I would be on pain meds for the rest of my life, I'm only 25 and I don't want that. Sorry if I posted this wrong, later guys.

[kelley43]

first 8 nights I slept like a baby.  Someone here said i had the 'sleeping disease'!  I was blessed.  Until the last few nights.  First morning it was 5, next was 4, last night was 12:30a.m.  It's just been one thing, then another, then another.  So lovely.  
gotta go, i'm going to eat another banana.

thank you!!

[tinyjennyl2002]

It may help, there's no reason why you shouldn't try that ......although you may have withdrawel symptoms depending on how long you have been on the Hydrocodone????

[dominosarah]

Ibuprofen seems to last longer for me.  If i need anything now i just take Motrin.  I am glad you are being upfront with the doctor.  That is important.

Ask your doctor what he/she thinks about the ibuprofen also.

[kelley43]

if he prescribes a higher dose, you are still left with running out.  It's the amount of pills that seems the issue.  You can take a higher dose, but after 6 hours your body is going to start screaming at you for another dose.
Then you are in an even more evil cycle.  It doesn't end.  
If your insurance pays your scripts, they won't refill until the due date.
If you pay cash, eventually you will be cut off by the pharmacy.

[joeman33]

Do you think if I ask for a different type like Ibuprofen, it will still help?

[joeman33]

I've told my doctor and he just said he'll prescribe a higher dose.

[tinyjennyl2002]

I too am in immense pain because of severe tension headaches that are now spreading down my neck into my back.....I wake up and feel like my entire body has been beat up overnight....I HAVE to take a Vicodin to get up in the AM....otherwise I would be out of a job.....I too have to take another one in the afternoon, say around 2:00ish.....sometimes at night to relax.....but not always.....I also run out after about 2 weeks worth of pills but my Doc only prescribes me 20 a bottle.....I have an appt. with a Rheumatologist (don't know if I spelled that right) after the beginning of the year...they think I may have Fybromyalgia.....I guess on one hand you could say that I am addicted to the Vicodin but then again, not really, because if I don't take the pills then I wouldn't be able to function enough and I've already used WAY past my limit of Sick Days at work....I'm a single Mom and I have no other choice.....I feel your pain Joeman...it's a vicious cycle...and the pain is soooo bad (colder weather makes it worse) that you have no other choice but to end it, unless your able to lay in bed all day, which I'm not.....
HuggZZ

[badsneakers]

Good...one by one by one...Goodbye my little enemy!

Hubby sound alright, laughed with you at that NASTY clip.  It's a nice reminder of how low we CAN go...or at least consider...

your on day 12 and still the RLS?  man, I feel for you...

RLS *****...I also heard to lay off of the coffee and sodas and such, stuff with caff in it...

[kelley43]

funny you say that...i did alot of reading on here this a.m.   I'm eating bananas today, we're going for a walk before bed.  
This is seriously the worst of my detox.  But I think i said that about the body aches....
I really, really hope I come on tomorrow and say I slept 7 hours.  

I didn't pee on my pills, but i did drop them in one, by one, by one.....and said goodbye, and i think i sang a little sad song...
Hubby is 53, says that 50 is the new 40.  So he'll have to buy the 29 thing.  

[badsneakers]

you made me smile.  point out to him that you are now 29 as well...

RLS...hey, last night i at bananas and did a 20 minute walk before bed...no kicking...I slept solid 7 hr...

[kelley43]

OH MY GOD!!!!!  My husband just walked in just in time to see it...he's been listening to me say I would have gone after them...that was the funniest thing I have seen!!!!
I've been up all night with RLS, and boy, did I need that.
thank you thank you thank you

[badsneakers]

you are too funny...I push over handicapped kids just for fun though!  

I did pretty ct too...the three pills were more symbolic than anything...I peed on them too...

watch the clip, you will relate...

[kelley43]

no, i haven't seen it.  Not to sound stupid, being 29 and all, but is it a movie?

And i couldn't taper, tried that. I flushed on that friday night, and I sure didn't say I didn't take a whole bunch that friday!  I had a little going away party, but yeah, why didn't I take that stupid half.
6 days ago i would have pushed over a handicapped child to get 1/2 hydro.
kinda kidding.
glad you flushed.  it's the only way.  temptation for us is torture.  and for me, impossible.
congrats on being clean badsneakers!!!!