Oxycontin and liver damage?

[hygieneguru]

Does anyone know if long term use of Oxycontin for chronic pain can cause toxic hepatitis or medication induced hepatitis????? I have been taking it for 5 years for severe back pain.

[sallyo]

Not sure if the oxycontin itself is harmful but I think many pain meds that contain that ingrediant also contain large amounts of acetomyocin (tylenol).In large doses the tylenol part can be bad for the liver. Example are Lortab, vicadin and percocet I think.  Someone will correct that if I am mistaken please

[mauilady]

I looked it up in Wikipedia; Oxycontin is Oxycodone using ibuprofen instead of acetomenophrin (sp?) which is what's in Vicodin, or aspirin, which is used in Percodans.  Hope that makes sense...

[mauilady]

Try another tack:
Oxycodone+ibuprofen=Oxycontin
Oxycodone+acetomenophrin=Vicodin, Percocet
Oxycodone+aspirin= Percodan

[SnoWav]

Pretty sure oxycontin is just time relese Oxycodone with nothing else added. We know that acetomenophrin and ibuprofen are not good for the liver. I have never read that Oxycodone is bad for the liver but it like all opioids is a poision.Cheers

[Kalio1]

ibuprophen is processed by your kidneys not your liver

[sfbaygirl]

My hemo/oncol gave me oxycodone when my white count was down and I had severe bone pain. He told me that it is pretty safe for the liver. Of course, everything in moderation!

[mikesimon]

I'm a liver transplant patient and SVR. I wrecked my motorcycle and was on oxycontin and oxycodone for 4 months and if the transplant team didn't object to it I figure it can't be that hazardous to the liver. Of course, 5 years is quite a long time and I have no idea about proplonged use. Mike

[jmjm530]

No disrespect, but would you mind explaining your name? For some reason Howard Hughes comes to mind :)

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Sorry about that, I guess I can't spell very well.

[gazebo1]

Oxycontin, as you probably know, is oxycodone, but continuous release, i.e. contin = "continuous".  There is no APAP like hydorocodone combos - Vicodin, Norco, etc.  I have chronic spine problems/pain and my hep doc took me off Norco and on to Oxy to eliminate the APAP toxic potential on the liver.  I then can take a Tylenol pre injection to help prevent some sx.  Oxy has its own sx and potential for dependancy of course.

Hope that clears it up for you - and I certainly can empathize with your back pain suffering.  I am really anxious about tolerating the tx on top of my acute spine pain (in the early weeks and really in much more pain from the Interferon).  But will do my best, I have to.  Regards, G

[gazebo1]

And to kindly correct the earlier post by Mauilady;  Oxycodone, or time released called Ocycontin, alone do not have anything added.

Combos are done with ibuprofen added - "Combunox" or acetaminophen - "Percocet", etc.  Oxycodone time release "continuous" is marketed as the Oxycontin and has nothing added other than the substances for time release and suspension in making the tablets, etc.

[NYgirl]

I don't really understand how you could be on it and not know the difference - one is straight up WAY more addictive and powerful which is why it's called HillBilly Heroin.

It's mad addictive.  It's like a LOT of aLOT of oxycodone in one pill compared to a little of it mixed with tylenol in a different pill.

If you have to take it and are already used to taking it then you don't have much choice except to withdrawl off the med and THAT is hard as I know.

But I'm not sure how you can't know or why you didn't just as a doctor about something this important.

[gazebo1]

Who are you addressing?  

hygieneguru and I certainly understand the uses and risks entirely.  The question was focused on weather oxycodone (or hydrocodone for that matter) alone is toxic to the liver and cause toxic hepatitis.  My doctors have all said very low risk IF NOT COMBINED WITH APAP or ibuprofen.  I only clarified the "combo" discussion.  

Acute pain is treated regularily with oxycodone and does not automaticaly lead to addiction, particularily when used for severe pain management.  Frankly nygirl, I would never be able to go through tx without controling my pain with narcotics. So what is the better path?  I grant you many, many people abuse these drugs and become severly addicted. But that is not the norm for us with crippling conditions.  Regards, G

[gazebo1]

Who are you addressing?  

hygieneguru and I certainly understand the uses and risks entirely.  The question was focused on weather oxycodone (or hydrocodone for that matter) alone is toxic to the liver and cause toxic hepatitis.  My doctors have all said very low risk IF NOT COMBINED WITH APAP or ibuprofen.  I only clarified the "combo" discussion.  

Acute pain is treated regularily with oxycodone and does not automaticaly lead to addiction, particularily when used for severe pain management.  Frankly nygirl, I would never be able to go through tx without controling my pain with narcotics. So what is the better path?  I grant you many, many people abuse these drugs and become severly addicted. But that is not the norm for us with crippling conditions.  Regards, G

[gazebo1]

sorry for the double post, browser showed error, so hit twice....

[Hanklive]

I'm new here althuogh not at all new to HCV...
I'm also nine years post liver transplant, and on low dose treatment also in order to "halt" the low grade 1/6 amount of fibrosis that is present...

I'm also being prescribed oxycodone 5mg x 6 pills daily but I rarely take that much on a daily basis because I'll end up being a "zombie", and never get anything accomplished so I usually do'nt take anymore than 3 daily for pain.

I was on vicodin 750mg x 3 pills daily for over two years but, I thought that it was too long to be on these especially since the amount of acetophetimin in each one, multiplied by 3 made me think about the long term ramifications that might be occurring as a result of all the "Tylenol" found in the Vicodin...
So I asked my PCP for an alternative and oxycodone is what he prescribed... Now I feel a lot better as far as the 'tightness' I felt sometimes while on the vicodin.

Not to go off track but, I read a post or two here on this forum from a person named "MikeSimon" who also had a liver transplant!!! Is it 5 years for you???

Wow!!! Now I do'nt feel so alone in "cyberspace"!!!

This site was suggested to me by a moderator on another HCV forum and I'm glad that I took him up on checking this forum out!!!

Nice to meet you'all!!!

Resepctfully,
Hanklive-Lives for Today and Tomorrow!!!

[Hanklive]

I'm new here althuogh not at all new to HCV...
I'm also nine years post liver transplant, and on low dose treatment also in order to "halt" the low grade 1/6 amount of fibrosis that is present...

I'm also being prescribed oxycodone 5mg x 6 pills daily but I rarely take that much on a daily basis because I'll end up being a "zombie", and never get anything accomplished so I usually do'nt take anymore than 3 daily for pain.

I was on vicodin 750mg x 3 pills daily for over two years but, I thought that it was too long to be on these especially since the amount of acetophetimin in each one, multiplied by 3 made me think about the long term ramifications that might be occurring as a result of all the "Tylenol" found in the Vicodin...
So I asked my PCP for an alternative and oxycodone is what he prescribed... Now I feel a lot better as far as the 'tightness' I felt sometimes while on the vicodin.

Not to go off track but, I read a post or two here on this forum from a person named "MikeSimon" who also had a liver transplant!!! Is it 5 years for you???

Wow!!! Now I do'nt feel so alone in "cyberspace"!!!

This site was suggested to me by a moderator on another HCV forum and I'm glad that I took him up on checking this forum out!!!

Nice to meet you'all!!!

Resepctfully,
Hanklive-Lives for Today and Tomorrow!!!

[Hanklive]

Sorry about that!!
I posted twice by accident!!!
I got an error message after the first time I pressed the button so I decided to press the button again...
Then it hit me! why do'nt I see if the post made it on the thread, and it did - YAY!!!

I guess that I can disregard that error message right after I post from now on!

Respectfully,
Hanklive-Lives for Today and Tomorrow!!!

[hurtsalot55]

Hi I am new here...was diagnosed with HCV almost 2 years ago...I have been tryin to find something for my back pain.I have a collapsed disc, arthiritis through my spine to where surgery is not an option,and nerve damage (due to a car wreck) One doctor gave me percocet...thats not good for the liver...but percodan is asprin based...what I am wondering ,would that be a better pain reliever? Some days are so long because of the pain,I just want to feel as close to normal as I can. Thanks if anyone can help ..

[jsdjn12]

I feel for everyone who has to deal with back pain for the rest of their lives. I had 2 discectomys and a neck fusion. The only thing that helps with pain is good old OXY. I am taking 3-4 a day. Not sure if this may be to much to intake but it works better than anything else.

[MARINEVETBLT11]

I have hep c and have been taking oxycodone HCL 30mg for some time due to a severe injury i sustained in afganastan is this harmful to my liver. i don't know what i would do with out pain meds i can't work in with out it because of the physical nature of my job plus all of the other things in my life that i enjoy like exercise playing with my children with the pain i experiance i could not do these things and they are really the fruit of my life can som one please help by telling me is this medication putting my iver at risk? (sorry about the punctuation this was typed in a hurry)

[merryBe]

I did a lot of reading on the various pain meds due to my spinal cord injury.
I cannot garden, drive, or do much or anything without help, and the cord is permanently bent and inoperable.

what I discovered was that oxy was the lesser of evils. Before going on it I was on tramadol and my alt/ast was double what it is now...I got a 50% reduction just from switching to the oxy.

however, I opter not to do the time release, because then you get it even when you don't need it...and I've discovered that over time my body has adjusted to the injury and healed somewhat...and so there are times I need very little and even some days that none is nessessary.

I have a 5 minute rule...ignor pain for 5 minutes before reaching for a pill...often the body will make enough endorphins to more than cover you if you give it a few minutes..
then also, I get 5 mg. oxy tabs, which I cut in half. (the 10 mg. tabs don't cut well so I get 2 5 mg a day instead.)
these I cut in half and only take a half tab at a time....you'd be surprised how doing it this way you may be able to keep your consumption down and keep from developing a dependance issue. Also, the less you take the better it is for your liver and heart...
of course, if pain is severe, then it is better to medicate because extreme pain will stress the system...the trick is to use the least amount of the best med.
Don't use any aspirin or tylenol products, they won't cut severe pain, they will tax the system far more. You could try an occasional ibuprofen, but not often as this causes liver inflammation....in fact, every drug does some damage...but between the synthetic pain killers and the oxy, a poppy derivative equivalent, the oxy appeared safer in studies...I used pubmed as my info source.
have fun with your kids!!!!!!

mb

[Mary4now]

May I add, take a stool softener with these pain meds, or take Citrucel and lots of water.

[mikey999666]

definitely use a stool softener especially if your not used to taking pain meds.  Oxycontin is broken down in the liver so yes it does affect the liver, and in large doses over a prolonged period of time, it will cause damage.  Im talking about 240 mg daily for 5 years plus.  So the high dose and time will definitely affect your liver, since oxycontin is broken down in the liver.  I'll go off on a limb here, but some people find pain relief by using marijuana.  If your worried about your lungs you'll be happy to know that studies show that marijuana smoke has not been proven to cause damage to the lungs, marijuana actually has anti-carcinogens in it's smoke.  Anyhow, pot is probably the safest pain medication, but it doesn't work for everyone.  I use it to treat extreme soreness afte jogging 5 miles or more or after strenuous exercise. My resting heart rate is 45 bpm, and I've been using pot for over 20 years for soreness, I don't like pills cause most if not all pills either negatively affect your liver, kidney or heart.  marijuana is not a poison, you can't o.d. on pot.  So those are my two cents.  Plus marijuana doesn't cause constipation.