What is your experience with Percocet/Vicodin pain drugs in general?

[Puck34Fan]

I take percocet 7.5-325 about 5-6 times a day. In the beginning I was taking vicodin but the doctors had me so convinced I was going to be a drug addict that I asked if they could change me to another pain med. That's where the percocet comes in.
My question: When I first started taking these drugs I loved the feeling that came with taking that first dose in the morning. I have chronic pain in my neck and jaw and it seemed to target this area well and It felt great. But now I have this uncomfortable burning feeling in my head and eyes. Is this common with people taking these drugs? Also I found my appetite is horrendous as well.
Would just like to have people share their experiences with this. Thanks.

[pswpma]

Hi puck34fan, I too began having a burning sensation after starting percocet. Though everyone here says it is not normal, ii is much more normal than they know. My mom (86) just started on an opiate based med and got the sunburned skin sensation too. like a real bad sunburn, just like me. And as I was visiting a hospice patient recently, caressing her arm, she flinched, and said don't touch me, I burn.  As you know, hospice patients are most all on morphine (opiate).  So I am now convinced my burning all over is from my percocet (2 years!). Then a good friend of mine just out of detox for alcohol said there was a woman in there with exactly what I have - burning pain everywhere (and I mean everywhere!)  After detox, that woman was fine.  So I am going to do that as well. I hope this helps - it's been a long hard journey for me trying to figure out my pain - neurologists, rheumatologists, pain mgmt, and on and on.  I know it is simply the percocet.

[rooke43]

I need serious help and dont know where to turn.  I am military and use civilian doctors to fill my scripts, I take about 10/325 a day on average and have been since my back surgery in July.  I still took before that just not as many.  I had knee surgery in Feb and the doc just kept tossing me more and more before that I had shoulder surgery and 3 seperate wisdon teeth extractions all from Nov 09 till presesnt 25 Oct 2010.  I dont want to withdraw or I will not be able to function at work.  What can I do?

[Puck34Fan]

You guys are awesome. I am so glad I came here to get opinions to my questions.

This is an "advanced" pain center I am going to. I have had 3 cortisone injections in my neck and one in each side behind my earlobes. This seems to be where the pain is generation from. Lots of popping and cracking when my neck stiffens up and I try to stretch out the muscles to get rid of the headache it causes. They want to do a "nerve Burn" to help deaden the pain, but I have to say, the term is not selling me on the idea. Also, it may be something that doesn't last. UGH! Where is My miracle cure??

[buddybulldog]

OXYCODONE IS MORE ADDICTIVE THAN HYDROCODONE... HAVE YOU BEEN TO PAIN MANAGEMENT????? THEY COULD HELP

[Mollyrae]

Hi Puck:

I have to dis-agree with some of the comments here. I feel that your Doctor has your best interest at heart. He basically prescribed the medication based on the dicussion the two of you had in the office. I'm sure that you explained the worries about becoming addicted or "dependant" which is the term you should be using. Yes, you had an increase but did he decrease the amount taken each day?

If you still feel uncomfortable with the prescribed medication, then you need to re-voice your opinion on the drug and possibly go to a non-opiate medication. Did you also discuss that possibility?

The burning sensation you're experiencing is not normal. You need to discuss this new symptom and the risks it may be creating.

I hope that you can find a happy medium with your medication. You are your best advocate and you are the one in charge here.

My best,
Mollyrae

[happyhbmom]

Sorry, I meant we all go through dependence, not that we all go through withdrawal between doses.

I'm with everyone on seeing a doctor who can explain opiates to you.  

[Tuckamore]

Hi Puck34Fan,

I have to admit I wonder about what type of physician you are seeing that would be worried about the addictive qualities of Vicodin (Hydrocodone) and not the addictive qualities of Percocet  (Oxycodone)?  Your physician should also know that studies prove that less than 4% of chronic pain patients ever become addicts.

I have not heard of a burning feeling caused by routine opiates but every one is different. You say you no longer have that great feeling when taking your percocet. If a CP patient experiences that feeling at all it is usually very fleeting but the pain control should continue. Is your pain controlled other than the sensation you experience after taking your opiate?

I have never felt the withdrawal between med doses that was talked about above. Indeed even when I have missed a dose I just have increased pain. I encourage you to discuss this with your prescribing physician....or better yet consult a physician that understands the opiates better.

I wish you the very best and hope you will find a resolution. Please let us know how you are doing. I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Peace,
~Tuck

[happyhbmom]

Yes, it is normal that over time the medication becomes less effective, and the positive feeling is no longer there.  And of course the above poster is right, Percoset is a narcotic just like vicodin, with the same or more likelihood of addiction.

What you're likely experiencing is a bit of tolerance.  Does the burning feeling go away an hour or so after you take your meds in the morning?  It might be a withdrawal reaction from physical dependence (we all go through this, it is NOT the same as addiction.)

[NoMore81410]

I agree! You need to find a Dr who really cares about your health! I have chronic pain myself but the care of my Dr we work on ways to handle the pain without the drugs. I had a dr who just kept giving and not asking about my progress on the pills then it got so out of hand I went to the extreme's. When I finally found a Dr who cares about the human being it made a world of difference. You can survive without those pain meds! I didn't think I could because of my condition but I did and I feel better being off of them then being on them.
Good luck!

[Frivolousz21]

1. Your Doctors are idiots, you need to go seek a different one.  Seriously, vicoden is Hydrocone and Percoset is OxyCodone.


2. both are almost identical in there chemical makeup.

3. Oxy is slightly stronger for instance on average 10 mg of oxy is the same as 15 of hydro.

4. there half life, bioavailability , and excretion are almost identical, expect hydro is renal, and oxy is threw your ****.

So for them to say your becoming a drug addict and switch to a stronger opiate is insane.

No, that is not very common, unless your tolerance is up and that is part of the WD..please go see a DIFFERENT Doctor about this.

good luck hockey fan!