Hydrocodone

[+ Avalon]

Anyone take Hydrocodone? My doctor prescribed it because of the arthritis in my knees. It's an opioid and I've heard the horror stories on the news about opioids. I only took one pill; it made me sleepy.

[+ sync]

Any concerns/doubts you have about your prescription should be discussed immediately with your physician.

[+ bashful]

It will knock you out. I've taken it as a cough syrup, but limited myself to bedtime. Couldn't deal with it during the day, at least now that I'm older. Once I started to feel somewhat better, and could sleep without coughing all night, put the bottle away for the next bout. Don't mix opioids with alcohol.

[BabyBoomer]

Anyone take Hydrocodone? My doctor prescribed it because of the arthritis in my knees. It's an opioid and I've heard the horror stories on the news about opioids. I only took one pill; it made me sleepy.

 

Yes. I've taken ES Vicodin for both migraine headaches & a disc problem in my back. Reactions to taking them differ from person to person.

 

I'm surprised your doctor didn't give you a shot of cortisone in each knee & prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, before going the Vike route.

 

~Boomer~

[+ sniper]

Be aware that it's constipating and consider taking some extra fiber or a magnesium supplement. If you are only taking the recommended amount and being careful about it you should be okay. This "getting hooked on the first dose" thing doesn't really happen.

But if you're only going to take much less than the dose recommended you probably might as well not bother.

 

In general I found it only took the edge off the pain more than really killing the pain. I usually only took it at night so I wasn't kept awake by the pain, but there was a period where I took it during the day. I never took it for more than a couple of weeks at a time.

 

If you haven't been to one I would strongly recommend seeing a physical therapist, ideally one who went to school more recently and who spends the whole hour with you. They are WAY better educated now than they used to be. I saw a couple in 2001 that did nothing to help with my back issues and I started again in late 2015 and it was night and day.

[+ Avalon]

Yes. I've taken ES Vicodin for both migraine headaches & a disc problem in my back. Reactions to taking them differ from person to person.

 

I'm surprised your doctor didn't give you a shot of cortisone in each knee & prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, before going the Vike route.

 

~Boomer~

 

For two years - 2016 and 2017 - once a week for six weeks in a row at the beginning of the year the doctor gave me a shot of SUPARTZ in each knee. It helped a little but did not last long. He told me I'm too far gone now for it to help. I do take Ibuprofen.

 

I take over a dozen meds each day - I have diabetes, high blood pressure, gout etc.. One med I take is Clonazepam. He said that I should not take it and Hydrocodone. So I just take the Clonazepam.

[+ nycman]

You shouldn't be on opiates for chronic pain (e.g. arthritis).....period.

 

You will get addicted....and become tolerant to them.....quickly.

 

Tell your physician you'd like to try other "non-opiate" and "non-addictive" options.

 

Sounds like you physician is 5-10 years behind current practice.....just saying.

[BabyBoomer]

One med I take is Clonazepam.

 

For what? panic attacks, anxiety, or a sedative?

 

~Boomer~

[+ Avalon]

For what? panic attacks, anxiety, or a sedative?

 

~Boomer~

 

Anxiety. It's now been decades since my mother died. And as the anniversary of her death approaches each year it affects me. And as the years go by it gets worse. I was 23 when she died. Life is unfair! My father was 70yo when his mother died. He had 3x more years with his mother than I had with mine.

 

I have a cousin my age. Her mother (my father's older sister) is 101yo!

[+ nycman]

One med I take is Clonazepam.

Anxiety. It's now been decades since my mother died.

I'm getting more concerned...

 

You should see a psychiatrist and a pain specialist...who can hopefully help you live without controlled substances.

 

I question your physician's judgement in prescribing long term controlled substances....and you should too.

 

They are "controlled" for a reason.....they lead to addiction and they don't solve the problem.

They just temporarily "pave over it" for a short period of time....which is a horrible strategy for chronic problems.

[+ purplekow]

There are lots of other non opioid choices. The side effects from the opioids can be uncomfortable as well.

As mentions, tolerance to the effect and as a result, needing larger doses is a problem as well.

There are also better opioid choices than hydrocodone.

If one can, one should avoid the opioids except for short term pain.

While I agree that a single dose is not likely to cause addiction, there are millions of opioid addicts in the US and they all started with a single dose.

[+ Avalon]

The anniversary is in June. Last year was the worst. The last Thursday in May in the late evening I became lite-headed. It was scary. I called 911 and the ambulance took me to the ER. I was there for six hours and they sent me home.

 

I am cutting down on the Clonazepam. I was taking two each day, I now take it once a day. Being "controlled" it is different. Most of my meds I get in the mail and for three months. The Clonazepam I have to go to the pharmacy and show my identification.

[+ Avalon]

There are lots of other non opioid choices. The side effects from the opioids can be uncomfortable as well.

As mentions, tolerance to the effect and as a result, needing larger doses is a problem as well.

There are also better opioid choices than hydrocodone.

If one can, one should avoid the opioids except for short term pain.

While I agree that a single dose is not likely to cause addiction, there are millions of opioid addicts in the US and they all started with a single dose.

 

Right! That's why I only took Hydrocodone once just to see how it would affect me.

[+ Funguy]

It sure is amazing how so many people react so differently and have different ideas of what should and should not be done with hydrocodone.

 

I see a highly respected pain management specialist and have for about 25 years. I have had several back surgeries for spondylolisthesis (needed a fusion), discectomies, radio-frequency denervations (actually burn to selectively destroy certain nerve fibers,) and on and on. I was on various pain medications in the beginning ranging from non-steroidals to oxycontin, oral morphine, fentanyl patches and finally hydrocodone 10 mg a day (at night) now for 20 years. I have chronically inflamed crossed nerve fibers at 2 levels in the upper part of my back that have not responded to anything else (tho just recently I had a denervation procedure that i am hoping will relieve the excruciating pain I experience at night or when lying down at any time.)

 

I have never been addicted and I can go weeks and weeks without the hydrocodone. But once the back starts up, nothing other than that, sublingual fentanyl (unavailable at this point) or morphine will take care of it. I mention the morphine only because I was hospitalized a few years ago for something totally unrelated and I asked my doc to order the hydrocodone for me at approximately 12 - 1 AM every night if I needed it. If he didn't already have it ordered I would go hours without getting it. So, the first night I asked for the hydrocodone and in comes a syringe of morphine and I was back to sleep in 10 minutes instead of the 45 min to an hour the hydrocodone takes. However, I did tell him that, though it was wonderful, I really didn't need it but, after consultation with my pain management specialist, he disagreed and it was nice for 4 nights.

 

I mention all of this because I have neither become addicted after 20 years nor have I become tolerant, requiring higher and higher doses. I do agree with most of the above noted issues but I am under active care and monitoring by a pain manager. The only medication to adequately control the excruciating chronic pain, other than the morphine or hydrocodone, has been sublingual (under the tongue) fentanyl and, as i said, that is virtually unavailable above-board. And, believe me I have been on just about everything for periods of time to adequately assess results. And yes, it really should only be used for short-term treatment but there are exceptions.

 

I also have a deal with the doc: only HE prescribes the Norco. Not me, no other doctors either. I get 100 tabs and I am back to see him in 90 days. If other pain control is needed for another reason, it goes thru him only. And also, I use self-hypnosis, visualization, meditation, and other sorts of more "organic" aides but, when in excruciating pain, it's very difficult to manage those modalities.

[Larstrup]

Anyone take Hydrocodone? My doctor prescribed it because of the arthritis in my knees. It's an opioid and I've heard the horror stories on the news about opioids. I only took one pill; it made me sleepy.

 

Hydrocodone is not an appropriate drug to be placing patients on for chronic knee or any other joint arthritis. There are options to be offered which can be injections into the knee (easy), or the hip ( which requires a more precise procedure), usually done with radiographic guidance in an OR or similar procedural room.

 

Aside from the usual pharmaceuticals that reduce joint pain And inflammation such as Celebrex and others, a competent physician would refer you to a joint replacement surgery which has a phenomenal success rate and equally rate of recovery.

 

If your doctor is loading you up on opiates to take care of your chronic joint pain, I’d suggest finding a different doctor.

Edited March 8, 2018 by Larstrup

[+ Avalon]

Hydrocodone is not an appropriate drug to be placing patients on for chronic knee or any other joint arthritis. There are options to be offered which can be injections into the knee (easy), or the hip ( which requires a more precise procedure), usually done with radiographic guidance in an OR or similar procedural room.

 

Aside from the usual pharmaceuticals that reduce joint pain And inflammation such as Celebrex and others, a competent physician would refer you to a joint replacement surgery which has a phenomenal success rate and equally rate of recovery.

 

If your doctor is loading you up on opiates to take care of your chronic joint pain, I’d suggest finding a different doctor.

 

Hydrocodone is the only opiate that I have taken and as I said I only took it one time.

 

I do not want to go into the hospital for surgery.

[Larstrup]

Hydrocodone is the only opiate that I have taken and as I said I only took it one time.

 

I do not want to go into the hospital for surgery.

 

No one does. But There’s any number of NSID Drugs that you should be trying, and steroid injections, before you go on any opiate long term.

 

Hydrocodone is never going to make you better or give you your life back. And when the opiates start doing their damage, The alternate joint replacement which will allow you to live long term pain-free, in most cases, without the distorted day to day living, you live with now, is an option you should look into.

 

Nobody should be spending there good years On painkillers when there’s a much better way.

[+ Avalon]

No one does. But There’s any number of NSID Drugs that you should be trying, and steroid injections, before you go on any opiate long term.

 

Hydrocodone is never going to make you better or give you your life back. And when the opiates start doing their damage, The alternate joint replacement which will allow you to live long term pain-free, in most cases, without the distorted day to day living, you live with now, is an option you should look into.

 

Nobody should be spending there good years On painkillers when there’s a much better way.

 

My next doctor visit I'll ask him.

[Larstrup]

I have obviously over thought and expressed this based upon experience. One hydrocodone does not make you an addict, nor does it prevent you from becoming one.

[Bearofdistinction]

Anyone take Hydrocodone? My doctor prescribed it because of the arthritis in my knees. It's an opioid and I've heard the horror stories on the news about opioids. I only took one pill; it made me sleepy.

 

The fear-mongers on TV are just the modern version of REEFER MADNESS ---

 

Some people have genuine chronic or frequent pain and Chris Christie and Daffy Donny are trying to make doctors afraid to treat their legitimate patients.

 

Oh BTW I do not like Hydrocodone --- I gives me horrible dreams and does not stop the pain --- merely makes it feel further away

Edited March 8, 2018 by Bearofdistinction

[+ FreshFluff]

Anxiety. It's now been decades since my mother died. And as the anniversary of her death approaches each year it affects me. And as the years go by it gets worse. I was 23 when she died. Life is unfair! My father was 70yo when his mother died. He had 3x more years with his mother than I had with mine.

 

I have a cousin my age. Her mother (my father's older sister) is 101yo!

 

I am so sorry, Avalon. Please be careful. Opiates can mask depression for a few weeks but after that, you'll feel no better than you did to begin with. Once addicted, people often do desperate things like forge scripts and get arrested as a result. And for some, the effects are fatal.

[+ Avalon]

I am so sorry, Avalon. Please be careful. Opiates can mask depression for a few weeks but after that, you'll feel no better than you did to begin with. Once addicted, people often do desperate things like forge scripts and get arrested as a result. And for some, the effects are fatal.

 

Thanks! That's why I only used it one time.

[+ sniper]

My sister has multiple sclerosis and lives in a nursing home. This "reefer madness" about opiates is causing them to drop most of the pain meds that actually work for her and causing her suffering. Thankfully they haven't taken her fentanyl patch, but there are days she is in tears from the pain and all they will give her is two ibuprofen.

Some types of nerve pain are unrelenting and opioids are in fact the best and some cases only option for it. Yes it's stupid to give it to people for a single day of pain. It's equally stupid to cut off someone with a chronic condition who is not going to be able to function without it.

[+ quoththeraven]

It all depends on the patient's personality, psychology and physiology and the condition being treated. I've taken lorazepam (Ativan) for insomnia, anxiety and muscle spasms (muscle relaxants make me dizzy) for years without problems. I take a half pill, don't take it every night and have gone months without taking it after prescriptions run out before making an appointment to see the doctor.

 

I realize it's not a narcotic, but the principle applies.

[+ Avalon]

My mother was the rock of the family. I had an older sister (same mother, different fathers). Several years after our mother died my sister committed suicide. She was divorced leaving three children - 25, 22, 20. I had planned when I got old for her and me to live together for companionship and to take care of each other.