Any Otc Substitute For Hydrocodone/apap? (Page 2)
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Hello! I was prescribed Hydrocodone/APAP 5-325 MG. (It also says on bottle: generic form NORCO 5-325). The only medication that's worked for my condition. Is there any OTC substitute or anything they'll more likely prescribe me? Everyone thinks I have an addiction. I only had a quantity of 12. I'm not having withdrawals. I could go a few days without my medication too. It just really helps. I haven't been able to work due to my condition and I need an income. But they won't give me a refill. My condition: I was given this because the past year I've been dealing with mysterious, unknown painful urination. I've seen specialists, had a ct scan done, been on multiple pills for UTI, urine culture. Nothing they can figure out. It comes up as an infection though. It has affected my ability to work and attend my college. I've had to remain at home, in the bathroom for hours on end. Or have to lay in bed, curled up in a ball. I've had fevers of 104 alongside chills. As of, (3/3/17) I did blood work- so I'll get the answers soon on that. I'm twenty one, I've become hopeless with my health. I have no social life anymore. Please help!

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Kayson, I am so sorry to hear of your debilitating condition. I can't comment on alternate pain pills but rather question if you have had a bladder cystoscopy performed? I suffered a very similar experience and finally I was able to have a Urologist perform a simple outpatient procedure. I remained fully awake and had some kind of lidocaine or similar numbing agent to numb my bladder just before the procedure took place. The initial cystoscopy was more of a "look- see" to determine what might be going on inside the bladder. As the procedure was being done, I could watch the tv monitor and the doctor was able to explain what we were seeing on the display. In my case, my bladder was very "angry". It was red, inflamed and needed to be calmed down. He didn't see any endometriosis (which, for females anyway, can grow on or inside the bladder), and we saw no evidence of cancer. He basically washed out my bladder and cooled it off. I immediately! -sincerely...immediately!- felt tremendous relief. The relief pretty much continued for at least a month.

He said that in his many years of experience, some people with my condition of "interstitial cystitis of the bladder" requires a monthly bladder wash (the same cystoscopic procedure that he initially did) every month or maybe every 3 months. He gave me a "White Sheet" that was a list of food ingredients that tend to cause flares of the interstitial cystitis. I found that by avoiding these food and/or spices triggers to be very helpful. Eventually, I was able to determine which of the items on the White Sheet list were my particular triggers and found that many others on the list were fine for me and did not need to avoid. I had a follow up bladder wash about a month or so after my first one. My bladder was still kind of angry looking but much better. Again, I had immediate relief that lasted quite awhile. During the time from the first bladder through the 2nd bladder wash, I had enough time to find my food triggers pretty well and I haven't had to have another bladder wash since. It has been at least 10 years since I had that 2nd bladder wash and haven't felt the need for another.

Also, once I avoided my food triggers, I found that some of them, I could tolerate eating again. Once my bladder was "happy and without having been aggravated from certain foods" for a period of time, my bladder didn't react to a majority of the foods on the White Sheet list. If I notice my bladder beginning to ache....I back off of certain likely food triggers and my bladder quickly (within days to a week) is happy again. One of my personal biggest triggers that still make my bladder ache almost instantly is black pepper. ONLY organic peppercorns that I grind with a regular pepper grinder can I tolerate without any problem. Typical pepper out of a standard pepper shaker contain some kind of preservative that does a serious number on my bladder. So, because I LOVE pepper, I carry my own pepper grinder filled with fresh organic peppercorns with me in my purse for when I go out to dinner. Lol.

Sometimes certain beverages will cause my bladder to ache. I think certain sulfites in certain wines irritate my bladder, too. In any case, the bladder cystoscopy with a lidocaine wash along with the White Sheet list of possible food triggers changed/saved my life. Before, I was in so much pain and had intermittent bladder infections that didn't respond to antibiotics. I had intermittent fevers and would swell around my bladder area and I generally felt unwell and just couldn't do daily life. I was in misery with pain. I am guessing the fevers were often related to some kind of histamine response. I urge you to seek out this kind of procedure and take seriously the food avoidance challenge. If you in fact have interstitial cystitis of your bladder, not taking care of it can lead to cancer of the bladder. It can only go so long being that "angry" until the bladder just can't fight anymore and begins to turn cancerous. I truly wish you the best and if you seek out this procedure, please let me know if you found relief. I went for a few years with such pain that no doctors could/would help me with....I know how awful it was for me. If you have any questions, you can certainly contact me and I will try to answer what I can based on my own experiences. {edited for privacy}. Please, take care and remain hopeful.

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Hi Kayson ~ Just a thought since you are having difficulty getting a diagnosis...Have you investigated the possibility that you may have a condition known as Interstitial Cystitis? IC is a bladder issue including fissures and other irritations within the bladder that cause great burning pain, especially when urinating. It's symptoms are not known to many doctors outside the urology field. I had it for years before identifying what was wrong. Oddly, after many different doctor visits, I found it myself by searching online, and then had it confirmed by a urologist. Fortunately, I was referred to one of the top IC urologists in the country who happens to have his office about an hour away.

It can be treated somewhat medically, but my saving grace was bladder surgery to close the fissures within. There has also been some success with botox inj's. It might be worth your time to check it out - at least online, and if your symptoms fit, make an appointment with a good urologist.

Hope this is helpful to you.

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Unfortunately, there is no OTC substitute for Hydrocodone. It's ridiculous that in this country, because of people who abuse pain killers, the people who really need the medicine can't get it anymore. I don't know how these doctors expect people to function when you're in pain and you have to be at work. Would the govt rather you lose your job and be on welfare? Doesn't make a lick of sense. I don't know why they care if you decide to take too many & overdose. Personal decision. I think it just has to do with $$$. The govt doesn't give a squat about people's personal problems and addicts who overdose. If the govt was in the same predicament as a lot of people who need prescribed pain medicine, I think they would see things differently. Instead, they get on their high horses in DC and make decisions and know nothing about people's day to day battle with pain.

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I took Macdrobid (RX) for the many bladder infections I used to get and I take one now if I feel one coming on. Works great! As far as Hydrocodone, as the doctor to write Qualitest brand only. That is the only generic that works and the only one that doesn't make me fee worse. Good wishes and prayers for healing fast.

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I would try Aleve...

Aleve is an over-the-counter (OTC), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that provides temporary relief from minor aches and pains from a variety of conditions. It also temporarily reduces fever.

The active ingredient is 220 mg of naproxen sodium.

Aleve temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to:

minor arthritis pain
headache
muscular aches
toothache
backache
the common cold
menstrual cramps

It also temporarily reduces fever.

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Sorry to hear about your sad condition to be so young. Maybe this will help some. Im 65 and I started taking lots of vitamins (B100,multi,etc)since I got of the marine corps at about 30 years old. Good luck .PS,drink 4 to 6 large glasses of water everyday

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I have chronic hip pain an I can't hardly walk sometimes. I cry cause I can't do thing's with my grandbabies like I did before. It hurts so bad. My doctor was giving me vik 10-325 but she is stopping. I go to the hospital and they look at me like I'm a attick. I'm not just hate hurting.

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Kayson, I have had UTIs, blood in my urine, kidney stones & my Urologist has NEVER prescribed an narcotics for that type of pain. And without knowing EXACTLY (sorry for the caps) most ppl could not even offer a real OTC suggestion. Have you asked your Dr for a suggestion or asked a Pharmacist in a Drug store?! That would be the person to ask since they have that knowledge and education. Think A LOT of Pharmacists know more about Prescriptions than Drs. What I would ask your Dr is since this sounds ongoing & a UTI ---How about an antibiotic?! Let's knock it out, infections are not suppose to stay with you forever. If you had it more than 2-3 weeks it is time to ask your Dr for an Antibiotic not a Narcotic! You sound like you want to mask the pain, not get rid of it! Do not mean to sound rude! I have been on disability since 2001.

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Hi Kayson,

It sounds to me like you need a new doctor/2nd opinion. If you are sexually active, maybe stop for a while and see if that helps? In the meantime, try AZO Urinary Pain Relief pills from any drugstore. They work for the pain, but be careful as they turn your urine an orange-ish color and can stain your undies. Has your doctor given you Macrobid or any other antibiotics? Sorry you are miserable. I used to have bladder infections a lot when I was in my 20's. Also, do you use a diaphragm? In hindsight, I think that may have been one of my problems. Good luck and feel better :)

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