Any Otc Substitute For Hydrocodone/apap?
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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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Hi K, preparing for a cross-country move back to St. Louis so I just took the time to read your reply. Lots of good information. My daughter will be asking her doctor about the enzymes. I don't know if I mentioned she is pregnant with their first baby, in her fifth month and everything going well. She did have a flareup seven weeks ago that kept her miserable for a while but she has completely eliminated dairy and it seems to be helping, at least for the time being and we are grateful for every day she's feeling good. We have taken copious notes on all of your suggestions, advice and personal experience. After the delivery and appropriate healing time she will see her urologist, this time she is well-informed, knowing the right questions to ask and making a decision moving forward with phase 2 in this healing process. Can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your insight concerning this issue. I will keep you informed as to how she is doing and any new information I may come across. Good health to you and have a great day!

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Found some very interesting things after searching " healing powers in TEA " was surprised , you'd never know .

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Cindy! I don't know why I didn't suggest Pancreatic Enzymes! I have tried numerous kinds and have various levels of benefit depending on the brand, etc., but a doctor's Rx for pancreatic enzymes have worked wonders for me. Check into the science of how supplementation of enzymes works on the histones, scar tissue, endothelial and undotheliol (spell?) ....the lining just under the lining of the endothelial layer work for repair and relief. Their is good science behind it and it has worked wonderfully for me over the years.
I took them years ago when I was searching for anything that might assist in bettering my health.
They worked but after I was on them for so long and feeling pretty darn good...I started to not take them regularly because they are not inexpensive. Eventually, I forgot about how much they helped me. When I started feeling crummy again... my doctor asked me if I had ever experimented with them. He was hoping I had and that if I had any positive results from over the counter kinds in the past, maybe a Rx of pancreatic enzymes would be more therapeutic. And yes! They are! Do look into it.

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Cindy, thank you for updating me on your daughter. It sounds like you both are on the right track. Since she already had allergy testing in the past and has a Functional Medical Practitioner she may be farther ahead in finding relief than I thought. It is great that she has an accessible Functional Medicine Practitioner. I haven't found one near me in the Augusta area. Decades ago, I traveled to Atlanta to have a Medical Doctor with additional 'Functional Medicine type' training help me identify sources causing my fatigue and GI-type problems. He did an allergy and hormone work-up that used ancient techniques and labs. I assume today's methodology and diagnostic availability have come a long way since then. At that point in time, any legit doctor who admitted to having any kind of "alternative medical" approach was widely accepted as some sort of Voo-du or Crank doctor. Lol. Doctors who actually understood that Western Medicine typically didn't address the root of health disorders and ventured to dig deeper were pretty much "underground". It seems like the mainstream medicine is finally opening up to these kinds of physicians and thereby hopefully improving their available tools, methods and better over-all healthcare choices. In any case, my "ancient" allergy and hormone work-up revealed that I was reacting to a slew of things (environmental and foods) as well as not being able to detoxify well, nor properly absorb/utilize a variety of minerals and vitamins. I also had indications that my HTPA axis was over-burdened and dysfunctional in some mysterious way. Admittedly, the testing and information regarding neuro-immune-endocrine dysfunction was way ahead of its time and relied heavily on the patient's history with crude diagnostic testing. However, decades have gone by since that allergy/hormone evaluation and much of those results have been validated by routine tests done by my "regular" doctors today, as well as, lifestyle choices that help/hinder my daily quality of life. To my frustration, the sciences of neuro-immuno-endocrine interplay is still in its infancy. So, it seems nearly as true in the sciences relating to poor detoxification and various metabolic dysfunction. The "ancient" allergy/hormone tests that I had done helped by providing me with a general list of do's and don'ts and things to try by the way of nutrient supplementation. Following the suggested plan of care was tedious, expensive and required sincere dedication. It was a an entire lifestyle change and it did help. It just didn't help enough. I would practically have to live in a bubble all day - every day - to get an acceptable consistency of improved health. I am inclined to believe the protocol I originally received was excellent knowledge for my particular body but was mainly effective as a preventive modality. Even with following the program that worked best for me, I still ended up with IC (among other things). I guess the point I am fumbling to make is that while I learned many things to avoid/add, certain areas of inflammation needed intervention from the mainstream medical establishment. My case in point, having the bladder wash the wrench in the monkey system. It afforded me the opportunity to reboot my bladder, so to speak. Without washing and cooling the mess inside my bladder, all of the do's and dont's on my list could not break the chain reaction that was already existing. I did have days, weeks and even months that were good until the good days were less often and the "flares' were more frequent, longer lasting and more intense. No matter how disciplined, aware and adaptive in avoiding my triggers...my bladder needed more help than what I was doing. The marginal treatments from the medical docs (Elmiron, various pain meds and Yoga/Pilates/Physical Therapy) didn't cut it. In hindsight, I believe my "good" days were not as good as I thought. Even when my IC symptoms were not apparent, I think it was still a silent problem. The "silent" periods lead me to believe that it was an intermittent condition rather than an on-going dysfunction that remained active (although not always acute). In my opinion, of course I am not a doctor, IC is a kind of auto-immune reaction that is chronic and by swiftly knocking into "remission" is the best way to get the upper-hand. The bladder wash abruptly and gently interrupts the cycle of IC escalation thereby allowing daily do's and don'ts to be of maximum efficiency and effectiveness. The great thing about your daughter is that if she can have the bladder wash, then what most people find the hardest part to do.....the avoidance list....she will already be on top of keeping the flares to a minimum and possibly into a nearly constant state of remission. I think most people with IC do 1/2 of the equation and not reach the desired results. The bladder wash isn't effective without following with the avoidance of triggers. And avoiding triggers without the bladder wash is generally not too effective once IC is established.
So, there you have it.....the ramblings of a Zebra. *The Mayo Clinic and my local doctors have termed me, and my son (thankfully, not my daughter, too), as a Zebra. They know without a doubt that my body doesn't work right but figuring us out is a real trick.* Please, keep me posted as I am hoping for her progress.

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Hi K, i've been out of town and just checked my emails and read your response. We live in St. Louis and I'm sure there is a qualified urologist here given the excellent medical universities in our city. My daughter wanted a female urologist when this started and I understood why but she is open to whom ever is most qualified.your comment about the food allergy specifically black pepper was interesting because she had food allergy testing in high school when she experienced a bout of stomach troubles and black pepper was one of the foods listed she should stay away from. The functional medicine doctor that she sees has recommended that she stop all dairy, especially yogurt and she has done that and noticed some relief , also the sulfates in red wine will cause a flareup. Thank you again and I will keep you posted on the progress .

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I get it from the clinic who prescribed me it. It's an urgent care, hospital, and pharmacy combined. Otherwise, I get it from Walgreens.

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Thank u so much I will talk to my doctor. I really appreciate you help.

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Hi Tina, sorry for your pain, but I can promise you that I am no stranger to excruciating pain on a daily basis. With FMS, spinal stenosis, hernated disc, DDD, sciatica, ect. ..to name a FEW! :( I understand about not being able to play with grandkids the same :( Haven't worked in 2 yrs bc dr won't "release" me, yet can't get any sort of financial help either!:( I, myself, have almost become a human hermit:( Quality of life is not an easy chore when you're in SOME pain, even WITH pain medication! It just makes it "tolerable" to get out of bed! I get inj's., which help more than anything else, but only allowed 3 a yr and lasts appx a month so 7-8 months are totally reliable on pain medication. ANYWAY, ask your dr about nucynta. I had been prescribed 8/ 10mg norco myself, but when the new "laws", thanks to all the a**hole's not NEEDING medicine abusing them, put an end to getting sufficient pain relief, my pain management doc prescribed them for me. Nothing takes the pain completely away, but he currently has me on 4/ 100 mg daily with muscle relaxants, ect. It's comparable to percocet 10mg without as much of the addictiveness. Dr's are MUCH more likely to prescribe it than norco, altho it's actually stronger, class II. sorry for so much, but I hope you can at least try it and hopefully it will work for you! :) Also, ask for the "insurance" card. Even with insurance, they are EXTREMELY expensive but with the card the doc can give you, you're able to get first month free and never pay more than $25 for 19 months! :)

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Which pharmacy do you get your qualitest pharmaceuticals from?

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Since you have undergone a blood test an Urologist can help you to overcome , seeing the result. Please do not worry much, Trust in Almighty and equally in medical science.

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Hi Kaylen,my daughter is going through the same painful urination symptoms as yourself, but was never put on any narcotic pain medication, only antibiotics when her urine culture showed a bacterial infection. But it's been a cycle for the last three years infection, takes anabiotic feels good for a while and then it returns. She's had an ultrasound but it didn't show anything they are calling it interstitial cystitis but her urologist has told her there's nothing more they can do . After reading the responses you received we have decided to dig deeper far a different urologist and get to the bottom of this . I'm encouraging you to do the same thing, we know how discouraging not to mention painful this journey can be but it sounds like there are qualified doctors out there to treat this you just have to find them.Dont give up, A full healthy life awaits you !

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Hi Cindy. I am really glad my story might give y'all some hope and some help. I don't normally comment on boards but I just felt compelled to tell my experiences, I guess. I was young and healthy (very athletic....a dancer for 15 years -ballet, climbed mountains, ran track and so on). I was a very clean eater and didn't fit the profile of someone I figured would be stricken with such debilitating conditions. I guess some things don't discriminate. My son, now 21 years old is exceptionally healthy and seriously fit, as well. Poor kid...he inherited my genes :-( So, as a mom to another mom...I know how much you want to make everything better. Especially, when our kids are doing so many of the right things.
The physical therapy is an ok method but I wouldn't expect that to be worth the time and investment for the type of results it yields. It is better than nothing, of course. The thing is... Kegels help support the ligament and muscle tone which is good.... but the reality is that the pain is coming from the lining of the bladder. It is really an allergic type reaction as much as I can figure. The tiny the tiny blood vessels and endothelial lining (I might have my terms a bit confused....I am multitasking right now and don't do that so well ;) I don't know where you live but making an apt with a urologist who routinely deals performs the cystoscopy should be the very immediate.."don't take no" for an answer next step. Doing all of the other possible strategies are more bandaids at best. Poor bandaids, in my humblest opinion.

Honestly, the procedure is so fast and easy. She would be in and out in an hour probably and ready to finish her day with much relief. I had pretty bad fissures in my bladder but just doing the simple things I did, my bladder healed on its own. Finding a urologist (even if you have to take a short road trip to get it done...) would be something you may can call and have a phone consult tomorrow and maybe get her worked-in within a week. You may have to stress the dramatic H*** she has endured and senselessly. The doc may can speed the apt up and work her in fast. My heart hurts as if she were my own. Keep me posted of her progress. I sincerely feel she can get her life back quickly if she skips all the "bandaid" type help and goes straight to the thing that will help identify definitively what is going on and provide significant recovery nearly instantaneously (compared to all of the other strategies that doctors tend to use). It is great that you she isn't having to deal with it all alone. Just having you, as her mom, caring and understanding is an awesome thing! Wishing you both the very best of the best!

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Hey Talk2him....who exactly are you responding to with such a rude, ignorant & arrogant comment?

BTW, you do know how spell check works, right? Next time use it!!

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Hello K,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. My 24-year-old daughter has dealt with a similar situation for a few years now and it has left her feeling hopeless and frustrated. She sees a urologist who has done an ultra sound but no other tests like the ones you mention. Twice she was diagnosed with a bacterial infection put on antibiotics, experienced relief but the symptoms would return was in a month, now they are telling her it's interstitial cystitis and she has seen a physical therapist who specializes in these types of female issues and has given her exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, it's a Keagle type exercise but it only gives temporary relief. They are telling her they don't know how else to help her. She is healthy in every other way and takes good care of herself so this has left us baffled. I took a picture of your reply and will be sending it to her today. Again, thank you for sharing as this has left both her and I confused and frustrated and as a mom I was feeling hopeless to help her. You've provided some light at the end of this tunnel and I'm very grateful!

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Well, you sound extremely unemathetic, rude, and self-righteous. To have such an opinion when medicine is failing a 21 year old is poor choice of words. I suffered with unrelenting sever bladder pain at the same age which took exactly 22 years to resolve....and I'm an RN. Finally a new PCP on my first visit said...we're gonna put you on Bacturm DS for 1 month and see what happens. I have had no pain sense...I'm glad ur not my Dr.

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Kayson, I just saw your last post about mom sing a semester of college because of so many medical appointments and lousy painful unbearable days. I understand you just want the pain to stop. I totally get it and I have a son who missed a semester of high-school and nearly dismissed for a semester from college because he has had mystery health issues, as well. He traveled to The Mayo Clinic and we have a great Primary Care Doctor at home...he finally is on the upswing :-) My point is that I have experienced the years of awful pain and no help and I have also experienced watching/helping my son (I couldn't take his place but I would have if it was a possible thing). But, we both made it through to the the other side....you can, too. I remember that I did try Elmeron at some point before we knew I had IC (Interstitial Cystitis) and it helped...sort of. It isn't an antibiotic and it isn't a pain medication per se, but look into trying it maybe. I just looked up a few things about IC and found a helpful website. It is: ichelp.org. The whole website looks helpful but if you click onto the "Newly Diagnosed Tool Kit" you can scroll through the page to find various information on treatments (1st line treatments, 2nd line treatments, 3rd line treatments, etc.). You can also find on that page, near the bottom, some links to resources that can help people who can't cover the costs of treating this painful condition. I am just kind of assuming that you might could use some financial help only because you sound young (in college) and missing work. Not a good combo for being able to financially deal with on-going medical problems. The website I referred to also has a page regarding associated conditions. It turns out, I seem to have some of the listed associated conditions :-(

I have had the symptoms of the overlapping conditions for a decade or more. Only, recently is the blood work beginning to show enough abnormalities to validate that I haven't been making up my slew of confusing symptoms that I have had for sooooo many years. I was able to at least isolate and take care of the IC but I was left with a kaleidoscope of other confounding medical issues that have waxed and waned. Autoimmune issues seem to be my lifelong ordeal....but, the IC bladder condition was by far the most painful part of my battle. So, take a look at that website and get yourself the help you need while you are not going to classes now. Then, once you get your bladder under control...take care of yourself and live happy and healthy. Stress and anxiety aggravates any potential "associated diseases/conditions/syndromes" listed on that IC website. Easier said than done, but make your recovery and future wellness your priority. You won't regret doing so. Please, post again on any progress you make. My prayers include you getting better asap.

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Sure sounds like "K" has your answers!!! Good luck and feel better honey :)

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Keep looking till you find a good doctor or go to a pain management specialist or clinic...vicodin 10's ain't s*** for anyone who has real pain, so no way should they be treating you as an addict...I take oxycodone 30 MG twice a day. I understand what's it's like to not be able to function because of chronic pain without pain meds and it's horrible..I hope you find a better doctor and get treatment.

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Thank you for the reply! I've tried six different antibiotics. Nothing has worked. They can't find what's wrong with me. I hate taking pills however until they find out what's wrong, I just wanted something to ease the pain. I haven't had a job in months and I'm on the verge of homelessness. Plus I got suspended from college due to medical visits and can't return for a semester. So, until they figure out what's wrong, I'd just like to ease the pain. Not mask it.

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Kayson, I wanted to add this point to my last post/reply to you. I, also had urine cultures and CT scans and ultra sounds done. Nothing ever showed up on the scans or ultra-sounds and the urine cultures were hit and miss with results indicating infections, presence of blood, bladder and/or kidney stone particles. It was indeed the experienced Urologist performing the Bladder Cystoscopy and lidocaine bladder wash that changed everything. So, don't let a doctor tell you that if the other diagnostics and scans you previously have had showed no evidence of a problem that their isn't other diagnostic tools available to help you. The Cystoscope is a tiny camera that is inserted into your bladder to see the lining. It is probably the best diagnostic tool that I can think of for seeing definitively what is going on inside the walls of your bladder. Also, if their is "suspect" lesions detected during the procedure... I believe a biopsy can be easily taken of the specific area of question. Most insurances do not have problems in agreeing for such a procedure (as far as I have been told). If you don't have insurance, a good many doctors will work out a payment plan based on a sliding scale of your income to perform the procedure. As far as lab diagnostics of a biopsy (should it be needed).... I can't comment on the cost or payment plans available to non-insured persons. I assume there is a workable payment plan though.

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