Dilaudid As A Oxycodone Replacement? (Page 4)

Hi. I suffered a L1/L2 complete SCI injury some 4 years ago. After 6-7 weeks when the spinal shock wore off I noticed I had a burning pain in my lower groin area even though I can't really feel much below my hips, we thought maybe it was a UTI but all showed negative. It was diagnosed as chronic nerve pain and it never goes away, I get acute nerve pains in my legs on top of this chronic pain.

I have been taking 10mg Oxycodone four to five times per day and methadone 10mg once a day for the chronic pain + 800mg Gabapentin three times a day for the burning in my legs. The only way I have been able to keep my doses so low over the years is by being very hard on myself as to when to take the pain meds but as hard as I have tried I'm now going up to around 60mg total Oxycodone per day and 15mg Methadone.

I have a very good pain Dr and we always wanted to do a pain med rotation before levels of any one drug got too high so we have changed the Oxycodone over to 2mg Dilaudid tablets. I have been told to try anything from 2-4mg at a time, four times per day to replace my Oxycodone.

I have only just started to try the Dilaudid like 1day ago but even at 4mg it doesn't seem to work on my chronic nerve pain as well as my Oxycodone does, all it seems to do is make me sleepy and I can't have that. I work a professional demanding job where I can't be feeling out of it or tired. I was wondering if anyone here that has tried both maybe let me know if Dilaudid is normally a replacement for Oxycodone?

Should I be giving Dilaudid a few more days before throwing it off my list of pain meds? Or should it have worked straight away if it was going to work at all for me?

If it doesn't work I'll have to return to Oxycodone and hopefully find something that we can replace it with that won't have terrible side effects and also let me work normally. I guess we could increase the methodone to make the oxycodone last longer, I find the methadone great like that but that is not a real solution to replacing the Oxycodone so we can give my body a rest from that kind of opiode and hopefully reset the switch so after a short period on the replacement drug I can return to a lower dose of Oxycodone.

I would be greatfull for any advice.

Cheers.

REPLY

REPORT

I was shot down in Laos by a Chinese or Russian missile during the American war on Viet Nam. I sustained about eight bullet wounds, three (3) to my head/face, two (2) to my right femur (thigh bone), three (3) to my abdomen/lower back -- beside the other injuries resulting from the nocturnal parachute drop. I was held as a guest (POW) for several years; where they played lots of question-answer games with me, hint, they (like we) play hard at questioning. I still have night-frights, PTSD, and the physical pain is becoming worse over the ensuing years, almost too much to bare at times.

Because my old injuries are catching up with me; I have been taking opioids for over ten years straight. I was first given prescriptions for Vicodin (tablets of Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen) together with another prescription for tabs of Methadone, I used these for several years, until I had to stop both, I had become very tolerant of both -- the Vicodin because it hurt my liver, (very bad liver pain). I also developed an allergy to the Methadone that manifested in serious peripheral edema, both of my legs and feet swelled up with lymph. It was so bad that I could NOT wear any of my pants or shoes. I had to be hospitalized for a week because of the bad side effects that included open sores that went through the layers of skin into the muscle, I nearly lost my right leg, and did permanently lose ALL of the hair on my fairly hairy legs. I tried many medications and other things to stop the swelling, they even got me a hospital bed that allowed my feet to elevate, this slightly helped but was NOT a solution. I also got so constipated that they had to take me to the ER and then a 110+ mile ambulance ride to Portland, Oregon and a hospital (Emanuel) where they did an emergency operation that cut me from near my sternum to about 4" -- 5" below my bellybutton, to clear out my bowels that were impacted/blocked from the EXTREME constipation.

I decided on my own to go "cold turkey", I stopped taking any opiates at all for about six months. The Methadone was a real beach to quit!!! It took over four weeks for my withdrawals symptoms to recede. I personally would advise folks to avoid Methadone, though it worked well to relieve pain at first, there are better and safer alternatives. The Vicodin caused liver pain stopped after about three weeks.

Now I am taking two 30 mg OXYCODONE (with NO acetaminophen added) four times a day, usually needed. I feel from experience that the acetaminophen is BAD and harmful (certainly for me). One of the main reasons it is added; is to make abusing the medication more problematic. Bad Idea for the folks taking it IMHO.

I become tolerant to the Opiates and used to alternate with Morphine but it is not strong enough in the strengths that my insurance will pay for. I am now about to alternate and switch to Dilaudid maybe every six months or so. I am going to request 250 8 mg Dilaudid in place of the 250 mg of Oxycodone, I am figuring in the calculation about 25% reduction for incomplete cross tolerance. This usually varies from about 25% ?75%. I was told that the Dilaudid is about 2.5 times the strength of Oxycodone.

When you takes an Opiate, you become "tolerant" to it after some time. When I first started the Oxycodone, I could take one 30 mg tab four times a day for some pain relief. Now I need to take 2-4 at a time to notice any pain reduction, I have to be very careful not to run out of the 250 tabs every four weeks. So when I alternate with the Dilaudid I will start out with one 8 mg tablet four times a day; after a few months I will very likely need to double up on that.

I work very hard to not take any more Opiates than I need to lessen my pain; I am never without pain. I can take 4-6 at once of the 30 mg without any bad effects. Occasionally I will do that if I have a particularly bad-pain day/night. I cannot recall ever feeling "high" from these 'meds', they barely help my pain. I do NOT take any drugs to feel high, only for some pain relief. I very rarely use alcohol, I do NOT want to get lost in the bottle, nor do I use tobacco, I quit it about 16½ years ago.

So my plan for the next year or two is to alternate between Oxycodone and Dilaudid; I tried Fentanyl patches (100 mcg/hr) and they DID help when I used TWO at a time as per my doctor's instructions, they stay on for several days at a time. My problem is that my insurance (medicare and another) will not pay for the Fentanyl Patches until I appeal the denial, they did pay for three boxes of five patches (less than my doctor prescribed) I hope that will work out.

Sorry for the ramble, opiates can be very dangerous and harmful, many side-effects; but they can provide pain relief when all else has failed.

On my horizon... my pain relief medication research has lead me to possibly try some RSO (oil)* or FECO (oil)**. I have read some amazing reports/stories/reviews, and talked with folks that have tried these with amazing results. I am glad that I live in one of the twenty states (and growing) that provide a path away from the harmful opioid analgesics, and those terrible aforementioned side-effects.

* ** Google for more information.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My doctor is being very careful with my meds. I'm taking 4mg instant release dilaudid 3 times a day. Also 6 mg every 12 hours of extended release hydromorphone. Is this a lot for a male to take?? I feel that it's not working so well. I feel I need more of the extended release for the 12 hours. The 6 mg is not strong enough but my doctor wants to put me on a antiflamotory to see if that helps as well.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

not all methadone comes with blockers
Some do some don't

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have a rare degenrative dasease been sick ten yrs now im only 39 im was changed from 30mg of oxy ir 4 x a day and 40mg oxy er a day it workef like no other meds i was put on but now they put me on 64mg of dilaudid per day i cant even get out of bed i just pray for my life back hope u find what works for u good luck

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy(it's a rare nerve disease) 6 years ago and I'm currently taking:
•Dilaudid 4mg 4x/day,
•Hydromorph Contin 12mg 3x/day
•Ketamine 30mg/day
•Elavil 50mg/day
•Lyrica 150mg 2x/day

I've been on the same level of hydromorph and Dilaudid for about 2 years now and it's completely stopped working. I feel no difference after I take it. As for the rest of the meds, my pain Doc and I have tried a few different combos. The help for a month or two then just stop. I know my tolerance is just through the roof but I need to find something that's going to help. I've tried morphine, gabapentin, fentanyl patches, oxys, Percocet but just can't find the mix to help. In 2012/2013 I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted with hopes of even 5-10% relief but again nothing.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?!?

Feel free to email me directly with info, opinion or just to share stories. {edited for privacy}

Oh P.S. I'm im Canada with full benefits so price isn't a problem or a factor.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

From what I know opioids are not for nerve pain. You need a nerve medication like an Cymbalta or an antidepressant. It should numb the nerve.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hey thanks for your reply Steve.
I've tried Cymbalta 30mg & 60mg but it didn't work for me.
I am taking two medications for nerve pain.
Lyrica is meant specifically for nerve pain in fibromyalgia and diabetic patients.
Also as mentioned, I am taking Elavil as well which is categorized as an antidepressant. It's amitriptyline.

The opiates are prescribed to help with pain because with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, the most painful disease known to man, nerve medications alone just don't cut it. For me though nothing seems to cut it. Most people who have posted about their illnesses/injuries/diseases in this forum would agree that nerve meds don't give enough relief,

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I took 6 mg of Xanax, 3 75 mg lyrica and am still hurting And nervous as I have a very high pain tolerance. Can I take my 30 mg methadone and b ok? I've never taken this combo before. Thank u for ur help

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hey Subtech,
Did your Doc put you on those meds and know you're getting Methadone?
I'd say if he/she knows and said to take it all then go ahead but if you take one of those meds from an outside source, Xanax perhaps, then I don't know if I'd go that route.
My personal opinion, from experience, 375mg of Lyrica is a low-ish dose. Have you tried taking another 75mg or 150mg(whichever you have) on top of your 375? That would probably give you some relief, short term though(4-10 hours). It'll also give you an incredible energy boost. Lyrica is addictive though so don't do the add on too many days in a row.(I find 3 days to be the magic number if I don't want to go through withdrawals from the add on dose). I'd advise not to exceed 800mg/day. Let me know how it goes and whether you took your methadone or not.

Hope this helps and you're feeling better soon.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I will be looking into the drug pump. The pharmacists aka PIGS! Refuse to fill our doctor prescribed oxycodone prescriptions. We are now forced to pay for health care where pharmacists have a right to discriminate us. When I win my disability claim I'm definitely moving to France.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Get another doctor as quickly as you can. You now have a quack...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Greetings, I, too, just switched over to Dilaudid after using Oxycodone for years to knock - down chronic Pancreatic pain. I recently had pain episodes that woke me up during the night. Once the pain is (already) high enough to wake me, I'm kinda in trouble; typically requiring 20 - 30mg of Oxy's to get on top of the escalating pain.
My doctor, with whom I have a great relationship, consulted with a pain specialist, and they suggested the switch to Dilaudid.
Not quite as fast acting, but 2-4mg seems to ultimately work for me. Mind you, nerve pain is a different beast, so you may need to use a greater dosage.
Hang in there, and give it some time. I have read several articles that acknowledge the 2mg Dilaudid not quite the strength as 5mg Oxycodone, but the "half-life" is longer, ultimately better long-term pain control.
Try it and see how it works for you. Wish you all the best!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi there. I agree with you that dilaudid does not work as well as oxycodone.I am 1 year post op from l5s1 discectomy and am in almost as much pain now as I was pre surgery.I am taking up to 16 mg dilaudid a day and it doesn't really touch the pain.I had been taking 30mg oxycodone three times a day and it worked better,but like you,my Dr changed my meds.I'm really confused why I'm still in this much pain.I have bad neuropathy in right leg,recently other leg is numb /tingly too.Saw a pain specialist and he wants to do facet joint injections and send me back to work. I can't stand or sit for more than ten minutes, and can only walk short distance with a cane,because leg just gives out. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Good luck to you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

my 35 year old daughter was on 500 8mg dilaudid 100mg morphine. she had a tumore in her spine but they let her stay on tht amount for 2 years so nothing helps. before moving tumor they referred her to pain clinic. they threw her out and her other dr who put her on all this took her back. nothing but dilaudid and the morphine helps. they got her on 300 4s dilaudid and morphine 60mg titrating her but she says she cant go no lower. they gave her enough for so long no one will touch her. shes been on methadone suboxone loritab everything. her pain still stays after surgery. only she says she's worse. idk whats going to happen. im scared for her. they are the ones that allowed this tumor to linger on for 2 years before removing continually raising the dose to 500 8mg dilaudid and the morphine. idk what to do. her medicine don't really hold her. she thought about a pain pump or anything. im asking you for any suggestions. I don't think a person can get off of dilaudid. I just think she's screwed. PLEASE HELP. ANYONE READING THIS PLEASE... even a dr with any suggestions or ideas. I believe she will hit the street for H. she cant take the pain

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I couldnt help but think that this converter might be useful to some of you out there (globalrph.com/narcoticonv.htm) might be helpful. I've found it to be "fairly" accurate. It says 15 mg oxy is about 6 hydromorphone...and i believe that to be low at least for me. But it gave me an idea what to ask for. So i asked for the 8's cause they are scored anyways. I felt i had to say somethin when i saw the diludid 4mg equal to about 13 oxy . At least not for me! I believe that a lot has to do with the way that your metabolism works. It all gets converted into morphine in your liver and one persons digestive system is gonna be different than another persons. I cant eat any spicy foods after say 3 or 4 pm or I'm hittin the alkaseltzer or zantac. I mean morphine works great gor me if they give it to me in an IV at the hospital...but that time released morphine did absolutely nuthin for me ...except make me sick. Again i think that is do to the way my digestion processes the time released coating. Other people swear by it. I wish it worked for me because i like the way morphine works when it works. Since they keep changing the coating on oxycontin i get results all over the board...,and i'm sure thats because of my digestive system. Im trying to get away from so mucy oxy and 8mg dilaudid is close to 15 mg oxy but i still think the oxy is stronger. The dilaudid doesn't make me as spaced out though and thats a big part of this medicine equation at least to me. And once asleep on oxy i stay that way ... Until almost noon...and that just don't cut it! The dilaudid doesn't make me slur my words either (i wasn't aware of it but everyone tells me i was). I can get by on 4 mg of dilaudid.... i'm still in pain..but sometimes it is enough if I'm just in a little pain. I also take 30 mg of oxycontin once or twice a day. Thats my main med but like i said if they keep changing the coating i'm not sure what i'm going to do. The dilaudid is for when i forget my oxycontin or the oxy just aint cutting it (like when i dont take my next dose because i think im ok ..and its just the medicine doing that) . Im still trying to find the right combination that leaves my head pretty clear yet keeps me from focusing on this constant pain my last surgery left me in. I haven't tried the opana yet but my Dr. doesn't think it would be strong enough for me. Last word be careful with that Methadone. It would kill the pain for me but the dr. Who prescribed it wouldn't always give me my scripts on time and when that happened I immediately went into withdrawal. Then when i wanted to get off of it ...the withdrawal seemed to go on forever!!! Not to mention i still found myself stockpiling other medications because of the late scripts thing. Good luck to all of you in strange and mysterious pain...and may they find something it the next year or two that proves that we really are in pain even if people cant see it...And...they find one thing that works for everybody. Man what i wouldn't do to be one of those people who don't feel pain! Last word ...i says to my Dr. " Ya know they believe that there are people who's nervous systems don't feel pain...then why are they so reluctant to believe the there are some systems out there that are overly sensitive to pain...to which he just looked at me and said..Humph! " good luck to all again.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I've been in your situation as well. Not for back pain but for concurrently recurring pilonidal cysts. Yes I had 3 separate ones at the same time and they didn't heal properly after the first operation so we had to repeat it again. All said and done it was an almost 5 month ordeal from when I first started seeing blood and pain, a month wait to see the surgeon another month to have the first operation. Recovery was 5 weeks and wasn't successful so second operation and 6 weeks to successful recovery.

In that period, I went from 20 MG Oxycontin 2/day and 10 MG Roxicodone 4/day. We ended up switching to 20 MG Opana 1/day and 1 8 MG Dilaudid up to 3/day. For me the Roxicodone made me much groggier than the dilaudid did. My system just seems to respond better to the morphine based meds than the Oxycodone ones

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Don't use Dilaudid. I'm trying to detox after hip replacement. It's a bear to get off and very addictive very quickly.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I honestly do not understand. I am not joking or making fun of anyone or anything. My question is: why are people so afraid of using opiates? What is so terrible about being thought of as a "drug seeker"? Some people need opiates for severe physical pain and some people need them for severe emotional pain. Believe me, life itself has been painful almost since birth. This is neither a joke nor an exaggeration. I am, today physically ill with a number of serious things. Therefore, I speak from my personal experience of both types of pain. I used opiates (dilaudid, morphine) for years. I was able to have a productive life. I have a Masters degree, three happy adult kids and a very happy relationship with my husband. He was an opiate user also. We both take methadone now, as we are too sick and too old to have to worry about being arrested. The only thing that allowed me to function for 43 years of emotional pain was opiates. I am asking you, and others who seem to have a fear of opiates, to consider what some of us experience. Also, opiates can HELP with pain if you allow them to! Obviously, the decision should be yours. I wish you lots of luck!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hi Friend in chronic pain!
My advice is give the disused at least a week-
but talk to your doctor and let him/ her know that dilaudid is not giving you adequate relief!
I survived a high speed head on collision with multiple trauma injuries and I know since I have been in meds and off- there is no way I can stand the pain and I u derstand about the sideaffects.
I take Exalgo16 ngs every 12 hours ER - it is dilaudid extended release and it does help! Ask your doctor and best of luck to you- I understand very well-
Remember- a lot of this is trial and error- if dilaudid isn't working- try something different.'Jadian us an excellent pain Ned- but expensive- look into it!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Can you show me a picture of a 2mg dilaudid pill

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi I suffered a complete L1/L2 Spinal Cord Injury a few years ago and due to the nerve damage I now suffer ongoing chron...

13 REPLIES

My Pain Mgt Dr. has been reducing my Percocet 10/325 mg pills down from 6/day to 3/day and my Kadian 20 mg pills down fr...

2 REPLIES

i need to change medicine from oxycodone way too expensive to something as effective but not as expensive ## There are M...

1 REPLY

On the web I found a replacement drug for Oxycodone, but now I can not find it. Can anyone help me find this so I can ge...

1 REPLY

What do you do when neither Oxycodone or Dilaudid work for severe lower back pain, due to disc & nerve damage from a...

14 REPLIES

I was wondering if anyone might help. I have been off my pain meds for 30 days now. I was taking about 320mg of oxycodon...

7 REPLIES

Can I take oxycodone and dilaudid and be on the fentanyl patch at the same time safely? ## Hello, Hauler! How are you? H...

7 REPLIES

I live in hell every day. My back is a mess nerves pinched. I actually "fall" to my kners. I do care anymore but...

3 REPLIES

The pharmaceutical decomposition of dilaudid versus oxycodone is 4 milligrams of dilaudid = 10.67mg of oxycodone. When r...

1 REPLY

I'm currently taking dilaudid 4mg & a fentanyl 25mg patch. All I can say is that it seems to me that the hydromo...

3 REPLIES