My Oxycodone Is Not Working, What Do I Do?

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I have been on opiates for over 10 years now and after refining the dosage amount finally found at sweet zone at 135mgs Morphine per day. I made a big mistake and asked my Dr if I could get rid of the day time Morphine and try something that would not be so sedative during the day. I was switched to Oxycodone from Morphine (not what I asked). The Oxycodone absolutely sucks as it only works for about 3 hours. I have asked several ways to get it changed and have now found myself being compromised. By me asking so deliberately they have now said they are taking all opiates away! I am freaking out, I am in tears in the morning and have to double dose in the AM to be able to not want to just give up. I started to argue with the Dr. and was just told there is nothing to do as that is the decision. They are tapering down 25mg each month. I do not want to be reduced but do not know what to do. This is the Veterans Administration and I'm just so freaked I do not know what to do. I am at my wit's end, please give advice.

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Do a search for natural pain relief and find the plants that were given to mankind to relieve many issues including pain....a search on the internet will give you a lot of information.... modern drugs were not around 300 years ago...... hope you can find something to help.... I find it interesting that the govt. gets on public broadcasting talking about pain medications having the same issues as illicit drugs as they are taking pain medications away from chronic pain sufferers... and have gotten much more vigilant about it since war in Afghanistan where opiate production is very prevalent... Who is actually profiting from the restriction of pain meds and the increase of illicit drug use?... Things that make you go hhhhmmmm.

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2

Chronic pain is so hard to deal with. The new laws on opiates is making doctors reduce patients on them. I work at a hospital,we have a "pain team" that helps patients with chronic pain get off of opiates. I see them prescribe omega 3, magnesium,D3 which all you can get over the counter. Drink plenty of water! Dehydration is very painful on muscles and tissues.

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3

I would start right now trying to find a new doc. The VA has alot of pain management drs and id get on it now before ur left with no dr and no meds. I kno its scary bc ive lost pain drs in the past so i feel ya.. Morphine is usually time realeased so thats prolly why it helped u more and lasted longer. Oxycodone is instant release thats why it only helps for a few hrs. Have u thought about asking for a longer acting Rx like methadone...???

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4

Yes, I know what you are going through. It absolutely is overwhelming, have you considered checking into any other pain clinics nearby or setting up an appointment? One thing that helps believe it or not is exercise, by releasing endorphins that hit the same receptors in your brain opiates do. Also by doing this you are basically working through withdrawal which will lower your tolerance over time to opiates. That has to be your goal right now- to lower your tolerance. Lastly, Vitamins and proteins are very helpful.

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5

Hello. I am so sorry that you are going through this! It's really scary! Have you become dependant? So you have methadone clinics in your city?

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6

Please accept my condolences. My VA experience is just the same. I am off the opiates that helped me cope with the intractable pain of degenerative disc disease. Now I just consider terrible pain as what normal life is. I doubt that the VA understands that taking me off my pain meds would kill me faster than any overdose would. I guess nobody in the VA has had non-stop pain and that is not life for anyone.

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7

Many private doctors are doing the same thing, reducing meds monthly to none. The tragic result is people not sleeping and no quality of life due to pain. My rheumatologist is still writing me some hydrocodone for DDD, Fibro and arthritis in many facet joints. I had a laminectomy but the scarring is severe so the doctors that did ablation to those nerves say there is nothing else they can do. I don't live in a state where medical pot is legal. The VA does not like medical pot either as federal law says it's still illegal. It's so unfair to make people suffer when there is relief available.

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8

I agree with Casey. I also see a Pain Management Dr. Due to the problem of all the illegal drug use, & the misuse of medication by some people the FDA put the ruling dwn that patients are to be weaned off of opiates and/or taken dwn to no more than x amount of milligrams. They want patients to try programs, such as "Calm" look up on internet, and learn how to relax, how to think about other things than your pain. And, supposedly, for the Drs that are not abiding, for every patient they write a script for that is above the alloted amt. of miligrams, the Dr. is required to fill out paperwork upon paperwork explaining his reasoning for it. I got my pain medication cut dwn to the lowest amount & my break thru med taken away. So I feel your pain. It's not right that we have to suffer due to what others have done, plus the government should not be interfering in my personal health care. First Do No Harm..what happened to the oath all these Drs took... So I am thinking eventually your Dr. would have weaned you dwn anyway..The whole thing just isnt fair to the patients who really need the medication & are responsible with its use.

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9

I hear your pain. I was a pain patient for 15 yrs. Note "was". Long story. People react to pain medication differently. It's a genetic reason. For instance, I can't take meds from the hydrocodone family of opiates. They don't work. Try to talk with your doctor about this. He or she may listen. Medical websites exist that discuss opiate drug families. Titrating down is out of your hands and most likely, your doctors, too.

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10

Go down south , South Florida , they will give you what you want

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11

Methadone clinic are just a legal way of getting High!! My son went to a clinic they had his dose so high, finally was able to find a rehabilitation facility that would even accept him because he was on Methadone. It is only my opinion but never will I ever accept Methadone as pain management

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12

Hi, I'm not sure where you live but I'm pretty sure you can find another pain specialist. I've changed doctors several times over the years for various reasons and I live in Florida where we are over regulated by the doctors and government. Apparently they know what's best for us who are experiencing horrific pain. Dr. Kevin Cairns in Ft. Lauderdale is amazing. Good luck and keep up the good fight.

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13

my dad was prescribed oxycodone for nearly 10 years..at one time he was medicated around the clock with a sustained release tablet..they reformulated the original OxyContin product some years ago which made him want to omit his nightly dose..he was switched to immediate release pills
these pills were short acting..like you his only worked for 3 hours or so. I see where you double dose in the morning. is this how the pills are prescribe or does the doctor recommend you double dose? I'm going past what I know about your particular circumstance but that's when a lot of people start running out of medicine before a refill date. I believe with even the best intentions oxy ir ends up being abused. doctors are now afraid of the DEA shutting them down where previously they had more latitude in narcotic prescribing. I see where you doctor with the VA. It's been my experience that federal agencies tend to follow CDC/FDA guidelines concerning the prescription of narcotic drugs. in the past year or so oversight agencies have came up with new opiate prescribing guidelines. my dad got cut off his 120mg prescription for a technical violation of a contract drawn up between him and his clinic..(county health clinic). he was able to go thru a hospital outside his jurisdiction for a gradual dose reduction.
he is largely pain free now..there were some discs which fused over these past 10 years in essence growing over his pain points..he is not in bondage to a drugs..he was prescribed two weeks worth of Neurontin possibly for post acute withdrawals..his month of gradual dose reduction in the hospital was hard as he had no real peer support except myself (daughter) and one of our relatives. being drug free has it's advantage for him no doubt plus the threat of me losing my father to accidental overdose..violent home invasion robbery is about nil these days..it's been 3 or 4 months now and it took some time for him to adjust..

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14

I hate to be so blunt but I see one of 3 choices if you can't talk your doctor out of this decision. 1. find a pain clinic or another doctor who will listen 2. find opiate medication elsewhere or 3. find the nearest methadone clinic ASAP!

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15

:scary: is a good word to use in describing opiate withdrawal..I am a clinical psychologist (no active practice) and thru experience it would be best doing an inpatient medically Assisted detox. in this type of setting patients can be given comfort meds to help with most glaring aspects of abstinence syndrome. there are a number of emotional and behavioral disturbance that are best addressed medically. my dad was placed in a psych ward for a slow gradual dose reduction from 120 mg of oxycodone to 0 mgs. this was a huge favor for all of us as the unit was not licensed for detox and drugs such as suboxone or methadone were not authorized. it's generally accepted that opiate withdrawl is not life threatening and sadly in our state most hospitals turn away those in classic withdrawal symtoms.

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16

Now I know why my community has illicit drugs after all these years. That's why the government forced ACA on people. Avoid a doc, put them out of business. Perhaps they'll stand up for their patients instead of the regulations put on them. Guess we'll start seeing people wander off like an old dog in the woods and die.

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17

In agreement about the sleeping issue Maija. U must be hearing me complain! Right now as I write I have been up for ever it seems. I just cannot fall asleep with my neck hurting so much. I'm popping 5 over the counter p.m. pills a night praying that I will fall asleep, but no use. Heat, tens, traction, u name it..I own all my own "tools" so to speak but they dont help. Sadly I hear of people whose dosages were lowered so much or meds changed that now they have become the depressed & the desperate, willing to do anything to take away their pain, going so far as to commit suicide. It just seems as if in trying to fix one problem the government has created a bigger, silent problem, one that they are turning their backs on.

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18

Thanks for the thought. Not saying I have tried everything, but after 11yrs on high dose with the previous 10yrs on rather low doses of darvon and hydrocodone I have always tried to stay in shape. My niece is a Dr. Of Naturopath (SP). I am so tired of the bull, I am feeling just too old this crap

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19

Hey Jeff,

The Veterans Administration did this same thing to my uncle at the Birmingham Alabama V.A. My uncle was on morphine as well and he pissed his doctor off and they took away all his pain meds. The V.A let him suffer in pain. This man can barely walk and can not use the left side of his body as his shoulder has been rebuilt but does not work right. He's had 28 knee surgeries just on one knee and the V.A just took his pain meds away and made him suffer in pain. This is how thankful our V.A is to Vets... I am so sorry you are going through this situation Jeff. I pray you find someone who truly will listen to you because I know pain is real and it's sad that our men and women go and serve our country and return with injury's and our government doesn't want to take care of them... My other uncle lost both his legs in war and it took an act of Congress to get him a wheelchair...

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20

Thanks for the thought. Here is what they did - The primary care Doc. said since I have tried everything and nothing worked (a bold face lie!) And they listed all meds that I have tried (really funny as the listed Levites(SP), a meds that I stopped because of renal clearance. Anyway way absurd and lie because I do find relief with morphine SR. I went to advocate and really layer it out (I was really upset and fed up. Now they set up a pain panel to confront the issue. I believe I am fxxxed as the rules out weight how I as a patient feels.

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43

Hi, I got pinned under a loaded tractor trailer 5 years ago. Perforated my colon, I lost 16 inches of my small intestine, my spleen, I've had 4 back surgeries. I now have a plate in my pelvis two titanium rods 6 pins an artificial disc and nerve damage in my left leg and foot. I go to pain management every month, I have been taking Oxycodone 10mg 3x a day. I run out 8 to 10 days early all the time. I work at a truck salvage yard now. I drove a truck for 27 years and I can't be sitting for long periods anymore. It's awful. As of late, I'm getting a sharp pain in my right hip and thigh probably from compensating for a left leg problem. What can I get to help me control my pain? The Dr just keeps refilling same meds and tell me the pain shouldn't be that bad or they tell me to find an easier job. I have a mortgage and two kids I have to work. They (Drs) seem burnt out on dealing with fakers and liars but I need answers. I'm a real working dad. On a good day 10mg 6x works but I don't think they will ever go for it. I need help as the pain leaves me in bed on weekends because I take little to no meds to try to have enough to get through my week. I sometimes think that if this is how it has to be, maybe it's time for me to end it.

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42

Well have not had any Morphine or Oxycodone now for 7 days. Hard, very hard. I think the worst part started while on Meds. The SKIN on abdomen is severely hypersensitive. No one seems to have an answer. It is damn near over whelming.

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41

So many people are giving up. In my family alone I have had 5 people commit suicide since the 90's because of either NO pain control or Doctors threatening to withhold pain meds/suddenly stop pain management. Until they understand pain themselves and put some people in power that ACTUALLY HAVE CHRONIC PAIN and are willing to speak out, this country is in big trouble. I pray for every one struggling with pain now. God Bless you all and I hope they will SOON legalize Medical Cannabis nation wide!

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40

Jordan S. Florida is the worst place to be in the years following 2010, there are no more pill mills thank God. Folks coming in numbers like they did hurt Floridians that suffer real pain. I saw it with my own eyes

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39

To Roro...No, you did not go off on a tangent. I thought I was the only complainer abt this. I just spent my 6th day in bed as my pain management dr discontinued my breakthru med & cut dwn my milligrams of my pain med due to the feds new ruling. I keep asking how the government can legally & ethically get involved in my personal health care. And why must I, a law abiding pain patient, who does not abuse meds, have to suffer due to the fault of the addicts. Not right, not fair or ethical. And who is going to fight for us. I have sent letters to our representatives, to the National Pain Association & to other sites. I received replies from them all, but to no avail. Who is going to do a thing abt it. We just increase the depression medication & save up enough meds, lay in bed til that one day comes & you just cant take it anymore & Boom..pop em all & get it ovr with. I would like to see them suffer in pain, maybe then their attitude would change. Anyway, I hear ya guy, I feel the same way, & we are helpless. All the Best!

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38

I will pray, prayer works. I feel stupid even complaining with stories such as yours. Stress does kill and no quality of life does as well. That all scares me, I am 2 days almost 3 opiate free. It is not right at all, I have seriously thought about opiates. That kind of tells you where I am at, so ignorant and inhuman. I don't want to live if I have to be in such pain, they just didn't get it. I am not sure what I am going to do if 90mgs don't control it. I do pray they can figure some of this out. What has started a while back is skin Hypersensitivity of abdomen, like WAY bad. God be with all of us.

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37

I have been thru a forced withdrawal, Feb 1, 2016 until March 8, 2016. I was on total of 330 mg of er/ir morphine per day rebuilding a decent, somewhat productive life after I was crushed from shoulders to hips in auto accident. My pelvis was rebuilt, hips, lumbar fusion, metal plate to attach pelvis to spine, new shoulders, decent rib repairs, lost half of a lung, extensive nerve damage. My neck needed fused, c2 thru 6, but a neck brace and time put that on the back burner. Had I not been in top physical condition at the time I wouldn't be here. Anyway I had successfully weaned myself down to less than 1/10 of the opiates I was on when I finally left the hospital. 5 years later I was caring for myself, walking, moving on the best i could. 330mg just worked for me. I was strict at doing what & how my doc wanted. Then the new guidelines for my state were put into place Jan, 2016. Note i had never used legal or illegal drugs in my life. I did not drink. I loved life. With new guidelines my doc told me he feared the suicides that would come & was moving away. His office would find me a new doc. He was sorry. I got 30 days of med refills but new doc would not see me for 2 months and would not accept me on such a dangerous level of opioids anyway. After my meds ran out i was thrown into hell. It did almost kill me. I spent that month in a hospital where my broken body tried to shut down. I remember horrific, gut wrenching pain. Happily I don't remember 3 weeks of that hell. I had further damaged my neck & lost the use of my arms and hands. I was taken, opiate free, by ambulance, to see my new doc. Being transported and made to sit in a wheelchair was torture and I became shock. My no was 175/110 pulse 130. He offered me a choice; 10mg, 3 day phentenol patches and 1 vico or 1 15 er morphine 2x day and 1 vico as breakthrough. Pick. I'm allergic to glue on patches & phentenol hates me. So does any vico. I picked the morphine. I'm now confined to my bed. I have many days where I can only cry or scream from pain. My daughter has to waste her life caring for me. I'm slowly losing my mind. I'm very weak. I don't believe in suicide. I have no hope, just endless days of torture. At this rate I will die soon. But seared into my mind is the torture of withdrawal. The physical & emotional damage it inflicted. I would have happily weaned down, done anything my new doc wanted. That was cruel and inhumane to treat me like that, but he does that with all new patients. If I see another pain doc that's "doc shopping" and violates my pain contract. So many good pain clinics r closed now. Suicides r frequent. Marijuana is legal for anyone over 18 and this state offers assisted suicide. I hate marijuana. I tried the pain version at my doc's urging. It was a horrible experience. I'm just s.o.l.

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36

Short update, as I shared I went off to the patient advocate at VA. Not sure if that was the kick, but I saw a pain mgt Dr yesterday and they went back to 90mgs, 2 30mgs long acting and 2 15mgs IR. I am still worried that it will not cover my pain as the best was at 150mgs. My goal is to find out WHY I hurt so damn bad. I had a scare the other day as when I moved the pain was so bad I was blind for about 5/10 minutes. Like a white sheet over my eyes. That was a bad morning!

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35

Yea never ask for anything when they ask you then you can tell them ,I am not sure what do you suggest. It's very hard to get back.thats called a red flag dr. Is going out of business or he got caught and in trouble with someone.i suggest you start looking for another dr.i am in Texas we were told pain mgmt Drs only I took me over a yr had to pay cash to a few quackery Drs until my insurance company and if you can find pain mgmt with their own pharmacy grab it.they are getting ready to cut us off need to start reading up on it .trump wants to get rid of pain meds too many deaths.drs are also trying to control the qty you take .i take oxycodone 10mgs x 4 a day and morphing sulfate er 10 mgs 2x a day ,that 60 mg per day they want to change and try get you to control that mg per day at least by 10 mgs and keep cutting back so start looking up info,cuz d-day is coming and they are GONNA TRY AND TAKE OUR MEDICATION AWAY! My dr told me to start with local legislators and find out what's up cuz I cannot have surgery and I hurt with and without meds but at least I can get out of bed a few days a week.good luck with everything hope info helped.if you find a good dr.and be honest with them,tell them if it's a good dr they will listen,and I don't know why but male Drs are better I had several female Drs never again!!!!

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34

Not only is the va cutting off pain meds... the federal govt is attacking opiates like the drug is the criminal... rather than realizing that criminals are the problem... and punishing the criminal because the govt doesnt want to pick up the cost or the rath of civil rights groups (that obviously dont care about the rights of those non-criminals that suffer w/ chronic pain) so they pass laws to infringe on the rights of the law abiding citizens.... in this case the right to have medical care for your pain... All the lip service for a national medical insurance law yet they refuse service to law abiding patients and punish them for the behaviour of criminals and if you say anything they say see you must be an addict thus you need the drug that helps and are removed from your medical regiment..... Start calling your elected govt officiails and ask them why they know more than the dr about your condition when they never went to medical school and if they did they've never seen you as a patient. Tell them to punish the drs abusing the law for gain. Give them 20 years max and make them work in prison hospitals and give patients 5yr minimum and 5000 hours community service when they get out. Someone needs to find lawyer that will fight for all of us with a major legal case against any and all that are causing the refusal of medical care and those causing that action to become way too commonplace.... Guess i went off on a tangent.

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