My Oxycodone Is Not Working, What Do I Do? (Page 2)
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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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23

Jeff I have been to the pain panel docs through the VA and I was shocked at the stupidity of their decisions. They actually said " if you do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome, that's the definition of insanity." I don't want a different outcome, I want the same outcome, abate my suffering for as long as possible, let me live or let me die. I have helped close to 2 million people over my 30+ years as a Pharmacist, all I need is some help now. I hope you are the lucky one in the VA and get the help you need.

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22

Hi Jeff , I feel for you after being on pain meds for nearly 30 years I have learnt also it's not always in our favour to be honest talking to doctors etc I have been where you are , what I did was change doctors knowing the doctor I changed to would give me the pain meds I needed I like you take them for pain but once the doctors think you are abusing the drug they turn into unreasonable people that have little time for you and just won't you off the drug completely to be honest Jeff don't tell the docs the truth as you have learnt the hard way I am praying for you hope you get back on the right meds .Would a pain doctor like pain clinic ? Ragee

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21

Hi Jeff. I am the vet that was taken off all pain meds about a year ago for no reasons, just stopped. I did what some of these caring people said and went to search for doctors. Finally found an understanding older pain management doc, he saw the pain I was in and the films, ct scans, x-rays, and multiple mri's done by outside providers bc the VA really is a death trap for really sick people. He wrote me the rx's I needed to help with my suffering. Now pay attention and be mentally prepared, because after you receive your necessary to live rx's you will run into another brick wall, called the Pharmacist. "I don't feel comfortable filling this rx, or we don't carry that medicine (I am personally guilty of that answer, I've been a Pharmacist for 32 years), or I'll order that for you, it will take a week for delivery... big BS, they can get it in max 2 days. Though when you return in a week they were shorted that medication, try next week..... until you die or just go away. Just so you know how hard it can be, I trained many of these "Pharmacists" and they still refuse to dispense pain meds to me. I must have failed somewhere when I was trying to teach focus and concentration, I forgot to make them human with a dash of empathy and a little compassion. But the end all, is when one of them says I am just trying to protect my license. Why have a license if you don't dispense? Just be prepared to spend some time finding a good pharmacist and make him or her understand that this will be the only pharmacy you will go to and to please have a supply in hand each month for your needs.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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10

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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