Oxycontin and dossage increase

[chakkname]

I have been going to a pain magement clinic for about 6 months 5 of which I have been on first methadone then oxycontin and percocet. They have been real stingy with prescribing and have aloted me first 10mg twice a day(with up to 3 percocets three times a day) then increased it to 20 mg twice a day with 3 percocets. My question is I have been taking a total of 55mg a day (which they act like is alot) and it doesn't do the trick. My question is how often do they up the dossage of oxycodone I mean what is the rule of thumb so I know what I can argue when I go in there. Mind you now the woman (nurse practicioner) was bitching at me just a month ago for taking 55mg and wanted to put me on nortiptyline. I just need to know how often do they reacees the pain level and what is rule of thumb on dossage increas?

[sam&ella]

First you were on methadone, then oxy? Sounds like they got it backwards. You need to find a pain management doctor who isn't afraid to give you what you need for pain relief. I was prescribed 180 30mg Roxicodone every month; when that didn't work it was changed to 240.

[chakkname]

First you were on methadone, then oxy? Sounds like they got it backwards. You need to find a pain management doctor who isn't afraid to give you what you need for pain relief. I was prescribed 180 30mg Roxicodone every month; when that didn't work it was changed to 240.
The methadone just made me tired and depressed so I asked for oxy but they are real stingy so I'm wodering since I have been on it for awhile how lonf does it take to built up a tolerence where I would need a dossage increase on theraputic dossages?

[sam&ella]

If you had to ask for oxy, you're going to the wrong doctor. For me, tolerance happened gradually over the course of 3 months. It rather depends on the dose and the frequency of the dose.

[chakkname]

I have been on percocet since july only 15mg then was on both methadone and percocet for a month but the oxy I have been on that for about 5 months 4 of which I have been on the 20mg twice a day with the percocet for breakthrough pain. (they started me off on only 10mg twice a day for about a month but that wasn't working) The woman there acted like a total of 55mg was a huge dose and said she wasn't going to go any higher . She was really trying to push nortriptyline on me for some reason. It's just this stuff isn't working as it used to and I'm experiencing pain more. I know I would like to go somewheres else I just am covered for this.

[UrbanRadio]

It all really depends on the doctor. A lot of doctors are hesitant to put patients on opiates because they are so addictive. But, like you said, after awhile, your system develops a tolerance to the drug and requires a higher dosage to achieve the same effect. 55mg of Percocet is not a lot, especially if you've been taking it for 5 months. There are doctors out there who aren't suspicious of every patient who walks through the door asking for pain killers. There are doctors who actually understand that some people have chronic conditions and require pain relief. I would suggest finding another doctor--perhaps ask around for some recommendations in your area--who is willing to give you what you need in terms of medication and dosage. I was very lucky to find a doctor who is compassionate and willing to work with me on finding a pain management regimen that works. If he gives me something that doesn't work, I just tell him and he's more than happy to switch me to something else. When 10mg Percocets were no longer working, he increased my dosage. Just be careful--monitor what you take and try not to abuse them. Best of luck.

[chakkname]

I have of yet to abuse the drug I will admit that it does create a pleasant feel but thats just a plus to not having to ache all the time from the pain. I have gone through hoops to try to make the nurse practicioner understand that I'm not just trying to get stoned but do have pain and sometimes that pain increases sometimes it stays minimal. She doesn't understand there is not a "normal day" of how much I need . Also that 1-10 scale is kinda bullshit because I could feel fine in the morning then tweak my back throughout the day and require more meds than I am "allowed" to take. I don't take more out of fear that I will require higher dossages and run out early. She actually knows exactly how many tabs I should have when I visit her . She has said before "last month you recieved them 4 days before you should of ran out so you should have X amount" can you imagine that? Down to the last fucking pill it's rediculous I swear. I have even been drug tested on the spot before she would give me more to see if I was actually taking them or pedling them on the side. I am currently in a course where I have taken 5 monthes off of work to do a pohysical therapy sort of thing and I'm like "I wouldn't go through all of this for a measly 55mg of oxycodone a day unless I really needed them". I had to actualy complain because she refused to up my dosage telling me that 55mg was the max she would allow and that if I wanted more pain relef I would have to take the antidepressant nortriptyline. I havw been active in their programs before this I went weekly to their class never missing one. It's been a big hassle on top of the pain her harassment. She feels if I really wanted to be pain free I would have the epideral but I don't want to mess with that because it is gradually getting better but in the meantime I need pain releif.

[UrbanRadio]

Yeah, that's bullshit that she knows exactly how many pills you should have left and then throws it in your face. I wouldn't put up with that if you don't have to. I have encountered pharmacists on occasion who try to pull that shit with me. If something gets flagged at the pharmacy for some reason--like if I filled a script for a different dosage of Oxycodone X number of days ago and it's "too soon" to fill the new one--I just tell them to give me the script back and I go somewhere else. I explain to them that I'm allowed different dosages of the same medication at the same time but some of these people are just pains in the asses. I stay pretty close to my recommended daily dosage but I almost always run out early. My doctor never questions this. I think anyone with a brain and an understanding of how the body responds to daily opiate use would know that you're eventually going to require a higher dosage. Do you live in a metropolitan area and/or do you have an insurance plan that has a large network of doctors? If so, I would look into other options. The place you're describing doesn't seem like a very caring environment.

[sam&ella]

It all really depends on the doctor. A lot of doctors are hesitant to put patients on opiates because they are so addictive. But, like you said, after awhile, your system develops a tolerance to the drug and requires a higher dosage to achieve the same effect. 55mg of Percocet is not a lot, especially if you've been taking it for 5 months. There are doctors out there who aren't suspicious of every patient who walks through the door asking for pain killers. There are doctors who actually understand that some people have chronic conditions and require pain relief. I would suggest finding another doctor--perhaps ask around for some recommendations in your area--who is willing to give you what you need in terms of medication and dosage. I was very lucky to find a doctor who is compassionate and willing to work with me on finding a pain management regimen that works. If he gives me something that doesn't work, I just tell him and he's more than happy to switch me to something else. When 10mg Percocets were no longer working, he increased my dosage. Just be careful--monitor what you take and try not to abuse them. Best of luck.
Excellent post!

[chakkname]

The problem is this is the only health care facility my insurance covers. Today I mentioned I would like to switch from oxycontin and percocet to just oxycontin or oxycontin and oxy IR to avoid the tylenol. I also mentioned that I needed a higher dossage at night but was fine during the day. She went and talked to somebody and came back trying to tell me to stop taking the percocet and she would like to write a script for gabapentin. I swear I ask to go foward 1 step and she drops me back 5. Unfucking believable. I don't abuse this medication I never run out early in fact I was 16 or 17 days late on picking up my percocets this last time. I appoligize if I sound like a whinner but I was curious if others had this problem when dealing with Kaiser? Is there some written or unwritten rule that says the can't prescibe over 55mg of oxycodone? I was in pain for a month even bedridden before they would prescribe anything but darvocet and the only reason I was given percocet is because the darvocet interacted with anouther one of my meds. They want to be in total control of your meds and you don't have any say what so ever. I was on methadone and it two monthes of telling them it was giving me bad side effects before they changed it to oxycontin. I'm completely frustrated with the whole pain magement situation.

[sam&ella]

Holy shit! You've been on opioid therapy for a while, and they told you to stop taking the meds??? And they gave you Neurontin??? Didn't even know that was indicated for pain. Sheeeeesh, find another doctor in the Kaiser network, ask around or check online for his credentials.