How to get a doc to change your opiate?

I have a nerve ailment where I'm prescribed hydro/apap to treat the pain as needed. Ideally I'd like straight Codeine or Morphine but I don't know what to say to steer my doc into giving me something else. Any tips on what I should say to change my meds? Side effects, etc?

 

While it isn't absolutely impossible to find Dr's who prescribe Opiates as treatment for pain, who would simply take a patients idea on how to treat their pain, A PATIENT ASKING FOR A CHANGE IN MEDS BECAUSE HE THINKS ITS BETTER FOR HIM IS A HUGE RED FLAG FOR MOST DR's! If you happen to be intelligent enough to make the Dr think it's his idea, I guess you wouldn't be asking the question but any Dr worth entering his profession would simply see you more like a drug seeker and less like a patient in pain. If you approach him, simply tell him that while you realize the adverse affects applying more of what's not working for pain control, is there something else that might work more efficiently. At least this way he not going to jump straight to the conclusion you are just another drug seeker, and are just telling him what you are currently taking isn't relieving the pain to a manageable point. If your meds were recently prescribed, your chances are better, if its been a while, say 1-3 months ago, he will view it as a tolerance issue and most likely will either take you off pain control altogether, because of recent bad press on opiate addiction or just raise your dose. My only question for you is why would you LIKE the two alternatives as opposed to the Percs? Equal parts provided, id think the Oxycodone would have more effect. Are the fillers some sort of issue for you?

 

I just tell him they aren't working anymore a legit pm place will usually rotate meds opiate replacement therapy...... I would switch between long acting oxy... Oxycontin to opana ER every four or five months...... That what worked for me.... Once he puts u on what u want tell him they work.... Now might take some time..... But usually they want to swap meds then keep upping ur dose.....

 

Yeah, I'm aware making any specific request is a red flag. I was wondering if I could say I'm getting some kind of side effect from the hydro? I can't think of side effects one opiate would give that the other wouldn't. Yeah I hate doing CWE's for percs and I just prefer codeine and morphine to any other opiate. I guess I like the sleepy, itchy, sedating opiates as opposed to the more stimulating ones.

**I just realized my script is for hydrocodone not oxy. woops

 

Thats A lil different..... Are u in pain management or do u get them from ur primary physician..... If it's just ur primary going from hydrocodone to perks or morphine is a move not many primaries will make. I don't even know if the will even prescribe just straight codeine or not as i believe hydrocodone is between perks and codeine I have only see codine in t3"s and cough syrup.... Dunno man keep us posted tho

 

I think Bottlefed has the right idea. Have you developed a good relationship with your doctor over a considerable amount of time? Do you have X-rays/CT's/MRI's to back you up? Describe your pain in detail, but don't exaggerate. I've had my Hydrocodone script increased 4 times over a period of 10 years. I'm now prescribed 10mg 5x per day, which is pushing the limit. I've got a good relationship with my doctor, with a lot of documentation on my back and other conditions. He also sees how I walk when I come into his office. People with bona fide back pain move in certain ways. Because it hurts a lot. Anyway, Codeine is much weaker than Hydrocodone, and Morphine pills have about the same potency mg to mg. But you can get Morphine pills in much higher dosages. You could try that, or get your Hydro script increased. Tell him your tolerance has gone up, and they don't work as well any more.