cwish001I have been on narcotics for a few years. I got a new dr when I moved and he thinks I should be on extended release. He RX me for 40 mg oxycontin but I find it is to strong in morning and doesn't last but 2 - 4 hours. I cut my pill in half thinking that that would be better than I remembered I was on this new drug. Before this I took about 9 7.5 hydrocodone 2 - 3 four x day so I am having trouble with the one a day. I think it should be two a day at a lower dose. I have the OC med not OP and I split it with a pill cutter. Would it be safe. I tried taking an additional 40 mg pill at night but it is to much. Pain DR is not is contact and his nurses relayed message to discuss this at next appointment. I pretty much start withdrawl at night is the problem. Can I do this safely with a 40 MG tablet?
Responses (3)
14 Oct 2010
I have cut an 80mg oxy contin in half and it was no problem - using pill cutter. Sorry i cant be sure about the 40mg oxy though. The drug company will tell you not to do it but they are just covering themselves as I spoke to them once when I was cutting the 80mg in half they advised me not to do it but my doctor said it was no problem and it wasn't. I know one thing though and that is for me to try to come off them or go past the time when I need to take one i get shocking withdrawals. I've been on anti-depressants for 20 years as well and can't get off those either (aropax). I have tried everything but can't do it. I'm worried when it comes the time to go off oxy i wont be able to get off those either. Good luck & sorry I cant help with your question about the 40mg oxy.
I<3theOcean15 Oct 2010
Yes, cutting it is fine. Each half will still be timed release so its just like taking a 20mg oc each time then. If you crush it thats when it releases all at once. So as long as the pieces you take a whole chunks and you swallow it like that, its still timed release just the way it is before cutting it.
minch
15 Oct 2010
Thanks for that. I remember a chemist explaining it to me once a while ago but wasn't sure. Much appreciated.
20 Aug 2011
I have been on oxycontin for 8 years (2 x 40's) with 5 mg oxycodones for breakthru pain (oxycontins only last about 8 hours). I have been halving and quartering the 40's lately so I can reduce the amount to 10's and 20's. Since my insurance company has rules on using combinations of 10's and 20's at 60 per month each, or 120 oxycodones 5's per month and 60 20's - I use the 20's every 12 hours and the 10's after 8 hrs into the 20's. (8 hours on 20's and 4 on 10's twice a day). The 30's are really hard to find - the 20's, 40's and 80's are at any pharmacy, but the difficulty in stocking and reduced demand for 30's make them more expensive than 20's or 40's for the pharmacies. Between the insurance company restrictions and the shortage of 30's , cutting seems the only way to reduce my daily mgs. without the pain making life miserable or the cost becoming prohibitive.
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Thanks, I bet it would just be fine. I know what you mean about fear of coming off drugs. I use to take nothing then I had a allergic reaction to Anthrax vac in the Navy and now I seem to get a pill for everything. My discussions with pain management is "you know I have a incurable disease right" so I guess I don't ever come off the pill I just move around. Slow Slow reduction (I mean like 6 months) let a friend come off a narcotic drug with no problems so it can be done. He had the DR office hold his meds and dispense them out, didn't want any pills in his house.