My wife utilizes the following Naturopathic Doctor prescribed drugs and has done so for the past two
- Posted:
- 16 Jul 2011 by rssarch1
- Topics:
- oxycontin, prometrium, provigil, liothyronine, doctor
Details:
... + years:
oxycod/apap 325 mg, 150 per month
oxycontin 10 mg 60 per month
provigil 200 mg 30 per month
liothyronine 25 mcg 136 per month
prometrium 200 mg 53 per month
levothyroxin 0.1 mg 30 per month
clonazepam 1 mg 45 per month
Reason: fybromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
I have many, many thoughts, concerns, and conflicting conclusions about all this. What do I have on my hands? Reasonable treatment? Unreasonable treatment? Drug dependency? Drug addiction? Treatement? Maintenance?
There is plenty more that could be written; I am looking for logical and rationale comments that would help me gain clarity and reduce self-doubt about what conclusions I should reach (if any) about this
16 Jul 2011
Hey rssarch,
I see your concern and understand you want the best for your wife. Three of these medications are hormonal in nature so I'm assuming your wife has a diagnosed thyroid problem? The oxycodone/oxycontin are definitely addictive but if she is taking as prescribed and it is helping with the pain from the fibro then so be it. The provigil is to help with the fatigue and the clonazepam is for anxiety. As long as her symptoms are being controlled then I wouldn't be too concerned.
Really the only meds I would be cautious about is the opiate pain med. She might benefit from something like Lyrica or Cymbalta for the fibro and be able to get off some of the oxycodone/oxycontin. Just a thought.
Laurie
16 Jul 2011
Well, looking at her meds, she is on some more potent opioids but I wouldnt say they were necessarily unreasonable for someone with fibromyalgia. The OxyContin 10mg is a very low starting dose for this medicine and looking at the quantity I assume she takes regularly twice a day. The oxycodone/APAP is for the breakthrough pain. The Provigil is often given to deal with the side effect of drowsiness that opioid medications can have for some people. It helps keep a person more alert so they can have pain relief and still function without being in a stupor from the pain meds. She has two thyroid drugs there:the liothyronine and levothyroxin, a hormone replacement-prometrium and the clonazepam is used for a few different things-anxiety, sleep, muscle relaxant etc. If she has been on these opioid pain meds for awhile she is probably dependent on them meaning that if she stops taking them cold turkey she will have withdrawals but that doesnt necessarily equate with addiction.
Expand this post...
Addiction is a behavioral disorder which is characterized by loss of control over a drug (by escalating doses without the Drs recommendation, taking too many or taking for non pain reasons-for a high or to cope with unwanted feelings), taking a drug in spite of harm, lying about their drug use and a few other symptoms but this should give you the gist of the difference between addiction and dependence. Fibomyalgia is a painful disorder and if she is not showing signs of addiction then I would say this is a reasonable maintenance therapy. Do you know if she has tried any drugs like Lyrica or gabapentin (Neurontin)? These have been shown to help fibromyalgia without the opioids but not everyone gets relief or is able to tolerate them, but if she has not tried them, they certainly could be worth a try. Is there a reason why you ask about these drugs or is there a reason that makes you feel uncomfortable about her taking these medications? You say more could be written and perhaps that "more" would give insight into your question and to help us understand your misgivings. I do find it interesting that a Naturopathic Dr prescribes all of this. This is not a usual approach for a Naturopath but it is not an illegal or unethical approach, just unusual. They tend to approach more avenues of natural therapies like herbs, vitamins, dietary approaches and other "alternative" therapies like massage, accupuncture and not as much Western medicines. If I have not answered you or if there is more you should add please write back and I'll be glad to try to help you more in any way I can. Dzoo
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
... these drugs when combined. Prometrium 200mg Zolpidem 10mg Carisoprodol unsure mg Effexor 37.5mg Percocet unsure mg
1 answer • 20 Aug 2009 • 
... Premarin vaginal cream used twice a week. Why the 2 day difference in prometrium?
1 answer • 12 Oct 2009 •
I was on bio-identical Progesterone; and for the last month I've been on Prometrium. I've been experiencing acne for the past few weeks, ...
1 answer • 31 Oct 2009 •
... back even worse! I am only 37 and wondering if the prometrium is making me have cramping and diarrah a couple times a week? Can anyone offer any ...
1 answer • 12 Dec 2009 •
I have been on 300mg of Provigil daily for several years for MS fatigue. I think i'm becoming immune to it. Has anyone tried anything comparable ...
1 answer • 27 Dec 2011 •
rssarch1
LaurieShay
DzooBaby
caringsonbj
rssarch1
DzooBaby
You are a faster typer than I am Laurie! We said many of the same things. The Cymbalta is a good suggestion too. I didnt remember that one but it is a good idea.
I am not highly concerned with the thyroid medication; she has been diagnosed with some sort of thyroid problem. But, I do wonder about the interaction of all the medications with each other - if the purpose of one and the desired result then causes the need for another, which then causes the need for another, resulting in a vicious circle.
Expand this post...
The opiates really concern me, even though they are being taken as prescribed. I have a hard time accepting there is no addiction because 2+ years of use has to have a physical and psychological impact doesn't it? In my biased opinion her condition is not any better after 2+ years; it is worse - related to pain and basic day-to-day function. She is in bed 12+ hours a day 5-6 days a week. She is agitated, tired, sore, has an upset stomach, and pretty much not interested in anything. She has no interest in social activities, has no genuine friends. I don't see the fybro and fatigue symptoms being controlled at all. She DOES get up in the middle of the night to take her meds - actually sets her phone alarm for the whole day. I can tell when she has taken them and when they are wearing off by her behavior, persona, and atitude. If the person she is now is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life I am going do some soul searching on our future.
Again, I am pretty cynical at this point and have difficulty maintaining objectivity - which is why I posted.
I just want to encourage you to continue to be supportive of your wife. Your concerns sound valid. Chronic pain from fibro and chronic fatigue go hand in hand for many. She may also be suffering from depression because of the chronic pain. She may really benefit from a medicine like Cymbalta that I mentioned earlier. It is an antidepressant that is prescribed for pain as well. It may help her take interest in life again. Being in the bed for long hours is only going to make her condition worse. If you could encourage her to take a walk everyday, it will help the fibro and fatigue.
She might also benefit from supplements high in magnesium and Vitamin D. If her doctor is truly a naturopathic doctor, he should be able to advise her on the appropriate supplements to help with the fibro.
Expand this post...
I know this is hard to understand but your wife really is suffering and needs your help and kind words of encouragement. She has several conditions that lead to depression. I would encourage her to discuss this with the doctor and have her suggest Cymbalta. If she could alleviate some of the pain and depression, she could decrease some of the opiate (oxycodone/oxycontin) and begin to feel her life again.
Just my thoughts,
Laurie
Your wife should look into Lyme disease. Not sure how old she is or any of the specifics of her condition but I'm sure there are answers to her fatigue and pain.