[BrandonSS90]

What is the next step up from Hydrocodone/APAP? It is not being effective anymore.. I am building a tolerance to it.

How should I explain this to my doctor? And how should I tell him I would like to try something else, or maybe just up the dose?

I take 10/500 MG, 2 tablets every 6 hours for pain. It's.. just not working mostly at all anymore.

[Robert_325]

You're already at the max dose of acetaminophen per dose and per day without it becoming toxic to your liver. I would NOT increase that dose in any way if I were your dr (which of course I'm not). But the dr has to do what keeps you safe. That is his responsibility to you as your dr and his responsibility to you legally. You just shouldn't be taking anymore hydrocodone/apap than what you're taking per day now.

What's happened with your tolerance increasing is what happens to everyone on RX opiates eventually. The only other option is to switch to something like oxycodone or else a time-released medication which either way is starting to get into more serious drugs than hydrocodone. You're looking at something like oxycontin, ms contin, or something similar at this point and your tolerance will build quickly to those as well.

You need to talk honestly with your dr about this and determine what your real needs are as well as your options/what's best for you based on your existing physical problems. That's probably not what you wanted to hear but I'm just trying to be honest with you.

Sometimes the best thing to do at this point is to get clean for a while and see how your body adjusts to the pain. Lots of us actually have less pain after we get the pain meds out of our body. Sheer opiate dependency itself is very painful. Every four hours we start craving that next dose going into w/d. That can cause lots of our pain just experiencing the need for another dose. Hope that makes sense. God bless.

[BrandonSS90]

I fully understand your concerns Robert. But, to be honest, I just want a quality of life. My doctor and I have discussed that he wants me to live a happy, comfortable life while I can. I wasn't sussposed to live past 12... that was my deadline. But, I have made it this far, and they do not expect me to live very long... we are sort of doing palliative care type treatment at the moment.

Even though it does say, "Opioid Dependent" on my record, I really honestly do not care.. because I have a quality of life.

Actually my doctor wanted to up me to the Duragesic patch, straight from Hydrocodone. And I refused, because I have such weak respiratory muscles, and I didn't want to just.. stop breathing. And especially be sedated all the time, which alot of people report with Fentanyl...

But I totally understand your concerns, Robert. What made me mad, was when a palliative care nurse came to MY house, and assessed me, and really the first word she said was, "You.. don't look like your there yet. I don't think you need this yet. You did abuse a substance, didn't you?"

I got upset, I didn't talk to her anymore really. I don't care if I WAS addicted, It is the state I'm in now that counts, my LEGITIMATE pain from scoliosis and Muscular Dystrophy.

[Robert_325]

Brandon .... hey buddy! I'm sincerely sorry for your situation. I don't really know what to say, I understand you wanting a quality of life. I'm not a dr and this one is out of my league obviously. I wish that I had a medical answer for you that would change your life for the better.

I do hope that you have found some relief through prayer and in Christ. All things are possible through Christ and perhaps you would find some emotional/spiritual relief through Him at least. I'm not trying to preach. I'm a Christian myself and have found so much relief through Him in my own case with lots of pain issues I feel compelled to at least offer Him as a suggestion. I will keep you in my prayers. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. God bless.