I have been on the same dose of percocet - 10/325 5x/day for about a year for multiple conditions. My medicine used to give me energy and help me function better throughout the day. For a few months however, I have been feeling extremely sedated. Is it possible for the medicine to start to affect someone differently after being on it for so long? Meaning it once gave me energy but now makes me feel completely sedated? I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open anymore, and I hate the way it feels. However, I need pain control to function. Should I ask my PM doctor for something less strong? Thank you in advance for any feedback!
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5 Answers
JO
joshua1123
4 June 2017
Sorry to hear of your problem. I am also on Percocet 10/325 for back pain. FYI Percocet is sedating for most people but not everyone. Not for me. It solves the pain problem for four hours but keeps me up all night. It sounds like the pills are too strong. You may want to try Nucynta or even step down to tramadol. Or maybe a 5/325 percocet would do the trick. Good luck. Feel better soon
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
2 March 2015
This is normal for many folks to have energy from opiates; however, after long term use it does cause fatigue and tiredness. Talk to your doctor about it as a lower dose may help. Since you need pain medication your doctor may offer another medication to help you stay awake, I don't know? Talk to your doctor... Hang in there as there are other solutions
Votes: +2
SP
sparkyinfla
2 March 2015
Short answer - Yes, it can cause fatigue. My experience: Everyone may react differently- but everyone will develop some levels of tolerance to opiates over time - what happens to u and how it affects you may be different. The effectiveness of ur meds will decrease as ur body becomes tolerant to it & over time u will need more meds to reach same level of pain relief... that's the vicious cycle of our little friend. Depending on the type of pain doc u have will determine how far he will go with ur next levels of meds. Fatigue can be a real result long term opiate use. Good luck.
Votes: +1
BA
balbanese
2 March 2015
Something else must have changed, in your diet, your routine, emotionally or stress related, etc. As far as taking this for energy, that can be a red flag for your Dr, and I would advise if you opt to bring this up, you just report the symptom without the comparison and not ask for anything "stronger," rather let the Dr come to whatever conclusion and recommendations.
The climate around pain meds has gotten to a point where many Drs are just ceasing to write the prescriptions, regardless of legitimate need. So, taking Oxycodone for energy may cause your prescriptions for this to be changed to a non-pain medication.
Votes: +1
BA
balbanese
2 March 2015
Further, if it was giving you energy this is a symptom of this medication being present in the absence of a pain level high enough to have it work the way it's designed to work, in other words, this is the base cause for the high abuse level of this med. No, I am not implying you are abusing it, just stating the facts.
NE
Nessygirl
2 March 2015
I'm not taking it for energy. Please read what I wrote before commenting something so ridiculous. All I said was they gave me energy and helped me function because of the many medical conditions I suffer from; and I also said I wanted to ask my doctor for something LESS strong to see if that would help with how tired I'm feeling from my current medication. Your response seems to be a knee jerk response with the assumption that I abuse my medicine and take it for reasons other than what they are prescribed for. Obviously when someone is in pain all the time taking medicine that relieves that pain will help with energy! However, as I said, I feel that they are beginning to affect me in a negative way and I'm not sure if it's because I've been taking them for so long or what...
BA
balbanese
2 March 2015
You need to reread my response, especially the last line. Sorry I mislead you, if I could delete it I would. Best to you.
NE
Nessygirl
2 March 2015
"Further" that's an assumptive, obnoxious statement. Especially when you have NO clue the MANY physical conditions I suffer from. I'm fully aware of how doctors are with these medications and I am VERY responsible and use them exactly as prescribed. I have been in pain management with the same doctor for two years. In fact, at my last visit I asked if I could change my current medication to something less strong and he advised against it. When someone suffers with severe chronic pain and finds relief they are going to have more energy and feel better in general. Common sense.
NE
Nessygirl
2 March 2015
I'm tired of any question asked by someone about pain medicine becoming a conversation about abuse. It's ridiculous.its difficult enough to be in pain every day; if I had the choice I wouldn't take this medicine - or ANY medicine - at all.
KA
Kaylyn56
4 Dec 2016
I have been having the same type of problem. My pain from multiple back issues (since 11 years old) has me in tears if not properly managed with my meds. But I used to not experience such a strong sedating effect from my Oxycodone and now for the past three months by 6pm after starting my day at 6am I cannot keep my eyes open and often find myself literally passed out (not fainted, but with my head hung down and waking from a deep sudden unexpected sleep) Which is very unnerving as it doesn't gradually come on, like feeling tired, getting in my pjs and settling into bed, I am awake and close my eyes thinking "just to rest my eyes" then,boom! it's 2 hours later, woken up mainly from the pain and being in an uncomfortable position and struggling to think clearly enough to get ready for bed even though I have always been such a night owl. But now,can't make it past 6pm which seems a bit extreme to me.
I wouldn't dare think to drive or cook or anything potentially dangerous. Just confused and feeling like I am even more not in control of my body than ever. I do wonder if it is the brand of Oxycodone? It seems like my pharmacy gives me a different brand each time I refill which is monthly. Is it true that the more severe pain you are in,the more sedated the Oxycodone will make you feel? And if you are not really in pain it will actually cause the opposite,making you more alert? I do tend to believe everyone is different so one person could have a totally different reaction than another withe exact same med. Of course, as one ages things change also.
That truly makes no sense. Oxy is sedating, so giving you energy was an odd reaction. Did you recently change brands?
Votes: +0
NE
Nessygirl
1 March 2015
No, haven't changed brands that I am aware of. I used to get motivated and be able to get a lot done when I first started taking it. Now I feel like I was hit with a tranquilizer dart and I hate it.
LI
LisaD68
9 Jan 2017
I agree I have been in them for some time now. 10/325 5x a day and they kept me going now I fall asleep in my chair. Yellow worked then pharmacy changes to white but now I go to a different pharmacy and they are yellow but I get very tired.
