I have had several heart attacks and have 2 stents in my heart. i also have stents in both legs. this is due to vascular disease. i have chronic back pain and have been on lortab 10 for a couple of years - 2x a day. they don't seem to help anymore. i also take plavix,asprin,and a number of other meds. any ideas on what i should ask my Dr. for to help with the pain?
What is the strongest pain medication I can take for chronic back pain?
Question posted by fortunate on 7 Oct 2009
Last updated on 10 May 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
101 Answers Page 7
subuser31
11 Nov 2009
Strongest is prob fentanyl, morphine,and opana similar to oxycontin and ms contin.,i took methadone for several years, did work but then one day I took more to get better pain relief and it was all over.
Mom_of_two
17 Nov 2009
Fentanyl is evil, don't do it.
htwooh
10 Jan 2010
I agree - Fentynal was the worst thing I ever did - and only for 1 week but I hallucinated and could barely utter a sentence. Everyone is different but this was some good advice and suggestions. I am scared (and love it) all. Good Luck
rowdy976
4 Feb 2010
I had terrible hallucinations on fenynal it was awful. Dont Take Fentynal!!!
heckmuck
24 June 2010
I use fentanyl patches, and have for several months now. I have never had any of these side effects. I get very even pain relief and am very happy with the patch. I also use percocet 7.5/325 3xs a day for breakthrough. Awesome... Nothing but good things to say!
sasher
20 Oct 2010
Fentanyl patches were not effective for me - I have multiple pain sources, including a nearly worn out disk in my lower back, carpal tunnel and a few others. I have spoken to other people who did not get relief from fentanyl...
r12a12
13 June 2011
I've had two back surgeries and still in pain, i take gabapetin and use fentanyl. I have been using them for the past two years now and no problems(I started off at the 12.5 and now I wear a 100 and a 50 just to function somewhat), but still in pain not as much. Still need to self medicate which only sometimes numbs my legs which leaves me with a pain score around 1.5 best yet
The Patch varies in strengths from 12.5, 25, 50, and 100.
jerekc32
7 Jan 2012
Opana ER 40mg's blow any strength Fentynal away!
meandmcgee
7 Feb 2012
If you're having such a severe reaction to Fentanyl with hallucinations and all, that should tell you that you are not a member of the truly opiate tolerant population for whom Fentanyl was intended. But there are people out there for whom it does work.
Lizardoli
7 July 2012
What happened? There is a new warning out for the fentanyl patch, something about mixing drugs with others, doctors need to be more vigilant in how they hand out meds, and we as patientst need to ask questions about the drugs and any sid effects.
scottyd540
7 Nov 2009
my sister takes roxy 30mg for her back pain and it seems to help her
WRW
22 Dec 2011
I take roxi 30's 8 per day and they work nicely to keep my chronic 4 surgery back pain down to about 4 on a 1-10 scale,allows me to at least be civil =) =)
Inactive
2 Nov 2009
Try ibefron it will stop the pain you may also go to your docotor and ask them for a shot to hold your back pain
dmfdjttor57
12 Aug 2010
Did you mean ibuprofen? I think the gentleman needs something a bit stronger than that, since he's been on a narcotic for the past two years. Maybe you did not read his question clearly.
robin499
18 Oct 2009
I have been given most of the pain medication available over the years.Lortab is the industry standard for a first narcotic based medicine.It takes 45 min to an hour to start to relieve pain,unfortunately it leaves the body very quickly and you can develop a tolerence very quickly.The time release drugs ,MS-Contin,OxyContin-Contin,deliver relief for approx 12 hours.Ms-Contin is morphine based and seems to have the least side effects of the pain killers.OxyContin-Contin can cause you to develop a tolerence very quickly.Both have the disadvantage of not allowing you to regulate your daily dosage as your pain increases or decreases.Once you start to take them,you are tied into a dosage schedule of every 12hrs,and clinical addiction soon follows.They are both ridicuously expensive in both the Brand Name and the generic version.For my self,the 15 mg instant release morphine tablets seem to work the best.If I am having a moderate pain day I can lower ...
the frequency of the dosage.You say that you are taking only a few Lortabs a day.You may discuss with you doctor if Tramadol might be of help to you.They are non-narcotic and seem to work quite well for many patients.I do not know if they are safe for you to take with your heart condition,but it may be worth investigating with your doctor.Fentanyl patches are very effective but are VERY powerfull and I do not think that you need anything anywhere near that powerfull for your pain.Good luck and God bless you. Robin
kathy999
20 Oct 2009
Robin... Great idea about Tramadol. I am not sure about taking it with his other conditons either.
Rogue7
10 April 2010
I take tramadol every day, along with 7.5 mg lortab, and by FAR tramadol works best for me. Lortab for break through pain. Tramadol is better for neurological pain. With his history of cardiac events, this may be a safer pathway for him. Tramadol is like morphine in its actions but without the stuporious side effects. Worth a try, I think. Hope you find a solution, God Bless You!!!
Sacosam
26 Aug 2010
Hi robin499, and all of "Y'all... From my "For what it's worth"! - and "Been There, Done that depts"! Tramadol is nothing more than a BIG TIME Moneymaker for 'Big- Pharma"! Strengthwise it's about the same as 3 or reluctantly , i'll give it 4 Asprin , and 3 or 4 times more expensive. Do the math ! ! ! and DO NOT USE ! It's Crap. Sacosam
sasher
20 Oct 2010
Amen to the tramadol not working. It did make the lights strobe, but otherwise I got nothing from it.
fussy_2011
14 Jan 2011
my doc decided to take me off norco 10mg and give me 50 mg fentanyl patches. i had a bad reaction,which caused servere ithing all over my body and a lttle nautious.if i aint mistaken,arent the patches in the oxycodone family? i take roxycodone -no nausia or itcing, but if i take 30 mg i have the same reaction. am i allergic to oxycodone or not.its the only thing that helps with my pain.
R189
14 April 2012
I take tramadol 300mg along with pain meds I can go weeks without the pain meds no withdrawal but can't go over 2 days without tramadol before withdrawal symptoms
kathy999
17 Oct 2009
You could get a million different answers for this question. First and foremost I agree with a pain specialist, especially with your cardiac history. They know what to do and are very knowledgeable about drugs that can help you with your pain that other Doctors are not aware of. They are very cautious about other conditions and interactions of pain medication, as well as the possibility of addiction. The stronger the narcotic, the higher the risk of addiction. Any narcotic is going to have to be used cautiously with you and your cardiac condition. All narcotics affect every organ system in your body. Then again, you have to consider quality of life. Your Doctor needs to discuss this with you. He may just increase your hydrocodone dose. If you ask him, he may give you a referral to a pain specialist. All the other drugs mentioned here are difinitely stronger than lortab, but they may not be for you.
I agree that if you are taking medication indefintely, you should be on a medication that gives you sustained relief and have no tylenol because tylenol is not good on the kidneys or liver taken on a consistent basis. But these drugs such as Oxycontin, MS Contin, Methadone, ect... are really strong and may not be for you. Methadone works great for some people and not so great for some. It really was not meant as a chronic pain medication but rather as a medication to get people off of narcotics. AS the years go by, I see it used more and more as a chronic pain medication. My patients and friends frequently tell me that it causes severe nausea and vomiting, but again this is not going to happen with everyone. And just a quick word regarding Methadone patches... If they still sell them, I would stear clear of them. My insurance quit covering them just this year. Dr.s use to love them because they worked good and there was no danger of re-selling, which has become a nationwide problem. There have been many cases where they did not give out the medication a little at a time, but all at once, which of course was way too much of the medication at one time and people died. I would be scared to use them. I used them prior to these incidences, but they were terribly strong and I could not stay awake. It was awful.
Not only am I a retired nurse (thanks to a disabilng injury) but I struggle with chronic pain due to an ankle injury and due to arthritis is several joints... mainly in my back. Oxycontin worked great for me, but after several years I discovered that I was addicted to it. I went to a pain specialist and they showed me ways to deal with the pain without narcotics. I am essentially narcotic free. I have diversional activities I do. I try to exercise to the extent that I am able. And I know when I need to get off my foot and rest. Sometimes my pain gets so severe that I need something and that is when I take a 5mg Vicodin. But it is not on a regular basis... I am not going there again...
But chronic pain is different for everyone and the medications affect individuals differntly. You need to talk to your DR., and again I do suggest a pain specialist, and develop an individual plan based on you, your needs and you health history.
I wish every luck with this matter. Chronic pain is a bitch to manange.
jaypee
30 April 2011
Methadone patches?i thought i knew all about methadone!this is a first.i guess in some states its different.so u were on oxycotin & u found out yeard later u were addicted?i feel that when u r dealing with severe or chronic pain & u have to take opiates u know that u r going to be addicted.for people like myself that will have 2 be on opiates for the rest of my life thats my least worry.as long as i donnt over take it whats the point of coming off opiates then getting back on?how were u able to come off methadone?did u use saboxone?im asking cause ive been having some problems with the drs here & i wanted to know incase that time comes where i might run into problem.
soldiers girl
31 July 2011
There is a BIG difference between being addicted and developing tolerance. Tolerance is to be expected. Addiction is when you resort to drug seeking behavior in order to get high. I hate the people assume all people who need and take pain medication for legitimate purposes are "addicted"... when you use opiates long term you will eventually have to increase your dosage for the same effect on your pain. I may have a tolerance, but I am NOT an addict. Thank you:)
nyra417
2 Aug 2011
to Soldiers girl...
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! M DISABLED AND SO SICK of being labeled as an addict... much appreciated.
soldiers girl
2 Aug 2011
You're welcome!:)
DancingWriter
1 Sep 2011
The latest medication to come out for pain is Nucynta ER (ER stands for Extended Release). Definitely go to a pain doctor for advice for your case. Personally I take regular Nucynta 100 mg and Oxycontin 40 mg for my severe neck pain. The Nucynta was suggested to me by the surgeon who operated on my neck when I was not getting full relief from the oxycontin. It has been a wonderful suggestion and has worked well for me. My pain doctor now prescribes it to me on a regular basis. It is a schedule 2 opiate just like oxycontin but it stimulates different endorphins than the oxycontin does. I just noticed today that there is a long-acting version of Nucynta that has just been approved by the FDA. You might want to mention that to your pain doctor when you go to see him. It is a tough thing to manage chronic pain, but there are a lot of us out there doing that. Try to keep busy doing things you like to do and seeing friends. I wish you the best of luck with your situation.
Sherry
tinkerbell75
25 Feb 2012
I became dependant on narcotics. I talked with my doc and came off safely and successful with saboxen. Here I am 2 years later with chronic back pain extruding discs and out of work. My doc put me on the fentanyl patch. It needs some adjusting but I am feeling a little relief. The problem is my tolerance to narcotics and getting me to a functional level will take time due to the guide lines the Dr's have to follow in cordinance with the DEA. Sad but true. Suboxne is an amazing drug to help if you are able to come off pain management. Good luck. And yes there is a HUGE difference between dependence and addiction. Those two words make a big difference:o)
onechancefancie
5 Nov 2012
I've been on Lortab 10 for approx 25 years due to many conditions but it hasn't really helped for a long time even with upping the dose, added soma & Valium to relax muscles. Have had over 22 surgeries & now have a very high tolerance dura grain patches work--but who can afford them? I also know how bad all the lortabs are for liver etc but what else can you do? People need to realize when you have severe chronic pain you usually develop a tolerance not get addicted--I have no withdrawals if I run out of meds due to money--I truly just suffer
Inactive
15 Oct 2009
You can get relief. You need to find a good pain specialist. Pain management requires expertise. You are currently taking a short acting pain medication. It reaches it's peak effect in one hour and then begins leaving the body. Strength of medication is almost irrelevant. What matters is the dosing frequency and the mechanism of action. You need to be particularly cautious because of you heart condition. The best action you can take is to find a physician whose focus is on the management of pain. Happy patients have Dr's that specialize in their conditions. Your primary Dr will gladly collaborate with pain Dr.
E.Davis
1 Feb 2010
I started this journey in 95 after a bad car wreak. I ended up with 2 herniated disc way high in neck. My pain is almost intolerable as I get headaches worst than migrains. All of the meds mentioned I've experienced.
Methadone has been my saviour thanks to my mothers pain specialist. He had me up to 180mg a day for 7years. When he retired I had a bit of a problem finding a Dr that would perscribe that kind of dose. The main reason I was able to get help other than the fact I had no life was because I had and have no drug history. My next Dr, a family practitioner had me on a 80mg every 8 hours dose of methadone. They say that's alot. I've been on that dose up till 3 months ago as my new Dr says she's afraid I'll have a heart attack. It's the only drug that will touch my pain. Now I'm back to 180mg and my quality of life has deminished. She's now sending me to yet another pain specialist. Hopefully he'll help my situation.
I've never needed break-through pain medication but it seems that it's working for many of you. I totally recommend Methadone(Dolophine) for chronic pain. I've had absolutly no side affects aside of alittle constipation. As I understand it, methadone was used for chronic pain long before it was used for Herion addiction.
Good luck and God Bless you all. Evan...
Inactive
8 Oct 2009
Ask your Dr to up the Lortab, I've never taken that but most of the time released drugs like oxycotian, that Patch, Ms Contin, and methadone are some of the drugs they have tried me on I weigh nothing so couldn't handle only the MS Contin all of these drug can give you more problems with your heart even with the MS Contin I feel my heart pound and race at times so if your body is use to this Lortab just ask the Dr to up the dose or you can end up like me with your body going into a whirlwind or possibly having another heart attack.
All that I have mentioned are very strong with the right dose but I don't know after having a heart attack. Good Luck
dmfdjttor57
11 Aug 2010
MS contin, which is morphine sulfate and can be ordered as Ms contin IR (immediate relief) should be fine for you, start w/the lowest dose and see how it goes, as everyone said, due to your heart problems, it's probably the best bet to try first. Lortab is for acute pain, not chronic, so you do need to see a pain specialist and get the right drug for the pain you are experiencing. I've never heard of anyone, including myself, have heart racing w/morphine. Everyone's chemical makeup is different, but we shouldn't expect that what one person experiences is automatically what another will. Morphine is not going to give you a heart attack unless you have one due to your heart problems, people should not say such things, sorry if i sound bitchy, but we are all different and if you cannot give an answer objectively, than best not to answer at all.
fussy_2011
14 Jan 2011
why cant i smoke if i take roxycodone.Its the only pain medication that works 4 me
nyra417
2 Aug 2011
to FUSSY_2011: I am on roxycodone and smoke... my doctor knows this... WHAT IS THE RISK ASSOCIATION? Heart attack? I've been in the ER 5x with acute pain that shot my blood pressure up to 139/98 (this particular time was just a couple of weeks ago) and not even the ER staff said so much as "quit smoking"... of course I will research this myself if I do not hear back from you. Thank you for the heads up...
regards,
-Anna
Deblisa19
9 Jan 2012
I would certainly not take anything stronger as the other medications cause respiratory conditions and are highly addictive. I know what it is like to have chronic pain as I have been in a bad car accident and a slip and fall accident fracturing my humerous/shoulder along with 6 herniated discs, neuropathy, sciatica, arthritis, spinal stenosis, fibro, ulnar nerve damage and a few other things. I would rather not say what many types of medicine I have tried. I can say time released pain meds like ms contin or roxicidone help me. I still have major pain and I just try to deal with it. Go to therapy. Get Epidurals or trigger pt injections acupuncture really helps a lot! As others mentioned if u had a heart attack then I would ask to try something else although is the Dr saying that the usage of your pain meds are the cause? It could be a number of other reasons for your heart condition. I would do testing, like a stress test, and see a cardiologist first then a pain specialist. Good luck and be well
joedirt51
23 Oct 2012
Where are you finding these Dr.'s? I can't get anything to help me. I take Opana and it just barely knocks the pain down and it is 2 am and I am in extreme pain reading this because I can't sleep. I am about to get divorced because I am using alcohol to try to relieve the pain. My dr. and my wife think I am faking the pain. I have had 3 back surgeries and live my life in excrusiating pain and no one seems to give a heck and I say that nicely. I layed in the shower with hot water on until it ran out and I have tens unit on 24 hours a day on as high as it will go.
mackkath
21 April 2020
I really empathize with your situation as I also have severe back pain. Three years ago I had back surgery to correct a mess in the lumbar region of my spine which had gotten increasingly bad over the nine years that I’d had it. The neurosurgeon made an error during the procedure which left me with worse pain than I’d had before. I take a ton of medicines due to a chronic disease I have called panhypopituitarism. Had it for over twenty years. Right now I take OxyContin 30mg twice a day for my back pain with oxycodone 5mg for breakthrough - these do next to nothing so also have just started taking Lyrica 50mg twice a day. I still have a lot of pain but pain doctor feels I have too many health issues to take anything else. Also have a damaged heart valve and osteoporosis. Just wish I could have a little quality of life. I feel for you.
Andreane_parker
7 Oct 2009
My advice to u wil b please dnt take any medication apart from what your doctor suggeest but obviously u can tk the morphine because it is very light and dosen't affects ur heart in any way as such... but since u already faced heart attacks so i would suggest u to consult with your doctor before taking any over the counter medication... thank you
lovecats
11 June 2010
I am curious to know why methadone is contraindicated if you have heart problems? Thank you.
DzooBaby
22 Dec 2010
In short, it messes with the electrical functions of the heart. It causes changes in the way the heart beats. It prolongs the QT interval and in high doses or in people with existing heart problems can cause torsades de pointes which is an iabnormal heart rhythm with characteristic ECG patterns where the points "twist" on the read out. It can cause a drop in blood pressure, fainting and can lead to ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac arrest.
lovecats
9 April 2011
My comment is about methadone and heart problems. My son died suddenly at age 34. He was taking methadone and was healthy other than having chronic pain. I understand methadone has a very long half-life and can accumulate in the body. Hopefully, it won't contribute to other deaths.
Inactive
25 Feb 2012
And, being an old ICU nurse, torsades is sometimes harder to convert than v-tach. So please talk to your doc.Just might need a bit higher dose of hydrocodone, that's all.
The Sweet Hippy
mpvt
7 Oct 2009
For chronic pain you are better off with a sustained release opiate rather then a quick release like vicodin or percocet. Those drugs are great for the odd time that you have break thru pain. Once you get to a proper dosage of sustained release opiate then you should rarely need break thru, at least thats the idea.
I would suggest MS Contin or any other sustained release morphine. As you know the hospitals use morphine when you have a heart attack because over all it is a very safe and effective pain killer. So that's what I would try and do in your case.Good luck..
mpvt
7 Oct 2009
Methadone would be a great painkiller in your case except that you have heart problems which means you can't or shouldn't take methadone.
Even for people like myself when I was on 400mgs a day of methadone I had to have EKG's every 6 months because high doses of methadone can cause quite a few heart related problems. I'm at 120mgs/day now and they don't test me anymore because luckily I haven't had previous heart problems.
You have multiple chronic pain issues and you have been on a opiate for a few years now. You are definately going to have to go to a stronger painkiller as hydrocodone is not very effective for chronic pain. It is exellent for acute pain and is used in the USA for most acute cases. Here in Canada hydrocodone is available in prescription cough syrup only. They use tylenol#3 which is comparable to hydrocodone for pain killing.
Have they ever talked to you about a pain pump... Good luck...
duckworthy
4 Nov 2009
I agree with MPVT regarding the use of morphine. To elaborate further on the comment regarding why hospitals use it on heart attack patients - morphine is specifically MUCH safer on the heart muscle, and less likely to cause depression of that muscle. I have not taken MS Contin, but rather take morphine sulfate immediate release for break-through pain, with OxyContin as my sustained-release opiate pain medication. However, I've never had negative effects from morphine, and appreciate the sustained release action of OxyContin, so MS Contin would likely be your best bet, as MPVT suggests.
MS Contin is more costly than the traditional, immediate release formulations of morphine, but far less expensive than OxyContin. I've found the brand name runs about $7/pill for the 100mg dose, and $10/pill for the 200mg dose ($1.07/pill and $2/pill, respectively, for the generics). OxyContin, on the other hand, is a total nightmare, with the brand-name 80mg tablet costing about $17/pill, while its generic isn't much better, coming in at about $12/pill. Fortunately, I am blessed with excellent prescription drug coverage, but am acutely aware that SOMEONE is paying for my prescriptions, so I still cringe at these outrageous prices.
Best of luck to you - chronic pain can only be appreciated by those who suffer from it, but vastly misunderstood or scoffed at by the unaffected masses.
Regards,
Duckworthy
MSt
1 Jan 2010
Good comment. MS Contin comes in a vast variety of strengths starting as low as 15mg and going up over 200mg, so you can find the right strength for you. A Fentanyl Patch may also be a good move. It comes in 4 strengths and you change the patch (applied right to the skin) every 3 days For breakthrough pain, Percocet 10/325 or even "Roxicodone" 5mg, 15mg, or 30mg is a solid idea. All "Roxicodone" is, is Oxycodone made by Roxanne labs (they have the patent I guess) which is immediate-release in the strengths above with no APAP (Acetominophen/Tylenol) in them (like Lortab, Vicoden, Percocet and any of their generics,) so it doesn't hit your liver nearly as hard. .
ratlove
4 July 2010
that is very true! i almost forgot about that. norphine actually opens up your blood vessels so that your heart can function alot better. it is usually the first med the doctor will give after nitro and aspirin if the nitro hasnt worked. btw, i caqnt handle the headaches caused by nitro, so i usually will end up on morphine anyway. the only reason i no longer take morphine is due to the regulations for a liver transplant at ucla, but i also suffer from a multitude of problems from chf to some wierd auto immune disorder the doctors are frazzled by. i wish the best for you
sasher
20 Oct 2010
I find, oddly, that while I do really well on MS-Contin, another time-release morphine, Avinza, doesn't work for me. Go figure...
stressfree1969
5 April 2011
if you can stay away from the time released pain meds (morphine, oxycontin) I would. I am a nurse and have seen people go through withdrawals... I do understand that some people really need these drugs. I myself am on roxicodone after a horrible car accident over a year ago, so i understand pain. good luck and keep us posted on yyour condition
cleo130
2 May 2011
I've taken Avinza 60MG and thought I was having horrible joint and hand pain because of it. It DID ease my pain from Interstitial Cystitis which seemed like a miracle. From everything I've read and a few comments I've received morphine based drugs do NOT cause the type of pain I was having. Now I believe I was having a severe flare with whatever arthritis I have... they haven't given me a firm diagnosis. I did find with the avinza I was having a hard time focusing, especially at work. does MS Contin work similarly to avinza... does anyone know the difference or why I was prescribed avinza instead of ms contin. I know that avinza is only taken once a day. I would love to try another type of morphine because it did manage my horrible bladder pain!
anickstairs
13 Aug 2011
YES... that's right... People without pain are fortunate. Well, what to do? I am a person with 31 Op’s already past. I have pain all the time. REAL pain… So, I was prescribed oxycodone and oxycontin by my “Pain specialist” MD. So, you think I am an addict? My Doctor must be an idiot…Wrong answer. I am a Person in pain and so far, in the last ten years, have NOT achieved being near comfortable. Easy for you, you are comfortable. If I don’t take the medication, I can’t walk or even want to speak. DO YOUHAVE THAT? No, you don’t and when you do, God help you. I was unfortunate and I see you people saying some awful things about us. I want you to have your leg re-connected, go blind, have both shoulders re-vamped, 4 broken bone areas, partial colon removal, disc 3, 4, l1 removed and decompressed, extra bone growths removed, carpal tunnel, 5 hernias (to name a few) and yes they are all painful areas to be treated.
I have stopped the opiods many times. I am a provider and even bed ridden have my income still coming in. I am no slouch. You perceive us to be “Lousy” people, I am an Engineer, Commercial artist, Comedian, and once singer (lost my voice to a vocal cord virus), materials Fabricator and so forth. Who are you to Judge? Get a hold of yourselves and understand that this is a grave disturbance for us and NOT for you. Have some pain, on me. Let’s see how you fair?
Thank you for your time! I think. Omni
mjulianne77
20 Aug 2012
Do you see a Pain management physician? These amazing doctors specifically specialize in "pain control". I have one of these doctors, and she has gotten me through significant chronic abdominal pain (due to having my entire colon removed-- which took 3 major surgeries in a 6-month period of time), and horrible back pain, due to degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, 2 bulging discs, and an anulas tear in one of my discs, and severe fibromyalgia.
Anyway, I agree with the comments to consult your cardiologist, because narcotics can slow your breathing ( which is obviously very concerning to any of your doctors.
My advice would be to call your insurance company, and find out which providers on your list specifically specialize in pain control.
Lastly, I am truly and genuinely sorry that you suffer so much. I have the greatest of compassion and empathy for your diseases, and will pray for you, knowing that you will find a specialist who can help in your pain management.
Take care, and know that there are MANY people here who will support you!
Sending you healing and comfort..
Sincerely,
.
Julianne
kimmie1
7 Oct 2009
Wow! I think you should stick with what the doctor suggest. First does the Lortab control your pain? If so, I would ask if I could increase my daily dosage. There are lots of stronger pain meds out there. I just hate to hear more and more people are needing them. Our generation is falling apart. I personally take methadone for chronic pain. I have been on it for five years. It works great for me. It doesn't hurt your liver and you can be a functioning person. I had tried lots of different things and this just turned out to be the perfect fit for me. What concerns me is your heart condition. I would be very careful regarding any pain meds for that reason. Talk with your Doctor. He knows a heck of alot more than I do. I am always here for support. Best of luck my dear... Kimmie
pattyc50
19 Dec 2009
Hi Kimmie I live in oklahoma city and it is hard to find a doctor who will perscribe methadone.
do you have any answers i have degenetive disk disease and have to have to knee replacements.
MSt
1 Jan 2010
Methadone has worked wonders for me as well. I go once a month, get 28 days worth and then have to go back for a new 1 month script. My dosage is very high (130mg/day) but it's been that way for almost 4 years and I've not needed any increase or supplement for breakthrough pain. Yes, I'm addicted to it, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Just to note, I also take a 4mg of Klonopin/day as well and 2 Soma per day (350mg is the only strength they make Soma in). I've need no increases in these medications for almost 4 years as well.
msdena
5 Jan 2010
Im sorry to hear you are having chronic pain..I know it is awful! But PLEASE, if you are gonna try Methadone for your problem, in ANY doseage..check out the pros and the cons. What everyone has said is somewhat correct, in my opinion. But... here it is :) I was on Roxycodone 30mg for 3 years, and when I realized I was hooked I got on Methadone. That was probably the worst thing I could have done. I was worse off on it than I was on the pain pills my Dr. prescribed. The withdrawl is worse than any Ive ever experienced. Sooo,, all I am saying is to check it out, and discuss it in detail with your Dr. (Im not trying to contradict anyone, I just wanted to add that) I hope you find something that helps you, along with the help of your Dr. :)
midwestma
18 Jan 2010
Hi kimmie1,
When I was going to a "pain management" clinic, they started me out on methadone, 5mg . I promtply filled the RX, went home took one tablet and fifiteen minutes later, I swelled up like a balloon, my throat closed up and I looked like a red Lobster! I have heard so many good things about methadone, however, I had such a severe reaction to the drug the Doctor said "never again". Not everyone reacts to that medicine the way I did, however I am yrs past that event. I have a hard time asking Drs. to "up" my meds, for fear I will be labeled as some whom is a "drug seeker".
I am a total whimp when it comes to broaching that subject.
You have a lot of wonderful advice kimmie1, I been reading your posts, Bless You, have a great day.
missy2
29 Jan 2010
i'm also a whimp i'm scared i'll be labeled so i spent 4 months in bed only taking lyrica 150mg a day and 2 davocet n 100's because i was afraid of the PA in my doctors office when he saw me in jan. he couldn't believe what i looked like so he gave me dilaudid 4mg 2x a day which now i'm allergic to it & upped my lyria to 300mg a day i go back on tues any suggestions please
Sacosam
12 May 2010
Hi Kimmie 1; Sacosam here , I read your post kid and you're right on top of it ... as usual. I couldn't aggree more. You're another who should be an NP[nurse practitioner] I'm also issuing belated , but with "Awholebunch'alove"! "Happy mothers day"!
John90
25 May 2010
To Kimmie 1 I know exactly what you are saying Methadone is the only pain releaver that last any length of time.
ratlove
4 July 2010
methadone worked great for mee, too except for the side effects such as sweating and bone pain. i unfortunately had to stop taking it though due to ucla not allowing this medication when on the liver transplant list, now i am on oxycontin 80 mg and it works very well, too. at first i was afraid of getting addicted, but all narcotics are addicting. my best suggestion is to try to stay on the lowest grade narcotic there is, and posibly try a muscle relaxer, i have used a slew of muscle relaxers out there and for me, although i have a very extreme case, i use valium and zanaflex.
AbbyTX2u
31 July 2010
Methadone has many many negative side affects, including liver damage and MAJOR heart issues. In addition to a very large list of other problems, including death. This mediation is actually chemically as strong as heroin, hence the use to taper heroin addicts, most addicts trade one for the other and are "fine" in doing so, as they are still getting their high. Number one reason you see addicts on it for so many years, they have simply traded up for something socially acceptable. This drug is the most physically addictive medicine in the pain killer category, not to mention the psychological and direct neurological damage it creates. Using this medication for pain may seem like the answer, but remember it was made to get people off of heroin ie. helps during the detox and some after care while you rebuild your bodies own ability to provide serotonin.
In other words, it was approved for short term use to get addicts off of heroin, not approved for long term use, yet here we are. Chronic pain patients should beware, this is not something you should ever take without really doing your homework. This drug is used and abused by many drug addicts (including pain patients that fell into addiction by using this drug). This drug diminishes your bodies own ability to create serotonin just like any other opiate, such as street heroin, morphine or vicodan etc.. All opiates do this. Therefore, it should be a last resort medication and an old way of treating addiction or pain at that based on all the current studies. Any doctor that does not warn you of proven major side effects (especially the heart as mentioned by the person asking the question) that are permanent and increase the longer you are on it, I would be very skeptical . The drug companies are happy to have people on it for 5 years, but we (pain patients) have so many more options since the Vietnam war, which is when it first started really being used. Many war vets came back addicted to their morphine given to them by the government in their packs in case they were shot.
This medicine also unfortunately comes with it a stigma within the medical community, any pain med can. I can tell you the immediate thought when seeing methadone on a med list is, addict. Hopefully we are wrong, but it is rare that one who is on this medication is not addicted either physically or mentally regardless of their initial cause for starting the med. I hope this information is somewhat helpful, there is so much new information on this drug, I hope you will research it thoroughly in many different locations before even thinking of starting it. If you care about your mind/body at all you owe it to yourself to not start this medication. There are so many other alternatives for pain patients today. I agree that the man with the heart issues should absolutely consult his doctor, but if he chooses to seek methadone with an already existing heart problem, any decent Dr. will never prescribe it. Depending on all of the diagnosis for his particular pain issues, a good pain doctor should be able to come up with many alternatives. Don't settle for opiates alone, as there are so many other options, however if you find this to be the most effective form of treatment for you, do whatever it takes to get it. Be careful and best of luck with whatever it is you and your doctor decide. God bless!
dmfdjttor57
11 Aug 2010
Only problem Kimmie is that the Lortab is for acute pain and this person has chronic pain, so needs something for that. I take methadone also, but don't advocate it cuz of the w/d factor, but something like morphine sulfate IR would probably be a good answer. Best to see a pain specialist, as everyone says. you are a sweetheart. Dede
Sacosam
26 Aug 2010
Hello kimmie 1` A Question if I may? Don't you have to go to a clinic at exactly a certain time, and on a certain day to pick up your supply of enough Methadone to last you a certain period of time ... "WOW"! I sound like a private detective on a case ! ! ! L o L (;->) Sacosam I AM
Outeastmike1993
26 Aug 2010
Like the person said below methadone would NOT be good for this guys heart and my dad died from methadone because of it being a drug that does not mix with a big list of other medications so basically my father was murdered by a doctor but nothing happened to him and it disgusts me thats why i try to learn everything i can about medications especially narcotic medications ... them being the more deadly ones obviously but like i was saying another thing would be opiates are alot easier to get off of than methadone is ask any experienced people with that they give you methadone to get off opiates and then you cant get off methadone
chronic76
8 Oct 2010
Kimmie1
I took methadone for 8 months due to serious back problems, one night i went into an "indused coma"... it had been 15 hours since i took my med.. 20mg methadone... now im scared to use it and take norco 10mg, but it doesnt do shoot... anything else you can suggest? i tried percocet, doesnt do anything for me... pain is unrealiztic since i stoppped methadone not to mention the syatica...
jerrywarriner
24 Oct 2010
I'd like to correct a misunderstanding. Methadone was not created to get addicts off heroin. It was developed in Germany at the start of World War II. The Germans feared that their supply of opium would be cut off because of the war and they wouldn't be able to make morphine. So, methadone was developed as a substitute. The German chemical industry was probably the best in the world. The Germans also developed sulfa drugs in the 1930s.
I take 40 mg. of methadone a day and have been on the drug for 12 years. Except for occasional bouts of constipation (for which I take stool softeners) I've had no side effects. Because methadone has a long half-life I take 20 mg. twice a day.
I suffer anxiety and panic disorder, so I take 2 mg. of Xanax a day. I had been taking 4 mg., but my pain doctor told me to cut back because Xanax (alprazolam) potentiates the effect of methadone.
Amberf2681
15 Dec 2010
I was on methadone for 6 years. I started out in a methadone clinic. I finally found a Doctor to perscribe it. My dose was 180 mgs daily; 90 in the morning and 90 in the evening. I have many medical problems that contribute to me having to be on STRONG pain meds. 15 days ago the doctor switched me from methadone to fentanyl 100 mg patch. I had withdrawl symptoms for about 10 days and am just now getting over that, but the patch doesnt work as well as the methadone did and he doesnt want to switch me back. My doctor didnt do the right conversion. Methadone works very well for alot of people but it is very hard to come off of it. Ive been on about every narcotic you can name. If you have heart trouble there are alot of things that can cause you to have more problems. Whatever you do DONT self medicate or increase your dose without talking to your doctor. If you have severe chronic pain I would talk with your doc about switching you to something else. He will know what to do you just have to be honest with him. Good Luck
DzooBaby
22 Dec 2010
You have to be REALLY careful with Methadone!! It really is not a worry free, safe drug. First of all it can cause SEVERE respiratory depression. This can happen hours after the drug's pain relieving effects have worn off. So a person might think the drug is out of their system and take another dose and go into respiratory failure. This drug doesn't have the same euphoric effects that some other narcotic drugs have and those looking for that "high" effect will end uptaking more of the medication and end up dead from the respiratory depression. Don't get me wrong-I know this can be a Godsend drug for some people and is very effective for pain. I think it should be used as kind of a last ditch effort and definitely not the next in line from hydrocodone. I could not use this drug myself. I got severe migraine type headaches from it and was told by my pharmacist that it was from increased intercranial pressure.
Almost all narcotics can have this effect (that is why they don't give narcotics to people with head injuries) but I was especially sensitive to this particular one. I was not sure about taking it in the first place because of the respiratory depressive effects. It is a very hard drug to titrate and should be used with EXTREME caution. For me the bad effects totally outweigh the good ones. The other thing I want to say is that what works well for one person isn't always good for another-that is why there are so many drugs out there for the same conditions!! I agree that if the Lortab works for this person they might just need an increase in dosage or decrease times between doses. I also agree that the next step up would probably be oxycodone. Good Luck to everyone in your quest for pain relief! It is not an easy road. I've been fighting this fight since the 1980's and things got a lot worse after a lifting injury in 2004! I would not wish this on my worst enemy! I find that most people don't understand that don't have chronic pain themselves. Most people don't understand this is not the kind of thing you can just "shake off" or ignore. I'm glad to talk to others who have been there and truly understand.
cookie37
27 Dec 2010
hey kimmie i am 37 and have been suffering from sever chronic back pain there is nothing i havent been on right now i am on 45mg of morphine twice a day and 4 percocets a day!most of the time i take 45mg three times a day and 6 to 8 percocets for break through pain.a few ppl have been talking about methadon and how it is good for pain,im a bit weiry about asking my family dc about methadon so what would be the normal dosage of methadon i should ask him about that would work through the day.if i can get away from taking so many pills i would try anything
brian122
28 April 2011
Methadone is the best pain medication one can be on and like any other should not be overtaken or mixed with benzis and barbs untilled a doctor builds your tolerance for the mix. That being said you like be have heart problems I have a rare disorder called long Qt syndrome a diffibulatir is all that can be done for me. In America only the levo- isomer version of methadone is available unfortunately it has one suddenlink effect you can't help which is enlongated Qt intervals causing arryrhmias which can lead to v-fib then sudden death. It happened to be and with your heart and pretty much guaranteed valve problems to come SRAY AWAY FROM METHADONE. A move up to percocet or percodan would be good the cet means tylenol & the Dan means aspirin the PERCO is ocycodone a much better substitute for HYDRCODONE which you currently take. The tylenol and codeine is not good for your liver.
So if given percocet I would ask for percodan as it has aspirin instead which you already take and is good for your heart. The regimen I am on is 100 mg morphine extended release x2/day with 30mg oxycodone instant release 6x/day for chronic pain. Morphine is a heart helping drug and you have vascular problems so morphine will dialate your veins this is why it is given for heart attacks immediately. It is way better than aspirinmy ultimate recommendation since I have vascular problems chronic back pain and the all rare LQT version 1 (of 12). Endorsement makes good low dose er morphine tablets generic and cheap which will be for your baseline pain, and heart/vascular flow. The percodan will be 10mg of oxycodone you take when chronic moderate to severe pain hits you, if you don't need don't use the er morphine might be enough for w4 hours. Morphine is a good choice because of the above mentioned ans it has hardly any interactions El heart/vascular meds, and has been thuroughly researched as it is very old I also like to think if it as a non human effected pain Med as it comes strait out of the poppy without chemistry needed. Thus its all natural except for the items in the tablet to make it ER but all that is cellulose 2 natural acids and magnesium stearate a vitamin. Only the coloration is not 100% natural. I would consult pain management on a try at the 15mg er dose w/ percodan 10mg few times daily
jaypee
30 April 2011
Greetings.methadone does hurt the liver.ive been studying this drug for 15 yrs.also whe first taking it it can cause pancreaitist.but thats not to say that its not a woderful drug.beut also can be lethal if stoped taking it.i learnde this first hand experiance,so i know.it stores in your liver remember?this making u able 2 go 2 days without it once u have enough in your system.its not a drug that u need to be on all your life if need be cause long term use can lead to problems in some people.now that im off methadone im having more problems with pain.i should have stayed on fentnly but i wanted a break.it was not the same @ all.anxiety was killing me & the dr just didnt wein me off the fentnyl to the methadone correctly.
Godsgirl4031
21 Oct 2016
Dear Kimmie1,
I agree with you and I have suffered from Fibromyalgia and stage IV metastatic melanoma. I too had good results with methadone. But I wanted o warn you if you weren't awarre that your Dr should be monitoring your heart by doing blood work and an EKG every three months. I had been on 1 10mg tablet 4 times a day but could by on two a day. I got put in the hospital for pneumonia and they come in with my morning meds and I asked where was my methadone and they said they had to discontinue it bc I had a methadone toxicity. They put me on Percocet and boy I couldn't tell I was taking anything. Im a nurse so I did my research. It's hard to come off methadone bc it absorbs into the bone marrow. My pain clinic did a test on me to see what would metabolize in my system and it was morphine. They put me on morphine er 15 mg. That has worked for me except my pain dr is being a total butt.
Bc of dealing with a terminal illness, a daughter going through a ugly divorce, and marital problems he has given me an ultimatum I either stop taking my Xanax or he is cutting back on my pain meds. And this is after I told him I didn't need my morphine breakthrough. I'm tired of them continually messing with my meds when I finally ge in a good place. But I just thought I would let you know that about the toxicity. Be blessed...
harleyhoney2130
7 Oct 2009
they may try pecocet next they dont like to move you up no stronget than they have to . i hope you good luck.
dmfdjttor57
11 Aug 2010
Honey, Percocet and Lortab are essentially the same drug, w/lortab being slightly stronger thant the percocet depending on how prescribed. Know what you are speaking about prior to answering a question so you do not end up w/all those thumbs down, which nobody enjoys getting.
oxyaaron
16 Aug 2010
dmfdjttor57 get ur facts right pecocet is stronger than lortab
teresa49
29 Aug 2010
Yes, Percoset is stronger than lortabs...
lilly69
2 Oct 2010
Percocet is stronger than lortab,ask your doctor to switch you to percocets,the 10/325 are better,less fillers,they will help more
melissab(twilightfan85)
15 Oct 2010
percocet is def stronger than lortabs. idk why anyone would think lortabs are stronger... to me, its a couple steps up from tylenol. it doesnt help that much with chronic pain in my personal opinion
mree
16 Oct 2010
Yes, harleyhoney you are correct. Percocet is stronger than Loratab.
alicia.d7
24 Oct 2010
Percocet is stronger that lortabs but what is better then both of those combind is roxicodone 15 or 30mg. They wake can wake u up relax you and kill all the pain you may have without having to take 5 of those other pills just to take some of the pain away.
dmfdjttor57
24 Oct 2010
Roxi IS percocet, aka oxycodone. 15 or 30 mg. is simply a stronger dose and it has no buffers. You were all correct on the Lortab being closer to vicoden than to percocet, i was thinking of the Lorecet they used to prescribe that came in 750 mg., which was stronger than Percocet, my apologies for the mistake, also, there are ways to reply to comments w/out being rude, i think everyone on here has made at least one mistake with the exception of a few people. And yes, I agree with the gentleman who asked "why aren't you speaking with your Dr. regarding this?" With 56 or so answers, it might be difficult to know which one was the right one, meaning, there is none, ask your physician.
subsailorslady1980
26 Oct 2010
Have you tried a Fentanyl Patch which delivers a continous amount of medication per hour for up to three days. They will always start you out on the lowest dose and increase it as needed... it comes in 12.5, 25, 50, 75, and 100mcg strengths. There are also other forms of Fentanyl also. Then have something that is for breakthrough pain, such as oxycodone, oxymorphone(Opana), hydromorphone(Dilaudid). If you would rather a pill then there are plenty of stronger pain meds out there. If you are not seeing a Pain Management doctor get a refferal ASAP!!! They are specialists in pain medication and management of pain. I would research the pain management docs in your area to find the best one. If you are not then when you do go make sure you take copies of every x-ray, MRI, CT scan, and any other specialty testing that may have been done.
There are other options other then opiates, such as injections, nerve ablations, and a nerve stimulator that you can control with a remote that gives pain relief... there is a trial of 7 days, then you have to have a pyschological evaluation and then they put it in permanently... this device works by sending eltronic signals, just like your spine, but prevents pain signals from reaching the brain, at least that is my understanding since my sister is about to have this done.
Bobbydenirosgirl
5 Nov 2010
Yes... Lortab is in the hydrocodone family, Percocet is in the oxycodone family. So there is a big difference. Percocet is much stronger than Lortab, trust me on this, I have taken various pain meds. for chronic lower back pain and different things for over 7 yrs. and I know what Im talking about. The worst part of these meds are, there is no ceiling with them so your tolerance will just keep getting higher and higher. Maybe talk to your Dr. about an extended relief tab, such as Opana xr or Mscontin. This way only 1 pill twice a day should do the trick.
IhearttheOcean
6 Nov 2010
Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin are all Hydrocodone.
Percocet, Roxicodone, Oxycontin are all Oxycodone.
Oxycodone is stronger mg for mg than Hydrocodone no matter how you look at it. Honey is correct
fussy_2011
14 Jan 2011
i agree oxy is always stronger than hydro!
Malibu0255
4 Feb 2011
Percocet is a lot stronger than loratab. My husband has been taking 4 Percocet a day for 5 or 6 years for pain. Loratab don't touch the pain.
wrightj6
8 Feb 2011
You can't get lortabs now.
caringsonbj
16 Feb 2011
the one thing that I have noticed and I think you will agree, each one of us is different, what will work for one person does not always work for another. I have had so many problems with so many different one that it's been a rough ride, trial and error, I think one thing that each of us just about have to do is whatever the doctor suggests if you find a good doctor that is the first step, and being open and honest with that doctor, it is a team effort, I have been fortunate to find a doctor whom I have been very fortunate to have, she has worked very hard to help me allow her to help me, it isn't a one sided situation, if I wonder about something I feel comfortable in asking her about the medication it is a safe feeling, a partnership feeling, I would like to hope that everyone who has chronic pain is able to find the appropriate care and the physician they feel comfortable being open and honest with. best wishes,
stressfree1969
5 April 2011
Percocet is stronger than Lortab... Lortab is the same thing as Vicodin, just the amount of acetaminophen is different. I have been taking percocet 10mg for 14 months after a bad car accident, they havent been working so my dr just increased my med to roxicodone 15mg 4 times a day. they work a little better than the percocets, but im still in pain. You cant expect all of your pain to go away, but if it makes it bearable, you shoulld stick with what you are on
Wickedwahine5
8 April 2011
Lortab to all you out there is stronger than Percocet if prescribed as the 10/325. Percocet is the same thing as lortab only usually in a lower dose with a higher dose of tylenol! 5/500 or 7.5/7.5 etc.. So the bigger dose or if you are looking to graduate to a pain killer that is stronger you will have to either go to patches - Fentynal - or morphine - or dilaudid. Good luck though in getting your doctor to prescribe any of those. I have been in chronic pain, and have a heart condition and stents, with lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteo arthritis. In therapy for the last 15 years and still cant get my dr to up the prescriptions to ones that work.
MichellePerez1027
12 May 2011
actually they are about tit for tat if the dosage is the same, like on a dosing scale... like between a 5 lortab and a 5 percoset. they are just different medications and every1 is different. Like some people swear by oxycontin and say morphine doesnt help, while others swear by morphine and say oxycontin doesnt help as much, even if the dosings are tit for tat. Some people both would work just the same... it just all depends on you and your body and enzymes.
mommieof3girls
24 May 2011
yes definately percocet is stronger than lortabs ... so why would someone be so mean to another with just trying to help.. thats why we are all here right?? lol
IndyLady2012
25 May 2011
Considering your health problems with which i am familar with because my husband has the same as you do.Doctors dont want to give you to much pain meds because if you had heart pain you would know.
heavensfarmer
26 May 2011
Beware of your tylenol intake also, dr. give us meds loaded witth this drug,ask their is usually one with ibuprofen,keeps inflammation down, liver in health, I know from time, my liver is not healthy due to lortab intake from a severe car crash 20 yrs.ago. now my back so bad the strongest meds barely touch it. If you take aspirin daily its also on pain relief meds. Combine if you can, it will save your life,or rather add years too it!!
auntniknik
27 May 2011
Until recently I was on Lortab 10 every 4 hours, recently change to Percacet 10 and I get better results on 4 a day than handfuls of Lortab at a time!
girlfromhooterville
9 June 2011
I've had chronic pain for 20 years now and have been on and off many pain meds. I used to be on norco 10's which I'd basically what you are on then I moved up to oxycodone 15's then to oxycodone 30's. All these medications are short acting pain relief which may work fine for you. short acting just means you have to take them every 4-6 hours a long term pain relief is raking them jayne twice a day which would be like oxycontin which comes many different mgs as well.
So it really depends on what you want to take long or short. I would say start with a stronger short term first like oxycodones and see how that helps you. I was on a long term and took short term for the break trough pain. Which if your pain is as bad as mine that works the best. if you need anymore information send me a note. Just be very careful on any of these pain pills. They are very addictive and the withdraws are horrible when you want to come off.
I wanted to come off once not because my pain was gone just because I'm 34 and tired of taking so many pills just to function normally. But now when I'm not talking anything my pain is do bad I can't function normally its just a double edged sword. Good luck I hope I could help. like I said if you have more questions send me a note. sorry this was so long
kevinb529
10 June 2011
It is true, Percocet (containing oxycodone) is a stronger narcotic than Lortab (which contains hydrocodone)
slpkntnorm
14 June 2011
With my chronic back situation they started me on lortab, have also been givin percocet,norco,oxycotin and now i am on a fentanyl75 patch. For me the patch works wonders and I dont have to take a bunch of pills. From what I've been reading though it most certainly IS NOT for everyone(abuse is high).
mandyates
28 July 2011
percocet in not the same as loratab
percocet is made with oxycodone and loratab is made with hydrocodone
soldiers girl
31 July 2011
Percocet is oxycodone, Lortab is hydrocodone... oxycodone is by far the stronger medication.
nyra417
2 Aug 2011
oxyaaron - you are correct... as I said in my probably too long response a few minutes ago and will do the same but rightfully so in this case, DO THE RESEARCH ON THE DRUG EVEN IF THE DOCTOR SAYS IT'S SAFE!!! Trust me on another fact... I worked for a law firm before becoming disabled; the busiest attorney I worked for researched patents for generic drugs(which meant I did the research for her)... my point being, I had access to the USFDA patent websites. The US government knows MORE about the side effects of ALL the "approved" drugs we are prescribed than the DOCTORS themselves do!! Our government actually allows the drug companies to tell our doctors whatever they want to as far as side effects.
Volunteer patient "studies" (these are PAID people - mostly college kids looking to make a few bucks and participate in MORE THAN ONE STUDY AT A TIME and lie to the drug companies they are being guinea pigs for) who take these drugs experimentally; some drugs are fake, aka "placebos" and some are the actual experimental drug... where's the accuracy in this?. Doctors are also COMPENSATED for high-volume "prescriptions" (which are really SALES) with "business" trips, "seminars" with surf n turf dinners including weekends at high end hotels & resorts... think about it. NOTHING is regulated as we are all led to believe. I challenge ANY government/FDA official to question me or call me wrong on this. If any of them do, I have DOCUMENTS that prove me correct. Shame on the FDA!!! Beware of ANY prescription you are given... my personal rule is to look up the "condition" or "disease" and at least TRY to find a natural alternative (vitamins, supplement, diet) before feeding the pharmaceutical lions... TRUST ME... I did the research for a living. I swear this is the real truth.
Hope you found this informative...
regards and be happy :)
-Anna
spindolly
15 Sep 2011
methadone & ms contin are the stronger pain meds, stuff like percocets are just breakthrough meds, depending on how strong your tolerance is for opiates will be a big factor. Dilaudid is a good one, as is opana, just remember no matter how medicine affects one person, does not mean that it will work for you. Don't be keep it to yourself-tell your doctor and make him understand. good luck
Ohiobuckeye
21 Sep 2011
Percocet is definitly stronger than lortabs. Norco 10/325 works for me and amitriptylin is prescribed for me and it is a horrible drug. it keeps me awake at night and gives me terrible headaches, so I threw them away. My Dr. said to take 1/2 at night and it still gives me suicidal dreams and headaches.
Inactive
16 Nov 2011
naproxen 500 mg was put on my list after two spine surgeries..for me It has worked better than morphine. Although a back up pain medication is always a good idea. I take naproxen 500 mg 2 x Day... but it can cause fluid retention in some people. I had to seek pain mangement for full relief from pain. Some injections also have helped me . I did not have succesful back fusion and at my age of (58) and a terrible amount of osteo arthritis..no surgeon will redo any back surgery or help with surgery in my cervical. Pain is sure an issue that needs to be corrected to it's best available attention. Take care..good luck.
douglascole
6 Jan 2012
I'm Sorry to Dis-Agree, Percocet 'IS-NOT 'stronger than Lortab. Just facts to the facters.
hmarie18
17 Feb 2012
yes percocet is what they would try... and to the person who replied honey know what you are talking about... lortab is not stronger then percocet! ask your doctor... lortab is a form of hydrocodone which is able to be called in to the pharm... food for thought!
Phalingo
29 March 2012
It amazes me how little people know about what they speak of. Let's get a bunch of things straight. Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab are all brand names of hydrocodone. Percocet, Endocet, OxyContin, Roxicodone, are all brand names for oxycodone based drugs. Generally, oxycodone is said to be stronger than hydrocodone. Also oxycodone Is available in single-medicine formulas such as OxyContin and available with Acetominophen as found in Percocet. Hydrocodone is not available as a single medicine formula, it is always with Acetominophen. That will be changing when the new drug, Zohydro is released which will be the first hydrocodone only pill. Now, when it comes to the best pill for pain I would have to say Opana ER (oxymorphone) is the best. Unfortunately the formula has been changed to one similar to what purdue did with the "OPs". The new formula Opana cannot be shaved or crushed. Luckily Endo has screwed us and done us a favor at the same time.
While the original formula Opanas will be obsolete through the summer of 2012 they will be reappearing in September. Endo has a patent on the newly formulated Opanas until 2023, meaning Watson will be releasing generic opana in September in doses of 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg and they will be the original formula. After using oxymorphone for some time now, oxycodone just isn't the same and roxis are practically useless to me for the price they go on the street. $25-30 for a Roxy 30mg. Supposedly 2mg oxymorphone = 1mg oxycodone but I do not get as decent of a high. Street prices for Opana in my area has been $40-60 for an Opana 40mg until recently prices have jumped to $2 a milli an people can get that because they are going off the market. I would still pay $80 for an opana 40 ANY DAY over 3 or even 4 roxis which is going to run you a possible $120 on the street. I realize the information I have given is very scattered but I hope this helps people understand. Oh and also just a heads up, many people are becoming concerned about all the opiate related deaths but do a little looking into it. Many deaths are people who have quit and try to immediately go back to the same dosage they had been using which causes overdose. Many mix opiates with benzos causing death. Many have mixed opiates with alcohol which has killed. A small percentage of the deaths are soley related to opiates. My advice, drugs are great. Too great. So don't do them. I've tried plenty of drugs in my time and nothing grabs a hold of me like opiates.
rifle
1 May 2012
hi my dad is in a lot of pain he broke hes ligament in in hes knee so can some one tell me what a grate pain killer is the doctors say that he is to old to have it fixed he is only 54 so please help he means so much to me
by jessie age 12
balbanese
16 May 2012
Wow. Pain Med 101:
Vicodon is Hydorcodone with Acetaminophen, so is Lortab. No confusion there, no difference there either, except for different dosing variations they are identical.
Roxicodone is name brand Oxycodone, period. Although many abusers believe it is something special (maybe it just sounds cool to say Roxi's).
Percocet is Oxycodone with Acetaminophen.
Oxycodone is much Stronger than Hydrocodone to the point where they are controlled differently.
I know most of my budds on this site know all this, this post is just to confirm the information for anyone else who doesn't know their facts, or thinks they do and don't.
amylynn074
25 July 2012
Everyone reacts differently to every medication, it doesn't matter if it's an antibiotic or a pain medication. It's commonly said and agreed that fentanyl is stronger than morphine, however when I was in severe pain w/ a collapsed lung the morphine helped me more than the Fentanyl; the best advice is to try a muscle relaxer such as :Flexeril with a pain medication, such as Vicodin or Percocet and all you can do is work w/your doctor to see which medication(s) help to get you to the proper comfort level,in which, you can function, and have the highest degree of a pain-free day.
Inactive
6 Sep 2012
Percocet is stronger than Lortab, or Lorcet and if the Hydrocodone don't work, there is a chance that the oxycodone will. Hope your pain gets better and hopefully they will find something that you can take for pain that will help you.
bull 4520
7 Sep 2012
How why are they stronger only have 16 yrs ed -tell me
onechancefancie
13 Oct 2012
I had br ca @ age 24, now soon to be 50. Have had approx 25 surgeries all with major complications have fibromyalgia, migraines, insomnia, depression, anxiety, L knee injury & now some unknown digestive problems--severe. I've been on Lortab more than 15 years & they r like baby aspirin to me. Will they ever approve Zohydro--- which may save my liver?
prettyinpain
19 Oct 2012
im on nucynta for my back pain,,foot pain, knee pain,,i guess you can say i have chronic pain,,it sucks,, but when i took my first 75 mg i did not have pain any where on my body,, felt so good,,ask your doctor about nucynta? take care
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lortab, heart attack, heart disease, pain, back pain
Further information
- Lortab uses and safety info
- Lortab prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lortab (detailed)
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