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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Hydrocodone use tolerance

Coraline

Coraline

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I take hydrocodone every day twice a day. I use it for pain. I do find that it doesn't make me feel extra happy like it once did. But the pain relief is still about the same. I can feel it not working as quick and as well. After a while I'm sure it won't work at all?? Then what? What would be the next step?
 
Well, you'd have to up the dose and/or add another med to help with the pain. That's called tolerance. How much do you take now?
 
Either have your doc up your dose, or switch to another med. Though hydrocodone is already quite 'high up' the opiate ladder in terms of strength.
 
^ unfortunately this is called tolerance and is inevitable really.. less marked for the analgesic effects than the euphoric ones but it is a feature of hydrocodone and all opioids. If you feel you aren't getting adequate pain relief, the next step is to speak to your doctor - you may be able to increase your hydrocodone dose, or they may step you up to a stronger opioid. They may well also consider non-opioid medications too, to reduce the amount of opioid you use - don't knock these, they often work very well and can be synergistic with opioids for analgesia. Finally your pyschological wellbeing has a huge impact on physical pain, so if you are feeling depressed, stressed or anxious then addressing this could really help.

It is entirely natural to enjoy getting high from your pain meds, but chasing that high is a really bad road to go down - tolerance and addiction follow, and you will end up in a state where you can't use opioids anymore as you are addicted to them or your doctor will no longer prescribe them, and then you are really stuck for what to use for your pain. Not trying to sound preachy at all, but it is something to think about.. good luck <3
 
Sorry I took do long to get back. Thank you for the replies. I take 1 lorcet in the morning about 8:00am and 1 between 4-7 pm. I take advil between if the lorcet won't take it away fully. I don't want to follow that euphoric feeling. But I have found that when I have it I hurt less. I do know that this med relieves pain by altering your perception of pain. I try to be careful with. I ask my self do I really need it? And why? Before I take it. I have a script to take 4 a day and I'm not near that mark and I don't want to be. When I get there and it don't work that's what I'm scared of. I don't want back surgery. They mess you up worst from all the people I see. It's not good. I am under a lot of pressure all the time. They gave me Valium last time but it did not work. I go back in a couple of days and get something different. Maybe that will help.
 
As mentioned before, this is tolerance, and like stated, first would be to up your dose, and then change to a new medication. In the states, the drug on the next rung of the opioid ladder is oral morphine-which, is apparently the same strength as oral hydrocodone, but it isn't paired up with tylenol and has no dosage ceiling because of it. I'm currently only on tramadol, but because of gabapentin and my tolerance, if I'm going to buy some opioids off the street, morphine is basically my choice. Gabapentin lowers the BA of hydrocodone; therefore, making morphine the next step up for me.
 
I wouldn't be afraid to take 1 Lorcet 4 x daily, esp. if that is what the rx is written for. If you insist on taking no more than 2 a day, I would take 1/2 4 x daily, so your analgesia is more consistent. But, yeah either increase your dose of opiates or add something else to the regimen, that would be your best bet in controlling the pain.
 
^^ glad it helped, sounds like you have a great attitide towards your pain meds - but don't be afraid to take what you need, as Alex00 says. Jusy be aware that the more you take, the more your tolerance will rise - but you are taking them for a legitimate cause and it is perfectly reasonable to want to have your pain under control. I would speak to your doctor and see what they say :)
 
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