Opiates/codeine allergy... Help!

[easy as]

I have an allergy to codeine and have recently developed allergy related symptoms to oxycodone (severe itching, shortness of breath and rash on stomach, hands and lower back). I seem to do fine with hydrocodone, demerol and dilaudid. The doc just scripted me 10mg 10microgram per hour suboxone patches and hydrocodone (30mg/day) , but I am wondering what you would recommend for long term pain without APAP and something for breakthrough pain. Dosages and recommendations are welcome. Also, do you think the sub patches will counteract the opiate effects of the hydrocodone? Seems strange to me.

Last time I had sub patches it was 5/5 and I didn't feel anything but dizziness and nausea. I'm curious what you would recommend if you had to tell the doctor what you wanted. Please bear in mind that this is not a wish list but a real plausible request I can put to my doc. (please add dosages if at all possible). Thanks

 

[bronson]

When it comes to allergies to medicines that you are being prescribed, the best advice that can really be offered is to talk it over with your doctor. A lot of factors come into play, and I would hate to see someone speculate incorrectly over the internet towards something that ended up working out poorly for you.

Check out perhaps: The Opioid Conversion Chart
This should give you a baseline idea of where you want to be dose wise, though bear in mind that cross tolerance between opiates / opioids is not complete.

For which specific medications may avoid the reaction and be best for your pain, once again, talking to the doctor writing for them would be the best course of action so that you are both equally informed.

I'm going to close this for now, please feel free to start up a new thread and let us know how things went. PM any questions.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

bronson and I were discussing this thread and just wanted to add a couple more things:

BDD isn't really here to give you recommendations/suggestions on what drugs to ask your doctor for, plus as bronson said your doctor would be better qualified to help you find analgesics that you aren't allergic to. But buprenorphine potentially blocking the effects of other opioids is a legit concern. It's not correct to call them "Suboxone patches" though, that might confuse people because they see the word "Suboxone" - I think with the buprenorphine patch it is such a low dose that it can be used with other opioids, so perhaps just try and see if what your doctor has prescribed will work for you. I know that it's not uncommon for breakthrough meds to be prescribed with the buprenorphine patch.

I recommend you check out this thread and post there if you have further questions on this topic (read the Other Drugs Guidelines first though):

Other Drugs' The Pain Management Mega Thread Version 4