Oxymorphone HELP!

[RyaneWillow2014]

I've made several posts over the last few months here reguarding my journey through opioid therapy for my chronic back pain. After several months of climbing the opiate ladder at a rapid rate I am now met with a very big descion. Have taken 50mg tramadol 6 a day with no relief. Then it was 5/325 hydrocodone 6 a day. with no relief. Next was 7.5/325 hydrocodone 6 a day with very little relief. Then 10/325 hydrocodone 6a day with decent relief but I still felt like each dose was lastin maybe 2 hours instead of 4. I asked my docotor about a long acting medicine and he didn't like the idea. So then it was 10/325 hydrocodone 9 times a day. Which is terrifying to take that much acetaminophen. Anyways I stuck to that for several months battling some pain and praying I didnt die from liver failure everyday. My doctor said he wanted to get genetic testing done to see if my body is maybe doing somthing to cause the meds to not work like they should. It turns out my body is lacking an ezyme needed to metabolize hydrocodone properly. So my doc said we need to go up or go to somthing different. We'll you can't go up any higher on hydrocodone so I asked about oxycodone. And he said no that would be a waste bc it uses the same enzyme.i have taken oxycodone in the past for other injuries and it seemed to do pretty good. But he would not give me that. I asked my options he said I can either go to morphine or oxymorphone. I will have to start out on immediate release only and then when we find the Right dose we can see about the extended release. To me that is terrifying to have to take somthing so powerful. But I am in pain clearly or this wouldn't be an option. They don't offer morphine to people who just say there back hurts. So my question is which do I choose? I have coventry insurance does anyone know if that doesn't cover one of the medications? Has anyone had better experience with either medication? I have had morohine before in the hospital I recall it making my body feel heavy. I have never had oxymorphone is it closer to morphine or oxycodone? What does oxymorphone feel like? If I'm going to be feeling like this around the clock I would like an idea before I dive right into It. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[BeachBum4u]

Wow, for starters! What a whirlwind you've been through. First off, in the world of PM - pain management (this has been my personal experience only) all of the meds you listed are what most pain patients call "break-through" meds and never the first line of defense for long-term pain management. That usually falls to OxyContin, Opana ER, MS Contin ER etc. No short lasting med is indicated if this is going to be a long-term deal. After surgery those drugs are probably appropriate but not for continued usage. Too many ups and downs!

Personally, you aren't crazy and I'm not 100% sure your doc is right about the enzymes and all. I've never responded well to any "hydro" med but I do well on any "oxy" med. You may be the same way. Also, I didn't do too well on MS Contin (extended release morphine). I felt thick and dull all day and that just doesn't work in my book. I am currently on 2 40mg Opana ER's a day and they are excellent. I also get 4 15mg oxycodone for BT. The combination has been excellent. Since everyone is so different, I can't sit here and say you'll be the same way but see what works for you and keep the lines of communication open with the doc. Also, you may need to be in a PM environment if you're not already. They are usually very comfortable (relatively speaking, with the DEA climbing up their backs - US issue) prescribing these meds and they know most of the ins and outs of all the pain meds out there. I'd say you should read up on PM literature you can get your hands on and you'll know as much as many regular docs on the subject. Particularly if they're older. Most docs just don't get much PM in their med school and internships if any at all. So, make yourself an informed patient and again, keep the lines of communication open and flowing. With the right doc, you will get what you need!

 

[RyaneWillow2014]

Thank you for your response. My doctor is an older man has been practicing for 34 years. There has been several instances where he has told me things that I know are false. There has been 2 different times while I've been on hydrocodone that he has thought I was on oxycodone and once had even written out a script for me for oxycodone and I decided to do the right thing and tell him that I was taking hydrocodone. He is sort of a quack. I don't want to sound like a drugee bc I'm not but I am just very leery about going to morphine or oxymorphone. I know that oxycodone does give me relief even if it's not working to it's full potential. And I just don't want to go to somthing so dangerous if I don't have to. I know what I'm getting with oxycodone and from what I've read some people say that oxymorphone either takes forever to kick in or doesnt help at all. Also I've read that oxymorphone is gods gift to earth. I'm not looking to get as high as I can on my pain meds. But I just want to know how which is better bc I'm sure I could go to another doctor that isn't as strict about "going by the book" and get oxycodone.(ex. This medication is supposed to last 4 hours so by god it lasts four hours no exceptions.) obviously it is difficult to compare an extended release oxymorphone to an immediate relase oxycodone. But which do you feel does the best for you? I have also read that oxymorphone is very expensive. Is that the case with you?

 

[LilikoiMoon]

I've been on Opana 10mg IR for almost 2 yrs and Opana ER 40 for a few months. (started on opana 20 mg ER 1st)

Sorry to hear about all you've been through. Don't get me wrong, tge meds are wonderful for pain relief, or in my case, but they are expensive here, and hell to withdraw from after this long.

There's a lower dose than what I take, so you may want to check into that with your Dr. They really have helped with my pain, compared to the weaker drugs I was on previously.

Good luck with whatever route you choose.

 

[RyaneWillow2014]

Thank you that is helpful. Anyone have any input on immediate release morphine?

 

[tmr123]

Oxymorphone ruined my life in less than a year after a car accident. It's literally the devil, stay the hell away from it, especially snorting it, it's on an entirely different level than anything you wanna get into. I've done decent heroin, and Opana was orders of magnitude stronger. Detox was hell.

 

[wezface]

^ or just take it as prescribed and be honest with your doctor.