Hi, I'm new to this forum; but I have been to Bluelight many, many times for answers and 99.9% of the time, Bluelight always comes through! My question is multifaceted in this sense. A family member of mine is a 85 years of age. She has Spinal Stenosis and takes a lot of Heavy Duty pain killers along with moderate Benzo's... She's currently on the 75 mcg/h Fentanyl patch ( Jill Pouch ) every 48 hours. 8mg Dilaudid 4 Tabs a day ( every 6 hours ) #2- 10mg Tabes of Methadone 4-6 times a Week? Depending on her scale of pain? She also takes 25mg of Trazadone Tabes for sleep nightly. Along with 2mg of Alprazolam scored' in-half 4 to 6 times a week for Nervousness and or sleep as well. I believe this is to much Opioid based Pain Killers? Also the Benzodiazepine mixed with the Trazadone, can't be good for someone in her age group, can it? Also, are the 20mgs of Methadones weaking the effects of her Dilaudid and or if not both, her Dilaudid-Fetanyl? These are just my Opinions and Concerns. Again these are just my Opinions... I'm hoping that my "Opinions" & my Worries are for nothing! Thank You: FeniaN
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H&R Moderators: streaM Freak
"Worried" Son in law
- Thread starter FeniaN
- Start date
Firstly let me welcome you to the site 
I wasn't sure where you would get the best reply to your question so I have moved from Homeless to Healthy Living section - here we have a pain management section where people may be able to offer you the best advice.
I wasn't sure where you would get the best reply to your question so I have moved from Homeless to Healthy Living section - here we have a pain management section where people may be able to offer you the best advice.
Turk82
Greenlighter
That does seem like a crazy cocktail of pain killers, any one of those I would think would be strong enough to help with the pain but all of them makes me worry about respiratory failure. It sounds like this person has an incredible tolerance which will help but the age, strength and amount of painkillers with other drugs seems abnormally high.
Felonious Monk
Bluelight Crew
You're her son-in-law and think you have a right to say anything her pain management regiment?
Try living with chronic pain for 30+ years and see how you like to stay comfortable. If she ASKS, then you can say something. Until then, keep your mouth shut because it's NONE YA DAMN BUSINESS.
Didn't mean to be rude but this is clearly not a passing concern if you've been nosy enough to record everything she's taking.
Try living with chronic pain for 30+ years and see how you like to stay comfortable. If she ASKS, then you can say something. Until then, keep your mouth shut because it's NONE YA DAMN BUSINESS.
Didn't mean to be rude but this is clearly not a passing concern if you've been nosy enough to record everything she's taking.
Ligaturd
Bluelighter
Most opioids function on the same receptors and are more or less interchangeable. These drugs all have different potencies and durations. Some of then would be for breakthrough pain as well. With opioids there is no roof for tolerance, it keeps getting bigger the longer someone is on them. If someone is on lifelong pain management they can get some pretty crazy tolerances but if taken as prescribed and under supervision of a doctor there is no issue and they are in no danger.
I understand your concern but it seems unfounded once you understand how these medications work.if they have a legitimate condition for these meds and a tolerance than the amounts they are taking are reasonable. As the tolerance gets higher they can take larger amounts with no increasing danger.
The amount of hydromorphone is reasonable, as is the fentanyl, the methadone lasts a long time and is also reasonable... I'll just say that it looks like a lot but it really isn't, for someone with chronic pain and has been on them for some time.
It is sensationalism and a lack of understanding of opioids and pain management that has you concerned. Knowledge should help abate some of your fears.
The alprazolam will have no interaction whatsoever with the trazadone as they function in completely different ways. This person has a tolerance to each of these drugs and is in no danger if she takes them as prescribed
I understand your concern but it seems unfounded once you understand how these medications work.if they have a legitimate condition for these meds and a tolerance than the amounts they are taking are reasonable. As the tolerance gets higher they can take larger amounts with no increasing danger.
The amount of hydromorphone is reasonable, as is the fentanyl, the methadone lasts a long time and is also reasonable... I'll just say that it looks like a lot but it really isn't, for someone with chronic pain and has been on them for some time.
It is sensationalism and a lack of understanding of opioids and pain management that has you concerned. Knowledge should help abate some of your fears.
The alprazolam will have no interaction whatsoever with the trazadone as they function in completely different ways. This person has a tolerance to each of these drugs and is in no danger if she takes them as prescribed
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