Tolerance to Pain Meds

[OhioPaula]

Hi Everyone,
I've been browsing these boards for several years but rarely post. I've been seeing a pain doctor for a little over a year. Started off on the Duragesic patch (that worked well for a few months, then gradually became less and less effective). After that I tried Kadian (time-release morphine sulfate) and Nuerontin. It worked great for a while. I asked my doctor to cut back on the Kadian from 240 mgs. a day. He switched me to 180 mgs. Avinza (once a day morphine sulphate. After a week, I noticed the pain was coming back. To make a long story short, I'm now back up to 180 mgs. Kadian (plus Nuerontin) in the am, plus 120 mgs. Kadian plus Nuerontin in the pm, plus some Vistartil thrown in for help with sleep. Bottom line, the pain control is getting less and less effective. I just booked the 3rd appointment in 2 months at my pain doc and hope he doesn't just kick me out.
I've heard that rotating meds every six months is a good idea and wonder if Methadone might be a good alternative.
My pain doc only other treats one patient with IC so I hope he is able to figure out something to help. Would appreciate any one else's experience with pain meds and tolerance. And yes, I get drowsy and worry about driving - thats another issue.
OhioPaula

[aantol73]

Paula,
It is very normal for our bodies to a build a tolerance to anything that we put into it over a period of time. You may want to discuss with your doc switching meds every few months so that you do not need to continually increase your dosage. If you voice your concerns with him, he may be willing to work out a plan with you that works the best with your body. Everybody is differnt so alot of it is just by trial and error...
And you really do need to VERY careful with pain meds and driving... they stay in your system for 72 hours or longer depending how long you have been on them and if you are in ANY type of accident, they can and will charge you with a DUI... even if you haven't taken your meds that day... they are in your system.... so just a word of caution....
Hope you are well and find a treatment that works for you!!!:pray:

[Morgan Stone]

Paula,

Have you tried oxycontin yet? I had taken morphine a few times, used the patch and am now on oxycontin and it is a much better med and works very good for me. Altho, I have a friend who took methadone for back pain after takin morphine and he swears by it. He said the methadone was excellent for pain relief with very little side effects and that it did not make him drowsy either. But my mother takes methadone for her pain and she sounds like a zombie half the time. If you have not tried oxycontin, maybe you should talk to your doc about it first, my pain doc told me methadone was the last resort for me. I'm sure some other ppl on here will repond about their experience with methadone.

Good Luck Hun, keep us posted!

[Dixiefireball]

:hi: and :welcome: to the icn family. its very normal for our bodies to get use to one medicine then we have to go to something stonger:( I'm glad to see you post we hope to see you join in more offen.
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[franya]

hi

I have tried all kinds of pain meds the patch, morphine, oxycodone and some i do not remember the name. I just started methadone it does do a better job but I am still in pain most times bearable some times not:( I was very reluctant to go on methadone i heard some bad stories but what else can you do the drs have no patience if i complain. so i just take what I get. My uro has mentioned lidocaine suppositories to put in my vulva area. he has not gotten them yet. so maybe they will work!!!
has any one tried these?

Franya

[kimberlee]

Okay I'm confused I read all these threads of people with IC who take pain meds like- oxycontin, vicodin, morphine and whatnot and my doctor will not give me anything bigger than urispas-and it doesn't work. And I've asked for bigger but can't get it. Frustrating. I'm going to make an appointment with my specialist today because before i found this website I thought that doctors didn't give IC patients anything bigger than urispas. And now that I find that a lot of people take a lot more than that makes me confused frustrated and mad that i've been in extreme amounts of pain week after week for the last four years now and there's something they could have done about it!!

Thanks for letting me get that out guys!!:confused:

[SheriG]

PAULA,:hi: I am glad you brought up this subject. My doc says that indeed our bodies can become tolerantof pain meds, and thn the dose needs to be changed, or the med does. My doc is thinking of putting me on methadone as well, and like you, it scares me a little.I will try it tho..he is waiting til after my surgery on Wed to change the meds around. just FYI if you are on an antidepressant , they can do the same thing. I was on paxil, and my doc said I had paxil poopout:lmao: I hope all goes well for you. Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing!Allthe best :kiss: Sherig

[SheriG]

Kimberlee, honey, you poor thing suffering with all the pin you have, If your doc will not prescribe something that will relieve some of your pain, then I think it is time to doctor shop, or try to get into a good pain clinic.I know it sounds overwhelming, but you need to be free of pain...please look for someone who can offer some relief to you. All the best!:kiss: Sherig....please keep posting and let us know how you are doing! :) :thumbsup: :hi:

[Calli]

Does any of you use Tramadol?

[BLOORE74]

When i first got ic 1 demerol would get me 6-8 hours that was in 02! Now 2day i've taken 4 with no relief!!! Our pain is crazy~!!!! I also developed an allergy to codiene pain meds, so that leaves only demerol! I can pop them all day & still feel horrible!!!!