The whole requirement that acetamenophen be mixed in with the hydro is ridiculous. Raising it from 80mg to 200mg WTF! I mean, how hard is it to go and but a bottle of 500 tylenol for about $5 bucks?

That is why I am curious as to why the 10/650 would be more functional? It is just an extra tylenol which does almost nothing.

bwilk
a lot of people believe that the acet actually boosts the painkiller.
I had roxicodones before and I dind't think they were as effective when I dind't take them with a tylenol.

I think APAP does boost the effect of the Hydro, but the ratio is dependent on the individual's body chemistry..JMO

Tylox, trade name, is actually oxycodone, which is much more powerful than hydrocodone. it's more popular 'format' are percocets and percodans, but it's also sold by the makes of tylenol #2,3 and 4 as Tylox.
hex

i had some questions about hydro side-effects i had when i was on it. now that i'm off it, seems like these problems are going away.

here's the list of side-effects i had:

1. water retention and puffiness
2. weight gain
3. craving for sugar
4. urinary retention (had trouble peeing)
5. horrible constipation (even on a low dose)
6. short term memory problems
7. depression
8. moodiness
9. dry skin
10. less sex drive

anybody else have any of these side-effects?

Quote:

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1. water retention and puffiness
2. weight gain
3. craving for sugar
4. urinary retention (had trouble peeing)

---

yes! Yes! I did (and do) have those side effects. A while back I posted about water retention/weight gain and did not get much of a response, other than when you are in less pain, you have more of an appetite.

The water retention was REALLY bad a few weeks ago - I literally could not put my shoes on, and gained 8 pounds over a period of a couple days - all water. Went to the ER since I was also short of breath.

They ran all the heart tests and couldn't find anything.

Still do not have an explanation, although the water retention has gotten better.

It is somewhat of a relief to find someone else who has had the same symptoms.

The problem is, I've been on hydro on and off for several years, for chronic pain, and I did not have these side effects until now - wonder if it is a cumulative effect type thing?

I have been taking Tramadol for bursitis in my hip and arthritis and I don't feel it takes away the pain. I have only taken 1 tablet and should try two but I've tried hydrocodon and it works better for the pain...what is your opinion?

Be careful with the Tramadol. Alot of folks think that it is non-narcotic thus non addictive and not dangerous. The thing about Tramadol is that it is slower acting and stays in your system longer so people think they can re-dose sooner when it's actually piling up in your system. My mom takes it and when she feels like it's not working anymore, she'll stop for a day or two, take lortabs during that time, and then go back on the tramadols. She hates the way narcotics make her feel so she likes to stick with the trams. She's started using the CR's (Controlled Release) now and likes those alot. She's using them for degenerative disc. Good luck to you!

Thank you for your input.

People still do the Adkins thing? Come on now...YOUR BODY NEEDS CARBOHYDRATES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY...

Just because you do Atkins does not mean you don't get carbohydrates. And I think my back and hips might just hurt less if I were to lose the 45+ pounds I need to lose.

Would codeine be as helpful as hydrocodone for severe back pain?

Although I have no firsthand experience, I would guess that codeine would be almost as effective, but it would have to be prescribed in a proportional amount in relation to hydrocodone, i.e. hydrocodone is about 6 times more powerful that codeine. That said, I don't think that codeine is listed for "moderate to severe pain" like hydrocodone is, so a doctor most likely would use the stronger medication.

I was just curious, but other than normal side effects, does anyone else have trouble sleeping on hydrocodone? If anyone does, any recommendation other than take it earlier in the day? That is one of the worst side effects for me with this medication

I can't sleep if I've taken it close to bedtime. In terms of OTC, I would suggest trying a 3mg. melatonin.

Hi Diane,
Are you in NC? If so could you point me in the right direction. A lot of ROP's are NOT servicing NC.


Thanks for all of your help!

SKM

I was wondering do the name brands Lortab, Vicodin, etc... share the same generics? So does Lortab 5/500 & Vicodin 5/500 share the same generic brands, so generics serve all name brands. Or does each name brand have its own set of generics? I was under the impression that its all the same thing hydro w/apap.
I normally get scripted Vicodin 5/500 and for some reason it got changed to Lortab 5/500 and there has been delays at the pharmacy trying to get my meds. I was wondering if it was because either they were trying to fill for Lortab name brand or trying to fill for Lortab generics.

Hi guys I have a question please. I have taken 7.5/750 for about one year.
I was just switched to the yellow 10/325, but I get so so so so so sleepy after taking these.
The pain relief is the same, but I do not like the droopy feeling that I am experiencing.

The doctor that I saw stated that the 7.5 had too much risk on my liver. So I am glad about the reduction of risk to my liver but I still would like to go back to the 7.5s? Plz give you opinion on this thank you.

Take ū of a pill?

I too have difficulty sleeping Because of Hydrocodone. I get energized which I guess is opposite
of most peeps? I get around that by taking something to go to sleep. I take 300mg of Seroquel
for Bi-polar every night before going to bed. That helps me sleep like a rock.

opioids are pain relievers so when you get that relief before sleep its such a RsuuuushshshshsHHHHhh,.

I tend to stay awake longer under the influence of hydrocodone as well. I'm not exactly sure of the mechanism involved in this--perhaps it depends on our individual body chemisty. I've wondered about this for a while...

Maybe it's just the fact that when I've taken hydrocodone, my body doesn't feel as much pain, and is normalized somewhat. Normalization is a great experience for CP sufferers, kind of reminds us of the good ole days, so to speak. My brain must not want to waste the feeling by going to sleep.

I just don't get it. I am sure people just don't get me either. I hurt my ankle a few years back and got a bottle of Vicodin. They were these huge horse pills (750s?) that only worked if I took 5-6. Even then the pain killing was not worth the sleepiness I felt and I felt polluted. I was so disappointed that I spent all this money and got a bunch of useless white pills. Even OXYs (20s) seemed a total waste, but were a little more effective. They were both from a corner pharmacy so I am pretty sure they were real. In my book Morphine is the best damn invention since slice bread. I understand that certain meds effect certain people differently, but I just did not get it (oxy hydro/vico). Morphine took my swelling away and did not make me sleepy at all. I would guess that Morphine is much harder to get and cost more money, but for me they (15mg Morphine) were the best thing for pain and swelling. I guess you all have your reasons, but considering that the acetaminophen ruins your liver I would try 1/4-1/2 a morphine pill rather than hydro. I guess there is a higher level of addiction (compared to hydro), but if I needed Hydro/OXY every day to keep going I would look into the Morphine. I am sure that you have you reasons for choosing the meds you choose, but for me there is no comparison.

It would great if we could all get morphine for our pain when we needed it, but the truth of the matter is that most doc's, even PM specialists, won't prescribe the stuff at all. My PM doc would probably only script those if I got my leg run over by a train, picked apart by scavengers, ripped off my body, and sold on the black market. So...the measly effects of small dose hydrocodone will have to suffice.

Morphine remains one of the best opioids indeed. But it does not relieve swelling; the reduction in inflammation must have been going on anyway. It shouldn't be that expensive either assuming there is no shortage in opium supplies. Injections cost around the equivalent of $2 for most strengths in the UK.

Modified release morphine tablets are expensive though, as most MR opioid preparations are.

Morphine is the standard strong analgesic used in the UK and it is given as the first choice in cases of severe pain. Only if individuals have problems with it, or constipation is a major problem, will something different be offered. But for the vast majority of cases, it works.

I always assumed that it lowered my blood pressure and in turn lowered my swelling, but maybe it was something else. I was not taking anything else with it so maybe it was the placebo effect or just the pasing of a few hours. I understand that most doctors only offer Morphine if you are on your deathbed and I feel for all of you. I had a friend who was a pharmaceutical rep and he would get these sample packs from somewhere. He unfortunately moved to a new city though and I no longer benefit much from his expertise. ;-)