Longer acting opiates? I need something with time release but convincing a doc is not easy?

I have been treated with Norcos (10mg) now for 2 years at 5 a day. I have kept this dosing and have no desire for something stronger but something longer acting. Why is it so hard to get a time release from a doctor. If it were any other medication the time release would be the first choice. If I were going to abuse opiates I would have already been for the last couple years. Really, I have been put under the microscope already for these years and have never abused or tried to pull any crap. For someone with chronic pain like me, abuse or overuse is not a option and I dont seem to get these great highs that all these abusers get. I guess that is because I actually have pain. If I were to double my dose one day trying to achieve a high then I would screw myself out of a day with relief..to me its thats simple. Anyways I have doubled my doses before as recommended from my doc after being hospitalized and I never got high for christ sake. I just need something that last longer.. its hard
Answer:
If your doc won't give you what you need (and if what you are asking for is reasonable), then why not find another doc? There has been plenty of research and advances in pain management, and I understand there are experts around who "get it right" without serious addiction issues (it seems hard to not develop some level of biochemical dependency.) Find out which docs are doing cutting edge work and what are the most current %26 effective types of treatment for pain management, and explore which of the approaches might work best for you. Then you can seek a "second opinion" either from a local specialist who uses that approach to treatment, or a national expert (if you're willing %26 able to travel) who you can see 2-4 times per year, using your current doc for ongoing maintenance (if both docs are willing to work collaboratively on your case.) If you like the local person, maybe you switch to that doc as your provider.ADDED: Wow, it sounds like even hearing feedback about the potential of addiction to painkillers makes you defensive %26 irrational, not to mention abrasive %26 insulting. It sounds like you're terrified of not getting what you need. I'm wondering if that type of behavior is a side effect of your medication, or maybe a consequence of not being effectively treated?? Whatever the case, when people offer support, useful or not, that response is disrespectful, sounds unappreciative, and is absolutely inappropriate, not to mention that it makes people not want to be involved on this site and not want to take the risk of offering help. Bottom line, that calls for an apology.

---

Ask for Gabapentin. It usually is used for seizures but a strong side-effect is pain-killing. It was my savior when I was desperate with my back and needed 2 hip replacements.

---

Ask your doctor about pain medications in transdermal patch form. Of course you would have to stop taking any pills, but there are medications available in a patch, which would provide a constant small dose over a 1-3 day time frame (depending on the med/dose) to provide the consistent pain relief you seek.

---

Whether opiates are taken for medicinal purposes or recreation, they are addictive, and they can cause a high. Just because a patient is in pain, it does not mean that he/she cannot get high off of painkillers. Stating that someone has a "lower IQ" because they become addicted to something is simply a case of your ignorance of this type of medication. At five per day for two years, you are definately addicted to your medication. If you stop abruptly, you will feel physical withdrawal, and may even have some psychological symptoms. Taking this medicine as prescribed doesn't make you exempt from dependency.Have you not heard the recent findings in the Purdue's OxyContin scandal? There is a risk of addiction with or without pain my friend, and this is why doctors are hesitant to prescribe it. You can claim that you are different than an "abuser," but when it comes down to human basics, we all have a brain that compensates for additional chemicals being put into our body.Doctors can have their licence taken away for making a mistake like this. If he/she feels you do not need to be prescribed to OxyContin, then you probably don't need it. Given the fact that you are only taking 10mg Norcos, your doctor isn't going to jump to OxyContin from that. They will usually goto Percocet first, and then after your tolerance to that is through the roof, they put you on OxyContin until you reach a dose of (2) 80 mg pills a day. You are better off on nothing, and using natural pain techniques. Our pain threshold actually decreases when on NO pain medication, making the condition less painful. A lot of people with chronic back problems do different exercises, acupuncture, and stretching techniques with much success. You are better off staying away from anything long-acting. I suggest reading up on this at the website I listed below. It's devoted to giving an UNBIASED view of opioids.

---

I was in a head on collision 2002, I had many injuries the most seriuos was breaking my neck,but luckily not the spinal cord. I have encountered the same thing,until I was reccomended to pain management. Then I was taken seriuosly after taking every test they could think of.Finaly found the medications that work for me.I'm not mentioning what I'm taking now because I found out that everyone responds to medications differently. Good luck

---

I can't stand answers like the one from: imsoeffinhxc. These are the very kind of people that make it so difficult for those with chronic pain and pain management. They seem to think they understand and have a whole lot of advise. People like this should keep to themselves.

---

Unfortunately like all opiate use in chronic pain it begins to be less effective. You should really consider acupuncture or seeing a pain management specialist (check the yellow pages) so you can learn about all the new available options for chronic pain management. Many specialists are now integrating both western and eastern medical treatments with proven results.

---

I feel your pain. I'm 26 and in Pain Management. The only time -release drugs are stronger than what you are taking. But, regular docs are loathe to prrescribe strong, long acting narcotics. Your best bet, if you haven't already, is to take you rrecords to a Pain Management Clinic. They will give you long acting meds and breakthrough meds. All the Tylenol is not good for your liver anyway. if you already see a PM doc, don't be afraid to ask for something long-acting. They're there to help. I was terrified of docs after being in pain for 5 years and pain serious enough to keep me bedridden for a year and a half, but when I went to my PM doc for the first time, everything turned around. He genuinely cares and gives me meds that WORK, and adjusts the doasges carefully to give me maximum relief with minimum side-effects. He has given me a long acting med (Oxycontin) so I can actually sleep through the night (before I woke up when the pain meds wore off, took more, and couldn't go back to sleep until after they kicked in-- all in all about an hour's worth of waking) and a breakthrough med (Oxy IR) to help with pain that breaks through the Oxycontin occasionally. Like I said, take your records and see a PM doc. they WILL help and it WILL change your life. it sure changed mine. E-mail me if you have any questions or if I can help in any way!Also, for the person who said you have to stop taking any pills if you use a pain patch... NOT TRUE!! Many docs give breakthrough pain pills (immediate acting narcotics such as Oxy IR or Morphine) because the patches take up to 24 hours to give relief, and they can't be changed for 3 days, so if you have any pain that breaks through in that time, you have to have something to take. In fact, it is commone practice in pain management to give a long-acting narcotic in combination with an immediate acting one to be taken ONLY if needed for breakthrough pain.EDIT: About carrying your bottle... there are a couple of ways around that. I have 2 key fob bottles for my meds, one for my Oxycontin and one for my Oxy IR. If you get caught with these it is simple enough to call your doc and verify you have a legit prescription. The other thing you can do, which i do for travelling (because I get 100 of the Oxy IR's so the pharmacy just gives me the unopened bottle they get from the drug company because that's how they come) is to ask for a smaller bottle; with your prescription, you already get one r two extra stickers that have the prescription number, your name, and the drug name on them. Just attach that sticker to the smaller bottle and carry them that way. That way, if there's any question, whoever is questioning can call the pharmacy and give them the RX number and they can verify that your script is legit.

---

I know exactly what you mean!! I would almost bet that you are not being treated by pain management specialist, if you are they are the wrong ones!! I have been dealing with doctors not taking my questions and requests seriously reguarding pain for about 3yrs before I finally got into a pain management clinic. Its really a shame that we have to suffer for others stupidity. The Doctors can have MRI's, etc. right in front of them and have to know that you are in pain and then they are afraid to prescribe you a suitable medication because the are held accountable for every prescription that they write. As a patient you are always having to watch what you say, or how you say it so that you don't give them the wrong impression. (Especially if you are young). I finally put my foot down and insisted on more help, because my pain was causing other physical issues and I was having to take medication for that now.
I finally was refered to a Pain Management Clinic, and believe me you still have to jump through hoops, but you at least get taken seriously and they know what to prescribe that will actually help. When I started taking these meds though, I had to sign contracts with the clinic reguarding my use. I was insulted in a way, but was so happy to finally be treated properly for my pain that I overlooked it. lol
I even have to agree to coming into the office, with all of my medications, randomly for a "pill count". Pretty ridiculous, considering, like you said, if I don't take them properly or give them away, then I hurt!!
When I first went into the clinic, they added medications to my Lortab(similar to Norco) such as Nuerotin and Tramadol.
Now they have finally be changed to a workable solution.
I take Methadone (which I was really scared of) but only 10mg, twice a day, Tramadol, and Lyrica (replaced the Nuerotin) for sciatic nerve damage.which was caused from not treating my back pain seriously.
Anyway, I hope this helps, I kinda get carried away when I talk about this stuff!! lol
Good Luck

---