United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My brother had to go back in the hospital this week for surgery on his lung, also result from motorcycle accident.He is taking nurotin about 1800mg aday which just not enough for his pain. While in the hospital for pain they gave him oxycontin. He said it seemed to be really helping the pain in his left tbpi arm, so they wrote him a prescrition. How dangerous is this drug and how addictive? Is anyone else on this drug and does it help.

Linda, I used this drug for about 3 months and i must say it was BRILLIANT! I could not find anyhting to help with my pain and this drug did the trick! However, when I got off fof it (cold turkey, dont do it) it got ugly! This is a very strong drug!! It kind of gave my that high feeling, I was kind of a zombie, BUT I had no pain. his website has great FAQ's http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/o ... tin-qa.htm

COurt

Linda, must say I am little surprised that the hospital gave him Oxycontin (which is a long acting, slow release formulation) rather than starting him on Oxycodone (with Tylenol) taken as needed every 3-4 hours...usually Oxycontin is reserved for "chronic" pain when many other non-opiod pain meds have first been tried...at least that is my understanding.
Regardless, I suffered with severe pain 24/7 for almost 3 years before I was prescribed Oxycodone and subsequently, Oxycontin. It has been a Godsend for me and has given me back some quality of life where before, pain literally ruled my life!
It is a drug to be very careful with however! I started on a very low dose and it has been gradually increased. I do NOT and never have gotten any kind of a high from this drug...I would think that would be an indication of too much too soon. If it is being taken specifically to treat chronic pain, there should not be any euphoric effects, but if the cause of the pain has been eliminated and the user continues to take the medication, it definitely could cause this effect and there is then great potential for abuse. This is why it should be prescribed for "chronic" pain conditions only and not for a short term injury. Abuse can also occur if the patient is seeking to be 100% pain free (impossible to my mind) and takes more than the prescribed dose to achieve this. When taken as prescribed, I have found it to be a very safe drug for the relief of chronic pain...I am functional again with no impairment whatsoever. It is not expected that my chronic pain will ever resolve, but if it did, I would certainly reduce my dosage very gradually when stopping this medication. There is no reason to go cold turkey if you are working with your doctor or pain specialist.
Hope this has helped!

Hi All!!

Ive gotta admit this is about the most helpfull medication i have found, believe me ive tried the lot.
I know its a pretty serious drug to take but if it makes things a bit more bareable - so be it!
I was on 3600 mg Gabapentin and god knows what else, i am know off all of that, dont even take sleepers ( trazadone & zopoclone)
I take between 60 - 80 mg of Oxycontin and one tablet of Kepra a day - im not zombeed out at all - i work full time and am studying for a professional qualification.
Im just over 4 years LTBPI, It does get easier....honest!
I advise everyone to research all meds and make your own decission...... one day i will be drug free!

Best Wishes!!!

Chris

Hi Guys

Sorry, I forgot to sign in in my last reply.

Regards

Mitch

Isn't oxycontin an opiate based drug? If so, it might not be the best for your brother if he has lung problems at opiates tend to depress breathing function a bit. Maybe check with the doctor.
Jen NZ

hi linda,

i'm going on 3 years RTBPI and have been on oxycontin for about 3.5 years now. i'm finally down to 10 mg once per day, usually late afternoon or evening BUT i have had rare occasions where i haven't needed to take it all! i find the weather affects how much i need to take it also and, lately, with all the damp and cooler weather, there have been days where i have to take 2.

i'm lucky in that i seem to not have any addictions to it - or so my doctor says.

it DOES help with the pain and doesn't make you drowsy but i would still be very careful with it as i've seen posts from others who had a heck of a time getting off it.

regards,

jan

I think Oxycontin is a really good drug and has helped me greatly through these last few rocky years. I take 20 mg twice a day and 10 before i go to bed. It is very unfortunate that the media makes this medication out to be a "devil" drug. I will say though that it has to be treated with respect and only used as prescribed. As for danger factors as for my understanding they go away with time. I'm not sure but i think its only when you start out at the higher doses (60 and above per dose) that the respiratory depression begins to set in. But checking with your doctor certainly wouldn’t hurt him. How many mg was he given in the hospital? Anyways hopes my two cents helps someone

Andrew
RTBPI