pain prescription written differently

If you're talking about "take every 8 hours as needed for pain" vs "take one every 8 hours" then no, there's no difference. Some times my doc writes it as "every 8 hours as needed" and other times it's "every 8 hours as needed with maximum of 3 per day." In her particular office it just depends on which one of the MA's or CNA's actually type up the prescription. But the end result is the same for me. Take one no more than one every 8 hours is what it means to me.

Honestly, it doesn't sound like anything to be worried about, but if you have questions you can always call the doc's office just to make sure.

Hope this helps

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Curious people are interesting people...I wonder why that is.
~Bill Maher

Is the total number of pills you received different? That would be the thing I would check, just in case she was trying to get you to take less of them. Or like Piercings described, there is often an MDD (Maximum Daily Dosage). Knowing how many pills were prescribed would tell you if anything has really changed, or if as Piercings has said, it was just one of the optional ways to write it.

PaLady

The doctors are so regulated and watched when they write for opiates that prescription writing may change with the last seminar, email, or chat with a colleague. I am a retired (by disability) psychologist. Oxycontin is such a superior medicine to all the other serious pain relievers that force you to take acetominephen along with them.
I avoided oxycontin just because of all this press about abuse, but I have found that time release opiates are far preferable to the immediate high and progressively lower and lower effect of Percocet (which I still take for breakthrough pain).
My doc gives me 10mg which I break in half to make Percocet 5mg with half the acetominephen. He writes it for half the dose and I can take it 3 times a day. My pain varies. If I spend a few hours shopping, which means standing for long periods (two hours) I will need all three.
I also get facet injections in my spine for low back and neck pain every 6 months, but that does not dull the grinding bone pain in my right hip from a boating accident in which I shredded the cartiledge.
Definitely ask your doc these things. I am sure your doc will be willing to explain the difference in prescription to you.
And oxycontin is a great medication. It gives you a lot of freedom.

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