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NEW PCP visit today! Lortab questions.

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Chronic Pain
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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/19/2012 2:33 PM (GMT -7)
  I had been using the same PCP for 2 1/2 yrs. With ever visit 1 1/2-2hr after appt. referal issues and almost missed having surgery to have Kidney tumor removed because didnt give clearance till the last min. from when I was there 8 days earlier,( many other reasons) I decided to change PCP's!

  My new PCP seems real nice and I felt pretty confortable talking with him. Told him about my feet,knee,hip,neuro's. orthopedic surgeon visit.  Anyway I bit the bullet and asked i the Lortabs (hydroco/apap 10-500) that my previous PCP Rx were safe or my liver. He didn't really say they were or not but he told me he was going to Rx me Lortab 10-325 (Hydroco/Acetamin) because it didnt have the amount of Tylonol the other had.

   Im guessing that the Lortabs hydroco/apa 10-500's are stronger than the Lortab hydroco/acetamin 10-325's? But my old Rx I had 10-500mg- 30 pills a month and the new 10-325 I have 120 pills. Sounds like alot more but does it actually = or is it more?                                                            Thanks for your time reading this!!!

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cogito
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2010
Posts : 955
Posted 6/19/2012 2:46 PM (GMT -7)
The scripts have the same amount of hydrocodone = 10mg.

They only differ in the amount of acetaminophen. The FDA has required that all acetaminophen containing meds be lowered to 325mg over the next few years. My guess is that that is enough for the synergistic effect that it offers. So, strength-wise, you should consider them as equivalent.

If you found one 10/500 pill effective in the past, you should find one 10/325 pill just as effective.
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sjkly
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2007
Posts : 2113
Posted 6/19/2012 7:26 PM (GMT -7)
Yup, you got lots more pills, same amount of hydrocodone per pill-just a lot less tylenol which makes it safer for your liver.
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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/20/2012 9:02 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks Cogito and sjkly! I really dont no much about pain meds and have been on the 10-500's for a 1 1/2yr. and acutually needed more. I could deal with lots of pain in the past but Ive had more than I can handle. Thanks guy's!!!
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CRANKY 1
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 617
Posted 6/21/2012 3:42 AM (GMT -7)
Hey Worthit,

Your new PCP technically greatly increased your meds.  Although each pill has 125mg less of Tylenol, you were prescribed four times the amount of pills, so your net increase of hydrocodone for month is 900mg, which is a HUGE increase in the narcotic portion of the pain medication.  Frankly, doctors don't like to increase narcotic medications these days, so your doctor is incredibly reasonable and helpful.   Believe me, it took me years to get my pain medication increased, so I'm quite familiar with the subject.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Leigh Ann cool

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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/21/2012 6:36 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks Leigh Ann for the reply and yes it's quite a bit increase but now I'm itching. Is this something that I will maybe get used to? I had rather itch than be in pain!!!
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CRANKY 1
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 617
Posted 6/21/2012 11:23 PM (GMT -7)
Hey Worthit,

Itching can be one of the side effects of the medication, and if it is accompanied by a rash and swelling, especially around the face/head/neck area, you should seek medical attention right away as you could have breathing problems as well.  Personally, I just started taking Oxycodone, a cousin to Hydrocodone, and I was itching a bit myself for a day or so.  It was nothing major, and I didn't even think about it until you said something.  It certainly wasn't bad enough for me to even consider not taking the medication.  I had a horrible struggle trying to get my medication increased to an appropriate level, so the side effects would have to be pretty miserable for me to stop taking it.  I would just suggest familiarizing yourself with all the side effects and inform your physician if you get any of the more serious ones.

Leigh Ann cool

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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/22/2012 12:24 AM (GMT -7)
No rash,swelling or breathing problems. Justitching when I take about 2 pills in maybe about 6-8 hr. really havent time the dosage yet but took 2 1/2 Wed. and 3 Thur. I still hurt but they kinda make me a little high but I'm still coherent. Dont want to get spaced out since I have thigs to but it's nice not to limp around while doing chores. I hope that my body will adjust and I'm paranoid that I'll jinx the Dr.s gracious mood. I wish that I had mentioned my poor sleeping, Ambiens dont work like they used to but I dont want anything thats going to put me down the next day either! Im still awake and naturally wired up. Been this way my whole life but worse now! Take care!
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flower123
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2009
Posts : 856
Posted 6/22/2012 12:51 AM (GMT -7)
Are you taking the same brand of the hydrocodone? I have reacted differently to different brands.

The itching should subside with time. Like Cranky said, as long as there is no rash/swelling/hives, etc., then it's supposed to be okay, and it's usually recommended to take some Benedryl to help with it.
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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/22/2012 1:05 AM (GMT -7)
Hey flower, Im guessing that it's the same brand hyrdroco/acetamin as before but from 10-500 to 10-325 just a larger Rx,also have them filled at same place (Walmart). I have started to take a little more since I have more Rx available. Im going to see what happens over the weekend, Im not going to rush into the whole dosage, its just nice I guess knowing that its an option if I decide to take it.
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CRANKY 1
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 617
Posted 6/22/2012 5:15 AM (GMT -7)
Hey Worthit,

Even getting a medication at one location doesn't guarantee that the manufacturer will be the same every time.  In fact, I have actually received two different batches of medication at the same time because my pharmacy didn't have enough to fill my script with just one or the other.  Just FYI.

Leigh Ann cool

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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/22/2012 12:34 PM (GMT -7)
Sounds like you know what your talking about Leigh Ann. How can you tell the brand? I really dont know any of this stuff and need advice. I can say that Ive come to the point a long time ago that I dont want to deal with the pain. It's held me back from doing alot of things and I have a life to live and many things to catch up on. Thank you Miss Leigh Ann!
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CRANKY 1
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2005
Posts : 617
Posted 6/22/2012 1:50 PM (GMT -7)
Hey Worthit,

You might want to invest in a copy of the "PILL BOOK" which you can find at most pharmacies, drugstores, retail store with pharmacies, and bookstores that carry medical textbooks.  It's a big paperback that contains vertually every medication that comes in pill form, and all the information you could possibly need to know about it like formulation(what's in it), side effects, dosages, what it's used for, and there's even a section in the middle that has a photo identification guide of the most frequently prescribed medications.  It's less than $10 and they update it every year, so if you take more than one or two medications, it's worth investing in because I find that it's more useful than the information that comes from the pharmacy.

Unfortunately, I've had a lot of different medical conditions, and taken a whole slew of medications over the years.  For my migraines alone, I've probably taken thirty different drugs over the course of my lifetime.  Thus, I've obtained my knowledge base from personal experience, but I'm learning new things all the time.  I just started Oxycodone this past week for pain, and learned that it's an immediate release form, whereas OxyContin is a sustained release version of the same medication.  It's much stronger than the Hydrocodone I was taking, so my pain is being managed much more effectively.  It's only taken me several years to convince my physician to switch me over.  I also learned that I have a cousin that's just gone to a 90 day rehab facility because he is addicted this medication, which was not prescribed for him.  So I am well aware that I need to be very careful to stick to the dosage schedule for this medication.

Feel free to ask me about any medication anytime, I've probably been on it at some point...LOL!!!

Leigh Ann cool

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Snowbunny21
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2010
Posts : 3557
Posted 6/22/2012 2:45 PM (GMT -7)
Just to give a free option but rxlist.com...You will see one of the choices is their Pill Identifier category.

I use this because yes, it all depends on what your pharmacy has in stock. And they end up switching some times based on shipment routes, costs, renewing contracts, etc.

It just happened to me today as they now have switched two of my meds over to a different generic manufacturer...

Personally...I haven't ever noticed a difference in in all the years I have been on medication. From brand to generic or lab to lab.
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Worthit
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2011
Posts : 212
Posted 6/22/2012 7:14 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks Snowbunny and Leigh Ann. I've done better today buy rationing my meds about 5hr. apart. I can deal with the itching better than the pain. I shouldn't really compain I guess because I was able to get my little 7yr. little boy out of his pen, give him a bath and payed him some attention today. Lol dont freak out hes a little boxer bulldog. The pill book sounds like something I would benefit having since I do take 7 meds daily now and who knows after my neurolgist visit? Leigh Ann I never heard of it put quite that way "spawn- free" I guess I am too- sorto f;-) Thanks Guys!!!













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