Hello all,
I have a question about hydro (10/325) vs OC-40

I have been taking hydro 10/325 3 or 4 times a day for about 8 months. They work pretty well at managing pain and I get the added bonus of, for a lack of a better word, energy. (Coffee helps to) I've noticed that most days, except weekends, I easily take four and once or twice I took five in one day. I guess it's the tolerance thing catching up to me. I've read a bunch of postings indicating that OC-40's beat hydro hands down. I tried one (OC-40) and yes the OC-40 eliminated every single area in my body that had just a slight amount of pain. However, I didn't get the added bonus of "energy. In fact, it made me sleepy as all get out. Just the opposite of hydro. Does this sound right or possible? I think that would be a money maker.

Thanks in advance

PS. Seems like there should be a med that combines the positives of hydro (energy level) with positives of OC-40's (pain free)

That is pretty normal, OC's potency will act as much more of a sedative from my experience. Hydro's while not necessarily adding energy are much easier to function normally on. It really all comes down to the potency of the medication in which OC is significantly stronger.

Hope that helps a bit.

try a lower dose of oxy. depending on the dose of oxy I can either get hyped up, or tired and sleepy.

I've found the same to be true. However, I try and use a stimulate...coffee/strong tea. Nothing illegal or anything. It doesn't do much, but it does beat the bloodshot eyes and the being sedated...but the OC's do feel quite nice, but functioning on them is a little tougher than the hyrdo's.

like I said, OC is stronger than hydro. you cannot take them mg for mg. search google for "narcotic dosage converter" and go from there.

After reading above responses it looks like it's not just me that gets a sedative effect from OC's. It must have a different (other than sedative) effect on a lot of other people.

I get both, just at different doses. lower dose I call "juiced" is when I get into cleaning. and then a heavier dose for those most stubborn of pains I get sleepy and have been known to fall asleep mid-sentence!

As DeeRock indicated, you probably just need to try a lower dose of Oxycontin to avoid the drowsiness. Try percocet...it has the same active ingredient as the Oxycontin (oxycodone) but is immediate release rather than extended release as the Oxycontin is. Percocet is also made in smaller dosages, so that might enable you to better titrate your dose. The only drawback to percocet being that it contains APAP, but it looks as if you have been taking vicodin which also contains similar amounts.

Good luck!

This is what I need as well...as the vicodin....kinda gives me a headache

as c dub just said. you could try the percocet which comes in 5, 7.5, and 10mg of oxycodone, there is also oxycodone immediate release (no other active ingrediant), that as far as I know come in 5, 15, and 30mg not sure about a 10mg one as I've never see one.

Thanks for the informative feedback folks. Maybe I should be glad I don't get that "euphoric" pain free feeling that some people get from OC's. From what I read on many sites (and may have seen in a family member) it can cause some people to do just about anything to get it. But, it sure does work well for sever pain.

PS. I need to start a new thread to get help on figuring out what, if not OC's, a family members liked so much that he drained the bank to get it.

yeah, be careful with those OC's. I've seen a lot of good people go from pain pills to heroin. so, just take the oxy like you're supposed to (whole pill) and you should be fine if you don't over-do it.

I have been taking 30mg roxicodone for 2 years (180 month) and heroin has never entered my mind. The people that go to the illicits are abusing their medication (I have a feeling). There are other opiates out there that are much stronger than oxycodone. It is too bad that the med that works for me and is cheap is getting so demonized. (well the IR is cheap anyway)

I don't get a euphoric feeling either. Maybe the first day or 2 years ago when I was first prescribed them, but the more pain you are in, the less you are going to feel any euphoria. Hence why people that are in no pain get such a good feeling from them. I guess if I took double the amount I am prescribed I would, but then I am going to run out early and be in pain and WD for half the month. Would rather take as prescribed and be able to move and function all month so I am able to support my family.

JMO

mallinktodt did release a 20 milligram IR dose this year. So now it is 5 15 20 and 30.

Actavis, xanodyne, and qualitest still only manufacturer the 5, 15, and 30.
The FDA/DEA sent a cease and diissist to ethex so thay are not allowed to produce any product, which in my mind played a big role why there was such a shortage in the beginning of the year.
Someone mentioned that sun pharma is now manufacturing oxycodone IR, but I am not sure about that because my phArmacy has never carried tthem.

this is most likely true. but an acquaintance I know had a father who was addicted to oxycontin (from regular use) and his son was giving him heroin in gelcaps telling him it was smashed up oxy. I hated to hear about this. but for the most part you're probably right about the ones going from pain pills to heroin. I'm just saying it can/does happen and telling that person to be careful and to not seek out the euphoric feelings of it as it can be dangerous.

Oxycodone is stronger than diamorphine, mg/mg, and certainly many times stronger orally. Perhaps people who run out of their oxycodone prescriptions turn to street drugs, and if their doctor cuts them off suddenly, it's not entirely the patient's fault.

Both drugs have no ceiling, so whatever you can achieve with one drug, you can achieve with the other.

The following chart is a useful guide to the relative potency of opioids used in the UK: http://www.yacpalliativecare.com/documents/download57.pdf

I'm not sure about a couple of the listings here though - I know hydromorphone is usually given as about 6-8x stronger than morphine, but orally? Also, buprenorphine is usually estimated at about 30x the potency of morphine, but this is the third time I've seen it estimated as being much stronger (60x, or 75x for the patch). I've also noticed that, while in the US fentanyl is generally estimated as being 80-100x morphine's potency, in the UK it is more often estimated as 100-150x. I wonder what accounts for these variations?

This looks like a protocol-type chart used within one particular NHS area. Different areas have different protocols, even though they are funded by the NHS. The NHS as a whole appoints representatives for different areas. This can lead to what has been called the "Postcode Lottery". It came to light a few years ago in a big way when a woman was refused Herceptin (trastuzumab) for breast cancer, because the regional NHS area wouldn't fund it. Yet, if she lived a couple of houses further down the road, she would have been given the drug.

Something else to remember when looking at the chart (thanks for that by the way; I will save it) is that it is specifically for chronic pain. The equivalencies are often different when given for acute pain. For example, acute pain treated with IV 10mg morphine would need ~60mg to achieve similar analgesia. But when morphine is given round the clock for chronic pain, it leaves a metabolite behind known as M6G, and the oral dose can be halved.

Even when parenteral morphine is given at, say, 5mg per hour, every hour, if they change to a SC syringe driver as they do in palliative care, they can start with a lower dose per hour because the nature of the analgesia changes when given continuously as opposed to every hour or every 4-6 hours.

Dee, you are correct. If you want the euphoria - you will need more and more. Then, the doc will cut you off. This happened to my brother.

I have not allowed a dose increase in 5 years. BUT I continue to get tolerable pain relief 70% of the time (my rule). I don't "feel"them, but it eases life.

As to Heroin, I never have had a desire to take this drug. I take Morphine Sulfate with Oxycodone (no Tylenol) as break through.

You most likely know this - there is a difference between addiction and dependence. More of a psychological thing. Cause withdrawals happen with dependence too.

I do not get that energy thing. If I am tired, I get sleepy - even tho I've had the same dose for so many years. If I am not tired, I just have reduced pain. And that is good enough for me.

It is good advice you give. If you seek euphoria, you'll be in trouble soon enough.

Good to talk to you Dee.

Rain

thank you for your kind words. I try to help and give good advice when I think it will do good.

I find hydrocodone lasts longer for me. Unfortunately I take OxyContin because taking hydrocodone would require too much APAP for me at this point in my dosing.