Re: prednisone and hydrocodone

[Guest guest]

I seem to be allergic to codeine, and I believe hydrocodone is

similar. But for whatever reason, I don't like the way hydrocodone

makes me feel. It's as if my head is a balloon floating a few feet

above my body. That's not a pleasant experience, so I don't take it.

If it helps your pain and doesn't make you high, I say go for it. Just

try not to keep increasing the dosage. And your doctor will monitor

you, too, I'm sure.

Sue

On Dec 9, 2010, at 1:34 PM, Terzo wrote:

>

> Also, I do not think I will be emotionally addicted to the drug. I

> get no

> high from it. I don't feel any different emotionally at all. I am

> surprised

> becasue I always heard that narcotics make you feel good, but I have

> no

> change in my feelings.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new to this list, and to RA, but I have taken hydrocodone and

know something about that. For one period of time I took it for three

months - every three hours to control pain. When the pain was gone I

stopped taking it and had no aftereffects whatsoever. Vicadin is a mild

form of morphine, and unless you take it when you already feel

physically good, for the purpose of getting high, you won't get high

from it. My husband took massive amounts of morphine for pain just in

order to function on a daily basis and never got high or hooked. He

died, but that's a different story.

With the hydrocodone I found I have to take it consistently every so

many hours in order for it to be effective at all - it is no good (for

me) as a quick pain med. I use tramadol for that. My RA is obviously

not advanced enough for me to even know the names of really fancy pain

killers. The roomytologist (cannot spell that) wants me take

leflunomide (Arava) which I will try for awhile, but since I already

have diabetes I'll be watching my blood glucose levels pretty closely.

Good to find a group.... Carol , Huntington Beach CA

On 12/9/10 10:34 AM, Terzo wrote:

>

> Darvocet never handled the pain very well. But I did take it, along with

> Naproxen, until Darvocet got banned by the FDA. Since with my Luvox I

> cannot

> take a lot of painkillers, I ended up starting hydrocodone.

>

> I was really really reluctant to go on it. But it is finallly helping my

> pain. It is less, and I even have a few hours a day when I am completelly

> pain free. That has not been the case in over a year.

>

> My question is, are there major risks to taking narcotics? I tried to stay

> off them,. and I am very concerned to be on one. However, it really helps

> the pain.

>

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Arava had no effect on my blood glucose levels, but it might effect

them in some people. It's wise to keep a close watch on them.

Sue

On Dec 9, 2010, at 4:45 PM, Carol wrote:

>

> With the hydrocodone I found I have to take it consistently every so

> many hours in order for it to be effective at all - it is no good (for

> me) as a quick pain med. I use tramadol for that. My RA is obviously

> not advanced enough for me to even know the names of really fancy pain

> killers. The roomytologist (cannot spell that) wants me take

> leflunomide (Arava) which I will try for awhile, but since I already

> have diabetes I'll be watching my blood glucose levels pretty closely.

[Guest guest]

I'm usually very quiet but I was reading this about the Vicadin and I beg to

differ. I was prescribed Vicadin for my pain and I either had an allergic

reaction to it or it was too strong for me. Since I am allergic to most meds

when it was first prescribed for me, I cut the dose in half. I was

literally so " stoned " I sat and stared into space for hours. Was also very

sick to my stomach. Needless to say, I never took that again. I was put on

Fentanyl patches which work wonderful but do not take all the pain away..

gosh, does anything? Anyway, I do have a scrip for Tramadol and am scared to

try those after the Vicadin incident. It is not a high dosage. Just don't

know if it will have the same effect on me as the Vicadin.

Just my 2 cents

Shay in Snowy Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Shay

Just my experience but vicoden is not for me either. Had a car accident a number

of years ago and they put me on those. I was so sick. Now that I have RA

tramadol is my savior. I take six a day. They don't make me sick or high or

drowsy or anything. They do help the pain tremendously. I hope you will give

them a chance. They also dont seem to be addicting as far as I have seen. I just

have more pain when I dont take them. Good luck with everything.

Carol

Re: [ ] prednisone and hydrocodone

I'm usually very quiet but I was reading this about the Vicadin and I beg to

differ. I was prescribed Vicadin for my pain and I either had an allergic

reaction to it or it was too strong for me. Since I am allergic to most meds

when it was first prescribed for me, I cut the dose in half. I was

literally so " stoned " I sat and stared into space for hours. Was also very

sick to my stomach. Needless to say, I never took that again. I was put on

Fentanyl patches which work wonderful but do not take all the pain away..

gosh, does anything? Anyway, I do have a scrip for Tramadol and am scared to

try those after the Vicadin incident. It is not a high dosage. Just don't

know if it will have the same effect on me as the Vicadin.

Just my 2 cents

Shay in Snowy Michigan

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sue - that's good to hear. Carol

On 12/9/10 2:19 PM, marysue wrote:

>

> Carol,

>

> Arava had no effect on my blood glucose levels, but it might effect

> them in some people. It's wise to keep a close watch on them.

>

> Sue

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Shay- I can't take Vicadin, but I take Tramadol fairly regularly. It really

helps my pain levels, but I only take it when I really need it. I have enough

that I have to take every day already- I am sure you know the feeling- lol.

 

Maybe that will help you-- Oh, and by the way- Detroit is my hometown...Go Red

Wings!!!!!!

 

 in SC

 

I'm usually very quiet but I was reading this about the Vicadin and I beg to

differ. I was prescribed Vicadin for my pain and I either had an allergic

reaction to it or it was too strong for me. Since I am allergic to most meds

when it was first prescribed for me, I cut the dose in half. I was

literally so " stoned " I sat and stared into space for hours. Was also very

sick to my stomach. Needless to say, I never took that again. I was put on

Fentanyl patches which work wonderful but do not take all the pain away..

gosh, does anything? Anyway, I do have a scrip for Tramadol and am scared to

try those after the Vicadin incident. It is not a high dosage. Just don't

know if it will have the same effect on me as the Vicadin.

Just my 2 cents

Shay in Snowy Michigan

[Guest guest]

I've been on tramadol for a few years and for me it takes the edge off

of the pain but doesn't do much else for me. I recently started on

vicodin and well I have it here but haven't taken it just yet.

On 12/9/2010 10:17 PM, Shay wrote:

>

> I'm usually very quiet but I was reading this about the Vicadin and I

> beg to

> differ. I was prescribed Vicadin for my pain and I either had an allergic

> reaction to it or it was too strong for me. Since I am allergic to

> most meds

> when it was first prescribed for me, I cut the dose in half. I was

> literally so " stoned " I sat and stared into space for hours. Was also very

> sick to my stomach. Needless to say, I never took that again. I was put on

> Fentanyl patches which work wonderful but do not take all the pain away..

> gosh, does anything? Anyway, I do have a scrip for Tramadol and am

> scared to

> try those after the Vicadin incident. It is not a high dosage. Just don't

> know if it will have the same effect on me as the Vicadin.

> Just my 2 cents

> Shay in Snowy Michigan

>

>

[Guest guest]

See, I can't take Tramadol because of the Luvox I am on (an antidepressent)

my psychiatrist said I could try another antidepressant, but its taken me

years to find the right psychiatric medicines to keep my bipolar under

control. I have not been in a mental hospital in years, and messing with

those medications could completely destabilize me. Bipolar is similar to RA

in the sense that it takes a while to find the right cocktail of meds that

work, and I don't want to mess with the medications that are working so well

and take a chance that I will have problems again.

I have had no ill effects with the vicodin. I don't feel spaced out or high

at all, and it works very well for the pain. Like I said, I now have much

less pain and even times when I have no pain at all, and that is a first for

me. I'm just worried that taking it will effect my health in a bad way in

the future.

[Guest guest]

I was on tramadol but it was giving me nightmares and early waking insomnia. I

was switched to hydrocodone and don't have any problems. I think it is just

very individual.

in No VA

[Guest guest]

Vicodin has always worked very well for me. That being said, my husband has

hepatitis C and has to be careful with Vicodin because it can adversely

affect the liver (it has acetaminophen in it). If you're going to be on it

long-term I would think your doctor would have you in for regular blood

tests to check on your liver.

PJ

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Terzo

Subject: Re: [ ] prednisone and hydrocodone

I have had no ill effects with the vicodin. I don't feel spaced out or high

at all, and it works very well for the pain. Like I said, I now have much

less pain and even times when I have no pain at all, and that is a first for

me. I'm just worried that taking it will effect my health in a bad way in

the future.

,_._,___

[Guest guest]

Hi

So sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Got hit with that massive

storm Saturday night and Sunday- with no power all day Sunday which meant

hauling in wood for the fireplace all day to keep the house warm. So after

all that carrying in of the wood, I had to recuperate cuz my body was

screaming. Anyway, thank you so much for your answer about the Tramadol.

Mine is fifty mg so I'm going to try a half dose of it at first. I'm getting

my courage from you since you can't take vicadin either. Thank you again for

getting back to me on it. It is so appreciated.

Shay in Michigan

[Guest guest]

By the way I live in a small town called n....maybe you've heard

of it? It's good to see someone else from Michigan on this list.

Shay in Michigan

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol.

Thank you so much for getting back to me about the Tramadol and your

experience with vicoden. Knowing there are others out there like me sure

helps a lot. Thank you again!

Shay in Michigan

[Guest guest]

Shay- hope it provides many pain-free days for you. Goodness knows we need all

of the help we can get!

 

Gentle hugs-- Chris

 

Hi

So sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Got hit with that massive

storm Saturday night and Sunday- with no power all day Sunday which meant

hauling in wood for the fireplace all day to keep the house warm. So after

all that carrying in of the wood, I had to recuperate cuz my body was

screaming. Anyway, thank you so much for your answer about the Tramadol.

Mine is fifty mg so I'm going to try a half dose of it at first. I'm getting

my courage from you since you can't take vicadin either. Thank you again for

getting back to me on it. It is so appreciated.

Shay in Michigan