prednisone and hydrocodone

December 9, 2010

I have been seeing the RA specialist since May, and things are finally

starting to improve. For a long time I was taking Darvocet for the pain. The

RA didn't want me on prednisone. I also did not want to take it, because of

the side effects, but also because I am bipolar and the prednisone made it

worse. I have been stable on my bipolar meds for two years now, and the

prednisone almost changed that. I had bad mood swings and depression. It was

very hard, and I almost ended up in the mental hospital again. When I got

off the prednisone, however, the pain got a lot worse.

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. I have heard that narcotics work less and less well over time,

and that they eventually make the pain worse. My dad says that they make you

more sensitive to pain, so that when you max out you have much more pain. My

mom says they make your face puffy and hurt your body.

I can look up things online, but what I am really interested in is personal

experience. Has anyone on the list taken hydrocodone for a while? What was

your experience. Is it safer than prednisone? Have you found that you build

up a tolerance to the med, and have to take more? Has it hurt you? I really

want feedback on what to expect.

As of now, the hydrocodonr is making life so much more manageable. I am just

worried about the long term effects. I am only 35 and don't want to have

horrible problems in my forties or fifties.

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.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

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