Guest guest Posted October 23, 2002 Report Share Posted October 23, 2002 I've just had my first " bad " experience with my PCP & his office in trying to get a refill for percocet--and I don't like how they made me feel. I'm very conscientious regarding how much & how often I take it. I called asking for a refill and perhaps a stronger dose to take just at night as that is when I usually experience the most discomfort (it's always been that way & I don't know why). The doctor's office called back saying that I would have to be seen before any increase in dosage would be given & that included a refill. The earliest appt. was for this Friday. When I asked if I was just supposed to suffer until then, the dr. agreed to give me enough to get through until then. The gal on the phone said that I had gone through a month's supply in 3 weeks. I was surprised because I thought I had stretched it out. Now, here's the really weird part. When I looked at the bottle, it said " 1 every 8 hours " (they're 650). I could have sworn that the other prescription labels read " 1 every 4 hours " . I went routing through all my bottles & sure enough, I was right. In fact, one label read " 2 every 8 hours " . I called Osco & spoke with the pharmacist & he pulled the prescription written by the dr. Sure enough, that's what had been written. When I picked up the prescription, I tried to explain this to the nurse. She just rolled her eyes, made a cursory glance over my records & said, " Well, that's not what we have & this all you can have until Friday. " When I went to Osco, they gave me copies of the 'scripts so that I could take them with me to may appt. However, when my prescription was ready, a different pharmacist called me over & started to lecture me about using too much--that I did, indeed, use a month's worth in 3 weeks. So, I went through the whole story with her. She nodded her head & said that she recalled the others discussing it. She said that it is very confusing & that I really need to discuss this with my dr. Duh! you think! She also strongly recommended keeping a diary--which I've started. Anyway, my question to those of you who are using Percocet (or generic), what dosage are you taking & how often? If you have any other suggestions or recommendations, please feel free to offer them. Thanks in advance. Cheryl in Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2002 Report Share Posted October 23, 2002 > what dosage are you taking & how often? If you have any other suggestions > or recommendations, please feel free to offer them. Thanks in advance. > > Cheryl in Illinois Cheryl, It seems like you got hassled at both ends, both by your doctor's nurse and the pharmacist. I've been in the exact same position several times with my GI's nurse. She often acts as though she's the one in charge and the one who hassles me every time I need a refill. I started with Percocet 5's, now I'm taking Percocet 10's, with only 325 mcg. of acetaminophen. I got from the 5's to 7.5's to the 10's mainly because my night pain is stronger than the lower dosage can handle. Like you, the pain at night is worse than during the day, and the lower dosage just wasn't cutting it. The only way I could get my GI to go for the higher dosage was to go to a pain management doctor and have the pain management doctor recommend the higher dosage. My doc admitted that he was only familiar with Dilaudid and the lower dosage of Percocet for pain relief and he wanted recommendations from a specialist. My concern was about the higher quantities of acetaminaphen (tylenol), and I was pleased to find out that the 10's were available with the lesser amount of tylenol, but the script has to be written specifically for that (10/325), or you will get 10/650's. My GI didn't even know that this was available. You may just be able to ask your doctor for the increased dosage. My dosage now is Percocet 10/325's, one every four hours. As far as the hassle with dosage and hours goes, that too was a problem with my GI's nurse. She tried to change the space in hours from once every 4 hours to once every 6, and then once from once every 4 hours to twice a day! The way I solved this was to go in to my GI on my appointment and discuss with him the problems I was having, both with dosage and with the nurse giving me problems. He asked me how long I was able to get through before I needed another dosage. I also took in all my earlier prescribed empty bottles to show him the dates, amounts and spacing for backup. Your doctor may not even be aware of the mixup with your dosage spacing, or the problems with his nurse. Mine wasn't, and since we discussed it I haven't had any more problems. You need to talk this all over with your doctor and see if he can help you out. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth hhessgriffeth@... South Carolina Southeastern Representative Pancreatitis Association, Intl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2002 Report Share Posted October 23, 2002 > what dosage are you taking & how often? If you have any other suggestions > or recommendations, please feel free to offer them. Thanks in advance. > > Cheryl in Illinois Cheryl, It seems like you got hassled at both ends, both by your doctor's nurse and the pharmacist. I've been in the exact same position several times with my GI's nurse. She often acts as though she's the one in charge and the one who hassles me every time I need a refill. I started with Percocet 5's, now I'm taking Percocet 10's, with only 325 mcg. of acetaminophen. I got from the 5's to 7.5's to the 10's mainly because my night pain is stronger than the lower dosage can handle. Like you, the pain at night is worse than during the day, and the lower dosage just wasn't cutting it. The only way I could get my GI to go for the higher dosage was to go to a pain management doctor and have the pain management doctor recommend the higher dosage. My doc admitted that he was only familiar with Dilaudid and the lower dosage of Percocet for pain relief and he wanted recommendations from a specialist. My concern was about the higher quantities of acetaminaphen (tylenol), and I was pleased to find out that the 10's were available with the lesser amount of tylenol, but the script has to be written specifically for that (10/325), or you will get 10/650's. My GI didn't even know that this was available. You may just be able to ask your doctor for the increased dosage. My dosage now is Percocet 10/325's, one every four hours. As far as the hassle with dosage and hours goes, that too was a problem with my GI's nurse. She tried to change the space in hours from once every 4 hours to once every 6, and then once from once every 4 hours to twice a day! The way I solved this was to go in to my GI on my appointment and discuss with him the problems I was having, both with dosage and with the nurse giving me problems. He asked me how long I was able to get through before I needed another dosage. I also took in all my earlier prescribed empty bottles to show him the dates, amounts and spacing for backup. Your doctor may not even be aware of the mixup with your dosage spacing, or the problems with his nurse. Mine wasn't, and since we discussed it I haven't had any more problems. You need to talk this all over with your doctor and see if he can help you out. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth hhessgriffeth@... South Carolina Southeastern Representative Pancreatitis Association, Intl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 Patty, I think it is awful they take her levels everytime she needs a refill! If she continues to be a hard stick and she is hospitalized and they have troubles with IV " s you may want to discuss a Groshong catheter with her doctor. They last usually 6 months to 1 year. Sometimes even longer. I really like mine. I have terrible veins and my IV's usually blow after 45 minutes. The thing nice about my port is that you never get stuck again. They can put in meds and draw blood from it. If you are interested let me know and I can give you more info on it. Jenise Mansfield, OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 Jenise Last time she was in after the 3rd nurse and the 10th stick they finally got her after I told the nurse i could play pin coushin with her at home, that was for iv. It got to the ppoint that the last 2 x's they drew blood at the hospital they poked her finger and squeezed it out, drop by drop. I'm interested n hearing more about this Groshong catheter. I know she has enough pain with her pancreas and doesn't need any more. nor does she need the agitation it causes. thanks God Bless! Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 Jenise Last time she was in after the 3rd nurse and the 10th stick they finally got her after I told the nurse i could play pin coushin with her at home, that was for iv. It got to the ppoint that the last 2 x's they drew blood at the hospital they poked her finger and squeezed it out, drop by drop. I'm interested n hearing more about this Groshong catheter. I know she has enough pain with her pancreas and doesn't need any more. nor does she need the agitation it causes. thanks God Bless! Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2002 Report Share Posted October 24, 2002 Jenise Last time she was in after the 3rd nurse and the 10th stick they finally got her after I told the nurse i could play pin coushin with her at home, that was for iv. It got to the ppoint that the last 2 x's they drew blood at the hospital they poked her finger and squeezed it out, drop by drop. I'm interested n hearing more about this Groshong catheter. I know she has enough pain with her pancreas and doesn't need any more. nor does she need the agitation it causes. thanks God Bless! Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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