Oxycontin VS Oxycodone

[Guest guest]

Kris,

You wrote, " Last Saturday I took 60mg of Oxycotin (one and a half tablets -

split in half)..

But, doesn't the oxycodone come in a tablet that doesn't have any tylenol in

it? "

Oxycontin is a slow release oxycodone. Those tablets are not designed to be

crushed or cut. There can be severe side effects. These pills have a

protective coating around them, so when they are opened up, you could have the

entire

dose dumped into your blood system. This is the cause of death in most of the

persons who get Oxycontin on the streets. They do not know to keep the

tablets intact. It is also important to take the meds as instructed because it

tells the doctor if he can trust you.

Most anyone with pancreatitis should not be taking Tylenol on a long term

basis. There are four medications that are quick acting and used for

breakthrough pain, which do not contain Tylenol or Aspirin. These are meds that

would

be taken on a PRN basis or as you need it. This is not an all inclusive list.

1) Roxycodone or OXYIR (Oxycodone Hcl Instant Release) 15 or 30mg tablets

take 2 -4 every 4-6 hrs PRN BTP

2) OXYFAST (Oxycodone HCl Elixir) 20mg / ml take 2-4 cc's every 4-6 hrs PRN

BTP

3) MSIR (Morphine Sulfate Instant Release)15mg or 30mg tablets take 2 to 4

every 4-6 hrs PRN (as needed) for breakthrough pain. (BTP)

4) ACTIQ (Fentanyl Transmucosal) 200mcg, 400mcg, 600mcg, 800mcg, 1200mcg, or

1600mcg Take 1 lozenger every 3 hrs PRN BTP * Please note that these dosages

do not correspond to the Fentanyl Transdermal Patch.

5) Dilaudid (Hydromorphone HCl Elixir) 1mg / 5ml take 5ml every 3-4 hrs PRN

BTP

These are basically your only choices if you want to avoid Tylenol or Aspirin

products, which you should. They are extremely toxic to your liver. Neither

my pain doctor nor my Internal Medicine doctor will prescribe them. The pain

meds that have Tylenol or Aspirin in them are primarily mixed with Oxycodone

or Codeine. (Codeine is not available except as a combination with Tylenol).

Examples of medications that are combined with Tylenol or Aspirin are:

Tylenol #3, Percocet, Percodan, Lortab, Endocet, Darvocet-N, Darvon, and

maybe

a few more.

For adequate pain management, it is important to take something on a routine

basis to keep the pain controlled, thus avoiding chasing the pain.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Indianapolis, Indiana