Friday, July 04, 2008 rockabillychick asks

Q: I am concidering a "drug holiday" due to tolerance- any advice?

I have noticed that my percocet does not work as well as it had before, I do not get nearly the same pain relief from it. I feel like my body is just so used to it, I am concerned by this because it has worked so well before and I deal with terrible pain 24/7. I am thinking about doing a "drug holiday" I have noticed other people writing about it for the same reason. Can anyone give me any advice? I see my doc in 1 week and I would like to try to do it for a few days before then so when they do give me a new script it will work better. I can't say anything has ever removed my pain com pletely but it used to get it down to a 5 or so! Now I am misserable even though I am medicated. I am very depressed by it and am willing to go through a super hard week to get myself back to where I was when it worked well for me. I do not want to tell my husband that I am cutting back on the meds, he willl worry himself and I will give in to keep his mind at bay. He worries about me terribly when I am getting close to the end of a script- even though he knows I will get a refill he still worries that I may be without for awhile and suffering.

I would love to hear from someone who has done this.

rockabillychick

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Answers (5)

Christina Lasich, MD, Health Pro

7/ 4/08 6:02pm

Eventually, a medication like Percocet (a short-acting oxycodone with Tylenol), which is really designed to use periodically for once-and-a-while pain, is just not going to work for 24/7 terrible pain. Tricks like "drug holidays" are not the best solution to catch-up with chronic pain. The only way to control all-the-time pain is with a medication (long-acting medication) designed for 24/7 pain (Examples include: Kadian, Ultram ER, Duragesic Patch, Methadone, Suboxone, OxyContin). Otherwise, you will always be behind the "eight-ball" of terrible pain.

When a drug like Percocet does not work, then it is time for better options, not trying to get the short-acting medication to do the work of a long-acting drug. That is like trying to get a hammer to do the work of a nail. A nail is better at holding things together over time, just like a sustained release medication is better for controlling constant pain. You need the right tool for the job!

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

Kabrina

7/11/08 7:41pm

YOU HAVE A HIGHER TOLERANCE NOW WHICH IS A BAD THINGS WHICH MEANS YOU MY BE ADDICTED TO THEM SO YOUR BEST BET IS TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND TELL HIM TO PRESCRIBE YOU ULTRAMA ER OR ULTRAM 50,G TABS THEY ARE NON-NARCOTIC BUT THEY WORK ALOT LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PAIN MED I HAVE BEEN ON SO TRY THAT AND THEN TAKE A DRUG HOLIDAY VACATION TO THAILAND :p

Teri Robert

7/12/08 3:03pm

Kabrina,

I must disagree with your statement, "which means you may be addiced." That's just not true. When pain meds are taken for pain, we do not get addicted. It's only when pain meds are taken after the pain is gone that addiction is an issue. So, please don't tell people they may be addicted just because they need relief and they are developing a tolerance to their current medication. That's just incorrect.

Also, although tramadol (Ultram) is not considered by some to be an opioid/narcotic, it is definitely opioid-like. Some doctors categorize it as a synthetic opioid.

Teri

Rayne

7/18/08 9:08am

I couldn't agree more that it isn't addiction, the word is tolerance. I am also taking Percocet for chronic pain and it is like water after a while. It does nothing for the pain. Ultram is like a baby asprin compared to Percocet. I've switched back n forth between meds because a drug holiday means suffering!

lesspaul

4/ 1/09 11:20am

I MUST AGREE YOU ARE NOT ADDICTED,BUT ARE BECOMING DEPENDENT.THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.I HAVE BEEN ON PAIN MEDS FOR OVER 15 YEARS SO I HAVE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.DRUG HOLIDAYS AS THEY ARE SO CALLED ARE LIKE A NICE CANOE TRIP WITH FRIENDS.DID YOU SEE DELIVERANCE? PURE HELL AT LEAST FOR ME. IF YOU DO THIS, MAKE SURE YOU TAPER SLOWLY AS ONE TIME MY DOC CUT MY DOSAGE IN HALF AND A WEEK LATER IN HALF AGAIN. I WENT FROM 120MGS OF OXY A DAY TO 60 AND SO ON. MAKE SURE YOU DONT HAVE ANY OBLIGATIONS CUZ YOU WILL BE IN AGONY AS THE WITHDRAWAL ITSELF CAUSES SEVERE PAIN. LOAD THAT ON YOUR PAIN CONDITION AND LIKE I SAID PURE HELL. I WANTED TO DIE. IF YOU DO IT SLOWLY ITS NOT AS BAD BUT IT DOESNT TAKE LONG FOR YOUR TOLERANCE TO COME RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN... I HOPE THIS HELPS.

Q: I am concidering a "drug holiday" due to tolerance- any advice?

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