I am currently in a pain mgmt. clinic, I have been on lortab 10mg for about a yr now.. I have only been going to pain mgmt. for about 3 months now. my question is the lortab is no longer helping my pain as it once did. would it be wise to bring this up to my pain mgt doctor? I know they are very strict and feel that they treat everyone as just a drug seeker. I don't want to be in pain but am scared to even ask for a change of medication!
Q: asking pain mgmt doctor for change in medication
Answers (3)
4/ 5/09 7:09pm
When taking any opioid on a regular basis, you will eventually build up a tolerence to it, requiring either an increased dosage or a different medication. Any good pain management doctor should know that. Since 10 mg is the highest dosage hydrocodone (Lortab) comes in, you would most likely need a different drug.
It's not usually a good idea to ask for a specific medication, as they will most likely think you are drug seeking. However, part of your communication with your pain management doctor should be to report on how you're doing, so I would suggest telling him you're no longer getting the effective pain relief you once did and ask if he has any suggestions.
4/ 9/09 11:34am
I told my physician that through the course of researching my condition(chronic pain), a couple of articles stated that tolerance was a common issue and that rotating medications was a viable solution. I then reported that my pain relief had not seemed as effective recently and then asked him if it was possible that I had developed some tolerance. He agreed that I might be at a good point to rotate my breakthrough medication. As you probably know, doctors are funny(strange) about this stuff sometimes and you'll have to make the call on how to broach the issue with him. If he is a good pain doctor, there should not be any problem.
Have a great day!
4/ 9/09 3:49pm
Lortab is comprised of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is weaker than oxycodone so you might ask if Percocet, which contains oxycodone and acetaminophen might be more effective for you. He or she may not agree but there's no reason for you not to ask.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
By wstewart— Last Modified: 10/05/11, First Published: 04/05/09
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
