why r u supposed to wait 4-6 hours to take a second dose of pain killers when they dont last 1/2 that long?

Question

what about the excruciating pain in between doses?

Answer 1

well i agree with you. i have terrible pain in my thumb area, they say it is arthritis. do you know how much you do that involves your thumb? washing dishes, and wiping after urinating are excruciating tasks unless i am numb from vicodin. but they have me so afraid of being an addict, that i try to follow the doses. at this time i am prescribed 3 a day, but really think 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening would get me thru everyday. but i am afraid for my liver. i can no longer drink any alcohol, i get severe headaches and vomit from just one or two drinks. this is how i know that my liver is working overtime, but even typing this post, is painful. so your choice and mine is, a healthy liver and a life with daily pain, or no pain and then suffering the effects of a bad liver? but i feel you - and i didnt even mention how i also combine the vicodin with the excedrin - they work like a charm

Answer 2

For the average person the medication effects should last about 4 hours and taking them more often than that can result in an Overdose. most medicines can also be taken with motrin (ibprofen) also. I realize an over the counter dose will not being doing much for you if you are in severe pain but, it may help a little. You may just have a high metabolism so your body is processing the medication too fast. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR and maybe you need stronger or different pain med.

Answer 3

Yes you can overdose. You can overdose on asprin. You don't say how long you've been taking the medication or what it is. There are tons of different ones out there. Take some ibuprophen- up to 800mg at 6 hour intervels. Don't take acetomeniphen (Tylenol type)- very hard on your liver. Ibuprophen reduces swelling which can lessen your pain. It is a good idea to talk to your Doc, but pain makes you desparate. I would suggest moist heat and anything else before you increase your dose. I would not recommend taking more than perscribed. Try to make it through tonight and at least talk to his nurse tomorrow- or go to one of those Insta-Care places- they will get through to your doc. Pain meds can be unpredictible in larger than perscribed dosages. Remember: That which does not kill us makes us stronger. I should be an Olympian by now. Pray.

Answer 4

The medicine prescribed may not be the one you need. Contact your doctor and let him know you are having breakthru pain,maybe a dosage change is in order. I would think you need a longer acting pain med, in that you take it once or twice a day.

Answer 5

Because they can build up toxic byproducts in your liver. You need to allow your body to assimilate the drugs through your system in the prescribed dosage allowing your body to flush any harmful wastes away so as not to develop further complications.

Answer 6

so you dont build up high levels in your body. you can make yourself sick and even overdose (in worse case scenarios) if you take too much your body can also stop reponding to them at all. if you are in servere pain see your dr and they can prescribe you something stronger.