Please help me with info on oxycontin.. I am terrified to take it! Thank u donalore?

Question

Dr wants me to try oxycontin for spinal pain but i have heard controversy.. please help!

Answer 1

It works very well for pain, but it is addictive. I don't know how long the doctor wants you to take it, but if you are on it for a while and you stop, you will suffer withdrawal symptoms that aren't very nice. You may want to ask your doctor about that. If you are only on it for a short time, you may be ok. But, do ask you doctor about developing dependency and withdrawals.

Answer 2

I don't know what you've heard in the way of controversy, main-line pain medication is always "controversial" mainly because those people who don't need it rave about its' down-side. Those of us who without it live in pain, a ligitimate Disease!, are of course on the other side on the coin. Personally I have been taking oxycontin in the form of Vicodin EX twice a day for several years because of cronic severe lower back pain (you should see my x-ray! I was granted SS disability the very first time I applied). It's an extremely effective pain-killer, and it is, of course, a narcotic. Norcotics are, or can be, additive, no two ways about it. "So what?" I always answer the nay-sayers, "It takes the Pain away!" It's your choice, my man, as for me I can't handle the pain. BTW, on those certain days that the pain is minimal I take a couple of ibuprofen and hold off on the Oxycontin. I've actually managed to do without it for three days, if I don't move around too much, and I've not suffered any with-drawal symptoms. I don't consider myself to be living a good life when I'm in costant, excruciating pain! As I said, it's all up to you. --Rod

Answer 3

I WOULD THINK TWICE. I have 4 degenerating discs in my c-spine and was put on oxy. I took it exactly as prescribed. Some days it took the pain away and some days it didnt touch it. This is where people go wrong. They take more because they are still in pain. I stuck to my prescription. I took 2 (20 mg) extended release tablets a day. It made me tired and miserable. By miserable I mean, I felt unpleasant and had to police my personality as to not take it out on those around me. Finally, I decided it was time to get off. I had been taking it for about 7 months. I weaned my dosage down to 20 mg for the first 3 to 4 days and then half of that for the next 3 to 4 days until I was off of it. It was 7 days of hell (and I wasnt abusing the drug). I did not sleep AT ALL for the first 7 days and have not been able to get more than 3 hours of sleep in an evening in 3 weeks. Funny enough, my pain still has its good days and bad days off the drug- which was pretty much the same as it was when I was taking the oxy. My recommendation is to see a reputable neurosurgeon and take care of the problem. I'm sure there are plenty of people who swear by the drug for its pain relieving ability, but YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND ANYONE WHO THINKS OXYCONTIN is good solution. Not saying it may not work, but when you are in a lot of pain.......the doctor's pretty much will give you vidocin, percocet, or oxy without batting an eye. Just my story.........one of many and just my opinion.

Answer 4

As the others people who answered mentioned, the controversy surrounding OxyContin (and other narcotic pain relievers) is because of the people who take it to get high, not because of the people who take it for pain relief.

I read a study about pain once that mentioned that only 2% of patients get addicted to OxyContin when they have chronic pain and take narcotic pain medicine exactly as directed by their doctors.

The people who get addicted to pain medications are the ones who use it to get high, or take more than their doctor prescribed, or get multiple medications from different doctors.

For the chronic pain patients who take the medicine exactly as their doctor prescribes it, they do not become addicted. If they take the medication for an extended period of time, they will have to taper down gradually when they stop taking it so that they do not have withdrawal symptoms, but for chrnnic pain patients this is called Dependence (NOT addicton).

Addiction is defined as - "A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain."

Dependence is defined as - "Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug."

Addiction is a psychological problem - dependence is just the body's reaction to being on a medication for an extended period of time. People who take medications that are not narcotics will also be dependent and suffer withdrawals if they suddenly discontinue the medication. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety, epilepsy medication, and many other medications all cause dependence and all need to be tapered gradually to avoid symptoms of withdrawal.

The only suggestion I have in terms of the oxycontin controversy is to make sure that you keep your medication in a safe in your home (you can find an inexpensive safe at most office supply stores), and also NEVER tell ANYONE (friends or family) that you take oxycontin or any other narcotic pain medicine.

There are a lot of addicts out there who would steal your medication, and then there are the people who do not understand the difference between pain and addiction, so they will start calling you an addict -- so to protect yourself from the hassle of having to deal with addicts that might steal your meds and to protect yourself from people who will misunderstand and think that YOU are an addict, the best thing to do is to not tell anyone that you take pain medication.

Your doctor, pharmasist, and your spouse (if you are married) are the only people who need to know -- and make sure your spouse does not share the information with anyone else.

It's unfortunate that chronic pain patients have to take these steps to protect themselves, but unfortunately the addicted people have caused so many problems in our society that "bad attention" is the only type of attention that these medications receive in the news, so the vast majority of the public thinks that everyone who takes oxycontin is an addict.

I hope that the medication works well for your back pain!

Answer 5

First Eat a full meal then take it when you plan on sleeping or feeling verry drousey for a few hours, Take it with a full glass of water and make sure you have another full glass of water for if you wake up and need something to drink, it will/ could make you dizzy when you walk or stand.

Answer 6

Your doc wants for you to TRY it. I would have faith in your doc and not be terrified. EVERYTHING can be controversial. It works on true pain. It is controversial because some people abuse it, and some take it for kicks.

Answer 7

oxycontin is for moderate to severe pain.
if your concern is addiction, your chance is very low (approximately 1 percent) unless you have a predisposition for addiction -- drug or alcohol abuse, gambling, etc.
just follow the proper dosage.
you could also try a duragesic pain patch
also, try physical therapy

Answer 8

Yes you should take it. It is a long acting pain med that will help you feel better. It should not make you feel loopy just ease the pain so you can function better.

Answer 9

Nothing to worry about. Just follow the directions!

Answer 10

I would try it if you are in alot of pain just don't abuse it and you will do okay.