Will I develop a tolerance to hydrocodone, taking 5 to 15milligrams a day?

Question

I take 5 to 15mg of hydrocodone almost every night.. If I'm taking it for pain, will I develop much of a tolerance? what about if I take one in the morning & two at night?

Answer 1

I so often hate to read responses on here that are extremely reactionary. You have not provided adequate information for anyone to give you an appropriate answer. The needed information is: what is the origin of the pain, how long have you been taking the medication. are there any plans for treatment other than analgesic medications.

All that being said, can hydrocodone tolerance occur? Yes

Though, given the fact that you are not taking this at the usual one every 4-6 hour dose or even worse 2 every 4-6 hours the risk of tolerance is decreased. Any opioid taken for an extended period of time will lose its effect. Also, most people who take opioids routinely for an extended period will develop a physiologic dependence.

There is a significant difference between physiologic dependence and addiction. Studies have shown that people who take a reasonable amount of medication to decrease their pain, do not normally develop a psychological addiction. However, as their body gets used to the opioid they may have habituation and physiologic dependence. If this happens, there may be some symptoms of withdrawal, but not a craving for the drug. This is the key differece between dependence and addiction. If however, the same pain patient takes the med because they like the side effects and takes increasing amounts (usually without the doctors knowledge) they are becoming psychologically addicted.

If this is a short term requirement, take the hydrocodone. If however, this is a long-term pain condition, you need to discuss seeing a specialist in pain management with your doctor. They will give you medications which will control your pain at a more constant level, with less drug effect, thereby having less tolerance and risk of addiction.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes, you will develop a tolerance. If you are taking this in the short term, I wouldn't worry about it. But if this is for the treatment of chronic pain, you should look into alternative therapies as well. I work in a hospital and often see people with high narcotic tolerances, and doses have to be increased to treat their pain.

If you are having high levels of pain, you shouldn't stop taking the medicine, as no one should have to live like that. Are you taking the hydrocodone to sleep? Would a sleeping pill be more effective? But of course these pills come with their own problems, and habit forming natures.

Someone else made a comment about hydrocodone and liver failure. If you are taking pure hydrocodone, not vicodin (or another prescription mixed with acetaminophen) you are ok. But in the US hydrocodone is not sold this way, and is mostly prescribed as vicodin. If you take the drug as prescribed then you will not be overdosing with tylenol. I work in a hospital that does liver transplants, and I have never seen someone go into liver failure from taking the prescribed amount of tylenol. And other NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and aspirin can cause ulcers if taken frequently.

No drug is without risks, and people develop tolerances to narcotics. If you are concerned I would discuss your pain with your doctor, or ask for a consult with a pain expert. You are not on an extreme dose, so if this isn't something your foresee needing to take for months, I don't think you are going to have a problem.

Answer 3

Yes. You WILL develop a tolerance for any narcotic if you take it regularly. This means that you will need more and more each day, and your body will continue to adjust and become addicted. What's unfortunate is that your body will NOT be able to adjust to the amount of tylenol (acetamenophin) in the hydrocodone, and it will eventually end in liver failure. I would talk to your doctor about weaning off of the hydrocodone (which will already be unpleasant if you're taking it so frequently) and switching to a drug that doesn't cause those kinds of problems (like an NSAID or gabapentin).

Answer 4

develop tolerance hydrocodone 5 15milligrams day

Answer 5

Most people do. I did develope a tolerance after 3 months of taking it everyday; 4 times/day.

Answer 6

i know what you mean there is no pain like a tooth ache The only hting to do is get it pulled but as far as the meds Yes you can take them together I have many times If they're making you sick be sure to eat something before you take them and instead of taking 1 every 4 hour take 2-3 at once it is really not much but will kill the pain so you can sleep Try the Oxycodone by itself ,it is a little stronger then the Hydro but take 2 of them and that should relieve some pain but like i said the only cure is to have it pulled or it will just keep bothering you Most denist will help you out with antibiotics before they pull it just when u call them let them know your situation

Answer 7

follow what the doc says and dont increase or bulk up the doses, that might cause it to lose its effect. Interestingly, hydrocodone is also an addictive drug. Just always be honest with your doc how much and how often u take it

when all else fails, you can always check the pdr
i believe they have a site http://www.pdr.com I think

Answer 8

You will develop a tolerance, no question. You should be thinking will you develop an addiction?? That I can not answer for you, So dont ask.

Big Hugs

Answer 9

You may build up a tolerance, it happens often. Unfortunately these are also highly addictive so you may develop an addiction the longer you are on these meds. I would try and look for an alternative treatment for your pain.

Answer 10

It depends on how long you have to take it. If you're gonna have to take it for longer than about a month, then yes. Not only will your tolerance go up, you will become physically addicted to the drug. Many addicts became addicted by using their prescriptions exactly as they were prescribed.