What is the strongest painkiller a doctor can prescribe you?

Question

I had my tonsils out last Monday and was given Difene and Solpadol. The pain is unbearable. I've just spent the night rocking back and forth on my bed holding my head in my hands. The pain is all around my neck, throat and ears. I used to think I had a high pain threshold. I don't think so anymore.

The solpadol works for about an hour and the difene seem to have no effect at all.

I'm going back to my GP this morning and am going to ask for stronger pain killers. In case you think I have an infection, I don't. I'm showing none of the signs. It's just pure and simple (excrutiating) pain.

I don't want the doctor to fob me off with some weak painkiller only to go home, try them out and realise they are useless. So I'd like to educate myself before I go. That's why I'm asking what medication would be strong enough to stop such severe pain? I need something STRONG because 75mg of Difene every 6 hours and 500mg/30mg mix of solpadol every 6 hours is just NOT WORKING!

Thank you

Usaneko - Thanks for your suggestion to suck on ice cubes and have ice cream, but you see I can't even swallow my own saliva. The act of swallowing is agony. I have to hold on to something and shut my eyes, take a deep breath and 'suffer' the swallow! God I'm such a wimp!.
I had a c-section last year too and hardly had any pain at all. I was a little uncomfortable and sore but nothing compares to this pain.

I'm definitely gonna ask for some morphine. Times past, doctors used to be afraid that they were "creating addicts," and consequently there was a tendency to underprescribe narcotics. This sort of prejudice still exists in the medical community, but most caregivers now realize that narcotics are not addictive if they are used only to relieve pain.

Right, I've been to the doc and he prescribed me tramadol and a higher dosage of difene.
He was very worried about my hydration and told me that if I still can't swallow by this evening I have to go to A&E and get some intravenous fluids.
He also gave me an injection. I can feel a slight reduction in the pain - got the injection 2 hours ago - but nothing major. Fingers crossed that the tramadol does the job, which I have just taken.
Thanks for all your comments.

Answer 1

Don't try ice cream or ice even if you can swallow, that just increases the pain and the discomfort and the ice cream clings on and makes a mess in your throat. When I had my tonsils out my pain relief was solpadol and vicodin but the doses were closer together - perhaps you need to talk to your talk about the frequency of the dosage rather than the strength. You don't say how old you are but tonsilectomy is harder as you get older.

Answer 2

GP's can prescribe whatever painkillers are necessary to cure the pain, and gallstones are very painfull. When I went to accident and emergency it was the weekend, and at the time they were unable to do the scan but they suspected gall stones. I was given injection of morphine immediately. However, I can tell you that your GP will not be likely to start off down this route. Generally the stronger the painkiller the more chance of addiction and habituation there is, plus the potential to misuse. So they will start you off on what they consider the least potent painkiller to solve your pain. Unfortunately that will normally mean that unless they have got it spot on, it will normally take a few trips back to your GP before you get the painkillers you need. You just have to keep going back and telling them the pain. They will also take into consideration your age and that because of this you are more likely to abuse the medication. I had to go back around half a dozen times before I got the painkillers that worked. I started off with paracetamol, then cocodamol 8/500,15/500 then 30/500 then tramadol and finally settled on dihydrocodeine which did the trick

Answer 3

Painkillers Strongest To Weakest

Answer 4

You shouldn't be having that much pain from a tonsillectomy. You should have gone back to the doctor when the pain didn't subside in a few days.

The strongest pain killer some doctors will write is Oxycontin. However, a lot won't write anything stronger than Vicodin or Norco (hydrocodone). Usually for anything stronger, you get referred to a pain management doctor. (my husband has 3 herniated lumbar discs and we've been through ALL the channels). In the meantime, you could try some Chloroseptic spray to deaden your throat enough to swallow some ice cream.

Answer 5

Probably one of the strongest pain killers is Carfentanil which is an analogue of fentanyl with an analgesic potency 10,000 times that of morphine...you won't find that as it's used mostly for tranquilizing elephants and other large animals...Fentanyl is an opioid that is used in humans however and it is 80x stronger than morphine. It's commonly used right before and/or after surgery. It's a schedule 2 however which means the doctor can write you a script (usually comes in patches or suckers of all things ) but in limited quantities and with no refills.

You'd most likely be given Morphine, Dilaudid, Percocet or Demerol for post-op pain.

Have a blessed weekend & a Merry Christmas :-)

Answer 6

Are you keeping the area cool? Try eating some ice cream, drinking lots of ice water, and sucking on ice cubes to help keep the swelling down. Stay away from hot drinks or food, as well as carbonated or acidic beverages that may sting your throat.

Well, to answer the question, I think Vikaden or morphine tablets would be the strongest. My dr. gave me Ibuprofen after my c-section and it worked fine.

Also, if you can, try putting some anbesol with a q-tip. You can buy it at any drugstore, and it's used to numb the gums or tongue. You may have some trouble, but if you're desperate, try it. It only lasts about half an hour though...

Answer 7

I'm glad you are going to see your physician, as your reported pain is disproportionate to the condition. Post surgical pain for a tonsilectomy in a adult is quite uncomfortable, but unless there is a significant post surgical problem, a hydrocodone based medication should be the strongest medication considered reasonable for your procedure.

It would be unreasonable for you GP to provide morphine or any medication at that level of the opiate class for this procedure. If your pain is so severe that you need "Cancer-level" pain relief, then you should have followed up with the surgeon days ago, and not have waited for the GP.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Prologel

Answer 10

Oramorph [oral Morphine] is very good, but you will probably only be able to have 48 hours worth as it is an opiate.
You've had some good advice regarding the ice cream, cold water is also very good.