workngrl50 Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Joey is on lots of pain meds since his accident. He has a lot of pain. He takes: Duragesic patch, 50mcg/h Percocet 7.5mg at least 8 tablets/day Soma 3/day Fioricet about 4/day Ambien 10mg/night to sleep... and sometimes he doesn't sleep. Sometimes he asks for extra percocet. Sometimes I give it to him with the understanding that he'll only get one when it's time for the next dose. I think he's using the meds for depression and anxiety as much as pain. But I know he has a lot of pain and probably will for a very long time. He also takes Zoloft 20mg/day. So far I've just been giving him the meds as prescribed when he asks for them. He sometimes will wake up, ask what time it is, take his meds and go back to sleep. And I'm starting to worry that he's becoming physically addicted and emotionally dependent on the meds. So, based on your collective experience, should I worry ? Should I be doing something differently :Ask: ? Or should I just leave it alone and go get my eyebrows waxed? :head_hurts: (They're long overdue...). I'm so glad I have a place to come with this stuff. Thx for being here, Lorri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lwisman Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Lorri, I would recommend that you have a conversation with your pharmacist about his prescriptions. Pharmacists are generally trained to know a lot about drugs, their interactions, which ones can safely be increased etc. He/she should be able to help you better understand Joey's meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstraugh Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 Lorri, I 2nd Lin's advice. By all means, speak with the pharmacist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merichsen Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Lorri, I third the very smart woman Lin's advice After the pharmacist go get your eyebrows waxed before you need a power mower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bstockman Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 You could talk to the pharmacist and his Dr. Pain meds can be vey addictive. If used for pain... less so. You could talk with Joey and see if he can go longer without the Percocet.. cutting from 8 tabs per day to 7 or 6.. etc, cutting them back slowly if he can tolerate it. You don't want pain to get over the top or out of control, because then it is harder to get it back under control. When he wakes and asks for the meds, you could ask him.. if he is in pain .. and on a scale of 1 to 10 where? You could keep a little pain journal.. and when you give him the pain meds or soma.. ask how the pain is, where it is and what level.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ndChance Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Are these being prescribed by a neurologist, physiatrist, pain specialist or neuropsychiatrist? If not, I'd worry while waxing. And I'd get him to one of those specialists pronto. Sadly, he's probably too young to have developed any kind of crisis coping skills, so of course he's numbing himself, it keeps him from the emotional pain. His psychologist should be working with him on that, though. If he does not have a full medical team, I cannot stress enough how critical that is. In addition to his PCP, he should have all the specialists mentioned here. Your insurance will pay for it. And have you tried taking him to one of these support groups? http://www.lasvegasstroke.org/partners.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arogers Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Due to my husband's history I have been very careful about pain medications. He experienced considerable pain during the first year post strokes, but he has very little pain now. He was given no pain medication without all his doctors knowing what the other was prescribing. He does have a PCP, Cardiologist, Neurologist and Psychiatrist. For myself, I would be concerned about the amount of narcotics Joey is taking. I don't know his history, but addiction is always a concern. I agree that you should ask him to tell you where the pain is and to rate it on a scale between 1 and 10. This will give you a better idea about his pain tolerance for one thing. Then when you talk with his doctor(s) you will be able to tell them exactly what is going on rather than your opinion. I've found the more specific information I can give, the more helpful the doctor is. Please do find out who is prescribing which medication and whether everybody is on the same page!! Good luck to you, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanderson Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 lorri, i do agree with the other ladies suggestions. some drugs can be very addictive and need to be controlled. but you don't want joey in pain that will interfere with his recovery. talk to his doctors. i will say his zoloft dosage is very low to help with his depression. i take 100mg a day. maybe that could be increased and his others lowered. just my thoughts. good luck and i hope you can get an answer to your question, to help ease your worries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thegoodlife Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 Hi Lorri: From my experience if Dr you have you trust he will know if Joey is getting too much. Also, pharmacist should have said something to you if you had something to worry about. Ask them ; they know more that Docs when it comes to that and will give you their honest opinion. I was on that many drugs not quite as many pain killers but sleep meds.anti depressants and 3 b/p pills. How long ago was Joey's accident maybe he still needs them til he can handle the pain etc. Sometimes it takes a while. Ask your pharmacists and always go to the same pharmacy-that helps alot. If drugs r coming from many different Dr.s then maybe you do have to have all his meds looked at probably ,I suggest his neurologist. Good Luck and not to worry addiction to drugs is easier than u think---so get those brows done and ask professionals these ques. that's my 2cents worth. Nancy thegoodlife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workngrl50 Posted December 19, 2007 Author Share Posted December 19, 2007 The doctor is a rehab dr. I'm so mad right now I don't know what to do :Rage: ! He was out of meds yesterday... Just enough Percocet for this morning... So I started the refill process yesterday. I have to hand carry in a new prescription each time. They didn't get to it yesterday so, after 3 phone calls today they said iI could come and pick them up, they were ready. So, I left Joey in the ER (he has pneumonia), went to her office, picked up the prescription, took it to the pharmacy, went back to the ER, got Joey (we were there 6 hours) went back to the pharmacy to drop off the prescription for the antibiotics and pick up his other prescriptions. She post-dated it for the 21st. When I called the doctor was gone and won't be back til next week. The MA said he was taking too many. I said he doesn't even take as many as she prescribed. The MA said he was supposed to be weaning himself down but the doctor didn't tell him that. He's been taking 8/day, sometimes 6 and the way she wrote it he can have up to 12. I've thought he was taking too much but to be totally without for 3 days... now add withdrawal to all the other things he has going on. We're both going to be MISERABLE!!! :pullhair: I've wanted to find a new doctor. I like your suggestions about a pain clinic...where he can get better, more co-ordinated care. And we'll do that. But I know what things will be like by day 3 and please, you kind people, keep us in your prayers. :please: Thx for letting me vent, Lorri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstraugh Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 Lorri, You and Joey will be in my thoughts and prayers to get through this trying time. (((hugs))) to both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdladyblu79 Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 i agree with getting a full team of doctors.my hubby stroked 5/31/06;he was only 52 yrs. old and is right-side impaired.he is right-handed;has lost total use of right arm.he walks with an afo and a cane,but,he has fallen so many times.broken several ribs and his right shoulder.each time he breaks a bone,it sets him back.he has to be still to heal;this makes him depressed.[i'm getting to the point].it has taken a whole team of doctors to get him feeling better.a pcp,a neurologist,and a psychiatrist.he has been on alot of meds,has a dependent personality to begin with,and pain meds are an easy escape from reality.depression was alot of the problem with my man.once we got to the shrink and he got proper antidepressants[he takes 3 different ones]he felt much less need for the loricets and the darvon.in fact,we have discontinued them altogether.he currently takes 3 somas a day ;and a couple of advil and that's all for pain;he still has refills left on loricet but has not mentioned them since we saw shrink and got depression really under contol.sometimes the pain is more in the soul than the body.we have been thru many,many tears and many,many pills to get to contentment. the trip to the psychiatrist has worked wonders. happy happy, joy joy !!!!!!! have a blessed holiday season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdladyblu79 Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 also lorri,if he can take otc painkillers,try advil or tylenol PM ,substituted for every other pain pill,UNTIL you can get to a shrink.your ins. should cover it.i do know where you are coming from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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