What's up with the pain medication

Posted by koneil @koneil, Mar 8 12:42pm

I'm not sure if any members are experiencing this butI am. I am a chronic pain patient. I'm seen for back pain a long with many other issues.
I get a prescription for morphine , used twice a day for 30 days. That medication has been out of stock for over two months here. I also have had problems with 10/325 hydrocodone. They limit my prescriptions to 120 per month. It's also difficult to get. Is anyone else experiencing these issues? Please advise.

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Profile picture for kenc @kenc

Maybe try to get the prescriptions filled at a hospital pharmacy.

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@kenc
That's a great idea. Has anyone else tried this?
Thank you for the information. That's the best tip ever on obtaining my prescriptions.

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Profile picture for philipsnowdon @philipsnowdon

Hello to everyone trying their best to manage their pain medications and most importantly, their continuous challenges to acquire them consistently. I’ve been using various forms of OPIOIDS for the past 34 years. Not because I like or dislike them. I use them because they are the most effective option for managing acute and long term chronic pain.
Unfortunately, I’ve been challenged and have experienced continuous difficulties over all of these years trying to get access too and ultimately fill my opioid prescriptions.
To make matters worse, there has been far too much mis information, dis information and uninformed agencies who are in charge of approving and allocating the amounts of yearly opioids available. In addition, too much bad information or lack of access to accurate and factual information that it’s created and still manifests a horrific environment for genuine, authentic patients suffering from long term chronic pain to get reliable access to opioids to manage their pain. Some of the worst and most damaging information is including the statistics for overdose deaths caused by the “Street Users of Poisonous Fentanyl” mixed in with otherwise safe Opioids used and prescribed by authentic and genuine pain management physicians and used by responsible patients in need!
There is more than enough accurate information available for everybody of interest to see and use for their supposedly precise analysis of the obvious problems NOT associated with safely and legally prescribed OPIOIDS for pain management but they fail to document and utilize them accurately and appropriately. The end result continues to cause horrible outcomes for the responsible doctors who prescribe and the patients who need and use them.
It’s like blaming the steering wheel for causing all of the tragic automobile accidents resulting in death!!!!
Not treating or insufficiently treating chronic pain is malpractice. However, physicians are being sued in addition to losing their medical licenses for safely prescribing the appropriate type, amount and strength of opioids to their patients.
Frankly, the governmental agencies, State and Feferal are “SOLELY RESPONSIBLE” for causing patients to severely suffer much much more than they ever need too. They are equally responsible for causing patients to commit suicide because the amount, severity and length of time that patients go being under treated or not being treated at all is far to overwhelming and impossible for any human to endure. It’s like imposing governmentally approved torture on its citizens. In shot, they not only have it all WRONG! They have it “TOTALLY & COMPLETELY WRONG.” Causing people to be nonsensically subjected to inhumane suffering and death!!!
These are simply the facts. They don’t offer any viable reasons for their decisions. They just keep making horribly inappropriate decisions which are not accurately based on facts but of “MORAL JUDGEMENTS” and trying to manage and justify society’s approaches, methods and beliefs to managing long term chronic pain of which they know very little and practically nothing about in their own personal reality.
The proof of this is simplified by the “FACT” that if any of the people in governmental offices and positions were personally effected by the need to manage their own uncontrollable pain with opioids they would be begging to get access to them.
Unfortunately, the only people who truly know and understand the incredible usefulness and value of opioids are the patients who actually need and rely upon them in order to survive!
Like many things in life, one does not truly understand a specific situation fully enough unless they’ve personally experienced it or one of their family members has.
All of a sudden, they have a very sudden change of heart and understanding about the situation and then they want their own parents, children or grandchildren to have access to opioids to treat their various maladies!
If a patent has little to no quality of life and they have to suffer a tortuous daily existence, any argument regarding possible addiction or over use is totally irrelevant!
Especially when the factual statistics and research continually supports the assertion and scientific statements that patients who legitimately and responsibly use opioids for a long period of time do NOT become addicted. YES, they do and can become physically dependent but that’s much much different from developing an addiction.
People who take opioids who really don’t need them or take them longer than they really need too can succumb to an addiction. However, that’s self inflicted and a personal choice. Patients experiencing incredible suffering and tortuous pain from some kind of physical accident, illness, disease or combinations of those challenges don’t purposely choose the conditions they suffer from or might be dying from!
Even worse, when the physicians, medical community or research community can not develop or invent a suitable medication(s) to measurably improve or cure a patients health problems. All that the patting is left with ice option to reduce the amount of pain Anderson while living with the fact that there is no viable treatment or ability to recover and they are going to die sooner rather than later.
Even worse, are the patients who live with “death like symptoms” but are not going to die any time soon. However, they have to endure their tortuous existence for many years with opioids being the only option of providing any kind of measurable relief and a sense of humanity. That they are important enough to society to be treated with real empathy and understanding like any human being deserves.
There’s a very simple reason why OPIOIDS are the most effected treatment for chronic pain. “ITS BECAUSE THEY WIRK EFFECTIVELY IN DOING SO!
I’ve always said, “provide me a medication that works as well and effectively as opioids and I will take them!”
Unfortunately, medical research hadn’t developed another medication as of yet. Until they do or if they ever do. OPIOIDS should never be withheld from the legitimate patients who need and deserve them, PERIOD.

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@philipsnowdon my doctor would only let me have two tramodol a day. I got a new doctor but she’s just as bad. They put me on celebrex which doesn’t work as well

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I am also chronic pain . Multiple Surgeon diagnosis as arthritis. I get 5-325 hydrocodone-acetaminophen, 30 pills a month. Doctors are extremely cautious prescribing opioids because of horrible abuse years ago with the opioid crisis. I have not had any problem getting hydrocodone in Raleigh, NC but I am being monitored very closely by my doctor.

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Profile picture for koneil @koneil

@kenc
That's a great idea. Has anyone else tried this?
Thank you for the information. That's the best tip ever on obtaining my prescriptions.

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@koneil wherever you get your prescription for an opioid, that becomes your sole source of opioid.

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Profile picture for ichbindck @ichbindck

@koneil wherever you get your prescription for an opioid, that becomes your sole source of opioid.

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@ichbindck Can you explain this a little more? I pick up my medication whever I can find it.
i just get on the phone and call pharmacys.
i don't know exactlywhat you mean.

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Im chronic pain sufferer for years.
I've taken gabapentin regularly .
I just was told I have to sign a medication agreement.
Meaning no THC.
I refused as thc helps me with my stage 3 colon cancer.
Unbelievable, im 58 and just trying to live my life and now I'll go without gabapentin!

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Profile picture for koneil @koneil

@ichbindck Can you explain this a little more? I pick up my medication whever I can find it.
i just get on the phone and call pharmacys.
i don't know exactlywhat you mean.

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@koneil In the U.S., opioid prescriptions are limited by laws that restrict the duration, dosage, and circumstances under which they can be given. Most states cap initial prescriptions for acute pain at 3–7 days, and many impose daily dosage limits measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Exceptions exist for cancer, palliative, or hospice care.
Duration limits:

As of 2020, at least 33 states had laws restricting the length of opioid prescriptions, most commonly to 7 days for acute pain. Some states allow only 3 days for initial prescriptions.

These limits often apply only to first-time prescriptions, not ongoing chronic pain management.
Dosage limits:

Several states restrict the maximum daily dose, typically between 30–120 MME/day (morphine milligram equivalents).

Prescribers must justify higher doses with medical documentation
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs):

Nearly all states require prescribers to check PDMP databases before issuing opioids, to prevent “doctor shopping” and overlapping prescriptions.

Some states mandate PDMP checks for every prescription, while others require periodic reviews.
Variation by state: Rules differ widely. For example, Massachusetts caps most initial prescriptions at 7 days, while Florida limits acute pain prescriptions to 3 days unless documented otherwise.

Professional judgment: Many laws allow exceptions if a physician documents medical necessity.

Chronic pain patients: Long-term opioid therapy is still possible but requires closer monitoring, risk assessments, and sometimes pain contracts.

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Profile picture for koneil @koneil

@ichbindck Can you explain this a little more? I pick up my medication whever I can find it.
i just get on the phone and call pharmacys.
i don't know exactlywhat you mean.

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@koneil I am very confused by your question. Are you referring to meds in general, which yes can be filled at presumably any location of your choice. However the previous comment was in relation to opiod prescriptions, which can only be given by ONE sole provider. In a rare case you may receive very limited opiods, maybe up to 10 pills from a hospital, I have in the past, but your Pain Management Dr needs to be informed. This is in reference to opiod meds.

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Profile picture for koneil @koneil

I think so. I don't know why. Im sure someone can enlighten us.
Good question.

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@koneil Marijuana plants are identified as sativa, indica or hybrid strains. IN GENERAL, Sativa is more cerebral and indica is more full body (think in the couch). Many people rely on indica strains to help with sleep. I live in a state with strong support for medical marijuana. I have consulted with cannabis DOCTORS. MMJ is easy to access and I wish that it helped me. Unfortunately it seems to set off my autoimmune diseases when I use it. I am in constant struggle to find a pain relief option that doesn’t require all of my dignity just to get it.

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