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oxycodone vs duloxetine
I have an autoimmune disorder that has caused many problems, most recently pleural effusion, that is fluid in the sac surrounding my right lung. Since this began in February, a liter of fluid has been drained from my body 3 times a week. I am also on 80 mg of Furosemide twice a day to deal with fluid build up throughout my body. There can be a lot of pain associated with all this. I was on a small amount of Oxycodone, 2.5 mg/ 2.5% solution every 6 hours. Pain Center doctors believe this is an appropriate treatment. However, my PCP does not want me on Oxy so he prescribed Duloxetine, starting at 20 mg once a day. Although that's a low dose, I think I have had a strong reaction. I already have Cervical Dystonia, but since taking the Duloxetine, there is a lot more stiffness developing in my neck, back, jaw... Also, a rash has developed in the area of the drainage catheter. Another factor in considering any treatment is that I am 79. Duloxetine is questionable in treating elderly and concerns about opioid addition become much less relevant. So I'm mainly looking for thoughts on the use of Duloxetine in my situation, its effectiveness and possible side effects. Thoughts on Oxy use would also be appreciated. Thanks.
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I don't know of any doctors who prescribe oxycodone here on the East coast.
Not true I know a number of people in severe pain still taking oxy daily. Long Island is on the East coast.
@narus agree, there are doctors prescribing oxy long term. What I’m asking is a caparison of use of oxycodone vs duloxetine.
@rmbrandt Duloxetine is an SNRI antidepressant. It works on the serotonin and nor-epinephrine producers in the brain and inhibits them from working which (in theory) causes the brain to produce more of these chemicals. Duloxetine is used for depression, anxiety, and nerve pain. I take 30 mg a day for depression and pain. I also take Gabapentin 300 mg. Oxy is an opiate. It is used strictly for pain management. I can tell you from experience (as a recovering addict) that oxy is hard to get off of. Having said that, if you need it for pain, then use it. Pain management is different than using it recreationally. The reason your doctor is opposed to it is probably due to the addictive factor. Also, our bodies get a tolerance to opiates and people end up needing more and higher doses over time. I hope this helps and I am sorry that you are going through all of this.
If this drug is not working for you, then this (below) might be a reason for your doctor to look for another drug.
“Nearly 375,000 bottles of the antidepressant duloxetine have been recalled, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. recalled the medication on June 4 due to higher-than-acceptable levels of nitrosamines, chemical compounds that may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels for long periods of time.
On June 8, the FDA gave the recall the second-highest risk level, Class II, indicating the potential for temporary or reversible health consequences from the affected drugs.”
I have not taken this drug but I am on the lookout for something other than opioids because 1) they really don’t block my pain so much as make me high so I don’t care, and 2) they constipate me so much that they give me an ileus and the consequences of ileus are bigger than having to deal with short term pain (like from surgery). Oddly, simple aspirin works to blunt my pain but aspirin is also not good for you in the long term.
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1 Reaction@heisenberg34 I live in South Georgia. My GP has been prescribing opiates for me for many years.
I had a severe back injury (lumbar) 10 years ago. I was initially prescribed Oxycontin and Morphine in addition to 1800 mgs. Gabapentin. I took this combination for four months while bedridden. I knew I was becoming addicted, bit the bullet and weaned myself off of all but the Gabapentin.
Prior to all that, I was on Duloxetine 90 mgs. nightly for chronic pain and continued that after I weaned off the above cocktail.
For now, Duloxetine has numbed my pain enough for me to push through what pain there is. At one time I ran out of Duloxetine and had difficulty getting a refill. After a week, I was in terrible pain. So I guess you could say I was addicted. But it worked.
Opioids make me constipated to the point I landed in the hospital for five days. The constipation and straining has resulted in a large Hiatal Hernia I will need repaired. Two-thirds of my stomach is in my diaphragm.
Use opioids only when in intractable painbut don't count them out altogether. Know how to manage the constipation so you don't end up in my situation.
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1 ReactionSorry to say I take both drugs. The Oxy dosage is 15mg 4x/day. Neither drug though helps. I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and my pain level in my left foot is 9 and 7 in my right. I continue my search for the needle in the haystack, some treatment I haven't tried that someone out there has found. Good luck to you!