1. < Chronic Pain

Hydrocodone/Medical Marijuana

Posted by chilid @chilid, Sep 12, 2018

I'm 62 years old. After 15 years of taking 3200mg of Ibuprofen a day for achilles tendonitis (which damaged my kidneys...before the discovery of ibuprofen's affect on them; in about the year 2000 or so), my Dr switched me to Norco (10mg Hydrocodone, 325 Tylenol...sorry can't seem to spell the generic name). Another 15 years down the road, I started having lower back, hip & knee pain. The Norco has worked wonderfully at relieving the pain. The last couple of years, I've been having trouble sleeping. Can only seem to sleep an hour or two at a time, having to get up for bathroom runs numerous times a night. California in the meantime had legalized medical marijuana. In the sense of full disclosure, I have done pot recreationally since the early '70s, but decreasingly in the last 10 years or so. Now that it's "legal", I started taking edibles as a sleep aid; have not noticed that the marijuana has had any pain relief for me, but as a sleep aid, it's been wonderful. So, Norco for pain, pot for sleep has been my regimen for about the last 15 months, and I've been feeling 25 years younger; no pain, nearly full 8 hours straight a night of sleep. I'm waking fully rested & ready to take on my days. For the first time in the years I've been taking Norco, my Dr had me do a urinalysis, results, of course, showing both the hydrocodone AND the THC in the pot. He gave me an ultimatum: one or the other, but you can't do both (due to DEA laws, etc). At this point, being a somewhat stubborn person, I'm not willing to give up my newly regained increased quality of daily life. What are my options?

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je16384 | @je16384 | Jun 13, 2023

Sorry but you will have to do your own leg work.

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je16384 | @je16384 | Jun 14, 2023

you need to get off your duff and do you own investigation and not depend on the not AMA. The erb is Berberine and unrelated smoking pot has help me stay off Narcotics and you should not call it NACO drugs that's nonsense. Maybe a stupid doctor call it that. Most of them have no experience in helping people using this kind of treatment do the drug industry. it's help my through 7 back surgeries and chronic muscle spasms.

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lesb0298 | @lesb0298 | May 17 12:37am

It’s been many years since you posted your issue with taking Hydrocodone and Cannabis… I wondered what you wound up doing as I’m thinking about taking some gummies with thc and I already take Hydrocodone 10/325 for hip and knee pain. I live in FL so the Cannabis is legal. But what you were saying it’s not legal to take both of them together?

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1 reply
chrisuk | @chrisuk | May 17 1:49am

Hi im new to this aand live in uk where anything to do with cannabis is illegal sadly.i smoked some dope at times with also taking my pregablin and slept very well.long term pot use can cause lots of mental issues as ive observed people i know change after smoking it for 30yrs they are becoming confused and slur words ect.also if you drive in uk the next day and get stopped by feds they can do tests and take your drivers licence.i rarely smoke dope now but get a great feeling and giggles ect.

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carolynhughes75 | @carolynhughes75 | May 17 2:24pm

If it is legal, how can your doctor make that ultimatum ?

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1 reply
kenc | @kenc | May 17 4:45pm

All to often doc's and others use the excuse the feds issued directives of one sort or another. Suggest do your own research to see what your state has to say about it. The state is where your doc has obtained his medical license to practice medicine in you state. A psychiatrist made a remark about medicine just being a "practice", because positive results are tentative at best.

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buttercup55 | @buttercup55 | May 18 9:01am
In reply to @edda "I am there also, so to speak. Because of chronic pain in my neck, caused by..." + (show)
@edda

I am there also, so to speak. Because of chronic pain in my neck, caused by arthritis and also a car accident, I am also taking Hydrocodone10/325 for the last 8 years. I also have trouble sleeping, and wake up every 2 hours, either having to go to the bathroom or with a severe stomach pain, caused by constipation, which also is caused by the pain meds. Now my children are after me to take some marijuana, since it is legal in our state of California.
But I also found out, that my doc can not prescribe the hydrocodone, if I am also taking marijuana, since it is prohibited by federal law. So I did not take it.
And sure enough a few weeks ago, my pain doctor had me take a urine test, and could tell, what was in the blood. Even a sleeping pill showed up.
So I am not going there with the pot. But I decided to wean myself off the hydrocodone, and I can tell you, it is not easy. But with all the news about hydrocodone, I really hope, I can do it. Never thought, it was that dangerous, otherwise I would never started it. And I did start with two pills and then was
slowly put up to 6 a day. The problem is, they do help me. My doc says, I am dependent on the hydrocodone, not addicted. But my life is not the same anymore, and I really hope, I can be successful with the weaning off. It has been already 8 months. Wish me luck! I want my life back, and not be tired or in pain all the times. It put me in a very lonely, depressed state and nobody talks about it. Has anybody weaned off the hydro successful, after about 8 years?
One always reads about overdosing about it, but what to do and where to get help, nobody says. My other doctors do not want anything to do with it. I think, they want my pain doctor approach this with me, but he also just says, wean yourself off!!!!

Jump to this post

I managed to wean off of hydrocodone after taking it for 5 years at 6 10 mg a day. I got off at easy enough but it craved it for at least a year. Which you can get over the cravings cuz you don't have it to take. But mayo extremely anti gummies with a small dose of THC in them that helps you sleep. I just wish federal government would legalize medical marijuana. In which case it would help a lot!

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1 reply
threestooges | @threestooges | 6 days ago

He gave you an ultimatum? Tell him to f. Off. It’s medically necessary.
Not understanding this.
Pot is legal in California.
Smoking and popping a narcotic hydro one is a paradisiacal high which you deserve.

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marialyce | @marialyce | 4 days ago
In reply to @carolynhughes75 "If it is legal, how can your doctor make that ultimatum ?" + (show)
@carolynhughes75

If it is legal, how can your doctor make that ultimatum ?

Jump to this post

Because it’s not legal by the federal government which only follows the farm bill.

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msmcecelia | @msmcecelia | 3 days ago

Hi, just trying to help anyone with cannabis and sleep with severe arthritis and spinal disc degeneration.
Yes a restful sleep is crucial especially when pain interferes regularly with sleeping.
I take Acetaminophen “scheduled” in the day, with Hydromorphone and Diazepam at night (both at low dosages) which I control according to pain level + my activities with resultant pain. So I added ONE nighttime cannabis capsule which is amazingly helpful. Someone on here recommended RSO 5:5 capsule (one) at bedtime. It has a balanced THC and CBD.
It is only really good for a 5-6 hour stretch, but I’ll take that. Sometimes more! Mood improved when I have slept duh. No harmful side effects. I am in Canada so cannabis products are easily accessible.

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