Pain medication changes due to regulations

Posted by cmedina1 @cmedina1, Sep 4 10:03am

I’ve been told twice now by my current doctor that they have to lower my pain medication because they’re being forced to by the government. I myself have lowered my medication twice to cut it in half. I’ve been on this medication for 26 years. I’ve tried to lower it again, but life as you know it changes so quick that I was not able to take care of myself. Now I’m in this position where they will have to lower it. I’m just wondering if anybody else out there has been told the same . Thanks for any input you may have.

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I agree. They backed down some,but still don't seem to address th a t if you have tried a solutly everything and you still have pain,then you need a n opioid. I feel that many people do not know what pain I s. They do not get it,and they do not want to

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Profile picture for tyyne21wigwam @tyyne21wigwam

I agree. They backed down some,but still don't seem to address th a t if you have tried a solutly everything and you still have pain,then you need a n opioid. I feel that many people do not know what pain I s. They do not get it,and they do not want to

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@tyyne21wigwam I totally agree with you. Unless you’ve been in pain for a long period of time there’s no way to explain it to another person unless they’ve walked a mile in your shoes. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. Appreciate your comment. Wish you the best.

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I see my pain doctor every 3 months and they perform a urine test every 6 months or so. No the government does not regulate how doctors office practice function like urine testing. They perform this for a number of reasons. To determine if you’re using your pain meds correctly so they can see an increased result for your specific pain drug. And it also tells them whether you’ve been taking any other meds too. I reside in a medical marijuana legal state so yes they see my cannabis consumption too and it’s never been an issue. Some docs may have a bugaboo about cannabis but it shouldn’t prevent you from receiving narcotic analgesia.

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Oh, when I went to my pain doc years ago, cannabis was a huge No No. My urine was tested monthly. I felt like a criminal going to a probation appointment. I hated it. I finally asked my PCP if she would advocate for me. She said, yes. I had to submit to one urine test for her. That was it. I felt like a normal person, again.

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Profile picture for tyyne21wigwam @tyyne21wigwam

@reemylove hydrocodone is not as strong as oxycodone. My doctor would not refuse to give it for chronic pain. Is that your concern. Are you having side effects

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@tyyne21wigwam
Yes i take hydrocodone for pain but if you change do tors would they still give me pain meds that I truly need

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Profile picture for tyyne21wigwam @tyyne21wigwam

I agree. They backed down some,but still don't seem to address th a t if you have tried a solutly everything and you still have pain,then you need a n opioid. I feel that many people do not know what pain I s. They do not get it,and they do not want to

Jump to this post

@tyyne21wigwam
I have never in my life taken a y kind of pain meds u til I got chronic pain and if anyone who have not experienced chronic pain good for them. I dont know ow how I could function without my meds with this kind of pain

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Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

I see my pain doctor every 3 months and they perform a urine test every 6 months or so. No the government does not regulate how doctors office practice function like urine testing. They perform this for a number of reasons. To determine if you’re using your pain meds correctly so they can see an increased result for your specific pain drug. And it also tells them whether you’ve been taking any other meds too. I reside in a medical marijuana legal state so yes they see my cannabis consumption too and it’s never been an issue. Some docs may have a bugaboo about cannabis but it shouldn’t prevent you from receiving narcotic analgesia.

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@jenatsky
Cannabis works for you the do tor should have no issue with still giving you pain meds

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Profile picture for reemylove @reemylove

@jenatsky
Cannabis works for you the do tor should have no issue with still giving you pain meds

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@reemylove cannabis is an adjunct medication for my pain control. Using more than one drug is a common way to address pain. The contract I signed with this pain practice addressed cannabis upfront. It’s no big deal.

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Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

@reemylove cannabis is an adjunct medication for my pain control. Using more than one drug is a common way to address pain. The contract I signed with this pain practice addressed cannabis upfront. It’s no big deal.

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@jenatsky Could you mention what other pain-relieving drugs you take with the cannabis ? Can/should hydrocodone or oxycodone be taken with cannabis ?

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The only thing I would be concerned about is interaction between cannabis and painkillers, also benzodiazepines, it’s well known that cannabis can greatly amplify the effects of these drugs. I remember many years ago that people who enjoyed cannabis would also use it with drinking alcohol because they were enjoying the stronger effects of the two substances together.

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