HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What is it about breakthrough meds anyway?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/4/2008 11:16 AM (GMT -5)
I have a question for everyone.  What is the deal with breakthrough meds?  they are supposed to be for breakthrough pain but for most ppl I know they never give you enough long term meds to use the breakthroughs occasionally and if they were only supposed to be occasionally then how come they give ya a full script on them if they dont expect you to have breakthrough pain on a reg basis which brings you right back to why arent they giving something stronger in the long term meds.  The whole idea is that your supposed to have 24/7 pain releif without having to always have your pain coming back every 4-6 hrs and then waiting for your meds to work but your constantly waiting on the breakthrough drugs to work.  It just really bugs me the way that we as painers know much better then most docs on what makes sense in dosing.

 

Karen

Posted 10/4/2008 11:25 AM (GMT -5)
Do you think that maybe you need something stronger for longterm pain management? If you need all of your breakthrough pain medications, I would think that you need something stronger for the longterm pain medications. But they just probably want to make sure the pain is covered. I guess I don't have that good of advice, but that is the only thing that I can think of. You are lucky that you have both medications, I only have one. But I can take four times a day and that helps. It is cold and damp here this afternoon and that sure makes me ache. So I will be maxing out today.

Have a wonderful day,
hugs, Karen
Posted 10/4/2008 12:27 PM (GMT -5)
I expect to hurt with fibromyalgia.  I haven't been without pain for 21 years.  I keep Vicodin in the medicine cabinet for breakthrough pain but I try to push through the pain first.  I try the walking, gentle stretching, hot showers, etc. first.  Consequently, I have never used it yet.  If I reach a point where the pain is so unbearable that I can't move or think, then I will take it.  To me, that's is what breakthough meds are for.  I have been that bad from other illnesses and didn't have the Vicodin at the time and I went to emergency then and was put on morphine. 

 

I just don't want to start something with narcotics if I can prevent it.  It can get out of hand.  I know many members need to take narcotics and I sympathize with them but, if it isn't absolutly necessary, I would try to avoid taking it.  We have seen members on here that have had problems weaning themselves off that stuff so I won't take it unless it is absolutely necessary.  If the intense pain continues, that's when I head to the doctor for more suggestions.  I, thankfully, haven't reached that point yet.

 

I hope you are feeling better, Karen.  If you are having this much problem, you should talk to your doctor again or see a pain specialist.  We can expect pain with fibro but it shouldn't be unbearable.

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/9/2008 3:55 AM (GMT -5)
Its not only the fibro I have trouble with but the fibro does make my other pain worse. Breakthrough meds are set up to take care of extra pain you might have while taking another stronger med for round the clock pain relief. My problem is that they never got close to having me at the right dose for the long lasting meds or I might have only had to take the vicodin occasionally. I cant find a pain doc to take me with medicaid thats the problem. I spent more then a few years before fibro trying to work through the pain and forget that,if there is something I can take to make me more functional and happier cause I am not thinking about pain all day then I am all for it. If tylanol did the job then fine but it doesnt even come close. At this point in my life I dont worry about having to get of the narcotics because I will most likely be on them until I die. If at all possible I am never going back to a life of unrelenting daily pain again. I say that if you hurt enough to have it on your mind all day long then you need help. There is no shame in getting adaquet pain relief. I am not talking about for some minor annoying aches,that I can handle but when it consumes your thoughts and stops you from doing daily things then its time for the big guns.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply