Posted by Elizabeth on November 3, 2001, at 11:48:02
In reply to Re: Percocet stuff, posted by Gracie2 on November 1, 2001, at 6:03:22
> On the other hand, Darvocet, codeine and even Vicodan have little effect on me, and I still can't understand what the big deal about Xanax is.
The three opioid-containing medicines you mentioned (Darvocet (propoxyphene + acetaminophen [Tylenol], codeine, and Vicodin (hydrocodone + acetaminophen)) are all generally considered weaker than Percocet. Out of curiosity, how much hydrocodone (the opioid ingredient in Vicodin) did you take at once? I was prescribed 10-20 mg when I had my wisdom teeth out; 10 mg didn't do anything for my mood but 20 had a noticeable positive effect.
Xanax isn't an opioid, it's a benzodiazepine, and I don't see what the big deal is about it either. < g > I mean, it's a good anxiolytic, but I don't get high on it, and I take a pretty high dose (2 mg as needed).
> I have a good freind, an experienced RN, who says that serious narcotics like morphine after a surgery or a terrible injury do not make the patient "high".
It depends on the dose -- people in severe pain need to take a much higher dose of opioids in order to get high. If you're taking opioids for pain, and you take only as much as you need to relieve the pain, you're not going to get addicted because you won't be getting high.
> I read in a book once - written by a doctor - that he told a cancer patient, "We have drugs that can reach any pain." I don't know if this is true from my own experience of having to watch my aunt die at home (as she chose to do), she seemed to be in a good deal of pain a lot of the time and it was terrible.
IMO, nobody should ever have to die in pain (if morphine doesn't work, there are stronger medications like hydromorphone and fentanyl) but unfortunately, a lot of people do. The husband of a friend of mine died last year of emphysema and complications. There was a nurse in the hospital who refused to give him the amount of morphine that the doctor had ordered because in her opinion it was too much! Luckily, he had a loving wife who stood up for him. The doctor arranged for that nurse not to be assigned to him. (I feel sorry for whatever poor patient got stuck with her, though.)
> The problem was that, after her colon resection, she could not keep down any food or water, and she would often throw up her morphine pills. She also had morphine patches, but the doctor said that they probably weren't working well because by that time, she was so emaciated, she had no fat on her body and I think this is necessary for transferance of the pain medication.
Yes -- opioids are lipophilic (fat-soluble).
> I felt strongly that she should be in a hospital on an IV with a morphine button,
Actually, patients can have PCA machines in their homes if they don't want to stay in the hospital.
> I'll tell you what, if I get cancer, there's no way I'd die at home. No way.
Some people prefer to, and I can understand why.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:82364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/83077.html