Posted by Anthony Quest on May 3, 2004, at 0:05:02
In reply to Pain Med Relafen, posted by Flipsactown on April 29, 2004, at 22:58:49
I took Relafen once for a few months. It's a little less effective than Advil. It's no different than any other NSAID. It's main benefit is that people with GI bleeding and ulcers appear to have less with Relafen than with other NSAIDs like Vioxx, or Celebrex.
If you are looking for a replacement for Oxycontin, then Relafen ain't it.
If you were truly addicted, that doesn't mean you can't take opioids ever again. There are long acting drugs like methadone that can be dosed properly -4 times a day generally for pain-instead of once - that are useful. Also, there is a new one in the use Buprenorphine (Brand name Subutex) which is specifically for chronic pain in susbtance abusers- It's a mixed agonist antogonist opioid that's used in Europe.
Fentanyl (Duragesic) is also harder to abuse than Oxycontin, but if you truly have a problem, you'll find a a way.
So it's pain or opioids for life. It's a dilemma many people face along with abuse/addiction. If people were honest, how many wouldn't at some point or another be tempted to get some euphoria out of their pain medication given that they are told no cures exist and they must live debilitated lives with pain most people never imagine.
You are just probably more honest with yourself than most.
Finally, you are in the best position to judge this, but what about your Oxycontin use led you to think you were addicted? Just the fact you needed to be on high dosages and that made you not have pain? Dependence and addiction are different. If you truly need an opioid, then making yourself miserable to the point where you have gone through detox, and then realize you can't live with the pain, only to return to strong opioids again is really irrational. Of course, if you really do have less pain and were taking the Oxycontin for the purposes of satisfying addictive cravings, it's best not to indulge that.
Most true addicts would say that the very fact you use codeine responsibly is evidence you don't have an opioid addiction. Only you can say. I only make this comment because nothing you said indicated you were addicted. (160 mg x 2 a day indicates a daily dosage which addicts don't have.) Before you fully go through the process of withdrawing altogether and dealing with more pain, perhaps make sure it's necessary?
Sadly, it is unlikely your doctors will be of much help in this.
To answer your question directly.
With respect to what is out there in terms of of pain medications: There are 3 types
NSAIDS: aspirin, tylenol, advil -over the counter ones
NSAID RX: Relafen, Vioxx, and 20 others- none are any stronger than the other
Weak opioid - Codeine, Darvocet, Ultram
Strong opioids -mophine, fentanyl, oxycodone
While you could try a lot of muscle relaxants and TCAs, antiepileptic medications, and interventional pain procedures your options will not change in the near future. A knowledgeable pain management doctor would probably know.
poster:Anthony Quest
thread:341582
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040303/msgs/342639.html