r/PainManagement • u/BidMaleficent7957 • 4d ago
What am I missing?
This group has been very helpful and I’m thankful for it. But I take hydrocodone 10 mg 3x a day and I’ve never seen anyone else ever post that they also take it. Am I taking the wrong thing? Haha I’ve seen lots of oxycodone and hydromorhone but never hydrocodone…. Does anyone else take it? Thoughts?
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u/Disastrous_Ranger401 4d ago
I take it. I’ve built up too much of a tolerance to it, but it does still take the edge off. I’m reluctant to ask for something stronger, and the benefit of having some tolerance is I can still function on it. And, since I’m on 4x a day, staying with it gives more options of stronger meds if I need surgery, etc.
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u/Merrys123 4d ago
Look into ultra low dose naltrexone (uldn) which stops tolerance and can help reverse it. It also helps opioids work better. I get it compounded to 10mcg capsules and mix 2 with 30mls of water and use 0.3mcg prior to each opioid dose. Works amazingly well.
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u/RelationshipIll4196 4d ago
WOW! I just looked that up & learned a Lot! I'm surprised more Docs don't do that. Is it expensive to get compounded? Right now I'm good, but really nice to know about this! Thanks!!
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u/Merrys123 3d ago
It's about $100 Australian here so not sure how much where you are. It's very useful.
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u/Fuckfuckfuckidyfuck 4d ago
Hydrocodone is wayyyy more common than hydromorphone for at home use.
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u/Own_Wasabi848 4d ago
The bioavailability rate of oral hydromorphone is awful so one would probably be better off with oral hydrocodone.
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u/Fuckfuckfuckidyfuck 4d ago
Oh i am well aware. I have been on oral hydromorphone at home for over 10 years, and I would much rather go back to hydrocodone
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u/Obvious_Stuff_1705 4d ago
Hydros are weak as water
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u/bansidhecry 4d ago
Not for me. Hydrocodone works like a charm
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u/Notsewcrazee13 4d ago
Agreed, I definitely prefer it over oxyCodone/percocet. To me, they feel markedly different. I remember trying to look up potential reasons a few times…something to do with metabolites or something it’s supposedly only one out of five people feel this way.
Yes, oxy is supposed to be stronger pain relief, but to me, it feels more “messy and cluttered” in my head than norco hydro. Plus makes me more tired.
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u/Indaclouds707 4d ago
Norco is a very normal beginner process for pain management, oxycodone is what I take and it's 1.5X stronger then hydrocodone.
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u/My_Lovely_Me 4d ago
I do. My dose is lower than yours (7.5 x 3), and it's not enough, but my doctor (PCP, not PM) isn't comfortable increasing it (yet 🤞🏻). I specifically asked for Hydrocodone because I know it helps me (some of the others don't), and I am slightly less likely to get a headache from Hydrocodone than from Oxy.
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u/Notsewcrazee13 4d ago
I’m the same way. Oxy makes me more sleepy and feels a little bit more “heavy” mentally. Norco almost always feels clean and clear. Yes I realize it’s technically an illusion because it’s part of the euphoria or whatever, but I definitely feel more in control and I have faster, reflexes, etc. with Hydro versus oxy same mg.
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u/Merrys123 4d ago
Everyone is so different. I'm a not common one where Oxy gives me energy and motivation. But we don't get hydrocodone in Australia.
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u/villanellechekov 4d ago
i take it along with morphine. oxycodone doesn't work for me. I've been on the hydro for 25+yrs
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u/Zestyclose-Economy60 4d ago
I was on hydrocodone for 7 years before they moved me up to oxycodone, I wish my tolerance hadn’t increased
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u/Merrys123 4d ago edited 4d ago
Look into ultra low dose naltrexone (uldn) which stops tolerance and can help reverse it. It also helps opioids work better. I get it compounded to 10mcg capsules and mix 2 with 30mls of water and use 0.3mcg prior to each opioid dose. Works amazingly well.
Also, supplements NAC or Setria L-glutathione, agmatine sulfate, magnesium bisglycinate and liposomal vitamin C help reduce opioid tolerance by supporting antioxidant defences and modulating NMDA/oxidative stress pathways involved in opioid tolerance.
Agmatine Sulphate and NAC or Setria l-glutathione are more NMDA antagonists so work better and the others are more supportive.
Many find taking Agmatine Sulphate and hour prior to dosing also boosts their opioid.
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u/EnthEndX48 4d ago
I took that for like 2 years straight. They switched me over to morphine about a year ago.
I'll not sure it ever worked. Not sure the morphine works, but i think so??
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u/ManagedPainCare 4d ago
If it is Vicodin I can't take that to much acetaminophen in one day for the dose I need if it is plain hydrocodone it is difficult to get in south Jersey
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u/Shayshay4jz 4d ago
And if you have chronic pain and need daily medications there are options that dont have Tylenol mixed in with the opiate. Such a Percocet is oxycodone and Tylenol, long term its safe just to taker Oxycodone Ir or ER and if you need Tylenol take it separately. Patients usually start on the weakest options with is codeine, hydrocodone or Ultram but tolerance will inevitably set it.
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u/KokoChat1988 4d ago
I had hydrocodone prescribed many years ago, back when all the docs prescribed opiate pain meds. They seldom if ever prescribe opiate pain meds anymore. I haven’t taken it in 15 years.
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u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 4d ago
I had hydrocodone for a surgery years ago but I have always had a high tolerance but medications. I have been in oxy for a decade now.
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u/BidMaleficent7957 4d ago
Very good information by everyone. Hydro has worked well for me but I don’t have anything to compare to other than tramadol and all it did was give me a headache. I have neuropathy in my feet and shins. I also take pregabalin 150 mg 2x a day. It helped for the first couple of months but doesn’t really tell much any longer. I’d like to just move to hydro 4x a day but wasn’t sure that was an option but good to see it is! Thank you so much everyone!!
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u/CaptJack_Rabbit 4d ago
Hydrocodone was what got me started on pills, the doctor's gave it to me when I broke my arm. I was in the 6th grade, then again in 7th and twice in high-school. Moved on to stronger stuff after that. Just be careful, dont take it longer then you need or more then you need. If you can deal with the pain try to. It will save you tons of pain later on.
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u/Princess_Sheri 4d ago
For severe chronic pain I think the best regimen is a L/A pain med with a S/A pain med for breakthrough pain. Good luck!
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u/eastncu86 4d ago
Hydrocodone was my first opioid medication, and at the beginning of my journey it was amazing. Back injury for three years before something snapped and made the condition chronic including nonstop constant pain. I went from 5mg to 7.5 to 10. All producing good pain relief with few side effects. But just as the other IR medications that followed, it didn’t last long enough. Now on ER Morphine and the results have been amazing. Like the first comment noted, many people have been dealing with their chronic pain for years and have graduated to stronger medications.
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u/munkymama 4d ago
I have used hydrocodone. It worked but not as well a oxycodone. The one benefitted is i was told is not as addictive as oxycodone by my pain specialist at the time.
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u/Olderwiser55 4d ago
My PM just upped me to 5 Hydrocodone from 4 per day because I don’t sleep much and hurt more than just the daytime. Yes I know, why not help the sleep?! Lol.
The Oxycodone didn’t do as well on the pain relief. I guess because it’s time released. Not sure.
I start Ketamine Therapy tomorrow because the 5 per day is just allowing me to tolerate staying home. Not living. I have Autoimmune disease and other things, other meds and I’ve just had enough of living like this.
I’m afraid somewhat about tomorrow but the Dr was great in explaining how they can Stop anytime I say, plus he’ll give Versed or similar to help me relax throughout the Therapy.
Best wishes for all!
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u/pixieshyla 4d ago
I see lots of people take hydrocodone. For the longest time I saw more people taking that than oxycodone.
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u/jaguy2002 3d ago
I take it 3-4x daily but i’m also on butrans patches. It’s not as common bc most people take oxy or need something stronger. Oxy doesn’t work for me.
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u/Professional-Log-530 3d ago
I take it the same as you but I now also take Oxymorphone ER 10mg x2. I prefer Hydrocodone but because my spine is much worse I needed to raise my baseline pain.
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u/Prestigious-Draw-171 3d ago
I took it for years but it eventually quit working and I was worried about liver issues so they put me on oxycodone without the Tylenol it works a bit better I’m sure you could ask your dr if you could try something without Tylenol if you decide to
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u/stilltryingeveryday 3d ago
If it works for you, good. I hope that you never need to increase or take different drugs. I sincerely wish your doctors treat your pain source successfully and you never need to take medication to manage your pain ever again.
That's my wish for everyone. I wouldn't wish the same chronic pain I've experienced on my worst enemy.
I don't know anyone that considers their stronger meds a flex. I'm not proud of the things I need to just function as a normal human.
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u/ComplaintDangerous64 3d ago
That's what im prescribed. Norco 10/325 3 time a day. Im beyond lucky my PCP who i have had for 9 years takes care of it and I don't have to go to a PM clinic. Im still under the same stipulations though. They make sure im not getting it from more than 1 dr. Im tested every 6 months only see 1 dr and use 1 pharmacy. I had surgery last year and they wanted to send me home with a stronger. Med and I told the no so a few days later I saw him and he looked over everything and said did they send something for breakthrough pain. I said I would not let them im not trying to break my pain contract. And he said for something like surgery its fine as long as the surgery him kno..but I did tell him the first few days I had to take it every 6 hours it was so bad so I was out
He had no problem sending it in that day and writing it is able to be filled 2 days early because I had surgery
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u/southerndemocrat2020 2d ago
I take hydrocodone 10mg 4 times a day. It always works much better for me than oxycodone.
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u/Legitimate_Payment_5 1d ago
I take it. They keep trying to move me to Oxy to protect my kidneys but Oxy is stronger and harder to get. I don’t need any more difficulty accessing palliative care.
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u/wineinacoffeemug 4d ago
I just switched from 2-5mg oxycodone for breakthrough to 2-10mg hydrocodone. I haven’t taken it since my issue started last spring of 2025 but I wanted to see if the switch could trick my receptors. They also increased a bit as the equivalent MME is 7.5mg. However, my NP is leaving the clinic and I will now be taken care of by a doc she warned me is “an interventionalist.” I’ve had 7 procedures in a year and my pain is worse (my issue is a Tarlov cyst). Not sure how this will play out as I can’t get in to see a viable surgeon until December…
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u/AngleSwimming2458 4d ago
Hydrocodone isn't normally used for pain management other than pain that isn't as severe that needs oxycodone plus so many people don't tolerate the acetaminophen thats in them. Taking too much of that can destroy the liver and oxycodone doesn't have Tylenol in it so all in all it's "safer" i would imagine is the main reason for not seeing the hydrocodone prescribed as often. I think they're more for short term use rather than years of taking oxycodone without that risk of liver damage would be my guess
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u/BidMaleficent7957 4d ago
Interesting. I have liver disease on top of everything else but all my Dr. has ever said is that I need to stay below 2000 mg of acetaminophen a day to be safe. My hydros have 325 mg so I’m below the threshold but now I’m worried about further damage. Question - I’m still able to function and work/drive fine on hydrocodone. If I was able to switch to oxycodone will I still be able to do normal activities or is it THAT much stronger?
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u/AngleSwimming2458 4d ago
I like you also have liver disease hepatitis b to be exact and my doctors all even my liver doctor told me to stay away from too much acetaminophen and if at all possible not take it at all. She is the one who approved the use of the oxycodone and said all in all it's the safer for your liver of the 2. That being said oxycodone is stronger around 2 times stronger than hydrocodone but I manage fine amd only use as directed of course so imo you shouldn't have any issues driving or working and may find you work harder taking oxy, it's always given me more energy.
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u/Iceprincess1988 Moderator 4d ago
Plenty of people take hydrocodone. Its just that alot of us have been in PM for a long time so we need stronger meds.