Meds 4 Laser Eye Surgery

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a question for all you experienced nurses. I'm not sure if any of you have dealt with this before but I figured I'd ask. Well, I Just got laser eye surgery done yesterday morning. Before it was done I was given half of a Xanax to calm my nerves I guess. Then after I was done I was given prescriptions for Xanax, and Lortab which is generic for Percocet. I was told to take the Lortab 500 mg q4-6 as needed for pain which is understandable. I was told to take the Xanax 0.5 mg q 6-8 hrs as needed for pain. I have never heard of Xanax being used for pain? Is this a common thing?

Anyways... after the surgery yesterday I came home and I took a Lortab and a Xanax thinking it would knock me out for the rest of the evening. Well I took it at 2 pm and I didnt get to sleep till 3 pm then I slept only an hour and a half. I thought this was really weird because Xanax usually knocks people out for 8 hours or so. Was I given an extremely small dose of Xanax or something?

I took a percocet and xanax before bed last night and I went to sleep about 10:30 and got up at 8. Thats about a normal nights sleep for me.

Then I went to the eye doctor for my post op appointment and came home and took the xanax and percocert and 1 pm. I never went to sleep after this. I did shut my eyes and rest for a while but thats about it.

My biggest concern is... if I am taking the Xanax and Percocet at the same time is this causing them to both work together and have no effectiveness(i think this is called an antagonistic effect)? Is this possible? I Just figured for sure that a xanax would knock me right out and the percocet would at least help me sleep but they aren't doing either of those things.

ALSO please keep in mind so this post doesn't get deleted.. I AM NOT ASKING for medical advice! I am just asking your opinions on the medicine. I am not asking for advice on how many I should take. Just want to see if anyone has heard about this happening to anyone before.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Kind of strange indeed. All I had several year ago was the antibiotic eye drops that I filled prior to the day of surgery and instructions to take tylenol for pain. I dont recall any pain at all.

Rj

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Specializes in Emergency.

I got a valium prior to the surgery - would have liked one for after too. I received no pain meds, but didn't experience any pain. There was a gritty sensation though.

I did have 2 dif types of eye drops. It has been 4 years ago, but I think they were an antibiotic and a steroid drop.

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Well I had the PRK done which is more painful I think? I'm not really sure. I guess it depends on the doctor. I am having pain in my eyes though. I Hads to get the PRK because I have thin corneas. I just thought it was weird to prescribe xanax for pain. And I thought taking both together would knock me out for a long time. But it didnt do anything. Thats why I thought i was getting some sort of an antagonist effect.

I also have 3 different types of eye drops: one is a steroid to decrease inflammation, one is an antibiotic, and one is for pain. Then tomorrow which is day 3, i will start using rewetting drops q 3hours as needed.

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Well I had the PRK done which is more painful I think? I'm not really sure. I guess it depends on the doctor. I am having pain in my eyes though. I Hads to get the PRK because I have thin corneas. I just thought it was weird to prescribe xanax for pain. And I thought taking both together would knock me out for a long time. But it didnt do anything. Thats why I thought i was getting some sort of an antagonist effect.

I also have 3 different types of eye drops: one is a steroid to decrease inflammation, one is an antibiotic, and one is for pain. Then tomorrow which is day 3, i will start using rewetting drops q 3hours as needed.

You're probably taking acular, ocuflox, and pred forte. In general, yes, PRK is more painful and risky. Percocet and xanax are not antagonists though. Stop stressing out about it so much. 0.5mg of xanax is not THAT small of a dose.

oh, and lortab is the trade name for hydrocodone/APAP, its not a generic.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

If you have questions, please contact your MD.

BTW Lortab is not percocet, its the same as Vicodin.

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