Schedule Change for Hydrocodone

IloveSnoopy · Feb 18, 2004

Wow Dave,

That really sucks!!!! I have trouble getting Vicodin right now as it is. I can tell with all honesty and faith that I am not addicted to it! I have severe endometriosis and have menstural cramps that you would not even believe!!! I've been suffering thru them for months now...(and now add on a huge ovarian cyst)....yet..doc's are reluctant to give me anything. I actually have two tablets of Vicodin that I've been saving for about a year....just incase my pain gets so bad that I can't move. I don't think saving vicodin for that long would make me an addict. I truly need the meds for pain reasons. Otherwise...I don't sleep for days at a time....get run down..and usually end up getting sick. I can't work half the time, I can't enjoy time with my husband and/or friends...it's awful. Putting further restrictions on these meds would be a very big mistake as far as I'm concerned!! Thanks Dave for the post.....you are always a wealth of info!!

Lots of luv,

Snoop'

Speculating · Feb 18, 2004

Please be advised that a petition has been submitted to the DEA requsting that all products containing Hydrocodone (Lortab, Lorcet, Vicodin, Norco, Maxidone, Tussionex, ect...) be changed from a CS Schedule III to a CS Schedule II.
This would put it on par with drugs like Morphine, Fentanyl, Methadone, all Oxycodone containing drugs and so on.
While I completely agree that Hydrocodone is a very popular drug of abuse, I could not disagree more in making a change to the level of restriction of the drug. Changing this drug a Schedule II will be a HUGE blow to those practicing pain management.
I encourage you to contact your state DEA offices, your legislators, and local NP's/MD's/DO's and voice your concern about the possible change.
If you have any questions about what problems a possible change could cause, feel free to post them. I'll do my best to respond.
Dave

Dave, personally I'm not sure whether it makes a a big difference anymore any how. I'm not sure about the way it is nationwide, but where I'm at all pain meds have to have to be a written prescription all the way down to Darvocets and T3's . Since you can't call in Lortabs anymore any way I'm not sure how big of an impact changing the schedule will have.

Dave ARNP · Feb 19, 2004

Wow Speculating...

I wasn't aware that there was a place where you couldn't call in V-III.

Can refills still be written on the V-III's?

As far as moving Hydrocodone up to a II, what in the world are we going to have left that's not in that "strong" class that's any good?

Lortab is probably the most prescribed drug we use for pain. Acute, chronic, breakthrough. It works! Taking it to schedule II will mean patients have to come in every month for a script, no telephone refills, and we won't be able to call it in PRN.

Dave

BTW Snoopy, not that (since you can barely get Vicodin) you'll likely get it, but Percocet would be the most ideal for endo. Percocet is what my wife usually gives.

Speculating · Feb 19, 2004

Wow Speculating...
I wasn't aware that there was a place where you couldn't call in V-III.
Can refills still be written on the V-III's?
As far as moving Hydrocodone up to a II, what in the world are we going to have left that's not in that "strong" class that's any good?
Lortab is probably the most prescribed drug we use for pain. Acute, chronic, breakthrough. It works! Taking it to schedule II will mean patients have to come in every month for a script, no telephone refills, and we won't be able to call it in PRN.
Dave
BTW Snoopy, not that (since you can barely get Vicodin) you'll likely get it, but Percocet would be the most ideal for endo. Percocet is what my wife usually gives.

Sure you can still right the refills on schedule three's. I can see were it would make a difference where your at, but down here it wouldn't make much of a difference other than not being able to write for refills because the telephone orders don't work down here anymore. They stopped the telephone rx in an effort to cut down illegal scripts which i think is totally wrong. To many patients calling in their own pain meds to the pharmacy. You'd think changing to allowing the phone order if the pharmacy could call back the MD's office to confirm on every case would be enough.

IloveSnoopy · Feb 19, 2004

Thanks Dave....for the reply.... I have used percocet in the past...usually after surgery...and it does work well for me...as does the Vicodin...heck...even T#3's work...I just need something to at least take the edge off so I don't have to sit in my bedroom....rock back and forth and cry. My gyn. did give me a script for Ultram...which doesn't even touch the pain... I'm at a real loss..... I've had doc's agree and say that the pain with endo can be equivalent to a heart attack and/or labor.....I just don't understand then...why they are so reluctant to give me anything. Actually ...my family doc was wonderful at helping me out with my pain....he has since taken a new job in Singapore...and I haven't chosen a GP yet. It's gotten to the point where I'm scared to go because they don't ever seem to help me....my gyn. doesn't at least.... I think he did my last surgery (in august) and expects that things should be just peachy keen.....I don't know if he'll feel like a failure if he admits to my pain or if he is just one of those that doesn't give out narc's. It's frustrating though...I don't feel that I should have to live in pain month after month. I've even started using my vacation days on my period days because the pain is so severe that I cannot work..yet ..I hate calling in sick. I wish I could see someone like you Dave....or your wife....you guys seem to really understand. Ok...enough babbling..I'm off to bed...thanks again for your reply..I really appreciate it.

Luv,

Snoop'

Dave ARNP · Feb 19, 2004

If they're all freaky about abuse, you might ask them for a Duragesic patch.

Having Endo, I don't know you "regular" you are, but if you can anticipate your menses, you could place a patch the night before you're "due" and wear them for your cycle.

2-3 patches a month should do you, and Duragesic has an extremely low potential for abuse.

Dave

memphispanda, RN · Feb 20, 2004

Well...Here, you have to have written script for pain meds (and stimulants) and they can't have refills...must have a new written script for each time. Except Ultram or course.

Dave ARNP · Feb 20, 2004

Thats because Ultram is a legend drug.

And stimulants NEED to have a written script. We're talking about methamphetaine, ya know. Only difference is that the prescription stuff is made by someone with a PHD.

Dave

Medic946RN · Feb 20, 2004

Dave,

What's a legend drug, if you don't mind me asking a naive question. Ultram in my humble opinion is one of the best pain meds I've ever received. I injured my back a few times working on the medic unit, mostly moving obese pt's to ground level. I got the usual regimen of flexeril and T#3 or perocet, but if I took one of them I was asleep for eight hours, so I had to relegate it to nighttime only. And the flexeril gave me a hangover feeling when it wore off. The last time I got hurt one of doc's I worked with gave me a few samples of Ultram. It was great! It took away my pain just as well as the T#3's or Percocets but it didn't make me sleepy, or goofy. Since then when I'm offered any pain med I ask for it instead. You don't have to put you life on hold while you wait for the pain to subside. (At least as far as musculo-skeletal pain goes, after I had surgery I was glad to take those percocets and snooze. )

Thanks

Doug

aimeee, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2004

Thats because Ultram is a legend drug.
Dave

I second that question. What is a legend drug?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2004

really be a bummer in my ER most of our docs havent even applied for the necessary triplicate prescription pads required in the good ole boy state of Texas