Low Dose Percocet Helps My Nervous System, Any Thoughts ?

[hyperpots]

My Lyme Dr. recently gave me some 5mg Percocets for my pain issues. I can tolerate pain more then most people, but thought getting rid of one symptom would help another.

At the same time, I didn't want to build addiction or Tolerance, so I decided to start low and stay low.

I have been breaking the pills in half so that I take 2.5mg with each dose, which is pretty much spit.

I really didn't want to post this in fear of people getting on me about addiction, but it does help, so I'm posting.

Percocet is a CNS depressant, but so are many other things I have tried and they don't settle me down like the Percocets do. The problem is that the relief is short lived.

I'm thinking of asking the Dr. for Phenobarbital. I think this might help me. My mood gets so much better when my CNS is calm. I'm not looking for the high, although I wouldn't complain about that either.

What do you guys make of this ?

Also, I am new here and curious if you guys have a Live Chat Room for POTS. Would love some instant support when I need it..

Thanks everyone..

Steven

[pulp]

Have you tried any benzodiazepine drug? Phenobarbital is some heavy stuff, especially if you are taking additional heavy duty painmeds at the same time. Betablockers not helping you?

[janiedelite]

Also, benadryl is something that helps settle me down. Carvedilol works well too.

[kluesyk]

I too find that a very small amount of Percocet will stop the rapid heart rate, BP and shaking that happens when I am upright too long or have done too much and the Hyper response is triggered in me. I also use a VERY small amount of xanax .125mg and it works well, too.

I think the key is to not use a large dose. I am VERY sensitive to medication and it only takes a bit to help me. It seems it blocks the adrenaline and calms my system down so I can function.

Other pain meds don't seem to do the same. I wonder what it is in the Percocet that helps so much.

I was worried about people saying " Oh that is a narcotic and you will get addicted, too", but I have been using a very small amount to stop the surges now for about a year and I am not taking any more than when I started.

I have migraines and the percocet is the only pain med that will stop those, too, that in combo with Relpax.

[potsgirl]

I have debilitating small fiber neuropathy, and I take Gabapentin, but also take a 5 mg tablet of oxycodone in the morning when my pain is especially acute. This definitely helps my pain, and it's a small enough amount that I don't worry too much about it. It's worth it for the pain relief it offers. My PCP tried to put me on Oxycontin (which I'm afraid of re:addiction issues), but raised my dose too quickly and to an amount I couldn't tolerate. I was basically a walking zombie! Horrible experience. So, I'm happy with the pain regimen I'm on now.

[sandymbme]

One thing that it is really important to know about narcotic medications is that there is a world of difference between being dependent on your medications, and being ADDICTED. I am dependent on many of my medications. I can not function at all without my midodrine. Because it has no "high", no one would ever accuse me of being addicted to it. But I do NEED the medication. I have a degenerative connective tissue disorder, and suffer frequent injuries and constant pain. In addition, I suffer widespread pain associated with my POTS. I take percocet, and fentanyl patches, at the direction of my pain management doctor. I am dependent on my pain medication, much as I am dependent on my midodrine, or my vitamins, or my beta-blocker. I am not addicted. I never take pain medication when I am not in pain. I never take more than directed. I discuss my pain management strategies with my pain management specialist, and we have frequent conversations about how I am feeling, current injuries, and additional strategies such as physical therapy. Our goal with pain medication is not to get me to a point of zero pain. But if you are in constant, unremitting, serious pain it also interferes with your body's ability to heal and recover. Please don't let fear of addiction interfere with you getting the best possible care for your illness and for managing your pain. Part of that management is taking medications, even pain medications like percocet, as directed by your physician. If you feel he has you taking too much, you NEED to discuss this with your doctor. They can prescribe you a smaller dose, and it will help support a open and trust-based environment for pain management. Hope this helps!

Sandy

[Katybug]

Steven,

I have a Belladonna script for the severe abdominal pain I sometimes experience from the POTS. It does calm all of my symptoms. As it is addictive, I only take it when I have the pain and laying down does not relieve it. Plus, my body often builds up a tolerance to meds easily so I do not want to risk making the low dose I use ineffective since it is the only thing that makes the abdominal pain stop.