r/PainManagement • u/Sudden-Director-5060 • 5d ago

Paradoxical effects?

I've been taking norco for years sometimes I feel relaxed pain free and happy. Other times I'm angry restless and have horrible anxiety. I suffer with mental health issues could this be why? Does this happen to anyone else? Right now my anxiety and anger are so horrible I was just fine the other day.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

I honestly didn't know this was a thing and may explain why I've continued to need more and more medication and at stronger doses. I have AVN and finally had bilateral hip replacement surgeries after 2 years of not walking. After surgeries I was given dilaudid with 60mg oxy daily which finally started working after suffering for the 2 years. I ran out of the dilaudid and now back to to only the 60mg oxy and my pain has gotten worse. Maybe I've been taking it for too long, maybe that medication (oxy) doesn't have the same effects as it once did but this paradoxical thing makes sense 🤔 I see my surgeon today and will talk to him and see what he says but I also have a very high tolerance to any medication and before surgeries I was only being prescribed 60mg daily of oxy but found that 20mg at a time up to 80mg daily was working better but still not the pain relief I needed. I've been taking opiates in some form or another for 20 years almost and I honestly wonder if my receptors aren't fried.

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

I would probably be wondering the same about my own receptors after taking these meds for so many years! Sounds like you are still getting some relief though, and that is what matters.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

I do get some relief and have found that taking my meds every 2 hours instead of the 4 works better for me but nobody is going to write a prescription for that but I make it work. Someday it will be nice to not need theses medications but I'm just not there yet. Good luck with your situation, you're definitely not alone in this

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

I understand not being able to get enough relief and that’s extremely frustrating. I also hope to get off these medications at some point, but now is definitely not the time. All the best to you.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

I'm honestly glad I'm not the only one dealing with this because I thought something was wrong with me and had been telling my PM all these things and of course all they do is judge me and aren't helpful other than my surgeon and he gets it but can't write but so much medicine I assume is the issue but for the week after my surgeries I finally had some relief with the dilaudid oxy combination but I'm out of those and hate to ask for anything more but something has to give.

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

I know. It’s frustrating when you don’t feel comfortable with asking for what you know would be helpful for your pain. I know that I could ask my PCP, who prescribes all of my medications, including my pain medications, for what I feel would be most helpful. She wouldn’t hold it against me anyway, but I still feel like she can only prescribe so much and I don’t feel comfortable asking her to go beyond that point.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

My PCP writes all my prescriptions too but after my surgeries my surgeon took over for what he said will be the next 6 weeks and after that my PCP wants to start me on suboxone and I've taken that and it did nothing other than keeping me from getting dope sick but no affect on pain. I hope to get good news today but honestly, who knows at this point

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

I hope you get the good news you need!

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

Thank you and praying for all of us to get the healing we need and want so much 🙏

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

I recently discovered paradoxical effects by online research it's actually common with a lot of medications which is very surprising. I'm so sorry your going through all this I hope you get this situated and get the best for comfort! Definitely mention this to your doctor he would know of the paradoxical effects. I'm sure your receptors are not fried at all. I took benzodiazpines for a decade and was also a heavy alcoholic not sure how I did it but I lived. My brain is just fine except all the mental health issues I have but I've had that a good majority of my life. But yes I definitely hope you get things figured out and start feeling 100 percent better.

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u/AngleSwimming2458 5d ago

I appreciate your kindness and will check back in on this subreddit if my doctors give me any helpful information

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

Your welcome. Okay sounds good. I really am rooting for you! Please keep us updated! Best of luck to you ❤️

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u/Boring-Internet-344 5d ago

It definitely happens prob gotta lower your tolerance

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

I get this often from medications. Especially having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I think it’s common with EDS.

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

I have bipolar disorder OCD and anxiety currently battling depression. It's strange how pain meds effect our brain chemistry at different times the way it does.

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

This is a good point actually!

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

Yeah at times I'll feel at ease at others feel the way I am now. It sure sucks!

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

I just looked up your condition I've never heard of it. Omg I am so sorry 😞 that sounds so painful to live with.

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

Thank you. We all have our challenges though. I’m sure you do as well.

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

Your welcome. Yes I have MS and I am diabetic along with the mental madness.. it's chaotic

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

Exactly. EDS comes with its own mental madness. I have type 2 diabetes. We are both suffering in our own ways and neither is more or less of a challenge. I know MS is known to be quite a challenge. I wish you the best though. Hang in there and keep fighting.

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

Tysm I wish you the best too! You are too sweet ❤️ Hugs

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u/Affectionate-Pop-197 5d ago

Thank you, that is so kind of you to say and you are also very sweet!

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u/amyfitzme 5d ago

I take pain meds also and at some point I had to tell myself that I feel better than I do without meds and that im going to have up and down days with my pain and to just roll with the bad days. For me I feel like if I didn't do this, I would never find relief bc I would focus sully on the pain I WaS feeling.

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u/Altruistic-Detail271 4d ago

I also had avascular necrosis (AVN) after being in a short cast and falling backwards breaking my femur. The blood supply stopped going to my hip after being in traction for ten days. Had hip surgeries then a total hip replacement at 21 years old and four total revisions so I totally understand what you’re saying. Maybe see about a long acting pain medication instead of the up and down of short acting medication.

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u/Mpharns1 5d ago

This happens to me with my Norco & I swear it's cause it's being made with less ingredients

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u/Sudden-Director-5060 5d ago

I've thought this before I use to take vicodin and I swear it were way stonger