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Is It Safe To Have Percocet While Suffering From COPD?

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Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015
Question: Patient ProfileGender: FemaleAge: 64Visited a Doctor: YesMedications Tried: he didn't think so-pulmonary doc
Hi-Have COPD flare-up. Only second one. Not fun. I have gotten mixed answers on taking percocet 10 or any narcotic as to whether it makes my breathing worse? Your thoughts? I only take 1/2 too up to 2 of those a day. Broke my sacrum and have hip labrum tear-sever spinal stenosis etc. Chest seems to get tighter. Thanks :)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Not a risk I would be ready to take if I were your physician

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. From all the years spent during my residency, this was one very common echoing detail. Percocet has the active ingredients acetaminophen and oxycodone. The oxycodone is known to severely interfere with breathing and can reduce the respiratory rate quite a bit in an individual who does not have any prior respiratory abnormalities.

In an individual who does have respiratory abnormalities, percocet is considered a big no (in my opinion irrespective of the dosage), as the oxycodone does interfere with breathing irrespective of the dosage and if I were your treating doctor, this is one risk I would not be ready to take ma'am.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (3 hours later)
I agree and he knows I have it very mild at present. I also have chiari malformation and a syrinx so I need something for pain at times. Thought of med marijuana but.....
The percocet does nothing to my breathing except while I have a flare up-hence virus.
What would you take if you were me?
Oh my ox level is 98.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Opiates and anti-depressants should be the best option now

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I completely understand your situation and in all such cases the proper advise for pain management would be the following:

+Opiate medications: Which can indeed cause respiratory depression when used in larger doses, so the 'lowest effective dose should be used'

+Anti-depressants: The degree/grade of pain can be aggravated by emotional stress which is commonly seen in COPD patients who have other underlying conditions causing severe pain. Anti-depressants have found to provide relief to many of these patients, and I would strongly recommend it; not to treat emotional stress, but to treat the pain

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 days later)
I wrote about being on prozac-quite lengthy-did you not get it?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No ma'am, I did not receive it

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

About Prozac? No ma'am, I did not get it and I do not see it anywhere. Can you see it anywhere in our discussion above, because I cannot? Please do write to me with your query and I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (13 minutes later)
I also have chiar-heard of it? And syringomyelia. I never give in to anything-keep going as I am OCD-have been on prozac for a few years. I had a stroke 5 years ago and brain bleed from TPA drug. I could go on but.....lets just say I have alot of issues, Married 45 years-he takes care of me. But as I say I try to be positive. But how much can one take ya know. Oh I was on prem-pro for 30 years!! Smoked 40 years. Hence the stroke. All the doctors were quite upset by being on that so long.

Thanks for your feedback-I do not repeat what you say. It is nice to talk to someone-I thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Budd-Chiari syndrome? have you checked your liver enzymes lately?

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

I too enjoy talking to you as well ma'am, I am not just here to provide medical information, I am also here to listen, always am.

Yes ma'am, are you talking about Budd-Chiari syndrome? The condition where there is an occlusion of the hepatic veins of the liver? If yes, then of course, I have heard of it ma'am. I am really sorry to hear about all your conditions.

I too think it is gross negligence to keep you on pre-pro for so long, which raises the risk of the development of cancer. I also wish you hadn't smoked for so long, but we are all only human.

I have a condition called irritable bowel syndrome, due to which I am not allowed to eat so many things, but I still end up eating so many things resulting in some serious complications. We cannot control our urges some times and do not realise what harm we do to ourselves until something serious happens.

I am always here for you ma'am, please do not hesitate to write to me anytime. And feel free to ask me any questions.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
no XXXXXXX chiari malformation. Quite some thing. Yes I have been checked-why?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Chiari malformation; I have read about it, you are the first person I met

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Oh, the Chiari malformation. Sorry, I though you were talking about the Budd-Chiari which is related to the liver, which is why I asked if you had checked your liver profile lately or not.

I understand how you must be having difficulties with your balance. How controlled is it now, and was surgery used to correct the malformation ma'am? If yes, which surgery?


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (4 hours later)
There are thousands with chiari and a syrinx' My syrinx is at C-2 level; I almost had surgery BUT it does not work!! Many have multiple surgeries=up to 15. No one is taking my c=1 away-it holds my head up. Many get slumping. It is hereditary, you should read about these poor people.

May I ask what state you are in>?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I am not based in the USA :)

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Yes, I did find the topic interesting and read up about it quite a bit as I am in the field but I am not specialised in the spine. So it is not something I come across in my daily practice, but I do find all such topics very very interesting.

I am based out of Russia in a state called Kursk. I am XXXXXXX by nationality, and you may have assumed I am based out of the USA? No ma'am, most of the doctors on this forum are from all around the world, but the USA.

:)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (10 hours later)
There are alot of chiari people out there with headaches and you should read about it. I compare it toMS a bit. I had nystagmus in my eyes-led to mri and dx. That was abot 15 years ago just after a dog attack and a spinal-never should be done on chiari. Just something to think about with people you can not seem to find out what is wrong. I have no gag refex-never have. The vagus nerve is affected etc.

Finally getting better with this flare-up/breathing. Feel human again. Did you read abount syringomyelia?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (16 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I have seen a patient with syrinx during my medical residency ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

Yes, chiari-associated headaches are common mainly due to the protrusion of the brain tissue into the spinal cord.

I have even seen a patient with syringomyelia during my days as a medical resident ma'am, so I can relate to it. I am more than happy you seem to be getting better.

The patient I saw with syrinx was an elderly female aged ~55 years, who came in with spinal scoliosis, urinary and bowel incontinence, muscle weakness (mainly in her lower limbs) and loss of reflexes. There were a few initial suspected diagnosis put up on the board including MS, Guillian-Barre Syndrome, synringomyelia, etc.

But the MRI and CT scans confirmed the syrinx and she was accordingly shifted to the neurological department with an overlooking orthopedician to care for her spine.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (38 hours later)
when one is on many meds as I am, How do you know how far to space them. Have headache-want to take fiorinal. Too 1/2 percocet 10 2 and a half hours ago. All same pharmacy. Can I take one now? Who should I see to straighten out my meds? Doctor or pharmacy? Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes you can ma'am, you just need to avoid drug interactions in the future

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Yes you can take the fiorinal now, it should not cause any trouble with drug interaction.

You can visit either a doctor or a pharmacist to help sort your meds out ma'am, they both are equipped to help you in relation to this. Please forgive me for the delayed response, I just finished with the surgeries scheduled for the day and am headed for lunch, though I'd answer your question before I ate (its 3:50 pm here) :)

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (5 hours later)
ok thank you-what surgeries do you do? No problem for the delay. Have you ever see a person with so many issues??? But I am going out to get the new iphone 6.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Nice to hear from you after long

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Its been a while and I hope you are doing well.

I am currently an orthopaedic and traumatology intern, and either:

1. Assist with major surgeries like hip or knee replacement surgeries (complete or partial), unilateral or bilateral

2. Conduct solo surges wherein I correct/reduce fractures with the helps of various metal plates and screws

Wow, the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 plus? I am somehow not an Apple person, although I do have one Apple laptop (the 2014 Apple Air 13''). My wife and I have always been XXXXXXX fans, but off late they have been releasing phone after phone without any new significant changes and just charging us a bomb for it. So we both shifted to HTC (M8 and MAX).

:)
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

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Is It Safe To Have Percocet While Suffering From COPD?

Brief Answer: Not a risk I would be ready to take if I were your physician Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. From all the years spent during my residency, this was one very common echoing detail. Percocet has the active ingredients acetaminophen and oxycodone. The oxycodone is known to severely interfere with breathing and can reduce the respiratory rate quite a bit in an individual who does not have any prior respiratory abnormalities. In an individual who does have respiratory abnormalities, percocet is considered a big no (in my opinion irrespective of the dosage), as the oxycodone does interfere with breathing irrespective of the dosage and if I were your treating doctor, this is one risk I would not be ready to take ma'am. I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help. Best wishes.