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Suggest Zohydro ER Dosage For Chronic Pain

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Posted on Thu, 15 May 2014
Question: I have taken Norco 10/325 two every 4 hours for the past 15 years for chronic pain. What dose would I start on to equal the same amount of Norco ? My physician is very concerned about liver damage due to all the Tylenol in the Norco.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please, what new medication are you looking at!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I think your doctor has a genuine concern about the tylenol as concerns liver damage.

What medication do you want to get on as replacement for the norco? The general rules is to start pain medications at a lower dose and adjust accordingly as need be. If the small lower dose cannot control the pain, then it would be increased progressively to attain highest dose should the pain remains uncontrolled. At this time, a new pain medication can be added to make sure the pain is well controlled.

This is because there is no single dose of pain medication that works for all. This is very different from drugs like antibiotics where we say an adult needs this quantity and it hold true. With pain medications, it is more about titrating and looking for a safe dose that does the job well for each and every individual.

In all, start with a moderate dose of the new medication and get it titrated to get your pains well controlled.

I hope this helps. I wish you well and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications should need be. Thanks.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (7 hours later)
I am looking at the new medication Zohydro ER. Would I start off with the 20 mg dose to begin with since I was taking the Norco 10/325 every 4 hours ? I have also tried Oxycodone 5 mg every 4-6 hours with no relief.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Thanks or the updates!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for following up with me.

I will recommend that you start with 10mg and increase accordingly should you not get enough pain relief from this initial dose. Like I mentioned, there is no one dose that applies to all but monitoring, evaluation and modification are the best tools to come out with a very good pain management regimen.

Don't get bothered by where you start but rather get worried if you find no way out at the end of treatment.

I hope this helps. I wish you well and would gladly respond to any more concerns you may have.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Suggest Zohydro ER Dosage For Chronic Pain

Brief Answer: Please, what new medication are you looking at! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I think your doctor has a genuine concern about the tylenol as concerns liver damage. What medication do you want to get on as replacement for the norco? The general rules is to start pain medications at a lower dose and adjust accordingly as need be. If the small lower dose cannot control the pain, then it would be increased progressively to attain highest dose should the pain remains uncontrolled. At this time, a new pain medication can be added to make sure the pain is well controlled. This is because there is no single dose of pain medication that works for all. This is very different from drugs like antibiotics where we say an adult needs this quantity and it hold true. With pain medications, it is more about titrating and looking for a safe dose that does the job well for each and every individual. In all, start with a moderate dose of the new medication and get it titrated to get your pains well controlled. I hope this helps. I wish you well and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications should need be. Thanks. Dr. Ditah, MD.