I take 25 mg of Savella once a day. That's way below the therapeutic dosage but I couldn't handle the side effects. I take Vicodin for breakthrough pain and flares, and I rarely take more than 5 mg.

I used to take Tramadol and the 5/500's for break through pain. But about 6 weeks or so ago, my doc put me on Cymbalta 60 mgs and it's done wonders for me. I was so skeptical of it, but it's brought my pain down to a 2 on average and that's with me being sick with strep throat the last 2 weeks! I do still sometimes need the hydrocodone too, but not often at all. I just hope it stays this way.

Hello, sometime...I also take vicoden (well, norco, which is the same thing, just with less tylenol). I started out with 2.5's, then gradually worked up to 5's, now I'm at 7.5. I take them 3x a day.

It could be your body is used to it now, and you do need to go up on your dose. Maybe you need to take it more than once a day, b/c that's certainly not much.

It's common for our bodies to become tolerant to pain meds, and we either have to increase the dose or change to something else. That's not addiction, it's about building up a tolerance to the med.

I also take an SSRI depressant, which helps with pain, and a muscle relaxer at night.

I hope this helps you.

Take care...Elizabeth

Thank you all for your responses. I have seen many people talk about breakthrough pain. Not sure exactly what this is. Can anyone explain just what you mean?

Usually when people refer to breakthrough pain, it's referring to pain that is more intense than your usual pain level.

There is a stronger Vicodin. It is Vicodin ES and it is 7.5/750mg tabs. It is the extra strength. It may help you if you go to that and the doctor might be ok with the switch because you aren't increasing the count that you take but just the strength.

I'm in terrible pain and the vicodin will work some if I catch it early enough but I am going to ask about taking Savella. I meet with the doctor tomorrow.

Good luck to you.

The only thing I take for Fibro pin is 500 mlgs of Spring Vallet Magnesium with Chelated Zinc(From Walmart) Every morning with an activa.

The only thing I take for Fibro pin is 500 mlgs of Spring Vallet Magnesium with Chelated Zinc(From Walmart) Every morning with an activa. No other kind has helped me. It also helps my DDD and Migraines as well.

i do have meds for fibro and gad.my dr has warned me that we him and i have to be extra careful about any of my meds because of all the different meds i am on and the condition my lungs are in.we r blessed 2 b a blessing. grammie.

That is a very low dose of hydrocodone. I take more than that but my pain is moderate to severe. I would NOT be able to function or work without that. It is the only script I take. Everything else is supplements and other homeopathic treatments.

There is nothing wrong with building up a tolerance. We become dependent on many meds. Only less than like 10% of chronic pain patients actually become truly addicted to it according the the American Pain Association.
I would talk to him about adding a few more a day. After tons of research and speaking to a number of doctors, the pain killers are actually SAFER than all the anti depressants, anti anxiety, etc stuff they try to shove down our throats. All you need to do is take N.A.C, milk thistle or other liver-cleansing supplements to counteract the TYLENOL which is the worst part of the hydrocodone. Don't let any other uneducated doc tell you otherwise. Some of them are brainwashed too by the pharma industry.

I take Lyrica and Cymbalta and hydrocodone for breath thru.

I also take diclofenac for arthritis pain.

I take oxy codons, Lyrica, neurontin, codeine, Prozac, elavil, Xyrem, amitzia, and a very careful exercise routine: Pilates, yoga, and feldenkrais. Busy girl, but first, I started getting, good sleep!