Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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KiddoGal 06/29/2011

Off and on, over the years, I have taken vicodin for thing such as kidney stone pain, dental work, gallstones, etc. Never took it on a regular basis, and when I did just 1/2 tablet of the 5-500 would relieve the pain, and give me the (and I can only describe it this way) the euphoric, "high" relaxed feeling - a very definite feeling that you knew the drug was either making you drowsy or taking away or pain. When I developed RA, my RA doctor prescribed vicodin. During the last few years I might have taken vicodin probably 5-6 times a month, 90% of the time 1/2 pill just 1 time per day on those 5-6 occasions per month. I got a refill last October and this refill of vicodin almost has no effect on me, even at 1 tablet. Very slight feeling that it has just a tad of potency in it. I got another refill last week, asking for a different brand and not the generic kind. Same thing with this new prescription. It's as if though they have changed the formula and has lessen the effect it will have in controlling pain/reducing pain. Is anyone having any issues with the their vicodin having less potency? Thanks for any feedback!

michigirl 06/29/2011

I don't know much about pain meds because I don't take any, but being a former nicotine addict, I'd say you were building up a tolerance to the drug. I would definitely mention this to your doc next time you have an appt. good luck

KiddoGal 06/30/2011

I would have thought that also, but a few months ago, I took a vicodin that was from a prescription that my sister had - and it had a very strong effect on me - definitely like vicodin should react, not like the prescription I have now. Also, I took such a small amount, never more than 1 tablet per day and maybe only 5-6 tablets per month. And not every month. The lesser effect came from the new prescription. It was noticible on the first 1/2 pill i took. So I really don't think I have built up a tolerance. I could see if I was taking 2-3 tablets a day continually, but I don't take anything close to that. I am extremely aware that vicodin can be highly addictive and so I don't abuse it. I really thought they gave me a placebo when the filled the prescription! I will mention this to my doctor.

deleted_user 06/30/2011

I thought I had read somwhere that they changed the formula so that it wouldn't give people a "high" in an attempt to deal w/drug addicts stealing meds, etc. It may have not been Vicoden I was reading about, but it was one of the pain meds. I will see if I can find that article again.

Bistro 06/30/2011

KiddoGal, this is interesting. I've got a screwed up shoulder and knee I'm dealing with and take it as needed too. I remember that euphoria from the 5/500's. My doc gave me 7.5/325's, and you'd think half of one of those would do it. I found same as you, a whole one of those doesn't offer that same "high."

So I experimented (one of the cool advantages of having RA and chronic pain - ha ha) by taking an old 5/500. It hit me! The old 5/500 made me feel Better than the 7.5/325.

Now, missouritiger, I think I read something like that too. Or at least they were looking at a way that the codine couldn't be Extracted from the tylenol. And that brings me to another thought. I have read that the two drugs work Together as well. Is it possible having Less of the tylenol in the 7.5/325 is the problem? Are your's a different ratio like mine, or still the 5/500?

lycesq 06/30/2011

Good question. I have taken vicodin off and on for various things. I don't like it, but sometimes I have no choice. I haven't noticed any difference in the strength, but nothing that a drug company does would surprise me.

I hope you find relief soon!

Lynne

bigiblue 06/30/2011

Well I just took some 5/500 about 30 min ago and a few years back I would have bren already out like a light, but these new ones don' t get me high anymore either which is ok ,at least you can still function. It may be, because of the abuse that they had to alter them a little. It does help the pain a bit ,but not like the old 750 did.

KiddoGal 06/30/2011

Thanks for all the replies....I have a good friend who is was in the pharmacuetical industry for years. She thought maybe it was a "lees" potent batch, but when both prescriptions, different manufacturers, were lesss effective, it makes me think they have done something to the formula.

deleted_user 07/04/2011

I take 6 10mgs. a day. I used to give me a little boost like too much coffe but now they just ease the pain. Maybe the work I do Is the reason i need so many.Or I just got used to em

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