Percocet Dosage Limits 5/325 (Page 3)

I am taking the percocet 512 white tablets 5mg/325 for severe back pain due to degenerating disc(s). I have been told 1 pill every 8 hours, but find the pain so excruciating after about 5 hours that I cannot even stand... even to use the bathroom or shower. My MD cannot get me into a specialist until August, but I am having real stress here. Will it be harmful for me to take more than the one tablet per 8 hours??

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I was mis-diagnosed for 8 years on my lower back problem...first sciatic nerve, then sciatic joint, then peraformis muscle, then one-leg shorter than the other (I'm 40+...I would think I'd discovered issues earlier with a shorter leg!). My pain management regiment was 1000mg of tylenol or aspirin, 4 hours later 800 motrin, 4 hours later 1000 MG tylenol or aspirin, 4 hours later another motrin etc just as long as I did not exceed 3000mg tylenol and 2400 mg motrin a day.

The true source of my pain was discovered 6 years ago that I have a bulged disc (L4/L5 S1) that presses on a nerve in my spine. I was on 5/325's allowed to take 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours as needed. I did that for 4+ years and have no addiction or problems. I've had a rhyzotomy that removed the shooting pain down my leg...now just in a waiting game until the disc gets worse for a fusion.

About 18 months ago, my doc changed my pain management to just 5mg oxycodone tabs without the tylenol. I'm allowed to take 6 a night....that's 30 mg. If I need to, I can take an aspirin or tylenol. The main reason is taking six 5/325 tabs would exceed the acetaminophen limit, so the two of us made a decision to just take the oxycodone alone. The pills are much much smaller as well...but you definitely have to take them with food or milk, otherwise you'll get quite noxious and throw-up in about 45 min to an hour.

The main issue with taking too much percaset 5/325 is the quantity of acetaminophen...not the narcotic.

If I'm having a really bad pain during the day at work, I take 2 pills. The 10mg of oxycodone relieves the pain, but still allows me to correctly function at work and drive fine. When I go to bed is when the 4 - 6 pills are needed to block the pain so I'm able to sleep.

Obviously my tolerance has increased because of how long I've been on these...and yes there are times I've run out before my new script comes in...so I use the tylenol/motrin regiment. It's not as effective...but does help. I do not have any withdrawal symptoms when not taking it -- but every body is different. You know your limits, so it's best not to exceed them. If in doubt ask your doctor next time you see them, or ask for a telephone consult and you can discuss the matter over the phone with them. (if your doctor allows this... you can call your doctors office, they can tell you if this is allowed or not).

In lieu of motrin, you can use alleive or ibuprofen. The key is to ensure you take the anti-inflammatory at least 4 hours apart from the tylenol or aspirin. The anti-inflammatory I'm on is Naproxyn. I tried Mobic after Motrin but it upset my stomach too much even with food; Naproxyn seems to be working.

But Mobic and Naproxyn are prescription only.

The best case is to discuss a pain management regiment with your doc or ask if you can be referred to a pain management specialist...if your health plan allows it, and if you want to pursue that course. It remedied some of my issues.

A massage every now and then does help the muscular tension I have in my lower back as the muscles are in constant struggle to help with the disc. Sleeping on a heating pad at night on my lower back also helps to loosen the lower back muscles as well...and of course stretching if your able. Even sitting in a chair and bending down so your head goes towards your feet helps to stretch the lower back and provides some relief.

Take this for another opinion for consideration for someone who's been dealing with chronic pain for a very long time.

Lastly, I do have good days, bad days, ok days, and really bad pain days...so I adjust the oxycodone accordingly.

Thanks for "listening". :)

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You should be able to take 2 pills at the 5/325 dose every 4-6 hours and be fine. I've been on this pain med almost 2 years. Or ask your dr. For the 10/325 dose instead. That's my thoughts and the 325 part is basically Tylenol which can be harmful if too much is taken. Sometimes I take up to 2 10/325 for the pain I'm in for fractured calcaneus(heel bones on my feet.) that would be the max.

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I just had back surgery and still have pain some of it is the healing process some I believe it my nerve pain is worse if that makes sense. Doctors worry about the abuse of these drugs but have no idea how busy we are and it hurts to not take the meds I take vicoden no more the 4 a day plus valum 1 in the morning 1 at night it helps with the spasms. Addiction is there worry you have to remember that acetametaphin can hurt your liver and that is no joke.

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I know want your talking about, i have been under pain clinic for a year with the shots, they didn't work anymore, they have put me on percoect 3 times a day, also ibuprofen 800mg. wringt now. I had back surgeon in 2004 have a cage in back. it has move. botton line nothing eles will help. but there is one last hope don't know how many of you have heard of this its a Medtronic that will be put in my back i have talk to people that has had this done it really works talk to your dr about it. We all know with pain we have no life.

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i take 3 to 4 oxycodones 10/325 in a 24 hour period. whether or not you get addicted depends on whether you do or do not have an addictive personality. do you take more than you are supposed to? take it when you don't really need it? or, crave it? if you answered yes to any of these, you need to find something else for pain, or you will get addicted. your dependency on percocet for the pain is not addiction, but physical withdrawal is the same for both. i have two types of arthritis, one being a rare kind, and without help for the pain, i can barely function. educate yourself about the drug and you will feel safer. my prescriptions are written by a pain specialist. i would suggest using a specialist over a gp for these types of issues. good luck to everyone. oh yes, you can take 4,000 units per day of acetaminophen before liver damage begins. i have heard that has been dropped to 3,000.

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What about Percodan?
It is Percocet with the acetaminophen gone and Aspirin in its place. The decision for acetaminophen or aspirin is one I believe should be collaborative between the Patient and their Physician.
Aspirin and Acetaminophen each have dangers for the patient, and precautions to be observed. My personal experience is that aspirin works better for me, and for the same relief requires almost acetaminophen dosage.
And aspirin dangers are very manageable, but are things the Patient must be responsible for.
I take several different meds, and it is likely my liver is already processing various substances, and aspirin is much less hepatoxic than acetaminophen. But I also always eat something along with swallowing the oxycodone/aspirin, avoiding possible gastric damage, and manage the anticoagulation meds appropriately.
The drug manufacturer's Insert packaged with the drug states dosage of 1-2 of the 5/375 every 4 to 6 hours, and if you run out too soon it means your doctor is not good at mathematics or arithmetic, or intentionally failed to provide sufficient medication...
Withdrawal symptoms depend on dosage, and how long you take the pain medication. Also, there is the extreme constipation to deal with, if you have to take the opiate longer than a week. Polyethylene Glycol is probably the best option, since it never leaves the digestive tract.
And finally, I believe personally, that if your doctor fails to prescribe adequate pain relief, they violate their Hippocratic Oath, and you should shop for a new physician.

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You can safely take 6 per day (one every 4 hours or 2 every 8 hours) really it doesn't matter. You could take 8 in a 24 hour period and be totally fine. Even that's only 2600 mg of acetaminophen and it takes more than 4000 mg to be dangerous to your health. Just take the percocets when you have pain, stop taking them when you are healed. Don't abuse. It's easy. And when you do have pain and take them don't take 12 a day, just keep it around 6 for severe pain maybe more depending on body weight and don't wait too long to take more as they become less effective the more pain you are already in.

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Yes my friend is taking percects n she is taking four at one time for a once a day use is that safe

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Medical Marijuana may be thse best solutions to all of this in conjuction with your meds!

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You are so right! Life is short and you should live it to the fullest; If pain preventing you to do so than find a doctor that willing to prescribe you the pain meds. There are so many doctors out there, keep searching for the right one.

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Solution to fibro= Start a non-gmo diet which basically means nothing but organic because gmo feed buts the herbicides in the meat and since there are no regulations in place to control this the only safe route is to go organic. Oh and if you still have pain smoke a damn bowl and get on with your life.

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My advice would be to contact your Physician and/or Pharmacist and see what the healthy, safe dosages are instead of taking medical advice from people off a blog on the internet.

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IN REPLY TO POSTERS UNDERSTATING HAZARDS OF TYLENOL COMPONENT IN PERCOCET (oxycodone/acetaminophen). Due to rash of Tylenol (acetaminophen) overdoses, the FDA has required OTC combination drugs that contain acetaminophen (NyQuill, AlkaSelzer, etc) to reduce ingredient and post a BLACK BOX WARNING to the potential for overdose when using these combinations. Tylenol is not harmless. Cutting it close at 3,000 mg/day - 2,400 is considered safe.

AS TO PERCOCET: Typical prescription is the 5/325, meaning 5mg of oxycodone/325mg acetaminophen; however, is available as 7/325, 10/325, and various strengths of oxycodone without acetaminophen which is added for additional analgesia as well as a deterrent to abuse. Percocet is generally used to treat acute (short-term) pain or for occassional break-through pain for patients being treated with long-acting pain meds (OxyContin, MSContin, methadone, etc) for moderate to severe chronic pain or pain due to malignancy.

Although chronic pain is a major public health issue, too many physicians remain unprepared to effectively treat their patients. Patients have a part in this as well, as made obvious by many comments on this forum about opiate abuse and addiction. There is a bounty of research and evidence to the contrary for pain patients, for whom the addiction risk is actually quite low when given proper treatment. Sudden discontinuation is a potential hazard with nearly all medications used over time. Of course, increasing tolerance can become an issue; but with proper prescribing along education, over tolerance and potential for abuse can be well-managed.

STRONGLY URGE VISITORS TO THIS FORUM to also search the Internet for pain management and disease specific topics on reliable sites such as NIH.GOV or MEDLINE, where current research and best treatment information can be found. Our government views poorly addressed pain as a pubic health issue and a major drain on the economy due to unnecessarily high rate of disability claims, and devotes significant medical research grants into the problem. The results belong to the public and can be found on the NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH WEBSITE (nih.gov), WHICH IS THE RELIABLE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (fda.gov) MAINTAINS A PUBLIC DATABASE FOR ALL MEDICATIONS. Your tax dollars in action.

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Wow. Thanks for your great information on 5/325 oxycodone. I just started this regiment and am very nervous about the pills. After reading your write up, I feel much better. I too suffer from back pain daily. Degenerative disc desease on L1 thru l5. I've been taking Vicodin for about a year and had to go to stronger meds. The doc prescribed 5/325. I can take 1-2 tablets every 6 hrs. I took one to start with as a precaution and it fits the bill. I also work and was glad you supplied the info on how many you took while working. I have not been taking any up until I read your write up. I have surgery scheduled sometime in June this year. Hope it helps.
Thanks again for your Info.

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I am a pharmacy Tech at BOCES it is mostt likely the pharmacies fault...you can ask for a patient councel with a PHARMACIST ok and doctors are screwy anyway...&*^% them so

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I took 7 of them in the past 6 hours, I feel awesome :) Also drank a 375ml bottle of whiskey, I'm kickin and lovin it, no worries man

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Swim takes 10/325 5 to 6 in a 24 hour period. I think you will be fine. But let your dr know otherwise he will question why your script has run out to early and he might not write you another. Good luck

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No, it sure won't unfortunately I'm 18 and have taken a lot of drugs. An maybe the only thing that is saving me is that I'm young. I do know If you go through you're script too fast they may not refill your script. Two every four hours on a short term bases isn't harmful though and maybe they can increase ur dose.

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FT Hood, Golightly?

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I've been taking percocet 5/325 since my c3,c4 herniated disc fusion & subsequent back surgery.. It's been a godsend & just need 1 or 2 a day if I'm hurting. My Dr retired & my new Dr wants me to try Advil which does nothing... I'm suffering big time especially at end of day when I'm done working... I feel like a criminal asking my Dr for this medication.. I am in NJ .. Does anyone know who is out there that can help me???

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