Why Do They Include Tylenol In So Many (narcotic) Pain Meds

Hello,
I have been managing joint and joint replacement pain for years with Norco 10/325 on an as-needed basis. We are using the 10 mg because it as a smaller ratio of Tylenol than the 5/325. I have been careful to use it only as needed because I fear addiction. Recently I painfully injured my hip and needed to use pain killers more often. My doctor switched me to Percocet, which did little for the pain and gave me a huge headache. I thought maybe the headache was a fluke or had to do with switching from Norco, so I spent a 3 day weekend in a chair without any pain meds and then tried the Percocet again, but the results were the same - headache and little pain reduction. So I went back to the Norco, using it more often and in a slightly higher dose. My biggest fear became reality - I developed tolerance (but still no addiction) to the hydrocodone. I immediately stopped using it in hopes that I may be able to return in a few months to my original as-needed use.

Meanwhile my recent hip injury has thrown out other parts of my pelvic structure, but it is all healing, slowly. Getting comfortable enough to sleep and to work is still an issue, I have been using only Aspirin. My neighbor recently gave me a couple of teeny weeny little 5mg oxycodone pills - without the Tylenol. I warily tried one and it actually worked, I was able to get comfortable enough to sleep. Then I used the other one the next day at work when I had a 12-hour on my feet workday and it also worked!.

Okay, sorry about the long story, and here are my questions.
1. Why is Tylenol so often included in narcotic pain meds when it is known to be so hard on the liver?
2. Why did I have difficulty with the Percocet, but not with the plain oxycodone?

I do have an appointment in a few weeks with my GP and I will discuss all of this with her, but I would like to go in with some answers or theories.

Thank You!

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The Acetaminophen is added to some of them, because it can augment the action of the narcotic, so it works better for some people that take it.

However, as you experienced, it doesn't work great for everyone, some people can experience more or worse side effects due to the addition of the Acetaminophen.

The FDA classifies this medication as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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Thank you for answering my questions!

d

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It is about 3 weeks after posting my first question.

Luckily my tolerance to Norco went away and I am again using this, but sparingly so that I do not again re-develop the tolerance. The Norco works wonders. I really don't understand why hydrocodone is not available without the acetaminophen.

I also take a small 5mg dose of oxycodone near bedtime so that I can get comfortable enough to get to sleep. Oxycodone does not work near as well as Norco, but it works well enough for this purpose and again, I am trying to limit my use of the Norco so that it will remain effective. Why is Oxycodone available without the acetamiophen and Hydrocone is not???

This routine is working well and allows me to comfortably get through my on-my-feet work day and a refreshing full night sleep. My recent hip injury is healing albeit slowly.

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