posted
I'm wondering if anyone takes Vicodin or knows if it will react with Bixin and Plaquenil?
Since we have determined I am herx'ing I need SOMETHING for pain. I cannot take any NSAID's because I have a large stomach ulcer. Tylenol doesn't cut it, and my LLMD has not recommened anything.
My PCP would probably give me vicodin but I am not sure if its OK to take or not? My PCP would probably know that answer but I am looking for personal experiences, because I am gun shy with meds now due to this herx.
Son's blog born at 24 weeks. Posts: 356 | From massachusetts | Registered: Jan 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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While there is that extra pain relief in the 5 mg of Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Vicodin contains 500 mg of Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and that can be very hard on the liver.
And Hydrocodone can be hard on the ears, if too much is taken or the body can't process it out effectively.
Even though Tylenol most likely does not cause serious liver damage in recommended doses, it can cause elevations of liver enzymes in the blood suggesting injury to the liver.
In a study of 145 healthy subjects who were randomized to receive placebo or 4 grams of Tylenol daily for two weeks, subjects in the placebo group experienced no elevations of ALT, a liver enzyme, but 33%-44% of the subjects in the Tylenol group had ALT elevations greater than three times the upper limits of normal.
The highest ALT elevation was greater than 500 which is approximately 10 times the upper limit of normal. All enzyme elevations returned to normal after stopping Tylenol.
Thus, recommended doses of Tylenol given to healthy subjects for two weeks can cause mild to moderate reversible liver injury.
Normal acetaminophen dosage can trigger liver failure in alcoholics
HOUSTON -- (February 10, 2006) -- It only takes a few pain pills to do life-threatening damage to your liver if you drink too much alcohol, say liver experts at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston . . . .
. . . "These people may have lesser ability to detoxify acetaminophen and a greater likelihood of producing toxic byproducts even if they take acetaminophen for the right indications and do not exceed the maximum recommended doses," said Vierling, also professor of medicine and surgery at BCM.
. . . .
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Here's what is of concern: Lyme toxins damage a patient's liver and decreases the liver's ability to detoxify. Therefore, it would be likely that lyme patients are also at greater risk for damage from even normal doses of acetaminophen.
Add to that other drugs that require a lot of the liver detox system and that could accentuate damage.
Anything that adds to the stress of the liver will increase pain. Glutathione may help the liver and decrease pain. Other liver support measures, too.
Shixiao San, Jin Lingzi San, Liang Fu Wan, and Baishao Gancao Tang
by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon
excerpt:
. . . Corydalis is added "to increase the pain-relieving effects of this prescription."
To compare Shixiao San and Jin Lingzi San, it is helpful to examine two of the main ingredients. Yang Yifan (9) compares corydalis to trogopterus (wulingzhi):
Corydalis and trogopterus enter the liver and spleen meridians. Both are able to promote blood circulation and remove congealed blood. They are very effective for relieving pain.
Ingredients; Corydalis root, jujube seeds and Schisandra fruit.
Jujube is also called zizyphus. Schisandra is also spelled schizandra. Both can be searched at PubMed and at The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook ( http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com )
dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
I took it for years while on Biaxan, plaquenil, and tetracycline. No problems but do be aware of what Keebler said.
After the years of using Vicoden, went to 100mg neurotin for the nerve pain.
I no longer need that stong of pain relief after the IV Tigecyl this past summer. Now if I have a rough day I take Lyrica 25mg (lowest dose it comes in) at bedtime.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I take Vicodin no problem. There are different strengths, some withe less Acetominephin. They come in 5/325 and even 10/325.
Our LLD prefers Percocet because it has even less Tylenol in it. It makes me barf, however, so I stick with the Vicodin when I need it.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
vicoden doesn't touch my lyme pain
i use it after suregery and for this ear infection i have
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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