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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / October 2005Prescription Question
Hi All, First time poster here with somewhat of a problem with the prescription my dentist is giving me. About 2 years ago I had alot dental work done in a short amount of time, and I needed it as I hadn't been to a dentist at that time in about 15 years. I had 4 wisdom teeth extracted and 2 root canals with crowns done. I was simply in too much pain on a regular basis to ignore it anymore. I would be fine for a few days or ever weeks, but then, usually at bad, inconvient times, I would suffer from horrible tooth\jaw pain for days at a time and sometimes longer. It was too much to bear, so I went to a dentist, who recommended I get my wisdom teeth surgically removed, and several root canals as well as crowns. In the interim between, he prescribed me Percocet 5\325. I was on them for about 4 months as in compliance with my insurance I needed to pay my portion of the bill up front, which was over $1,000. Right before I went in for the wisdom tooth extraction I had noticed that the 5\325 Percocet was not working very well anymore and I had to take a larger dose than was recommended to stop the pain (usually 3-4 pills). I let my GP know and he told me to tell the surgeon so he could give me something stronger. I did, and after the surgury, which had some complications as he missed part of a tooth, I was put on Percocet 7.5\500. I was on this med for about 2 months as we fixed the problem. Anyways, this was about two years ago, previous dentist who did all my work is no longer part of my insurance plan and I have had to get another one because I have experienced pain recently. I was diagnosed as needing two more root canals as one has a post and is in need of a crown and is infected, as well as another tooth that has a cavity in the back wich needs to be rootcanaled as well. The new Dentist made a referal and I have an appointment in a few weeks, because of the co payment factor, which in this case is about $600. He prescribed me something different called Vicoden 7.5\750. The problem is that these don't seem to work at all, at best only for an hour or so, and they seem to bother my stomach a little. I have talked to my PCP who told me that the problem may be that I was on Percocet for so long a few years ago that my body may not respond to the Vicoden since I guess it is a less potent pain killer? Has anyone ever heard of this? I have a few weeks before my rootcanal, but I have been warned by a co worker not to goto a Dentist asking for a specific painkiller or I might risk being labeled a "drug seeker", LOL. Not me by a longshot, but I am concerned. Can anyone verify that Vicoden is a weaker med than Percocet? And is it common for this problem? Thank you to all who can reply, Jay > Hi All, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >would suffer from horrible tooth\jaw pain for days at a time and >sometimes longer. Abscess, eh? > It was too much to bear, so I went to a dentist, who >recommended I get my wisdom teeth surgically removed, and several root >canals as well as crowns. In the interim between, he prescribed me >Percocet 5\325. Forget it! > I was on them for about 4 months as in compliance with >my insurance I needed to pay my portion of the bill up front, which was [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Thank you to all who can reply, QUICK ANSWER: The answer to dental woes is dental treatment not pills. Joel > Jay Ok, but what about in my situation? OR, is there a better temporary fix other than painkillers? Maybe something OTC that doesnt build tolerance, which is what I suspect is my problem? > > Hi All, > > [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > > Jay > Ok, but what about in my situation? OR, is there a better >temporary fix other than painkillers? Maybe something OTC that doesnt >build tolerance, which is what I suspect is my problem? YUP, when I see the tooth I know what to do ..... Joel Forget pills .... >> > Hi All, >> > [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] >> >> > Jay >I might risk being labeled a "drug seeker", LOL. > Not me by a longshot, but I am concerned. Can anyone verify that >Vicoden is a weaker med than Percocet? And is it common for this >problem? Your posting already marks you as a drug seeker. Your story does not fit your facts. I hope my interpretation is wrong. Amatus > Hi All, > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Jay .. Amatus . Way wrong. I simply posted as many facts about my situation as I possibly could to make it easier for someone here to give me a more accurate answer. Getting the feeling there is no answer here.. I hope my interpretation is wrong. > Amatus > >I might risk being labeled a "drug seeker", LOL. > > Not me by a longshot, but I am concerned. Can anyone verify that [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > . > Way wrong. I simply posted as many facts about my situation as I >possibly could to make it easier for someone here to give me a more >accurate answer. Getting the feeling there is no answer here.. Percoset for 6 months? I doubt it was a legitimate Rx Amatus. >I hope my interpretation is wrong. >> [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] >> >> . .. Amatus . Wow, how did I get off on the wrong foot with you, LOL :). Are you saying that a Dr was writing me illigitamate prescriptions? I don't know about that. Again, maybe I hit a nerve somewhere with you, can't imagine how, and if I did, I am sorry. I just wanted to get some info from some other sources on my condition. I just posted as much info as I could to get an accurate or as close to accurate response. I AM NOT a drug seeker, I wouldn't even know how to approach that subject. Case in point, as I have gotten all the info I think I need from people who are more interested in trying to help and advise me rather than accuse me of something foolish and unfounded. I won't be around here too much again, other than to let people know how I made out. Thanks for your concerns. > > Way wrong. I simply posted as many facts about my situation as I > >possibly could to make it easier for someone here to give me a more [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] > > . >Are you > saying that a Dr was writing me illegitimate prescriptions? I don't > know about that. Unless you are having surgery for cancer, or after traumatic facial bone fractures, I cannot think of any scenario where Percoset would be needed for dental pain. I certainly cannot think of any legitimate reason to take it for 6 months for dental problems. Dental pain is best treated with actual treatment, not with any drugs. I apologize if I misinterpret your posting, but long term percoset therapy does not belong to dentistry. Your description of Vicodin not being effective and only getting relief from percoset is very typical for a drug seeker, and any dentist in business for more than 2-3 years would recognize this right away.  Signature/ Amatus / > Wow, how did I get off on the wrong foot with you, LOL :). Again, > maybe I hit a nerve somewhere with you, can't [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] >> >> . Thank you for the reply. I'm sorry I came off the way I did. I guess I kind of live under a rock when it come to that kind of stuff. However none of this will be either here or there after Weds. I called the office of the Dr. I had scheduled my root canal with in a few weeks to get a total cost of what my portion of the procedure will be. In the course of conversation I asked if I could get an appointment a little sooner as I was in need to get this done ASAP.. The person I talked to said they had a new opening on Weds in the early afternoon, and asked who my original GP was and if they could call him for a credit reference, which they did, which of course I had a perfect pay history with them, which meant that they will let me bill out my half of the payment, which is approc $350!!! How great is that?? They said it will take about an hour. I'm so happy that this will be over soon! Again, thank you to all who helped to steer me right here! I'll post back here later in the week and let you all know how I made out. Thanks! Soon to be out pain! > >Are you > > saying that a Dr was writing me illegitimate prescriptions? I don't [quoted text clipped - 124 lines] > >> > >> . > Soon to be out pain! Good news! Vaughn Good Evening All, I just wanted to give everyone an update on my situation. I went in on Weds for my root canal. They gave me the Novacain in the upper lip area, put like this plastic thing over my tooth and went to town on the roots, hey I've had root canals before and you guys do them for a living. Took about and hour and a half. They cut me loose with a prescription for something called Clindamycin 150, and, and I know you don't want to hear this, and I didn't ask for it, a prescription for 10, ES Vicoden, just in case I had any problems in the next few days. I haven't taken even one, I think the antibiotic is working just fine. Thank you for all of the info over the last week or so and the support, you guys are really great!! PS: Are antibiotics supposed to have an odor to them? I ask because as I was putting the new antibiotiocs into my medicine cabinet, I had a bottle of Amoxicillin and some Pennicillin that was only about 2 or 3 months old that has a "rotten" is the best I can describe it, odor. Is this normal, or are these gone bad? The exp. date on the bottle is like a year from now. Again, thank you! > > Soon to be out pain! > > Good news! > > Vaughn You should not have any antibiotic left over if you took the medicine according to instructions. It can be bad news to stop taking the antibiotic before it has killed all the more-resistant bugs. SM > Good Evening All, > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> >> Vaughn Ok, but should there be a smell to them? I've tossed them anyways. Thanks Dr Steve! #3 > You should not have any antibiotic left over if you took the medicine > according to instructions. It can be bad news to stop taking the antibiotic [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > >> > >> Vaughn > Hi All, > [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Jay Your problem is very common indeed. These medications are not designed to be used for months at a time. You should be able to see a dentist to get you out of pain. It should not be necessary to incur the entire fee of a root canal up front in order to buy you some time. Meds are not the answer--treatment is. Steve Signature{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Remove "nospam" to reply\par } Ok, so you are saying that I should shop around a little more? Actually a friend of my wife's told here about an office locally that will bill out the co-pay, I just need to check to see if they are on my insurance plan (Aetna). Here is a small follow up question that hopefully won't draw any fire to me. What are the advantages of the root canal\crown procedure vs just having it extracted all together? Is it typically the tooth itself that generates pain, or is it nerves in the gums? I am sure there is no easy answer to that question. I only ask because if I can just get rid of the problem all together, I would just get it yanked. But the last thing I want is to be back at square one, the way I feel now. I did everything the Dr recommended I do and I am still experiencing horrible pain years later. Thank you for the responses. JJD > > Hi All, > > [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > "nospam" to reply\par > } > Ok, so you are saying that I should shop around a little more? >Actually a friend of my wife's told here about an office locally that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >to me. What are the advantages of the root canal\crown procedure vs >just having it extracted all together? If you extract, there is no tooth there. If you have root canal, the tooth may last a while longer. Joel > Is it typically the tooth >itself that generates pain, or is it nerves in the gums? I am sure [quoted text clipped - 70 lines] >> "nospam" to reply\par >> } > Ok, so you are saying that I should shop around a little more? >Actually a friend of my wife's told here about an office locally that [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >just having it extracted all together? Is it typically the tooth >itself that generates pain, or is it nerves in the gums? That depends ... and its a great question! Joel > I am sure >there is no easy answer to that question. I only ask because if I can [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] >> "nospam" to reply\par >> } What is your opinion? I know you can'y physically see me, but the pain typically is sharp and almost has a "pulsating" trait to it, the tooth feels swollen almost. The pain goes from my mouth to my sinuses, and then, at really bad times, will cause mind numbing headaches. >What is your opinion? I know you can'y physically see me, but the >pain typically is sharp and almost has a "pulsating" trait to it, the >tooth feels swollen almost. The pain goes from my mouth to my sinuses, >and then, at really bad times, will cause mind numbing headaches. Abscess! You said swollen. This means infectoion. Antibiotics may help. What complicates matters is there are three roots and one can be abscessed while two others are vital (but will get abscessed soon). Joel Excellent, thank you for the good info, as well as your down to earth response. I honestly don't know the difference between abcess and swollen, I was just describing the way it feels. I at least feel like I know a little more now then I did a day ago. Thank you to the several who could respond with honest answers I feel a little better. Not sure why this other guy is playing the angle he is.. Thanks Joel! > >What is your opinion? I know you can'y physically see me, but the > >pain typically is sharp and almost has a "pulsating" trait to it, the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Joel I would say he has been bitten by a few too many trolls over the years (as have many of us here). A healthy dose of skepticism is usually in order. Prescription pain medicine for 6 months is not in the scope of normal dental treatment. Raises a lot of red flags. If this tooth has been in 'bad' shape for months or years, it is possible that it may not be salvagable at all. You need to be examined soon and find out what treatment is needed. Dartos > Excellent, thank you for the good info, as well as your down to > earth response. I honestly don't know the difference between abcess [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> >>Joel I was given Vicodin for pain after foot surgery. Since the pain was minimal, I really didn't need the painkiller but took it because I'd been told to. My complaint wasn't that it didn't work but that I developed 11 out of the 12 side effects listed in the PDR, most of which my doctor didn't know about. I was pissed. Well, maybe not. Inability to urinate was one of the side effects. Can't you get a root canal sooner than several weeks? Hi Pell, Like I said in my OP, my issue was that the med given to me didn't work well at all, except in somewhat higher doses, which to me was not a good thing. No side effects on my end at all. no urinating, that stinks. Yes, long wait for the appt to get the rt canal done. I may jut go with getting the tooth in question, one of them anyways which in the way back, extracted all together. The only issue with that is that I don't want to go through that and come 6 months to a year later, be back in pain again. Just doesn't make sense to me. Thanks for your response and your info. > I was given Vicodin for pain after foot surgery. Since the pain was > minimal, I really didn't need the painkiller but took it because I'd [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Can't you get a root canal sooner than several weeks? > Hi Pell, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >back in pain again. Just doesn't make sense to me. Thanks for your >response and your info. Why do you think you'll be in pain after having the tooth extracted? I don't understand that. Have the tooth out.. pain goes.. done. > The only issue with that is that I don't want to go through that > and come 6 months to a year later, be back in pain again. > Just doesn't make sense to me. One or a few missing teeth is certainly better than an addiction to narcotics. Keep digging and you may find yourself in a hole that you can't get out of... Get help, stay away from the drugs. |
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