QuestionI'm a nurse (gerontology/pain mgmt isn't my area) but I was trying to explain to my dad why it's so bad for him to take vicodin (10MG P.O. QD) chronically for poorly managed leg pain. He's been checked out--several procedures and specialists later, they can't tell him why his leg hurts. It sounded like intermittent claudication, but they've determined that circulation to that leg is great. Radiologist said there was no pressure on the sciatic nerve. Anyhoo, he's given up on trying to find the root of this leg pain, but that's all to say--what's the scariest, most memorable way to tell my dad why it's so bad for a 65 year old to drink (abusing ETOH) and take vicodin every day? I wish he'd get with a pain mgmt doc who would make him sign a drug abuse contract to monitor his pain meds closer. But that's besides the point--I'm just trying to let him know all his risks with this behavior.
Thanks,
Amy, another kind of nurse (peds)
AnswerHi Amy and thanks for writing,
You could try pointing out:
-Avoid alcohol while taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Alcohol can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication, possibly resulting in unconsciousness and death. Also, acetaminophen can be damaging to the liver when taken with alcohol
-Vicodin is not recommended for people over 60
-point out that Vicodin is a CNS Narcotic which simply fools the brain that we're not experiencing pain but does nothing to treat the symptoms - he would be much wiser to continue investigating the cause of the pain, and try seeing a Homeopath who can help treat symptoms and not jut Rx drugs to mask the pain.
I hope this helps, if your Dad has abused ETOH for a log time he may not care if he abuses a Narcotic too, but all we can is try right?
All my best,
Margot
