Here is valuable information to help you make certain you are using the appropriate medication to alleviate your pain. Brand names reflect those currently prescribed by North Texas Precision Pain Care because of their proven performance in pain management. As with all medications, be sure to comply exactly with your prescribed dosage, keep out of reach by children and pets, do not share medications, and-if you experience uncomfortable side effects upon taking the drug, immediately call your physician or 911. Do not wait to call if you experience any of the following emergencies:

• Have difficulty breathing
• Are excessively tired, which gets worse after increasing the dosage of a pain medication

MEDICATION TYPES

NSAIDS
Anti-seizure medications
Antidepressant medications
Muscle relaxants
Opiates
Sleeping medications
Stimulants

DOSING CATEGORIES

Medication types are divided into two dosing categories.

Continuous Dosing

Typically, all antidepressant and anti-seizure medications are consumed on a continuous basis, which means that if it is prescribed to be taken every eight hours, they must be taken at exactly that time interval.

Antidepressants (typically used for pain) :
Cymbalta
Effexor
Elavil
Trazadone

Anti-seizure Medications (typically used for pain) :
Neurontin
Topamax
Lyrica
Lamictal

NSAIDS*
Ibuprofen
Naprosyn
Diclofenac
Edolac
Celebrex

* If prescribed for continuous consumption, medication is generally prescribed for two weeks only; also can be taken on an as-needed basis

Never Continuous Dosing

These medications are to be used:

• If you can't fall asleep
• If you have additional pain after taking NSAIDS
• If you are excessively tired

These medications include:

Stimulants*
Provigil
Ritalin
Metamphetamine

*Use only as needed and not on a regular basis

Opiates
There are two kinds of opiates: Long-acting and short-acting Long-acting may be indicated by including the word -contin (meaning continuous) or ER (meaning extended release). Use these medications exactly as prescribed. They should never be split into segments. You must take the whole pill or capsule.

Long-acting Morphines
Kadian (May place in liquid or applesauce)
MS Contin
Avinza
Oxycontin (oxycodone)
Opana ER (oxymorphone)
Duragesic patch (fentanyl)
Methadone (May be cut)

Short-acting Morphines (May have IR-immediate release-in their names)
Hydrocodones including:
Norco
Lortab
Vicodin
Vicoprofen
MS IR

Oxcycodones, including:
Percocet
Percodan
Oxy IR
Roxycodone
Endocet

Opana IR (oxymorphone)
Dilaudid (oxymorphone)
Methadone
Actiq (fentanyl)
Fentora (fentanyl)