I doubt it. There seems to be a cumulative effect as I take them, and yes I do take preventative meds for the inevitable constipation that occurs when taking opioids, it just doesn't work all that well for me. I was seeing pain docs when I was given gabapentin and was having back pain issues and in fact they eschewed opiods, but had given them to me when I was in acute pain. I always asked for about 3 days worth as the rest would be a waste and I have to dispose of them. I explained why, they went through the proper use, things I could do to attempt to alleviate the side effects, etc. Everyone is different and we don't all fit into a definitive mold for how we react to meds.
Yes ... that's for sure.
One of the main things that gets missed ...
short term use for acute pain ... 1 or 2 days is very different then use for long term.
Long term requires a slow process of low dose increase.
Too many times Drs will jump right in to an effective dose as if they were treating acute pain that will diminish quickly.
The body can revolt and reject that approach.
That's where the pain scale comes in ... the goal is to get from 9 to 8 then 7 etc... not 9 to 3 overnight.
The 1/2 life of opiates is 4 hours, an understanding of timing is critical to achieve the desired blood levels .
As well as diet and dose timing.
The training to handle long term use can take a long time before a balance is reached.
I'm glad that you got relief ...
we need all the options we can get.
But I will add that your statement ...
"There seems to be a cumulative effect as I take them, and yes I do take preventative meds for the inevitable constipation that occurs when taking opiates,"
Indicates your dosing schedule may have allowed the level of opiates in your system to raise to much to fast. Constipation is a result of that also, it's not inevitable. example ...5mg initial dose ...4 hrs 2.5 blood level 8hrs 1.25 blood level 12 hrs .625 blood level. Taking 5mg every 12 hrs already has you on an increase base line blood level accelerating at about 1 mg a day. 3 times a day schedule would be even faster.Higher then 5mg dose even faster.
You get my drift.....