Narcotic/Opioid pain medications make me nauseous/vomit. What could prevent that?

Question

Just recently, my boyfriend had his second knee surgery and he is taking Percocet for pain. This got me wondering what I would do if I was in his situation.

Every type of pain medication I can remember taking (besides ibuprofen or acetaminophen) has made me incredibly nauseous and I end up vomiting. I had my wisdom teeth extracted and had either Percocet or Vicodin (I don't remember which). I was constantly dry heaving and nauseous to the point where I just stopped taking them and tried to deal with the pain. (This was not ordinary extraction pain, I had a dry socket at the time because my stitches got dislodged as the result of vomiting.) When I was 18 I had kidney stones and was given IV morphine and ended up vomiting non stop (I know I was given Zofran which obviously didn't help). Most recently, I had ovarian cysts and was given IV dilaudid. This is the experience I remember the most. I was given the dilaudid, which made me nauseous, so they gave me Zofran. It did absolute wonders for my nausea (entirely gone), but I was still vomiting. After my kidney stones, they offered me some sort of pain med (don't remember what) in addition to PO Zofran. Nothing worked and I continued to vomit. After my cysts, I just told them not to bother to write me a script, but they did anyway and I didn't even bother to fill it because at this point it's just not worth taking anything. And it doesn't matter if I take it with milk, on a full stomach, on an empty stomach, with crackers, with a meal, without food.

So my main questions are:
What would you suggest I do if I need pain medication for post-op or some other reason? At this point I feel I'd just rather deal with the pain because the nausea and vomiting is worse. It's just not worth it to try to find something that works and deal with the constant nausea/vomiting.
Why is this happening to me? Do narcotics/opiates hate my body that much?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Nausea and vomiting are very common side effects of narcotic medications.  To one degree or another, most people experience these symptoms while taking opiates.  Some are lucky and just experience a little stomach upset.  Others, like you and me, tend to launch into a real vomit-fest with just one dose!

I have always had the same problem and I agree with you - I'd rather just deal with the pain.  It's not that your body "hates" narcotics - you are just very sensitive to them. Sometimes taking anti-nausea medications (like Zofran) BEFORE you take the narcotic will help - sounds like you had limited success with this!   

The only other option I can think of is to try a different anti-nausea medicine prior to taking narcotics.  Phenergan, Compazine, Inapsine, Anzemet ,Visteril - there are several available, and one might work better for you than the Zofran.

I tend to just look at the bright side - I'll NEVER be addicted to narcotics!

? · Answer

Try a scopolomine patch. It's prescription only, and works wonderfully to prevent opioid induced nausea and vomiting. If you have surgery, your anesthesiologist will probably also give you ondansetron and deamethasone, which are good at preventing N/V related to anesthesia. N/V is a normal side effect from opioid medications. Some people react more than others do.

For the best answers, search on this site https://smarturl.im/aDKkr

Filmmaker · Answer

You may have to avoid the pain meds,   If you are brave enough, you could try phernergan with one of them. It can be injected (painful,) taken orally, or as a suppository(which can be much more effective.)  It may work better than anything you've tried.  When it comes to pain there is a reason for stopping it to ease your healing process.  But, vomiting and dry-heaving is counterproductive.  I am sorry you have had this experience and hope that you can find something to help.  I am very sensitive to many meds and have experienced some of the same reactions.  It becomes more or less an experiment in what you can or cannot handle.

Anonymous · Answer

Ask about Motillium for nausea - it may be more effective than compazine.  Also, ask for a very low dose of the pain killer.  What you are describing is the type of reaction that someone has to an overdose of narcotics.  Your tolerance may just be incredibly low.  Explain this to the next doctor you need to have provide pain meds to you - tell them you want the lowest possible dosage available, even if it is for an infant.  If you are terribly worried about this, I would even suggest making an appointment with an anesthesiologist to confer with them and see what they think.  They know that red headed people, for instance, can be very intolerant of anesthesia and have to be given much lower doses, so clearly it's a genetic thing in that case.  Perhaps there is something in your genetics that is the culprit, and perhaps you can be tested to see what it is?

Good luck.  I think you are wise to be asking questions.

? · Answer

Nauseous Medicine

KitKat · Answer

avoid the meds -i used tylenol, advil, and toradol for post op pain.  talk to your surgeon about your options.

Trending News

Narcotic/Opioid pain medications make me nauseous/vomit. What could prevent that?

6 Answers