About Dr. Tara Kompare, Pharm.D. Expertise I can answer a broad range of questions related to community pharmacy practice. My particular
interests include childrens` health and safe medication use for seniors. As the mother of two small children, I am quite knowledgable on many parenting issues from how to handle
a baby with colic to how to get kids to take their medicine. With regards to medication use in seniors, I can answer questions about adverse effects, drugs to generally avoid
in that population, and disease management issues.
Experience I entered the world of pharmacy as a technician for approximately six years. I then went on to receive my Doctor of Pharmacy degree and now work for the Federal Government as an outpatient pharmacist.
Publications Drug Topics Feb.2006 edition ("Why a Kiddie Corner Makes Sense"),
I also recently submitted an article to Pharmacy Times entitled "How to Help Parents Cope With Colic" which is scheduled for publication in the near future.
Education/Credentials B.S. Biology (Old Dominion University 1997)
Pharm.D.(Virginia Commonwealth University 2002)
Question Thanks for the answer. I have a follow up. What EXACTLY is APAP? If it's acetometaphin then why do they call apap? Also, why do they add it in vicoden? Lastly, besides oxycontin, what other similiar medications do not include apap but do have the narcotic part?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
Hi Barbara,
I have been taking vicoden and percoset back and forth for chronic pain for a little over a year now. They have exactly the same effect on me so I consider them the same plus, I get the same strength of both the narcotic and the tylenol (apap). Recently and JUST recently, I have started to get nauseus from the medicine. I have never had this problem before whether I took it on an empty stomach or even if I ate, I never got sick but again, just recently, I have started to get nausea. So my first question is, why am I just now starting to get nauseus?
My second question is that my doctor had me try oxycontin which filled generically is oxycodone which is the same as the percoset but just time release and NO apap. I'm not getting sick from that at all. No nausea and the dose is even higher sometimes much higher than when I take vicoden or percoset. I can only conclude that it's the apap (acetometaphin). That's the only conclusion I can draw because even with the time release, the amount of narcotic delivered to my body with the oxycontin is higher than the percoset/vicoden on a days basis.
1. Why am I just starting to get nausea now from the vicoden and percoset?
2. How come the oxycontin, although it's the same medicine as the percoset, how come it's not making me nauseus. I'm thinking it's the apap.
What conclusions can you draw here? Thank you.
-----Answer-----
Dear Barbara,
I think you hit the nail on the head: It sounds like acetaminophen (APAP) is to blame for your nausea. Either that or a stomach bug that everyone seems to be catching. If you are still nauseous after a week or so then I would bet it's the APAP.
I have had patients experience the same thing. Your Dr. should probably check your liver function tests to make sure your liver is okay. APAP is metabolized by the liver and early warning signs of liver damage can include nausea and weakness.
I wish you the best. Good luck!
Regards,
Dr. Tara Kompare, Pharm.D.
Answer APAP is just an abbreviation for acetaminophen. They add it to pain medication to help with added pain relief. Some other narcotics without APAP include:
