Some narcotics are stronger than others, and you may need a stronger one to control your pain. If your pain relief is not lasting long enough, ask your doctor about long acting forms of medicine. You may have developed drug tolerance if you have taken narcotics for a long time. As a result, doses that may have been too large for you a few weeks before may be safe now. The desired effect is pain relief with as few side effects as possible, regardless of the size of the dose.
Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe large enough doses or stronger narcotics for pain control.
Do not increase the dose of your pain medicine on your own. Remember, you are the best judge of whether your pain is relieved. If you still have pain and your doctor does not seem to be aware of other alternatives, ask to see a specialist in cancer pain management. Although not everyone has side effects from narcotics, some of the more common ones are drowsiness, constipation, and nausea and vomiting. You should always discuss side effects with your doctor or nurse.