I've been taking Darvocet for chronic pain after back surgery. It doesn't seem to help at all. Should I just double the dose for a few days and see if that would work better?

Darvocet is an analgesic (pain reliever) used to treat mild-to-moderate pain. It is a weak opioid like codeine. Codeine is more commonly used but some people aren't able to metabolize it.

It is not advised to change the dose of any medication without checking with your doctor first. Adverse effects of using this drug inappropriately can cause depression, heart problems, or even permanent harm such as liver toxicity.

Pain management can be tricky, requiring several trips back to the doctor to get everything just right. Physicians prefer to err on the side of under medicating patients rather than over medicating them.

It's possible that a change in dosage or timing of the drug is all that's needed. But it's also possible that a different drug would work better altogether. The goal of treatment with opioids is to relieve pain, increase function, and improve quality of life. If you are not getting maximum benefit from your current medication, it's definitely time for a recheck.