Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives AS Pharmacy Slow release Morphine

Hi All!

I am taking a low-dose, slow-release morphine capsule twice daily (a total of 60mg). This has helped me a lot, but I am concerned that together with the pain meds given to me for break-through pain (lortab 10mg) that I'm taking too much narcotic, and I'm concerned about addiction.

Has anyone else been put on a double whammy of opiates? Any suggestions? Any alternative Rx for breakthrough pain?

I don't want to have to figure out how to get off these meds later on.

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike,
I believe somewhere in the posts is something regarding addiction and pain. I have been on the slow release in the past plus the breakthrough meds. Doc's are pretty good at helping you to get off the meds when the time is right. If it helps for the pain why fight it?? Everyone has a different opion of addiction. A dr. can explain the difference to you better then anyone.
Hope I helped abit...

Mike,

Have you tried the Fentanyl patches?

They are great, and they stay on for 72 hours.

Lisa

Dear Mike,

My name is Jay Slater. I just found out about KickAS.org tonight and haven't received my access yet. But I read your post and I have over 4 years experience with exactly what you're talking about.

I have been on MS-Contin since Oct. 2001, and back then I was on Percocet for breakthrough. I had a back surgery in Feb. 2004 and that's what triggered my AS. Or, think my AS could have started earlier. But my L5-S1 Disc was shot anyway and had to come out.

Problem was, that my pain didn't stop after the surgery. In fact, it actually increased. I've had a Pain Specialist I've been seeing since Nov. 2003. He has been my Godsend. I currently take 120mg of MS-Contin 3 times a day, and I take anywhere from 0 to 16mg of Dilaudid (hydromorphone - stronger than morphine) every 6 hours if needed. And lots of time, I Need Them!

I was put on Methadone for 6 months because it's stronger than morphine and is known to work with patients when morphine begins to stop working. However, after 6 months, I had literally turned into a zombie. My family was desperately worried. I looked at pictures of myself, and looking into my eyes, the lights were on, but nobody was home. Finally, I got really mad one day, about 5 or 6 days before i was going to see my pain specialist, and I just said to hell with it! (Pardon my language, but I had had it!) And I just quit taking it, except 5 to maybe 10mg at night so i could sleep. I was on 60mg - 20mg 3 times a day. That's a huge dose. The only problem I had detoxing, was pain. Just my simple normal pain. I couldn't hardly move, I felt like just terrible. I couldn't tell if the sick feeling was coming from coming off of the Methadone, or the extreme pain I was in. When I finally got to my pain specialist, I asked him about the blood pressure reading I got in the ER the day before, which was 165/125, or the one in his office that day, which was 176/111, if they were a result from detoxing from the methadone. His answer was no, but they sure are results of the amount of pain you're enduring right now.

I came down twice from 90mg 3 times a day of MS-Contin to 30mg of MS-Contin twice a day before the surgeon would do my back surgery. Coming down off of the narcotics is not that hard, and it's not that hard on your body and mind. But that's considering that you're taking the meds purely for pain relief and you're sick of them and would much rather be straight.

Several doctors have told me that there's a huge difference between being "addicted", or an "addict", and being "physically dependant" upon them from using them for long enough to become physically dependant upon them. An "addict" has definite and extreme behavior changes. There life begins to revolve around the drug. The drug becomes the most important thing in your life. That's when people begin to up their dosage without their doctor's permission, and begin to pawn things and eventually steal and let their life go down the drain just to get a fix.

But there are some people, like us, that need narcotics to deal with the pain. Otherwise, without any relief, thoughts of suicide begin to surface. The pain gets to be just too much to deal with any more. That why a Pain Specialist is critical to have.

I hope I have said at least something in this email to help you. You can take two different narcotics, one as a baseline for long term, and one for breakthrough when you need something in-between times, and be ok. What I take would most likely kill some people. And I haven't worked up to this dosage just because I got used to what I was taking and needed to increase it more for the same effect. It doesn't work that way for me. I have been offered higher doses and turned them down because I just can't take any more. I cannot take the "head" effects. Any higher doses and I would simply be unconscious all the time. Ever so often, I decrease my dosages just to see if I am making it up that I need so much. Every single time I get the same result. My pain level goes through the roof and I end up horizontal on either the bed or the couch unable to move. Basically, no quality of life. Then I go back to my regular doses and I can at least move again. The pain is always there. But at least with the narcotics, I can have some kind of life.

Peace be unto you Mike,

Jay Slater

P.S. Thanks for the scripture under your name. I have been going through a personal crises for several months due to my body developing problem after problem this year. I had a night vision in which Christ showed up and gave me good news. I am a licensed Minister and have been searching the scriptures for help. Now I have found it. Thank you again.

Welcome Jay!

I think we are in the Yahoo support Group together! Glad you found KICKAS!

Hi Mike,
I'm new to the website. I am a 30 year survivor of AS. Just wanted to let you know I have been on low doses of oxycotin twice a day and oxycodone for breakthrough for about 10 months now. What a God send after a 30 year struggle. There is a huge difference between addiction and function. With lifetime cronic pain we will never be pain free, but if we can keep our pain levels at a functional level (5 or 6) on the scale, with minimal doses why suffer in a "black hole" waiting to die because we are affraid to become addicted to pain meds that give us some quality to life.
There are many deseases that require lifetime meds. Ours is no different. Relax and enjoy the good days when you can, they can be few and far between. Don't let public views of our meds make you feel guilty.
Best of luck and God Bless

Welcome Jay!

You said it so well. The news media makes so much out of pain med addiction but as long as you are taking it for pain, that is what you are going to get......pain relief. Now physical dependence is different just as you explained.
Learned all this by doing.

Come back often. There are a lot of good people here willing to support and be supported.

Blessings.
Possi

Hi
welcome to kickas, i hope u find it as great and get as much out of it as i do, it truly is a wonderful place.
I second that ur reply was very well put. I wish u could explain ti to the drs here like that, as this is one of the main reasons why drs in my area go out of their way not to prescribe it.
i hope things r goin well for u rite now and ur not havin too much pain.
take care
heather

Hi there
I've been on 100mg of slow release codeine for a couple of weeks as well as Sulfasalazine/Neprosyn/Advil etc..keeps you awake all night long and causes constipation...but you do get pain relief...doesn't morphine tablets do the same?

It doesn't keep me awake but you really have to keep on top of the constipation aspect. My dr. as a regimen to follow when you are on the narcotics and I do it "faithfully". )

Hope your pain is better.
Possi