Norco with MS Contin?

[Diandra]

Hi All,
I have been on and off a variety of pain meds for 7-8 yrs. For the past 6+ months I have been on Norco. I started taking only 1-2 a day yet, have progressed to taking 1 1/2 pills every 4 hours. My doc and I have been discussing what to do as I did not want to go back on Oxycontin(long story). So, two days ago, he added 30mg MS Contin - 2x daily to take in addition to the Norco. He explained, that the Norco was short acting, the MS Contin long acting and he hoped this regimen would balance out and provide adequate pain relief, he also hoped I would be able to lower the Norco dose.

My 2 questions:

1. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this combination and did it work for you?

2. I feel quite spacey and "trippy" from the MS Contin (for those of you who are in your 50's and experimented with lots of drugs in the 60/70's you may know what I mean by trippy). I don't know how else to describe the feeling, it is rather a surreal, other worldly feeling that honestly is not a comfortable feeling at all. Is that type of feeling a hallmark of Morphine? I did not feel that with any of the other opiates except for Percocet.

Would appreciate any input or experiences/advice.

Thanks, Diandra

[Mark N]

I can't tolerate opiates until I tried Oxycontin but I didn't like the way I felt on it but could take it. Because I could take it consistently my OSS had me try MSContin and it has been a very good med for me. I don't get the feeling from it that you do so I don't know if you will get used to it and loose that feeling or not. I haven't used the norco or needed to but I take the MSContin three times a day. You may ask your doctor to try 20 mg TID or maybe back it off to 15 mg TID instead of twice a day. That way you would get as much medicine each day [at 20 mg TID] but wouldn't get as much at one time and the med seems to work for 8 hours for most people.

You may have to try one of the other long term meds if you don't get over the trippy feeling. I hope your doctor is willing to work with you to get the right dosage.

[BrokenBladder]

Diandra,

I'm glad to hear that you're on a long acting pain med as I know the short acting wasn't working by itself.

My personal experience is that many meds require a little time for our bodies to adjust to. I do understand that "trippy" feeling and I know that it's frustrating and all you want right now is for it to go away.

If I'm correct Norco comes in only one strength which is 10/325. I take Vicoden 10/660 every 4 hours all day long. My rheumy would love to get me to a point where I didn't need that much, but it works for now. When she started me on Vicoden at this strength she talked to me about Norco but she decided that I needed more Acetaminophen. It's better for you to be taking the Norco because I'm really maxed out on what my liver can tolerate.

I don't know if you remember but I posted to you about Oxycontin. I've been on it for nearly 2 years now and my dose has leveled out at 80mg TID, which is alot. I've done some research on Oxycontin versus MSContin and they claim that MSContin is no easier to get off of than the Oxycontin so they claim you should use which ever one works the best for you. I tried MSContin but it just didn't have the same amount of pain relief for me as the Oxycontin as long as I take it TID. I tried taking it BID and it didn't work for me because I kept having big pain issues at about the 8th hour and then I had 4 hours of misery before I could take another one.

I hope you get to feeling better soon and remember if you start feeling alot of pain before your next dose talk to your doctor about changing the mgs. and letting you take it TID. It really made a world of difference with me.

Merry Christmas To You and Your Family!!!!

[Pharmacist.steve]

Hi All,
I have been on and off a variety of pain meds for 7-8 yrs. For the past 6+ months I have been on Norco. I started taking only 1-2 a day yet, have progressed to taking 1 1/2 pills every 4 hours. My doc and I have been discussing what to do as I did not want to go back on Oxycontin(long story). So, two days ago, he added 30mg MS Contin - 2x daily to take in addition to the Norco. He explained, that the Norco was short acting, the MS Contin long acting and he hoped this regimen would balance out and provide adequate pain relief, he also hoped I would be able to lower the Norco dose.

My 2 questions:

1. I was wondering if anyone else has tried this combination and did it work for you?

2. I feel quite spacey and "trippy" from the MS Contin (for those of you who are in your 50's and experimented with lots of drugs in the 60/70's you may know what I mean by trippy). I don't know how else to describe the feeling, it is rather a surreal, other worldly feeling that honestly is not a comfortable feeling at all. Is that type of feeling a hallmark of Morphine? I did not feel that with any of the other opiates except for Percocet.

Would appreciate any input or experiences/advice.

Thanks, Diandra

You probably need to pull back on the Hydrocodone to "as needed".. Morphine ER is not good about lasting 12 hrs ... at best 8-10 .. and since the next dose takes ~ 90 minutes to "kick in " dosing every 8 hrs ... usually gives better pain management... if you have already pulled back on the Hydrocodone... it may take a few days to a couple of weeks for your body to adjust to the side effects of the morphine... don't give up on the Morphine ER... for most .. it is a better alternative to short-acting meds...