Morphine Or Oxycontin

[alphacentauri855]

I am currently on the fentenal patch and have the option of going on morphine or oxycontin. The patch doesn't work well for me. It doesn't last as long as the doctor says it should and it doesn't compensate me when my pain levels go up..I have no family in Ohio and I live alone so I need a pain medication to take long term (rest of my life) that will not cause me to be drowsy all the time. I need to be able to function. Does anyone have experiences with these 2 medications? Your advice is appreciated..Thank you.

D

[Sithie]

I was on the 24 hour Morphine, Avinza, and it worked very well for me. Had the normal morphine side effects, but worked well for pain, with darvocet or hydrocodone for breakthrough pain. I was able to get off of it about a month ago, when Doc doubled my Lyrica.

Hope this helps some,
Sithie

[markdoc]

I'm currently on Fent patch; 100 ug/hr 2 every 3 days, MS IR 180 mg
q3-4 h & Fent lozenges 2200 ug q4h & still adjusting. I live alone also, except for my puppy so I have to keep a clear head also. Fent works better for me than morphine. My insurance wont pay for Fent lozenges because only indicated for cancer Pt's & 1 month costs $1700. Very expensive. If you increase doses slowly, you should minimize the drowsiness. Lyrica didn't help me. Good luck.

[alphacentauri855]

Thank you..I will talk to my doctor..Maybe he will increase the dosage on the patch..Right now I am on 25mcg..This a new doctor and he is not an RSD specialist so he is hesitant about narcotics because of addiction..Why I can't figure since I will be on this type of medication the rest of my life..I told him I am dependant on them not addicted..He said there is no such thing as dependency on narcotics just on medications that help the heart, blood sugar, and the like..I disagreed with them..The RSD association also refers to it as a dependancy not addiction...So him and I are going to have to get together and work this out..All I know is I hurt more than I need to..I did take photos of my hands and feet when they are really looking bad and I intend to show them to him..I need to also point out that my right foot is begining to turn inward and more arched...I am trying to find an RSD doctor who will take my case..already been turned down by 2 because I was with one doctor since 1999..They want to do more then do just pain management..But that is all I need at this stage..It is very frustrating and I thank you for taking the time to answer my question...

[coleen h]

I was on high dose morphine for three years. 360 mgs long-acting per day. It helped with the pain - saved my life - but I was in bed quite a bit and developed diabetes. The equivalent seemed to be 100 fenatyl patch which I tried also but morphine worked better for me. I have a morphine pump now and get 20 mgs per day. Got rid of the narcotizing side-effects. Good pain relief and I am much more active. I take up to three diluadid per day for break thru pain. No experience with oxycontin. Good luck.
Coleen

[Breezy]

I also was on the patch for over a year,and on a high dose. It also did not help,in addition it seemed to cause heart palpatations and increased sweating with low grade fevers. I now take...Morphine Sulfate IR 30 mg every 6 hrs, Morphine Sul SA 200 mg every 12 hours, Topamax 200 mg twice a day and Clonazepam 1 mg 3 times a day. I usually take all 3 at night to sleep thru the night. However,with my severe RSD on my entire L side I have built up a tolerance to these meds. I am going to a pain clinic in 2 weeks to find out about Deep Brain Stimulation Implants. Good Luck To You!! Always Elizabeth... ;)

[HopeLivesHere]

I am on Oxycontin 40 mg every 8 hours and Oxycontin IR 4 times/day for breakthrough. Why the 40 mg isn't increased I don't know because I use all of the breakthrough.
It used to work well, but I've been on this for quite awhile - so it no longer helps the pain like it did - If I don't take it though I sure know it.
I have a little drowsiness for about an hour after I take it.
The doctor said nothing will really help my pain except the intrathecal pump, for which I am awaiting authorization.

My friend switched from Morphine to Methadone and is very happy. I know it is dangerous because it depresses respiration, but I've also read where it is the best for nerve pain. Sorry I can't really help you.

[kathy d]

Dear D,
I am currently using the Fentanyl patch along with Xanax, which I am calling the doctor on this Monday because I am changing my patch every other day and I'm still in severe pain. I tried Morphine in Sept 05 and it did absolutely nothing for me. They even gave me Morphine with enhancers in a needle and nothing. I didn't even fall asleep. I had been using OxyContin for several months and the doctor I went to said "Oh, you can take up to 360 mg per day of the Oxy along with all the other drugs you are taking." Well, after being in the hospital for almost a week they doubled my Fentanyl dose to 100 mcg/hour and along with Oxy and other meds I don't remember 4 days and my son rushed me to the hospital because he said I kept passing out and he knew something was wrong with me and actually saved my life!!! I am 5'4" and about 145 pounds and they overdosed me and the ins nurse said "Oh sorry you had to go through that." I thought I was dying in Sept 05. So, be very careful with the OxyContin. ALSO, NEVER CUT THEM IN HALF. You can kill yourself instantly because some of the medicine can be in the half you take and it can be too much for you to take. Of course, I was cutting mine in half in the beginning and a nurse saw some in half and almost had a heart attack. I was very lucky.

I have realized from taking all the pain medicine over the past two years that because our bodies are in so much constant pain we don't get the high that recreational users would get. I only felt drugged out when I had overdosed. I felt like OxyContin was like taking Tylenol for me. It was great because it took all the little aches and pains away like Tylenol does when you have the flu. I also know that my body will ache for the meds when I am due to take them which I am sure is an addiction. However, last year after I had a Lidocaine procedure done in the hospital I got myself off of OxyContin by lowering the dose and then skipping a day and then stopping completely. I had a doctor be totally amazed that I could do that and it was not easy. I had one really bad week of sweats and feeling yucky and the next week was a bit easier. You have to be a strong person to have RSD because it is extremely painful so if you can get through each day with RSD you can do anything in life!!!

I pray you will feel better soon. I hate taking meds too and I know it is difficult but you will know what is right for your body. I think you need to find someone that knows how to treat RSD and if you can't you need to research RSD and then have a nice little talk with your doctor so you are both on the same page. Most doctors don't want to get involved with long term pain medicine. I have had a hard time with getting the right doctors too. Best of luck always.
Kathy d.

[WellLovedMom]

Hello!

Hey there! So sorry you're doing poorly. Fentonal did nothing for me except make the room spin, cause nasuea, and make me feel drunk while STILL having horrible pain.

;) I'll share a bit of my "what I learned in drug class" with you, and hopefully it will help someone. Morphine Sulfate ER, Oramorph SR, MS Contin SR are ALL names for the SAME slow release Morphine based medication (My label reads Morphine Sulfate ER For: Oramorph/MS Contin). The last two letters denote if it is a fast acting (no letters after name) or a slow release -such as SR (Slow Release), or ER (Extended Release). There may be other suffix abbreviations, but they all mean that you don't take the medication as often. These are important for chronic pain patients, as we need to maintain an even level of medications in our systems to avoid the pain getting ahead of the drugs. If you are having to take your rescue medications more than 1-2 times per week (and that's still too often) your medication needs to be reviewed.

As for addiction, YES, WE ARE ADDICTED, HOWEVER... It is NOT the same as a person who takes drugs for pleasure. Chronic Pain patients DO NOT get any "HIGH" from their medications, rather it takes us closer to feeling "normal" (meaning not in horrifying pain all of the time). (Please note, this is what I learned in Chronic Pain Class.) Our BODIES DO become addicted to the medication FOR THE RELIEF OF PAIN, NOT for any feeling of pleasure. Over time, you WILL have to change your dosage, and, possibly your pain medication, etc. Your body WILL become tolerant to your current medication/dosage, so you may have to mix it up a bit. My solution was to go through HELL and cut back for a few months, then go BACK to my previous level, and it once again worked for me. (My primary doc would not up my level, and after 1 year, you are kicked out of the chronic pain program, and not allowed access.) Pretty dumb, having chronic pain is a lifetime issue, but their program kicks you out after only a year? Anyway, another topic for another time...

As for medictions, at first I thought that you were considering Methadone, (the second choice they gave me) and my concern with Methadone is that you can EASILY ACCIDENTLY overdose if you forget how many you've taken that day. If your memory is a foggy as mine is, that is a SERIOUS consideration. Also, I have heard (NOT from a pain specialist, so may not be as reliable of info) that prolonged usage (over several years) MAY lead to permanent damage to some internal organs. Not positive on this fact (but it concerned me). As for the accidental over-dosage issue I AM positive of that danger, as I was warned by several doctors.

I've been on MS Contin (Oramorph) 30mg 2-3x daily with Dilaudid for breakthrough pain for around 7 years. I noticed one person pointed out DO NOT CUT THE PILLS!!!! :eek: Very important!!! The medication is SR=Slow Release, and the pills are designed with a "pump" in them. They have a half life of 8 to 12 hours (they wear off). I still NEED them 3x daily, but only take the 2x daily as my doc is as leary as most of perscribing narcotics, EVEN THOUGH the medication was reviewed and recommended by THEIR chronic pain clinic!

Anyway, good luck, and I hope this helps.