Hi Rob, there is no either or, when using Morphine. You do it, or you leave it alone. Being inbetween like that will make you sick. wean off it, and use something else. I used morphine 14 years, and I can tell you, my pain is better just with a different medication, and being OFF morphine. What dose are you on?
Wean off this drug if at all possible, it is hard to do, but you won't regret it. Other medications are NOT as dangerous, and the withdrawl wouldn't be as bad. If you wean off, ask for klonapin, or clonazepam, this helps with the side effects. I will be around if you need to ask me some questions. I am sorry this has hurt your life so much.
I had also been told I would be on it the rest of my life. Doctors do not know everything, really they don't.
Let me know how you do, your life can be put back together in time. Have faith. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ginnie
it's good to read this thread. i have been on morphine sulfate, (and other pain meds) for about 4 years. been through the list of pain meds, fentanyl, opana, morphine. they all quit working after a short time. short version, i made the choice to titrate off and did it slowly at first but at the end "jumped off". 2 weeks of virtual hell. my pain was amplified and near unbearable but i am determined to be rid of this beast, this thief of my soul.i thought i'd feel better at 2 weeks but i get a good day where i feel near normal and the next, it feels like severe flue. at least the chills and body aches are gone! has anyone else had this experience? it's a bit discouraging but i cannot return to that vile monster. i keep what i have left after the jump with the reminder, "abandon all hoe, ye who enter here", and "here there be monsters". i had an unfortunate incident concerning an abrupt cessation from fentanyl, MONSTERS!!
Yes that awful flu feeling comes with getting off morphine. I can't tell you how glad I am that I did it. I also did it rather fast the last few doses, and went through that hell you spoke of. Not to be tied to that med. is a relief. I still can take other pain killers if I need them. I try very hard not to take any. I use a pain patch, heat therapy, and take suppliments. Morphine is a monster, and if I had to do it over again, I would have never started. The doctor who put me on it said I would most likely be taking it the rest of my life. Chills and body aches do go away, and you will have your freedom back.
your story is exactly like mine...ecept i'm all alone with my dog,i've been taking the same 180 a month for 15 yrs,an again i ran out,i can't anyone to helpme,an i'm finding it's alot longer than 3 days..it is like baby steps,no energy..just to go to the washroom takes everything i have,letting the dog out,putting something in the garbage,an a shower(tho i feel better after)is a major chore,hope i can get through this,
6 years 300mg of morphine per day plus muscle relaxers and gabatine for nerve damage... all doctor prescribed... i got sick of the whole thing .. trying to find the meds at any drug store here in southwest fl.. so I gave it all up cold turkey and this is what helped so it was almost exactly like the author said it would be a solid 1 1/2 weeks of pure hell.. and another month until i felt some what normal..... now for almost 3 months I have taken nothing but aspirin or tylone and my weed... that's it.. and I plan on never doing anything... sometimes the pains in my back are all but unbearable but ... I deal best I know how with out opiates'.... so good luck and thanks to the person who wrote this........... .
The good news first. Even with a lengthy use/addiction/etc. the worst will be over in about a week. It will be seriously rotten week, but even with people in poor health, it's not fatal. Think of a really bad flu: sweaty, sickly and miserable. Find a doctor who is good with addiction/tolerance problems - not surprisingly you might find a couple of names if you hit an NA or AA meeting. You might also want to do that - even if it is not your cup of tea, you can get some really good info from people who have been that road, and even if you are still using, they will treat you like a human, and talk to you like one. Back to your rotten week. Gatorade, Benadryl (not Gravol) and immodium will help you stay hydrated - don't sweat it if you don't feel like eating much, as long as you're not puking you won't throw your electrolytes out of whack. You can take vitamins if you can stomach them, but most people won't suffer from missing a few meals. There is nothing that is going to help you sleep in the short term. Take a couple of weeks off work, and you should find that you can get at least a little by the end of that time. What usually happens is you're a serious insomniac for a week or so, then you'll crash hard for like 2 days, and then things should settle out a bit. Aches and pains, restless legs, etc. are best dealt with in the shower or bath. Stretching, and whatever exercise you can get will also help a lot, though be mindful that this is not the week to start training for a marathon! If you are in serious pain, it could be that you actually have a problem that is causing you that pain, and you need to check that out and figure out how you're going to deal with it, without narcotics. Depression is going to be like sleep. Your week will suck, but barring any pre-existing problems, that should also sort itself out. Cry in the shower if you need to! And seriously, don't do this alone. If it's your buds, or your family, or on-line or NA, find someone you can talk to through this - that'll help you the most. Cold turkey or not? Depends how much you've been taking and for how long. Cold turkey is the quickest, but the most intense. But the quickest. If you can check in to a detox center for a week, that'd be the best. If you're trying to wean, yeah, you are prolonging the fun, but it's going to be less intense. If you are weaning, but withdrawing anyways, you need to give your doctor a slap until they LISTEN TO YOU - you can always wean more slowly, or switch to a different med that comes in suspension so that you can decrease way more slowly. It's really YOUR call. Now the bad news. Not SO bad, but there is a phenomenon called Post-Addiction Withdrawal Syndrome. This kicks in for narcotics, booze, benzos - a lot of things - after the acute stuff is over, which is what we have been talking about so far. This is like withdrawal, but mild, and can last for months. With narcotics this means sleep, mood, eating, digestive disruptions. Again usually mild, and usually easily remedied once you recognize it for what it is. You may decide to try antidepressants, but that is between you and your doctor. It will also take 6-12 months for narcatics to work properly on you again. So if you are injured, T3's probably won't cut the mustard.
Fantastic post! All the above is so very true. It was hell, and I am post now 7 months. I have serious back issues and am fussed C3-7. DJD, Auto immune problems. Even with the pain I still have, I don't regret getting off that drug for one minute. I still do have mood disorders, sleep problems, depression, eating on one day, nothing the next.
I did get sick to my stomach those first few weeks, and I screamed a time or two just out of frustration.
I am plugging for all those who want off this drug. Just do it and get rid of the monster. I have hydrocodone, which I take on a very limited basis now, and pain patches that numb my neck. Heat therapy also works. Wish I could tell you side effects go away right away but they don't, not even 7 months later That post addiction withdrawal syndrome is real. I was on morphine for 14 years. The beast is dead, and I feel better. Just keep moving forward you have friends here. I will be here for you to offer encouragement and hope. You are not alone, I will always answer if you need to talk. I care about all of you. ginnie
Hi Ginnie I've been reading these posts and you seem like a great person. I was diagnosed with strepacocoal arthritis 7 yrs ago (very rare) and have been taking SR Morphine 60mg 4 times adayfor 7 yrs and one yr ago I was able to wean one pill out by opening them and tapping tiny amounts out over a long period that was over a yr ago and wasnt able to go on because of my pain I no longer take break through meds and just take my SR M Eslon 90 mg aday I so wish I had NEVER ever ever started taking Morphine You take it for quality of life thinking your making the right choice I stopped going to My pain clinic cause I found they literally pushed the drugs on me My doc wanted me to start methadone she would ask me ever 2 wks when I went there. Finally after 3 yrs I got out. My reg doc takes care of my presriptions. But now Im lost at how to get off because this is not an area she specializes. I have been having terrible respiratory depression and havent got a clue why Im not even sure its related to the morphine seems like it more likely is My doc is send ing me for a pulmoany testing but that will be at least 3 wks from now and she hasnt got a clue if its the morphine. I noticed no one ever mentions the respiratory depression issues is it just me or do others experience it Its like an elephant on my chest for 3 months now and inhalers make me shake so i can't take them and I was going to try to decrease my morphine but that terrifies me that it will make it worse??? It amazes me that these docs guide you down this path then you leave you totally lost in the woods with no one to turn to to help get you off. Anyways thanks for listening I just needed to vent. signed "Lost in Canada"
Hi Canada, There are alot of good people stuck on morphine. You are correct, doctors prescribe this stuff then when you want to get off it, they are at a loss. Your respiratory depression bothers me a bit. Yes I had some shortness of breath, but I didn't consider it the main side effect from withdrawl. I don't know if you have this kind of doctor in Canada, called a Physiatrist, not to confuse it with a mental health person. This type of doctor specializes in pain, but also the WHOLE person on a cellular level. This is who I found, that helped me get off the drug. I asked her to withdraw me, and I got a hug too.
Keep a chart when your breathing troubles are especially bad. If you feel your breathing is compromised, and you become frightened, it is best to check with a hospital ER. You don't want this to be heart related, or something like that. Inhalers have steroids in them, that is why you were shakey with them. I have asthma on occassion and take singular, non steroid. Yes doctors guide you down this path, but they don't always know at the time, just where that path will lead to. If you have drug treatment centers, they sometimes have outpatient programs, that may help with your coping skills during this whole mess. It is a mess while you are going through it. I got super emotional, and I am emotional anyway. Made for a fun combo....NOT.....
I am here anytime you need to talk. I do understand what you are going through. I found this site right at the beginning of my withdrawl, to make sure I wasn't loosing my mind! Do not do this reduction of medication without the guidance of a doctor. That is dangerous, and can cause even more problems. I know the medical field is different up in Canada, but try to get to that doctor and do the withdrawl with guidance. You are having some respiratory problems, and you don't want that to be an issue that is the result of withdrawl OK? A doc is the only one who can really tell you if it is related to the morphine. I will be hoping that the end result for you will turn out OK. Keep in touch. ginnie
Leighski
Hi leighski, I hope this gets through. I just got two passwords this morning when I signed up so I don't know exactly what is going on. I hope that you can find this physiatrist. I live in Florida. My PCP is the one who actually found her for me. I interviewed, 3 pain docs, and here they thought they were interviewing me!. I pick very carefully as quality of life is on the line. This doc. I go to is really good. The field of medicine as such has been around for awhile, but they are not widely known unless you are doing the research. This doc. did get me off morphine, and I am all the better for it. I take hydrocodone when I have to, which is maybe once everyother day if I over do activitiy. I hope your hubby has some coverage for you to go see this kind of doctor. I am on some suppliments that have helped with the all over condition of my health. I was the last one to believe this kind of direction would help me, but it did. Keep in touch, and I do hope you can see someone that maybe able to help you more. ginnie
Hello Morphine-free wannabes ;) I too have been on morphine for 13 yrs now, for chronic hip arthritis that is in both hips, knees and shin pain as well. My original prescribed dose was 6x 10mg of Statex (break thru-fast acting morphine) and 2x 30mg prolonged release. I have, on my own, decreased my daily total from 120mgs to 30mg of 1 prolonged release pill. This took multiple months for me to do. I could only find zest for life and energy and excitement from my fast acting morphine. Without it I was lethargic, severely depressed, lazy, and had no want to do anything! My Dr says it will take many months, or a yr or more for my receptors to repair and behave normally without morphine, causing the depression. So as I decreased my morphine, I finally had succumbed to taking an antidepressant. I had found life dull, I felt useless, what was the point in anything? And struggled to enjoy anything, detached myself from friend and had very minimal contact with anyone. I have one friend and a nearly nonexistent relationship with my family(including my identical twin sister) I know it has been morphine that has caused my depression, and my need for it to feel happy. Everyday I think "I'm so...blah, uninterested, sad, and numb, but I know if I take a few fast acting morphine pills I will feel HAPPY Instantly" But I realize, I have come so far to get off it, I will give myself a100% commitment to get off it, and feel, once again, what NORMAL feels like! Good luck to everyone. Find strength in the fact, despite being strangers, we are bonded by our mission, struggles and if you have trouble finding faith in yourself, know there are others who can help build your faith up and be an understanding ear.
Hi leighski, I hope you have found some kind of help. I am still here.
Hope you get the help in Ottawa. Not sure what can be offered up there regarding pain medications. I sure don't think the morphine is good long term. You get to the point you have to have it to feel normal. I am almost a year without now, and I can't tell you how much better I am. Still seek a physiatrist if you are able to. This may provide you with a doctor who will address your pain issues and see to it, that you don't have to stay on morphine. There are other options that can hold you steady. Keep in touch. ginnie