Morphine Withdrawal after 12 years of using it

barus wrote:

Quote:

Quote:

Tina wrote:

James wrote:

Do not listen to the other poster saying you cannot cut extended release tablets. The entire extended release tablet is extended release--- they are designed to be cut. so long as the resultant piece is not powder it will time release just fine. Make sure you take plenty of water, at least 2 liters a day. Spasms from morphine are caused by not taking enough water during the day. Space out the water you take over the day. The doctor's advice is the best especially since you have followed the rules and not taken more than you were prescribed. It doesn't matter how long you are on the medicine- but never take more than you need to control the pain.

bull s**t--you never cut extended release morphine..unless you are abusing it...are you??? anyone that wonders--just ask your doctor...enought said

That is not what two pain specialists told me. They told me absolutely not to cut them in half. He said it realeases qucker by doing that. One was a pain speciaist, and one was a Physiatrist/pain specialist. I can't believe both of them would be wrong.

small reply is absolutely correct, google Morphine ER, and it is in the research as well. Do not cut, bad idea....

Hi,
Re: cutting extended release morphine sulphate tablets. I have also been told by two specialists never to do that.
I read a post which itemizes exactly how to crush the tablet, mix it with water, and on to another step in order to abuse it.
I do not believe that advice pertains to people under doctor's care and are getting clean, the right way.
Sorry if I sound self righteous. I'm just trying to protect people who might be thinking of cutting the tablet.
barus

Thanks Barus, I appreciate the post. The morphine can be a dangerous drug to mess with. While I was on that med. I did so doing exactly what my doctor recommended, no more no less. after 10 years, I am now free of this medication. I had to trust my doctor, and myself, that the pain would not be unbearable. I hope all of you have less pain today.

i hav a question for the 10 user...did you go on an opiate blocker? if not, how long was it before you really felt all the withdrawl symptons were gone? I cut my dosage in half the first 2 full months,and the withdrawl was so horrible, that i thought if i have to experience this, i might as well just go cold turkey..and i did...ok, got thru the first week, and yes, another two months of hell...now month 5 is starting, yes, i'm so freakin much better, but the hot flashes are still very bad, like someone poured gasoline on my brain,face, and it dripped down, then set me on fire. i still take 4/5 showers a day its so bad. I keep the ac blaring...also, still can't breath well, and energy still low. Pain wise (reason pain management had me on it, spinal fusions, yes, i hurt, but i will learn to live w/it)--just want to feel normal again. I choose not to take the blocker, tired of having to see doctors every month for my scripts. Doctors controled my life for all those years. But, now the doctors say they really have no idea how long these symptom will continue. anyone have any ideas

ginnie wrote:

barus wrote:

Quote:

Quote:

Tina wrote:

James wrote:

Do not listen to the other poster saying you cannot cut extended release tablets. The entire extended release tablet is extended release--- they are designed to be cut. so long as the resultant piece is not powder it will time release just fine. Make sure you take plenty of water, at least 2 liters a day. Spasms from morphine are caused by not taking enough water during the day. Space out the water you take over the day. The doctor's advice is the best especially since you have followed the rules and not taken more than you were prescribed. It doesn't matter how long you are on the medicine- but never take more than you need to control the pain.

bull s**t--you never cut extended release morphine..unless you are abusing it...are you??? anyone that wonders--just ask your doctor...enought said

That is not what two pain specialists told me. They told me absolutely not to cut them in half. He said it realeases qucker by doing that. One was a pain speciaist, and one was a Physiatrist/pain specialist. I can't believe both of them would be wrong.

small reply is absolutely correct, google Morphine ER, and it is in the research as well. Do not cut, bad idea....

Hi,
Re: cutting extended release morphine sulphate tablets. I have also been told by two specialists never to do that.
I read a post which itemizes exactly how to crush the tablet, mix it with water, and on to another step in order to abuse it.
I do not believe that advice pertains to people under doctor's care and are getting clean, the right way.
Sorry if I sound self righteous. I'm just trying to protect people who might be thinking of cutting the tablet.
barus

Thanks Barus, I appreciate the post. The morphine can be a dangerous drug to mess with. While I was on that med. I did so doing exactly what my doctor recommended, no more no less. after 10 years, I am now free of this medication. I had to trust my doctor, and myself, that the pain would not be unbearable. I hope all of you have less pain today.

Hi to this reply from a clean person,
Congrats to you for getting clean.
I was grateful to get your email, it was reassuring. I still have 90 mg. to decrease, down from the max of 300 mg, 30 mg at a time with the new pain doc I had decreased a lot of it in 15 mg. tablets.....on my own, cold turkey. This second pain doctor has prescribed two meds to help ease withdrawal and I find they are helping. During my last decrease of 30 I wanted to die during the worst of it.
How do you feel? Have your cognitive skills come back, do you have pain? What do you do to handle your pain now?
Regards,
barus

Hi Tina,

Please be kind to yourself and don't stop cold turkey in a big chunk like that.

My new pain specialist has his own clinic in a downtown hospital,

He prescribed a med named Clonadine for precisely what you're going through. This in Toronto, Cda.

You must be an encredably strong person to take so many showers.

Good luck and know you are not alone, even though it feels that way sometimes.

barus wrote:

ginnie wrote:

barus wrote:

Quote:

Quote:

Tina wrote:

James wrote:

Do not listen to the other poster saying you cannot cut extended release tablets. The entire extended release tablet is extended release--- they are designed to be cut. so long as the resultant piece is not powder it will time release just fine. Make sure you take plenty of water, at least 2 liters a day. Spasms from morphine are caused by not taking enough water during the day. Space out the water you take over the day. The doctor's advice is the best especially since you have followed the rules and not taken more than you were prescribed. It doesn't matter how long you are on the medicine- but never take more than you need to control the pain.

bull s**t--you never cut extended release morphine..unless you are abusing it...are you??? anyone that wonders--just ask your doctor...enought said

That is not what two pain specialists told me. They told me absolutely not to cut them in half. He said it realeases qucker by doing that. One was a pain speciaist, and one was a Physiatrist/pain specialist. I can't believe both of them would be wrong.

small reply is absolutely correct, google Morphine ER, and it is in the research as well. Do not cut, bad idea....

Hi,
Re: cutting extended release morphine sulphate tablets. I have also been told by two specialists never to do that.
I read a post which itemizes exactly how to crush the tablet, mix it with water, and on to another step in order to abuse it.
I do not believe that advice pertains to people under doctor's care and are getting clean, the right way.
Sorry if I sound self righteous. I'm just trying to protect people who might be thinking of cutting the tablet.
barus

Thanks Barus, I appreciate the post. The morphine can be a dangerous drug to mess with. While I was on that med. I did so doing exactly what my doctor recommended, no more no less. after 10 years, I am now free of this medication. I had to trust my doctor, and myself, that the pain would not be unbearable. I hope all of you have less pain today.

Hi to this reply from a clean person,
Congrats to you for getting clean.
I was grateful to get your email, it was reassuring. I still have 90 mg. to decrease, down from the max of 300 mg, 30 mg at a time with the new pain doc I had decreased a lot of it in 15 mg. tablets.....on my own, cold turkey. This second pain doctor has prescribed two meds to help ease withdrawal and I find they are helping. During my last decrease of 30 I wanted to die during the worst of it.
How do you feel? Have your cognitive skills come back, do you have pain? What do you do to handle your pain now?
Regards,
barus

Hi Barus, My name is ginnie. Yes I am clean now for two months. I think coming down by 30mgs. may be too much for you with the side effects. How well I know about them. I did it by 15 mgs. increments. I was at the 300mg. level too. Yes, at first, I felt as bad as any time in my life. I got hysterical once too, not really knowing it was the withdrawl. Sleep was next to impossible. My reading ability is back, I am more active, less depressed, and actually have less pain. go figure... Don't rush it, take it easy, you will do fine. I got a hug from my doctor, and the nurse and was called a poster child, good grief, I am 60 years old! Do it Barus, you are going to feel so much better. I do wish you all the best. Glad your doctor gave you some help too. I am here for you, and support your efforts! ginnie

ginnie wrote:

barus wrote:

ginnie wrote:

barus wrote:

Quote:

Quote:

Tina wrote:

James wrote:

Do not listen to the other poster saying you cannot cut extended release tablets. The entire extended release tablet is extended release--- they are designed to be cut. so long as the resultant piece is not powder it will time release just fine. Make sure you take plenty of water, at least 2 liters a day. Spasms from morphine are caused by not taking enough water during the day. Space out the water you take over the day. The doctor's advice is the best especially since you have followed the rules and not taken more than you were prescribed. It doesn't matter how long you are on the medicine- but never take more than you need to control the pain.

bull s**t--you never cut extended release morphine..unless you are abusing it...are you??? anyone that wonders--just ask your doctor...enought said

That is not what two pain specialists told me. They told me absolutely not to cut them in half. He said it realeases qucker by doing that. One was a pain speciaist, and one was a Physiatrist/pain specialist. I can't believe both of them would be wrong.

small reply is absolutely correct, google Morphine ER, and it is in the research as well. Do not cut, bad idea....

Hi,
Re: cutting extended release morphine sulphate tablets. I have also been told by two specialists never to do that.
I read a post which itemizes exactly how to crush the tablet, mix it with water, and on to another step in order to abuse it.
I do not believe that advice pertains to people under doctor's care and are getting clean, the right way.
Sorry if I sound self righteous. I'm just trying to protect people who might be thinking of cutting the tablet.
barus

Thanks Barus, I appreciate the post. The morphine can be a dangerous drug to mess with. While I was on that med. I did so doing exactly what my doctor recommended, no more no less. after 10 years, I am now free of this medication. I had to trust my doctor, and myself, that the pain would not be unbearable. I hope all of you have less pain today.

Hi to this reply from a clean person,
Congrats to you for getting clean.
I was grateful to get your email, it was reassuring. I still have 90 mg. to decrease, down from the max of 300 mg, 30 mg at a time with the new pain doc I had decreased a lot of it in 15 mg. tablets.....on my own, cold turkey. This second pain doctor has prescribed two meds to help ease withdrawal and I find they are helping. During my last decrease of 30 I wanted to die during the worst of it.
How do you feel? Have your cognitive skills come back, do you have pain? What do you do to handle your pain now?
Regards,
barus

Hi Barus, My name is ginnie. Yes I am clean now for two months. I think coming down by 30mgs. may be too much for you with the side effects. How well I know about them. I did it by 15 mgs. increments. I was at the 300mg. level too. Yes, at first, I felt as bad as any time in my life. I got hysterical once too, not really knowing it was the withdrawl. Sleep was next to impossible. My reading ability is back, I am more active, less depressed, and actually have less pain. go figure... Don't rush it, take it easy, you will do fine. I got a hug from my doctor, and the nurse and was called a poster child, good grief, I am 60 years old! Do it Barus, you are going to feel so much better. I do wish you all the best. Glad your doctor gave you some help too. I am here for you, and support your efforts! ginnie

Hi Ginnie,
It's so kind of you to take the time to email me. I really admire you for getting clean. I have severe Fibromyalgia and ME and have been on morphine for about 14 years. I started doing it in 15 mg decreases, cold turkey thanks to the prescribing specialist, often given the name of devils in white coats.
I needed more help than she could give so I asked to be connected to a Pain Specialist. He certainly believes in decreasing by big chunks but also gave me meds which soften the withdrawal. I think I would go crazy if I had to do this cold turkey.
I am also a senior and I think that so many doctors load us with meds because we are sick seniors and they don't know what else to do, or don't bother to try.
Thank you for your support.
Barbara

Hey I am a bit of an expert on this. The heats from the shower is giving u the relief. While in with drawl u body temp lower s. Heat will ease slot sweating is key. Also anti direria meds. Potasium for legs and vitsmine b.. Avoid caffine it makes it worse . And klonopin if u can find it one '5 will do meaning one mourn one nite. Duo ask that and I hate to advise this but acholol helps but being an achololic is probable gl

Hi all, Jason is correct about the showers. I also used Klonipin for the worst of it. I still sweat a bit after almost three months without, but other than that I am fine. Going down in big chunks is just to hard on a person. Ask that doc. to go down by 15mgs. I did the last 30mgs. 2 weeks apart. I wish all of you the best.

Hey dude Just hang in there and keep weaning off IT DOES WORK but it takes time most of us get impatient go less n less and one mornin youll wake up and the dark cloud we live under will have vanished . Have patience

Hi to Guest,

I am currently coming off a large amount of slow release morphine prescribed by a devil in a white coat.

I'm decreasing 30 mg a month and the Pain specialist has eased my withdrawal suffering by putting me on meds for the pain and cramping. This is keeping me sane for now. I've heard the closer to the tail, the worse the withdrawal. Does anyone know?

Barus

God I am not looking forward to this. I have been presribed 100mg time release morphine tabs to take 3 times daily and oxycodone 5mg instant release to take 6 times daily. Now after being with my doctors for over 13 years I was released for making a complaint concerning his wife who is the office manager. I don't abuse my meds and am waiting to get into another pain managment doctor but I will run out of meds in 6 days now. I am so scared I don't know what to do.

If you lose your doctor, I mean a real physician - not a pill mill pain management clinic - and you're going to run out of meds before you can get in to see another, the best thing for you to do is go to a methadone clinic. Mind you, this is not a permanent solution and many of them have raised their prices unbelievably. But, this will help you and when you go in to see the new doctor tell them that you ran out of meds and were afraid that you may not have been able to get out of bed with the amount of pain you are in. Hope this helps guys. Oh and the pill mill places are awful, I hope that no one goes there anymore because they don't care about helping, the doctors get paid based on patient turn over and prescriptions ... ie. the more scripts they write, the more money they make. Hope you all are well. And remember, doctors aren't perfect, because science isn't perfect. But new advances are being made everyday.

Hi shortround, yes a methadone clinic is where to go, until you get into see a new pain doctor. You may want to investigate a physiatrist. They specialize in pain, but got the extra mile in education to help at a cellular level. I have been morphine free for a year now. Managed with lesser less harmful medications. I wish you all the best.

OMG I am so unfortunately on the same page with you. I haven't taken the morph for 12 yrs but iv taken some kind of opiate since 2001. On several occasions iv tried to wean myself off everything, even went back into detox for a week however the pain caused me not to be able to walk. Over the years iv felt like a giunny pig. Iv been on everything. I told my dr i wanted off the 60mg ER x 2 daily with 30mg IR breakthough & she upped the dose to 100mg. What the hell!! But because in OH i couldnt just leave without something i took it for about 2 mos. For the past year shes given me 30mg & 15mg for breakthough. Even though it has worked for me, i have so much trouble when i have to go to the ER for Pain explaining why im on it and that im NOT trying to get high. So iv tried to come off of it myself. Cutting the doses but as you im getting those terrible leg & back pain, im hot from inside out & mood swings. To make things worst iv moved temp to GA so my normal dr said for me to go to ER so I wouldnt go though withdrawals& getting management here is like pulling teeth. Finally i saw a primary care & he gave me some Tramadol to hold me over until l.I found a Pain mgt spec here. Iv called for 3 days & most of their phones are disconnected. Im down to just 2 IR 15mg & I still have quite abit of 60mg that i DONT want to take. What would you do?

Honestly, I took Morphine for years for Cervical fussion pain. Decided I had enough. I was weaned down, and was down to just that 2 IR 15 mg. Go down to one, I did the final two together. I feel 100% better on suppliments and occasional hydro codone, and pain is managable. Pain actually lessened when I got off that medication.