MS Contin vs Oxycontin

I've been on MS Contin for a couple years and am up to 210mgs. per day.After taking it for so long I am getting absolutely zero relief from the pain.2 neck fusions(1 still not fully grown together after about 2 years)a cist on my thorasic spine,lower back surgery for heriated disc,and now have a completely blown out left knee.It's bad enough not getting any relief from the pain with SO much dope but it has caused my teeth to begin rotting like CRAZY!!!!Any suggestions anybody.Don't expect to have no side effects from MS Contin.I suppose they all will cause some horrible side effect of some sort.I wonder if Oxycontin would have less side effects on the teeth being as how you would have to take less??????

 I am a Navy Vet. who was operated on for bunion on rt foot.  Long story I now have Reflex Sympatheic Dystropy due to the doctors at Camp Pendleton, CA not paying attention.  I was in physical therapy just short of 2 years. Took me 9 mos to walk again.  I almost lost my right leg due to no flow of blood in nerves to the leg.  But, with therapy i got it back.  Having this dystropy is like having fibromylagia 5 times worse, other pains in my lower block.  I was given 30 sympathetic lumbar blocks to try to get the nerves working in right leg, to no avail. Now i alot of pain where they gave me injections in lower back. Bottom line, i live in chronic pain everyday.  

  I have been oxycodeine for years.  Then i made the mistake of going on the fentyl patch and using 2 oxy's as break through pain. It was working at first then i started having side effects.  Hard to breath, tired, and the patch never stayed on.  I sweat alot because of RSD, and no matter where i put he patch it keep loostening up or coming off.   Taking shower is hard on it as well.  It was messing with my head. Probably becausei was not keeping proper dosage as patch never stayed on.   I even tried surgical tape to hold patch on, but was allergic to tape.  If can't even be in weather 86 or above.  I live in So cal so not good in summer. 

I finally got off fently and it was horrible, i had withdrawls like crazy, (was on it 1 year).  I got really sick, could not keep food down, and i got so dehydrated i had to go to hospital to have IV to get my body hydration back.  

Bottom line is, i am now on 2 ms cotin time realease.  1 in moring  1 at night.   oxy for back up support .325mg  3 x a day

I am also on cymabalta 4 x a day for pain, 2 in morn. 2 evening.   clonazepan 0.5 2 x a day  1 in morn 1 nght.  I also take baclofin   (muscle relaxer) 10mg  2 x a day.

Between all these it helps from everything i have tired.  been on so much different kinds of medicine.  After 16 years with this dystrophy it's working for now.  

I know doctors don't think it is good to have more than 4,000 iu of tylenol a day.  I have had my liver etc checked  i am not having organ problems.  Was on Vicodin years before that.

I did try lyrica, and it made me worse. i could hardly walk.  Did not help me at all.  However, as some people say not eveything works for everyone.  

 It's a trying came.  If you were diabetic you would have to take insulin.  If you in chronic pain you have to take what you have to  Take.  I lay on ice on my back and it really helps.  keeping ice packs in freezer.  I also use a horse liniment, that i get from feed and tack store.  Its for horses but helps me with arthritis i have and even on my lower back in hips where worse pain in.  It does give me some relive. Its a topical analgesic called absorbine Veteriary liminet gel.  Its green gel and cooling.  

So, this is whats working for me at present.  Hope this helps someone. I do understand pain, and you have to be your own advicate.  Having RSD i have studied it since the Civil Wars day when it was called something else.  I do have some of a medical background, So i understand alot about my dystrophy and been trial and error to get to where i am.  

God bless and again hope this helps someone.   

 

Hey, know-it-all: oxycontin is NOT morphine!...it's time-release oxycodone. Perhaps you should look in the mirror before you start critisizing other people's intelligence and calling them names. You are not nearly as bright as you think you are.

Some of us have no choice. It's fortunate for you that you did have a choice, beause what you said about withdrawal if the doctor cuts you off is very true. But, like I said, some of us would have no life at all without pain meds, so just be glad it isn't you, but don't propose to tell others not as fortunate as yourself, what to do........good luck to you, though, and I'm guessing you probably meant well by your post.

I Take 2 x 100Mg MS Contin a day for 20 years at night a Take 2 x 30Mg OxyCodone with 1Half at night Serapax 3 x5 Mg Valium a Day have had many many operations over the years now when ever i have an operation they put me on a Morphine Pump with a Ketamine infusion you get High as kite but good Pain relief .
Do you think i am to to many Med also B12 Inj Questran Thank You at least i dont have to pay for my Dr Visits and Chemist .Bill.

I agree with a lot of the posts about Methadone. It did make me gain weight, but for me, it was able to releave pain better than any other drug I ever had without the buzz. Im 37. I was a little OxyContin and Xanax Junkie in my mid 20s when I got out of the Army. I guess I was trying to escape the Pain and PTSD. I earned the VAs trust back by making all my appointments and passing a lot of drug tests. It was well worth it. Methadone was the first drug the VA put me on since there are only 3 drugs available to non cancer chronic pain patients...Fentanyl, Methadone, and MS Contin. The VA no longer has Oxycontin in its formulary where I live. Which is a good thing for me. I needed more methadone because I was only getting 18 hrs of relief. After an ekg my qt intervals were maxed out. No go. Methadone is the granddaddy of Respiratory Depression. Worse than any other prescription pain killer. I was happy to find MS Contin. They tripled the mg's I was taking of methadone with ms contin, but it didnt work well at first, acter doubling that initial dose of ms contin and every 8 hr dosing, I finally am where I need to be. About 80% pain free. Gotta live with some pain....it would be foolish to try and take it all away as everybody has everyday aches and pains. I do not get any breakthrough i.r. meds though. Lame. Again...only cancer patients are allowed that at my VA. But my Pain is controlled well enough. Also Zoloft and Clonazepam have worked wonders for my PTSD. Especially the hyper-vigilance and the Explosive ANGER!!!!!!!! Thank god. Plus like Diazepam, Clonazepam is a long acting benzo....almost self tapering. Not quite. But waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy safer than xanax. For whatever reason I can not touch xanax or oxycodone of n e form ever again. Just those two drugs call my name....none of the others do. I have extra klonipins every month......like 15-30. I have come a long way since my parachute malfunction back in 98. My shrink is amazing. Great pain mgmt doc...which u only see once to get on the program and sign the pain contract...then you are turned back over to primary care. You only go back if u end up needing fentanyl. Primary care can not prescribe that like they can Done and MS Contin. The sleepy headdedness only lasted about a week. No buzz. Awesome. On point for my job :-)

How did your fusions go???I am 60 years old male and after 2 failed lumbar surgeries years ago and years of meds. they now want to do this? I will be having decompression on c3-t-1with fusion posterior approach. I am afraid of the surgery because of my personal experiences with spine surgery. I guess I have to do it so I would just like your take on it all since you have had similar surgery. These new doctors who are trying to tell the world we are all just useless addicts aren't helping the situation. Oh and of course Cancer is the only painful disease I forgot about that. Chronic pain is not helped in the long run by taking pain meds???? Obviously they never experienced chronic pain. many years later and the only thing that even approaches this pain is morphine so what's the big deal??? Oh I forgot because Johnny down the St. took his grandmas pills to get high on and kept taking them just to be high and eventually got addicted we are to stop taking ours unless we have cancer. I just don't understand the logic and these people mainly the PROP Doctors or so they call themselves yet they are not pain experts, these addiction doctor's were trying to limit opiates for pain patuients unless the pain came from cancer. Look up Palliative care in the Ukraine if you want to see what putting limits on doses of medication can do to people look at the people who are is so much pain some of them sleep with a gun under their pillow. Really is this what we want for our country.

You're a little "off" on your knowledge about opiates and opioids. Firstly, codeine is not just a prodrug. A small amount of codeine is metabolized by the liver into morphine - as you noted, only about 5% of the dose. No doubt that morphine contributes to the pain relieving effects of codeine. However, codeine in and of itself provides pain relief. As far as oxycodone is concerned, when this drug is metabolized, morphine is NOT one of the metabolites produced. Oxycodone is derived from thebaine, a chemical found in opium poppies. Thebaine itself is pretty toxic and not used as a pain reliever. Oxycodone is created in the lab with thebaine as the main ingredient. Oxycodone is an active pain reliever also; part of oxycodone is converted to oxymorphone by the liver - not a huge amount, but definitely enough to add to the pain relief. Oxymorphone itself is a well-known pain reliever and is marketed as Opana and other brands. Hydrocodone is not derived from thebaine. Thebaine is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from codeine - and is stronger than codeine. There is a difference between the words "opiate" and "opioid", although some people use them interchangably. By definition, an opiate is a drug that is a product of opium (codeine, morphine) or created from opium (oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone). Drugs that are direct constituents of opium are simply called "opiates"; drugs like oxycodone, heroin, and hydrocodone that are synthesized from opium are called "semi-synthetic opiates". Finally, "opioids" are synthesized in the laboratory without using any opium as a basis. Examples of opioids are methadone and fentanyl - they're created using no opium or opium constituents. Morphine has long been considred to be the "gold standard" as far as pain relief is concerned. However, many doctors may prescribe other opiates or opioids that have fewer side effects than morphine. For example, morphine is considered to be very sedating. Oxycodone seems to produce less sedation than morphine This is probably due to the fact that thebaine has "stimulant" effects. One thing to keep is mind is that all opiates and opioids differ in potency - meaning that some are stronger than others compared on a per-milligram basis. Oxycodone is generally considered to be about 1.5 times stronger than morphine. Basically, all that this means is that more milligrams of morphine need to be prescribed than oxycodone. Doctors have conversion charts that help them switch patients from one opiate/opioid to another - there are a lot of on-line sites that can be used to convert the dose of one opiate/opioid into an equivalent dose of another. Wikipedia is a great general source of info. That being said, Wikipedia's articles allow for users to edit or contribute to the information in its articles. Often, this can result in inaccuracies that don't get corrected right away.

Does anyone have current up to date questions??  All I see is 1 yr old issues...Q&A.

It's Feb 7th 2014 ......  I've been hit by 5 drunk driver, in hospital to many times to list and waste time telling.  All the talk of pain medication is mostly a joke, from what I read in this entire forum.

Not being mean or hateful to anyones health issues, as I have many issues myself. 

Everyone knows that all of us respond differently to pain meds. I've been on several myself. I'm now 48, and I was 31 when I was 1st hit and broke my back and neck.  Other car accidents are not worth wasting your time. Wednesday, I saw my pain dr and I've been on oxycodone 10/325 for 17 yrs, I've been telling him for 5 months now that the oxycodone 10s and the oxycontin are no longer working. We changed to MS Contin and Morphine  Sulfate for breakthrough. I've noticed a little relief, meaning better than the oxy .....We are doing this for a week. I go back on the 11th to tell him how it worked. It worked, BUT It does need to be increased in mgs. I would like to think he will raise it to 60mg MS Contin and atleast 30mg of Morphine Sulfate for breakthrough. But over all, Its working. I've never been on Methadone, and I wont. He says we still have 5 more surgs to do, so in March i will have C6/C7 fused, then the Lumbar. My dr from 97 didnt see and or care and said there was nothing wrong with me, I just started seeing this dr, and it took me a yr and a half to get in to see him. I hope you all find what works for you best. I simply want to go back to painting cars for a living and get off disability. I have 4 kids and my wife told me after 25 yrs of marriage, Jan 14th, she feels im a burden to her and the kids, and by the way, my kids are grown. Please make sure you ALL have someone that's with you during your difficult time, in pain. Nothing is worse than "TRUE" pain. BTW... my wife had been stealing my percocets, and shes addicted. I am filing for divorce asap. My lil girl was very active, and fast pitch softball Catcher, and 9 time All-Star and high school ball. She went to out pcp to get her allergy shot and they gave it to her in her thigh, causing the med to eat the muscle and soft tissue, she had a dent in her thigh you could lay a golf ball in, she will no longer be able to play softball and huit is almost over, Praise God. The Dr did admit, during the deposition that he was at fault. Just make sure YOU ALL have someone that Truley care about your well being. I cant tell you what to take, I can only tell you what ive been through and recommend. I'm happy to talk or give any knowledge I may have for pain relief, but again, we all are different. Wish you well... My pain Dr. is the best, ( for me ) and he's very understanding, since most of his injections have failed to relieve the pain, he  never gives up on me. I thank God for leading me to him. I'm on Medicare, w/o a supplement YET, so finances are tough. Here for anyone that may wanna talk or discuss a situation. God Bless

Yes that is true I was on roxicodone 15 then 30 mg and mscontin 30-60 mg reason was insurance wont cover OxyContinER unless u try others like mscontin first I love it for my pain but I get more nauseous on it then I do oxy or roxy and extremely tired I have very high tolerance as well so rare I get tired at all but cuz mscontin is doing this still my dr had me drop off OxyContin script due to fact that roxicodone is same thing just instant release and it don't have those side effects for me .. Now I won't know yet if the two oxy combo long n short acting will work my pain as well as morphing n roxy combo but were tying it and then trying opana er before goin back to mscontin if oxy ER isn't helping pain as much ... But they filled it on spot without even a precauth. So if u have tied other things u can get oxy ER if dr says u need it just diff plans may require u to try more things a lot make h try fentanyl patch which I refused n would've stayed on mscontin lok

I have found for myself that Methadone works well for chronic pain.  I was started at 10mg in the AM and 10mg in the evening which worked most of the time.  Maybe it was related to when I ate or if my stomach was empty.  I was at this dose for two years.  I talked to my doctor and she doubled the dose.  I have been at 20mg twice each day for six years with excellant results.  I have peripheral neuropathy and this pain management allows me to lead a normal life.  I can be on my feet all day without the "burning" sensation.

This is just me:  I don't trust that time-release meds enter our system at the same rate every day.  The twice a day methadone achieves a blood level that is the same every day.  The problem with oral morphine is that it requires a dose three time greater than that of an injection (15mg injection vs 45mg oral route).  Check the Rx info on MS.  Oxycodone dose is basically the same either way (10mg injection vs 10mg oral).  Morphine and Oxycodone both have time-release fomulas.

One of your responses mentions the VA switched him to Methadone.  The guy was not happy with the doctor.  Morphine and Oxycodone produce some euphoria in most people.  In normal doses, Methadone has no "high" but good pain management.

Discuss all the options with your doctor.  Settle on which med you believe in because that has a lot to do with its success

i have recently been diagnsed with fibromyalgia after breaking my pelvis and a disk protrusion. 

i was put up to 3x oxycontin 80mg per day which helped about 50%

my chemist ran out of oxy and only filled half my script promising the rest in a few days.

the did not come befor i ran out and i was on my back 2 days in agony

my aunt gave me a kappanol 100mg twice a day and im getting more relief and sleeping better and less constapation already

i see my doc on friday and i want him to switch my meds but im unsure what to say

is this likely to be a problem

Im a cronic pain sufferer,Ihave severe disk degeneration thur c3 -c7 and t1 called server spinal stenosis. I have surgery,called a triple laminectomy on c4 thur c6 removeing the lamina bone totally.After for years Ive been on percacet and neurontin for permenate nerve pain in both wrist and bicepts,I also have radiothapy and now stenosis and bulging disk in c3 c7 and t1. Now I take MS Cotin for server pain in my right arm 120mg a day and 60mgs of percaset and 3600mgs of neurontin everyday,I nedd surgery for a bulging disk on c7 and t1 and also fusion of C3 to stabilize my neck,The MS Cotin has help alot,but the withdrawal is tough,Its very addicting,but I had to deal with if. I had a medical clearance at Kaiser hopsital in Cailf,l for surgery,I was so happy that the pain might be reduced I was sheduled for surgery March 17th,Then suddenly the neurosurgeon told me he would not operate on me unless I stop smoking. I told him Ive been smoking for 30yrs and I couldnt at this time quit, well he said Im going to piss test you.I appealed to chief surgeon but he said it might affect the fusion,Well I told them that c4 and c5 fused on there own which happens less than 3% ii looks good and striaght alinment,Still said no.so just stay in servere pain and take ll theses meds,Until I cant stop smoking,bummer I cant quit right now ,Tryed all the stop smoking products, they all suck.Now I begged for surgery because of the pain,They said too bad,so after my body being addicted to pain killers for 5yrsI get to take MS Cotin ahd percaset forever,Dam Marlboros.Doctors are crasyer than me,Sad.

I am a NANM vet who had a broken back n neck... I had 4 cervical Vertabrae and  3 lumbar vertabrae removed .....I have been on all types ofpain medication from MORPHINE INJECTIONS to DURAGESIC patches. If they get you HIGH or EUPHORIC then it is TO MUCH. The idea of pain realievers is to relive your pain with the least amount of narcotics allowing you to do your job and not NOD off at red lights. Sadly what I hear here is alot of people looking for a EUPHORIC FEELING. TRUE PAIN MANAGEMENT is to NOT have you high but to manage your pain . NONEof us who truly need pain relievers do NOT want to be high and are happy with a 3 pain level...or at least in the range you can tolerate. Seems like  a LOTof people posting here call a splinter a 10 pain You need to STOP acting like an addict going to a METHDONE CLINICS while DR shopping for OXYCONTIN.

YOU DO KNOW OXYCONTIN is synthetic HEROIN. Yes Methdaone is hard to stop but  so is HEROIN ,OXYCONTIN AND OXYCODONE... I find the lack of knowledge of what u r taking just YOUR ignorance and ADDICT type actions.

For those of you with TRUE pain and not 5 year old failed surgeies aggrivating you, look in the mirror and try telling that person that youare NOT an addict. YOU CANT

Listen I am far from an angel I grew up on the lower east side of NYC and was introduced to heroin at age 14... but there comes a time when you must stand up to your demon;s and let the feeling of c**p motivate you to STOP hiding behind dope and face the world as it is... it is a hard place to deal with but it sounds like most are making there own life harder. I truly hope my words will be taken with the passion I have put into this post.... it is the 10% who DR shop that make it hard for those of us who are on Social Security for true disabilities and need our meds so we can enjoy life instead of GETTING HIGH and acting like you're gonna die from pain. Also Methadone is hard to get off but with following the DR;s orders itis a breeze. I personally detoxed myself from 120 mg of methadone COLD TURKEY on 2 weeks... your desire and feelings to get high are your old ADDICT ways breaking through.

For thise who are hurt and contemplating what to take find a doctor who you trust, be sure you have tried everything but drugs FIRST, a PAIN DOCTOR is what most of the posters I see here do NOT want to deal with. That reason is because there are other medications less addictive that DO work. SO please do not let yourself all into the RINGOF FIRE someof the posters here have... most from what I can see are addicts. I can say that with the knowledge of being anaddict myself at one time and also a DRUG COUNSELOR as well. I lok at what I take as if I am taking a Vitamin that allows me to get through the day.

Please if you are knew to these drugs see a SPECIALIST FIRST and be on top of your meds.... sure you will feel some pain but trust me the PAIN of DETOX is far worse than the pain from  being undermedicated..... and with ALL opiods you do eventually crate a tollerance and at that point you must ask yourslef do I want more or do I want that dosage to work???

I wonder how many of these people also do physical therapy and try alternatives relief like accupuncture, and massage therapy. it is your choice but you can end up being a DOPE addict who when fed up with doctors will end up n HEROIN just burrying yourslef in a hole that takes years to get out of.

Please trust YOUSELF not the words of a stranger who you can hear it in there own words are addicts..... We all are but the difference is controlling your intake and sacracficing a little pain for an easy out when your not in pain anymore.

OK I am sure all the addicts are calling me every ame in the world.... but one thing you can;t call me is an ADDICT..... it has been years now that I have been on the same exact dosage and YES I have good and bad days but I am not willing to put myslef though even more with DETOX and fighting addiction vs a bit of pain;.

NOBODY has ever died from PAIN....n I have a PURPLE HEART. BUT many have died from overdosing, or taking multiple opiods, and thinking they know more than a Doctor.

Good Luck and remember YOU n YOUR dictor should make the decesion not a bunch of people who you do not know or do not care for you.

Peace n Good Luck

V

I was a heroin addict for 20 years and clean for 20 years prior to my accident. I lefft DR:s who made me EUPHORIC.... I want pain relief not to get HIGH !!!

A lot of people come here to seek real true answers and from what I see is a lot of DOPE FIENDS chasing a high there insurance will cover.On top of having the broke back n neck I have had 1 heart surgeries, gall bladder removal and have passed several kindney stones....

I walk with DOUBLE CANES that is how bad my problems are.....I take ONLY 10 MG of METHADONE and 30 MG of MSIR in the AM and I can sleep til 10 and not awaken sick the reason U R sick is because your ADDICTED to the OXY and it is still in your system....that IS IT !!!!! My pain level is about a 3. Maybe having a PURPLE HEART has shown me what REAL pain is but I assure you most women tolerate more pain during childbirth.

Yes Methdaone is hard to stop but apparently so is HEROIN OXYCONTIN AND OXYCODONE... I find the lack of knowledge of what u r taking just YOUR ignorance

I don't know if you have gotten Medicaid figured out by now or even still have it. But the way to get a med approved to have covered that they don't initially cover is to have your doctor to fill out an authorization form to the insurance saying that you have tried all other options and these are the only ones that truly work the best. It takes some time but it usually approves and you can get the meds you need. I hope this info helps, if not you then someone else. I have been through this so many times. I have three chronic pain conditions and you said it best how no one understands unless your having the problems yourself.