Will I experience withdrawal symptoms when switching from one type of opiate medication to another?

Question

I currently take Oxymorphone and am switching to oxycodone. Will I experience withdrawal from the morphine when I stop taking it and start the oxycodone or will any form of opiate be enough to keep the withdrawal away? I take opiates because of a condition I have that causes me to have constant severe pain.

Answer 1

Even though it seems like they are both the "same," these drugs do have slightly different compositions. It's possible you may go through some withdrawl symptoms.

However research has also shown that chronic pain subjects do not respond to opiates in the same way as someone taking the drug "recreationally." There are different neuropeptide responses and withdrawl doesn't always happen or it happens in physiologically different ways.

Answer 2

They are both opiates and the same classification of drug. They go to the same receptors in your body. Your body doesn't know the difference as along as they are both opiates. If you switched from an opiate to a non opiate pain reliever, you could possibly withdraw. It all depends on how long you have been taking the medication and if your body is dependent on it, which is entirely different than addiction. People that take chronic pain meds for pain would generally have to be weaned off due to dependence. With drug addicts there is also a psycological component in which that have cravings and take the drug for the "high or euphoria" not for pain releif.

Answer 3

Try working with a chiropractor and massage therapist who use the principles below
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 4

Friend I can tell you from personal experience, I had terrible withdrawal from Oxymorph-They had me on both at one time. I had to stay in the bath-tub because my skin would crawl like something was on the under side of it. I hate alot of ice-cream and stayed in the tub and cried for a long, long, time. I don't remember exactly how long, but it seemed like forever. It probably wasn't as long as I thought though. My family and friends didn't even know me anymore. I didn't even know me anymore. I got off of it and I pray I never have to go through that **** again. It may not have any affect on you at all. I've found with much personal experinece that everyone is different.. What may cause me horrible effects may cause you none at all. Trial and Error that's all I can offer. Good Luck Friend-hope the transitstion goes well!!