Switching from hydro to Morphine and very scared?

Question

Ok I have a very bad back from falling off a roof years ago. I have had lots of sugery and have been on hydrocodne for a couple of years. I take 20mgs every 4 to 6 hours and now it isn't working all that well. Today doc wants to switch me to ms contin 15mgs and i am scared of this. Will I have withdrawl symtoms and will this 15 mgs be enough to control the pain. How does the morphin compair the the hydro mg to mg? Any answers are very much appricated! Thanks in advance!!!

Answer 1

Contrary to what one answerer said MS Contin IS a time-released formula. DO NOT cut, crush, or otherwise break it into pieces, it could kill you. Morphine is much stronger than Vicodin. He is also incorrect about the withdrawals. You will not have withdrawals because the Morphine attaches to the same receptor in your spinal cord as the Vicodin, thereby preventing withdrawals. I think perhpas he is confused and thinking you are trying to quit these drugs. He's totally incorrect about both, though. Anything with the word "contin" is a time-release, and switching to a stronger opiate will not cause withdrawals, even if it is a bit of a lower dose. Morphine also comes in another 12 hour time release and a 24 hour time release, brand names Avinza and Kadian.

Doctors don't write Morphine prescriptions lightly, so you clearly need it. Remeber that your doc has given you this medication because the benefits outweigh the risks. Also, don't worry about addiction. If you are taking the medication exactly as prescribed you will only become dependant (which you already are if you've been on Vicodin for a couple of years) not addicted. Addiction is a behavior issue. The MS Contin will also be better than the Vicodin because it lasts 12 hours and you won't have the ups and downs of the short acting medication wearing off all day. because it is so much stronger, the MS may make you drowsy at first, so be careful about driving or other dangerous activities until you know how it affects you. Any side effects will pass in a few days. There's also no Tylenol in the MS Contin, which is much better for your liver. If you have pain in between dosages, let your doc know, he may prescribe an immediate release med for breakthrough pain. Most important thing is just to be totally honest with your doc about how your meds are working. Trust your doctor. He wants you to have the best pain relief with the fewest side-effects. Good luck, I hope you get some relief, and feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk to someone who is in the same boat!

Answer 2

Depends on your weight and pain level. I have been on morphine over 2 yrs. It is a 12 hour pill that works 6 to 8 hrs max. Other than that I can't live or walk without it. It is accompanied by norco which I take all of that med during my work day hours than am wiped out for the evening and night. It's different for every body. My girlfriend had them and couldn't function. She slept for 10 hrs and was groggy for two. She was a big girl 225lbs. I am 110 so see its all in your make up. Don't be afraid of the morphine you'll be fine. Just drink plenty of water and take it as directed and hopefully you'll be pain free for a while. Also back injury of 4 yrs. Best Wishes no worries.

Answer 3

I have had vicodin off and on for the last month or so as needed. However, it was 500mg and could take up to 2 of them... I did not reallize that was/ is an extremly high dose. Anyway it was for to control pain from third degree burns on my arm. I also recieved Morphine in the hospital, and the Morphine knocked me off my ***. I do not know how much it was either. The vicodin did not do what the Morphine did, for me. I think it depends on the person. And the weight/dosage. I think the most the morphine will do is make u want to sleep. That is what it did to me. I can handle the vicodin better, and that was a high dose. I did not have any addiction problem either to the vicodin.

Answer 4

Wow. 20 mg of hydrocodone every 4-6 hours is a lot. But more importantly, in the US, hydrocodone is typically combined with acetaminophen (APAP). That means you could have been getting upwards of 6 grams of APAP daily...which can be damaging to your liver. The max recommended dose of APAP is 4 grams / day. It sounds like the MS Contin is probably a good choice for you. It takes away the APAP. Milligram per milligram, morphine is stronger than hydrocodone. I doubt you will experience withdrawal symptoms, but if you do, notify your physician or pharmacist immediately. Try not to be scared of switching to a possibly more appropriate therapy for you. Be happy that you won't be taking all that extra acetaminophen and be happy that your pain may be better controlled ... thereby improving your quality of life. If you have any problems with your new medication notify your physician or pharmacist immediately and be sure to speak to read all of the safety information that your pharmacist gives you when you get your MS Contin. Good Luck ...

Answer 5

I broke my back mountain climbing and was in a full body brace for a year and 15mg of oxycodone (Percocert-stronger than vicodin) for18 months. The equivivent dose of Vicodin 20mg is 15mg of Morphine...but their is no time released dose of MS so cutting the MS tablet will need to ber conductred. There will still so withdrawal actions so your MD should condider methadone or Valiun/Antivan. I just prefered to go cold turkey.

Answer 6

It's referred to as hydromorphone. It's more potent than morphine, nearly as robust as heroin. Yes, it'll **** you up. But be warned, snorting it'll be unsafe - begin off with just a quarter of the tablet on the such a lot if you are going to giggle it.