Morphine patches?? Dr please....?

Question

I am on Zomorph slow release tablets and Oramorph to help with break through pain due to cancer. The side effects are awful and really affect my asthma. I asked my Dr if I could have morphine patches instead of tablets and after agreeing that they would perhaps be better for me said the PCT wouldn't allow him to prescribe them due to costs!! I couldn't believe it. Anyway would he be able to prescribe it as a private prescription if I pay for it? If so have you any idea how much they are? Thanks in advance....x

I'm in the UK. I can't have it on the NHS from my GP practice apparently but am willing to pay privately.

Answer 1

i feel very sad that you are in the position of having to chase up your own pain management.

As you are in the UK you can access Macmillan Cancer Support. The Macmillan Nurse will be only too happy to liaise with your GP to facilitate effective symptom management for you. It may not be the Morphine as such, but the dosage which is the problem.

There isn't a Mophine patch, but as one of the other respondents said, there is Fentanyl (trade name Durogesic)
which is freely available on prescription. You should NOT have to pay for it. However, this is not a remedy for breakthrough pain, but a method of regular pain management.

Please, talk to a Macmillan Nurse. They are very skilled in pain and symptom management and will help you.

I wish you all the very best & I do hope you feel more comfortable soon.

Answer 2

In my experience there is no "morphine patch" available at this time. Morphine is available for oral, intravenous, subcutaneus, and rectal routes. The transdermal patches used typically in pain control are made with fentanyl. The Duragesic patches in the US vary in cost based on dose, but there are drug assistance programs available through the pharmaceutical company which can help pay for the medication should it not be covered by your insurance.

It would also seem that if a second provider supported the need for the change for medical reasons, citing the affects on your asthma control etc. it might be possible to get the PCT to reconsider. However, even if you had the transdermal fentanyl to replace the slow release morphine. You would still require some other immediate release or short acting opioid for break through pain control to replace the oramorph. If you did not replace the oramorph the arguement for replacement of the morphine would be useless. In the US the short acting form of fentanyl, a transmucosal oral swab called Actiq cost roughly $900.00 usd or approximately 450 pounds a month for the break through med alone. The morphine preparations are probably less than 30 pounds a month. So you can see the cost issue.

I hope you can find a resolution.

Answer 3

I am on a fentanyl patch, which is similar to morphine. While I don't know the exact cost where you are, I do know that when I was on the brand name of Duragesic my co-pay was 3 times as much as the co-pay for a generic, called Fentanyl, manufactured by Mylan. The patches come in 25, 50 and 100 mcg/hr & are used by cancer patients & others for pain management.

Answer 4

you do not have to go thru insurance, however your doctor could call the insurance explain things, they could do an authorazation, an over ride so to speak, it perhaps might have to be done every 3 months or so, that is an option. especially since the oral meds exaserbate your asthma, sounds like the patches might be better, ask your doc about calling the ins co. if that is not an option, you can pay cash for patches, prices differ on the mg, generic is an option also.

i sure hope i helped you, i wish you the very best.

Answer 5

ask him

good luck and take care