Morphine withdrawl question

Jan 30, 2002 05:14 AM

by kids

Premium Member

Updated Jan 30, 2002 at 05:19 AM by kids

This is really hard for me to post so please be nice.

OK, here it is in a nutshell...

I have been a patient at a pain management clinic for a year. They very understandably have a policy of not replacing lost or stolen meds or prescriptions.

My problem...

I lost my d**n prescriptions before I got to the pharmacy (heck, I don't remeber even having them in my hand). They are going to replace my 'scrip for Effexor (thank god, the withdrawl from it is awful). I also take Kadian 30mg BID- it is an ultra long acting form of MS, has a halfllife of 24hrs rather than the 12 with MS Contin. What I am really worried about is the MS withdrawl.

Anyway, I have 6 Kadian left so plan to take 1 a day (or maybe none on my days off) until they run out. I'll be in pain, hell, I'll be in bed but I only have to get until 2/18.

What can I expect when they run out besides pain? *my* Nurse at the clinic is very sympathetic but her hands are tied. All she can tell me about the withdrawl is that "it is different for everybody".

jpetro · Jan 30, 2002, 08:58 AM

been there, did that, wasn't fun

I was born with severe flat footedness. After 39 years of doing nothing about it, I als ended up on pain management because my subtalar joint was completely shot. No cartilidge at the joint; bone on bne. I spent 6 months on oxycontin, finall said the hell with this and had a bone fusion done. I then spent an additional 2 months on oxycontin and diloidid (spelling?). To make a long story short, I ended up going through withdrawls also. It is different for everybody but I was sweaty, achy, very run down. It took about 4 days to get over the worst of it but it was worth it. I hope this helps.
Peace.

kewlnurse · Jan 30, 2002, 10:33 AM

Nausea, vomiting, chills, diaphoresis, extreme irritability ( i hope your not pmsing at the same time) aches and pains, mental status changes, lethargy, decrease in apetite are some of the most common withdrawl s/s. Good luck. I hope you can rectify the situation before it gets that far.

thisnurse · Jan 30, 2002, 02:01 PM

boy do i feel for you

went thru something like that with fentanyl withdrawl. i checked myself into a rehab so my kids wouldnt have to witness it. they used clonidine to help me through it as well as tranquilizers. within two days i was refusing the tranquilizers and within three i went home. it was very very hard.
i dont suggest you withdrawl alone. get a doc to help you.
good luck.

*kids* · Jan 30, 2002, 02:34 PM

Thanks for the support and input everybody, this whole thing is really stressing me out.

Statements keep going thru my head like..."but I'm a Nurse"...(yeah right, no Nurse has ever abuses drugs)..."but I really did lose my prescriptions" (yeah right- how many times have we all heard that one) and but I'm in pain (yeah, and how many of the 'drug seekers' showing up in the ER have un/under controlled chronic pain?) and the biggest one "but it's ME"!

I really do understand the rationale and the legalities...pain management clinics are very heavily regulated and I have to follow the rules like everyone else.

Does kinda gall me that I get to go thru all the misery then go back on the 18th and get refills...like all this s**t is for nothing.

RNPD · Jan 30, 2002, 03:11 PM

I really think you need to talk with your primary doc if there is no recourse with the pain mgmt clinic. I understand their rules, but no one should attempt to withdraw from morphine w/o medical assistance. The reason they give clonidine (as well as other anti-sz meds) at detox is because people tend to seize due to nervous system irritability as thwy withdraw (in addition to aforementioned s/s). Seizures can be life threatening, not to mention the strain on your cardiovascular system as the pain increases or seizures occur.

Please do not attempt this without medical guidance. Your life could be at stake. Call your doctor as soon as you read this, lay out the situation, and ask for help.

Please keep us posted and good luck. God bless.

NurseDennie · Jan 30, 2002, 03:18 PM

I'm with RNPD -

Don't try to do it on your own. You need to be monitored - just in case.

Love

Dennie

thisnurse · Jan 30, 2002, 07:35 PM

i didnt want to mention the seizures because i didnt want to scare you but that is exactly what happened to me.
dont do this alone.

**NRSKarenRN** · Jan 30, 2002, 08:07 PM

Hopefully you see your family practioner regularly-call them immediately. Tell them your problem--you need 13 day supply filled---not aking for 100 days! Do NOT want to see you go thru cold turkey---this drug needs to weaned off. If they wont prescribe Kadin are they willing to give you similar narcotic equal analgesic dose???

Do you get the same RX filled at the same pharmacy...have a relationship with the pharmacist , maybe they can interceed...also call your health plan as they have record of you RX practice aand can prove to the pain center not doctor hopping.

Let us know what works. At least go to ER on last day and family should be aware possibility of seizures.

{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}

MollyJ · Jan 30, 2002, 08:24 PM

Often pain mangement clinics have clients sign a contract saying they understand that they will not refill lost prescriptions and that they will be the only physician that writes their narcotic rx's. She should continue to follow with her pain management clinic docs.

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Morphine withdrawl question

Morphine withdrawl question

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