Avinza and Cymbalta

[Traveler]

Does anyone know the conversion of Avinza 30 to regular morphine and to other meds? When is the peak? Is Avinza different than MS Contin other than the fact that it's given q 24 hours and not q12?

Cymbalta is a new med approved for depression. But, it has been shown to reduce pain as well. I am told that some pain clinics are using it for the off label pain reducer. Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks in advance,

Ann

[RN92]

My husband was just prescribed Cymbalta for severe hip pain - but I know its also used in depression and ADD. Pts coming off of Adderal are put on Cymbalta, too.

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

To convert from Avinza just divide your dose by the number of doses you would give in 24 hours. For example, if you were converting to immediate release morphine given every 4 hours, that means you would give 6 doses in 24 hours. 30/6=5 mg q 4h.

I did see where Cymbalta had been approved for use in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy but I haven't seen it myself yet and I haven't read any of the research results.

[Traveler]

Thank you both for your replies. ERslave- How is your husband doing on the Cymbalta. Any bothersome s/e so far and how is it helping his pain?

Do you find that the doctors in your area are pretty good at chronic pain management? Is there a fear among the doctors in your area from prescribing meds for pain?

I work in home health and have a really hard time getting the doctors to prescribe anything for pain for my patients. For my patients with long standing chronic pain, they don't want to deal with or don't seem to know how to deal with the extended release meds that do work best.