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MedHelp Member's Question

Morphine Addiction

by Skorchee, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
I am a 47yr old female with chronic pain.  My Dr. prescribes Morphine for me for pain. However, I know I am addicted to it and, even though I have gone down some on my dosage by tapering, I am still taking 360MG per day and, can't seem to get it any lower.  I am feeling  a great deal of remorse over this and frustration cause I don't want to take it anymore but, now I have to or, I go into withdrawal.  Should I try to find an addiction specialist in my area?  If so, how do I start?  I am close to a Henry Ford Facility.  Because I have already experienced withdrawal to a degree, I am petrified of it.  What should I do?  Thank you in advance.

Skorchee
Member Comments (27)

by barbara to pain and lortab, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM


You may want to try the in-patient detox since they can make your withdrawal much more bearable maybe even relatively pain free.



If you have a true pain disorder you should not feel guilty about taking addictive drugs that are properly prescribed and dispensed. If you abuse the drug, then that is a different story.



It is best to get professional detox rather than try yourself. It would be quite difficult if not impossible to do it on your own and you would only go through tremendous suffering as you already mentioned over and over. I think you sort of answered your own question.



Good Luck.

by from me to Skorchee, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
Ummm...don't tell anyone that you're an addict unless you're willing to risk being cut off from your pain meds. Seek independent help for this. You're doc will freak and you will be in no meds, withdrawal land with no hope of solace before you know it. Look all around the peripheral of this before you go directly to your doc or to anyone who might notify him. Just a word from someone who's been there.



by cindi, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
Skorchee,  You really want to come off the Morphine?  Then you really have to make the commitment to either wean off of contact the treatment center.  Start by calliing them,  They can give you meds to help you through the withdrawal,It really is not in your best interest to detox alone cold turkey.  This can get dangerous.  Pick up the phone and call. if yu need to tall you can e-mail me  ***@****     take care   cindi

by cindi, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
To Skorchee,  I don't know if the laws are different in other states but the treatment center I was in Never contacted my own personal physician due to confidentiality laws which are pretty strict.  I have taken alot of courses on this while in nursing school.   But again, various states may be different    cindi

by tom, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
Hey Skorchee,

    I am not sure what to tell you except that you are not alone. I had a undiagnosed disc space infection following a back operation which did a great deal of damage to my spine and a couple vertabrae a couple of years ago. I had to have my vertabrae fused and rods and screws installed to realign/stabilize my spine (13hour operation and I was in ICU for 3 days). I am still in a great deal of pain and am treated by a pain clinic that performs epidurals and perscribes my morphine. I currently take about 250mg per day and I still suffer in pain but I am afraid to increase the amount because I already feel some of this addiction and it SCARES me. For example if I have a good day with my back and do not take my meds I start by yawning uncontrolably, then I begin feeling exhausted and do not have any inspiration to do anything. All I want to do is leave work go home and lay in bed and do nothing. Then I start feeling unproductive, useless, and depressed. Finally if I take a couple of pills I start feeling fine. I do not like the feeling of being controlled like this.



    I am sorry to go on about myself but maybee it can help you relate to someone else who is scared and does not know what to  do. Are there any non addictive pain meds?? I do not get high or a buzz off this stuff but it is very efffective on the nerve pain that generates out of my hip and shoots down my leg.



   Best of luck to you. I would recommend keeping in touch with this sight because there are alot of caring insightful people here that give out a lot of good advice ....Tom

by cindi, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
Hi Skorchee,  I agree with tom,  It does get really scary for us especially when we are in pain which is legit pain.  I am also a chronic pain person and i have a hard time with pain meds besides no one will prescribe them for me but someone suggested I go on Methadone for the pain?  I don't know if this is a good idea or even an option for you...Anyone out there have any input re: methadone for chronic pain?     cindi

by Brighty to Skorchee, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
Chronic pain medication creates involuntary addicts. This is nothing to be ashamed of... it goes with the territory. I've learned alot here and I think you should read this board carefully. There is much success with buprenorphine to detox very comfortably... you need to see an addiction specialist and learn if he/she can provide this for you... or if they think you need to go away to detox. I also think you need to learn from your doctor if you are going to always have chronic pain from your condition... if this is the case you seriously need to consider if you are going to detox and then be back in the same situation with another addictive medicine... even lower doses of other meds create dependence...so this is why you need to discuss with your doctor AND the addiction specialist... to know what your long term options are. I agree that you should not tell your doctor about your dependence or you may have your meds cut off prematurely. Something in your tone suggests that you do not seem to have addictive behaviors... this bodes very well for you to be successful.... unless of course you will be dealing with lots of pain regularly. God bless you and good luck.

by Brighty to Cindi, Jan 19, 2001 12:00AM
I think Dan should reply to your question... for what it's worth I do know of a case personally... my husband's Aunt Dottie who was a school nurse for years, developed a severe neuropathy in her feet and ankles... the only way she could walk was to be on pain meds... this really messed her up, she was so addicted and began to have all the problems that involuntary addicts have... her once structured life became a nightmare. We saw her in October... she is nearly 80... and she looked great... she had not been to family things for a number of years... my husband was clueless and asked her what medicine she was on... she said her family was upset and embarassed  and whispered that she was on methadone... but she had her life back... so there you go... it's a rather homespun story but seems like she finally was helped. I was so glad for her. He did not ask her if she went to a clinic but I have this idea that she gets it from her doctor... I mean, I just can't see Aunt Dottie going to a methadone clinic... but maybe she does. God bless you and good luck.

by Tara, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
I know this is for comments only but I am looking to ask Tom or someone else who has gone through percoset withdrawal a few questions about withdrawal symptoms.  I am 22 years old and trying to wean myself off of percoset and I have no one that can help me.  I had surgery 2 years ago for colon cancer and then was diagnosed with severe acid reflux and stomach spasms and the 3 doctors I have seen don't seem to care how much percoset they prescribe me.  I have looked everywhere for more detail on depression during withdrawal, I dont even know if this is a symptom of withdrawal, but I am experiencing severe depression/paranoia along with shaking, chills, and insomnia.  Can somebody please give me some more info. on this subject.

by tom to Skorchee, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
I get angry every time I hear from someone like you who is in chronic pain, apparently being treated with an appropriate pain killer in appropriate amounts, simply experiences the physical dependence that is a side-effect of most strong pain