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Physical, non-mental morphine addiction, I WANT OFF

by Virginia Aslaksen, Aug 16, 2000 12:00AM
Hi,

     My name is Virginia .  In 1994 I was diagnosed with hepatic cancer and I was given the following prescriptions:

                          M.S. Contin 120 mg 4 times a day
                          Demoral P.R.N.
                          Tylenol/Codein #3

Subsequently I found I was misdiagnosed and now have what is called end stage liver disease/autoimmune.  I have taken myself off of every pill mentioned with the exception of the M.S. Contin but, I have gotten myself down to 60mg T.I.D.  I have tried to take myself off of this medication but have found the withdrawl too much to bear.  I am trying very hard to only need the medication PRN.  But my mind says yes and my body says no.  If I try to not take the M.S. Contin for an extended period of time, I go through serious and life threatening withdrawl symptoms.  I do not enjoy taking this medication.  I want not to take these pills unless I have pain.  The withdrawl pain is worse than the liver pain.  I wouldn't have to take this medication T.I.D. if it wasn't for the withdrawl.  Are there ways to substitute this medication for others so I don't have to go through all the unpleasantries.  PLEASE HELP ME.  A prompt response would be most appreciated.  Thank you for your time
52 year old female
I have survived pretty well all this time and i only hace pain
once in awhile. I now only take 60 m.g.s tid  but it is all
physical. Mentally I am tired of being so dependent .  I want to
only use "Oramorph P>R>N.  I have tried stopping and cutting back
even more but the withdrawal is just awful. What can I do? I want to be normal as possible.  PLEASE HELP ME.  tHANK YOU.
Member Comments (39)

by tom, Aug 16, 2000 12:00AM
Virginia,

Have you see a physician that specilizes in addiction?

There are many medications you can take to make the withsdrawl process more tolerable.

There are even rapid detox centers that put you under and administer a drug which purifies the body of the opiates.

I will try and find the web site for these detox centers.



Go to this forum as there is a pain management doctor on this site in the room called spinal disorders. HIs name is Dr. ML Withworth. If you post him a message he is very likely to write you back.



http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=2&SUBMIT=Go







Just highlight this site and right click your mouse and copy it...and paste it in your browser. I hope you know how to do that.



I know where you are coming from as I am dependant on Oxyconten. I have to take it for pain, but even if I do not, I experience withdrawls symptons right away.



Good luck...



by tom to Virginia, Aug 16, 2000 12:00AM
Tom is right to tell you to consult an addiction specialist. However, I don't know how your body would tolerate the rapid detox ordeal. The only reason people can do it is because they are kept unconscious through the whole thing. But as far as I know, the body still experiences the full shock of opiate withdrawal. Also, I understand that doctors believe that even when a patient is unconscious during surgery, the body "remembers" and makes the brain go through it afterwards. I believe this is the theory behind anethesiologists "bathing" the spine in morphine so that the pain of surgery doesn't impact the patient after the procedure. Of course, I'm not  doctor and am just trying to recall something I read. Ask your doctor about this. But, frankly, because of what you've been through from liver disease, I would be afraid for you going through rapid detox. Make sure your current treating physician is fully involved in such a decision.

I also understand that a drug called Buprenorphin mitigates opiate withdrawal without "doping" the patient. There is also methadone. Whatever you do, be patient with yourself over this issue. Easy does it. You have nothing to be ashamed of being addicted to your pain relievers. It only means you're human. Take care. Please accept my best wishes for your total recovery.

by Marcus, Aug 17, 2000 12:00AM
Hi all.  Approximately four years ago, I underwent Rapid Opiate Detox in Los Angeles. Anyone interested, please let me know.  In short: It works, but it is not a good choice because it is too easy a way out, and you do not come to understand your disease, which is essential in recovery.



Good luck.

by TR, Aug 17, 2000 12:00AM
where are the MDs?

by Virginia Aslaksen, Aug 17, 2000 12:00AM
Tom,



I really appreciate your prompt response and your willing to help.  You have given me some hope, I hate my condition and your suggestions I have taken into consideration and will probably follow through pending on what my doctor says.  To anyone else who have or will respond you don't know how much it means to me to know that I'm not alone and I'm not to blame.  I'm going to see if I can try the medicine you mentioned, Buprenorphin.  Because as I said, it's not my mind, it's my body that's dependent and I really hate it.  Any other advice or suggestions would be most helpful.  Thank you very much Tom. (and everyone else)



Virginia

by tom, Aug 17, 2000 12:00AM
Virginia,

Did you check out that site I told you about?

It is nice to see people in here trying to help you. Every person that posted you gave you some very honest answers.

Good luck as I know what a terrifying feeling you might be experiencing in your life right now.

There are some wonderful doctors out there. You have to find one of them and you will be on the road to recovery.



Tom

by steve to diane, Aug 18, 2000 12:00AM
Stay away from Methadone. It takes forever to get out of your system.

by Virginia Aslaksen, Aug 31, 2000 12:00AM
Thank you for your suggestion Dr. Steve.  i will definitely check it out.  Thanks!!!!



Virginia

by andrew to J.B hang in there brother....., Sep 02, 2000 12:00AM




dearest virginia. hi how you feelingtoday hon? well i am not quite sure where your at, at this moment with your trying to withdrawalfrom the ms contin but ican totally relate toyou hon.



   i myself was puton the mscontin last year 1999 for pain management. i began on about 4omg's and ended up on a dose near you. little did i know i had become physically addicted over a one year period. i went overseas and it was in ny that i experienced the true evil of morphine withdrawal. the thing was i had nothing to pep me up and i tell you it was the worst week in my whole entire life. i did not sleep i cried alot was very very emotional and nervous constantly. as well i had the sweats fever the chills achesand pains etc.





but what i can say is that each day the detox got better and better and by after10 days i was becoming physically human again hon.





listen if i went back i would not do it this way. there are things which can be used to withdrawal you so that you do not experience immense phsysical and physiological pain.





one way to go is to see a specialist and try benzodiazapines. the best one i can suggest to counterract the effects of morphine withdrawal is ativan which is lorazepam. if you take tomilligrams 5 times a day i believe you will be able to tolerate the pain associated with the whole withdrawal process.







if you are to far addicted to tolerate a benzo withdrawal process another drug and method used here in aistralia to de tox heroin and morphine users is a thing called naltrexone. it is a form of rapid detox and basically stops the brain craving for the morphine, can be very effective with some people but also has down sides like it makes your body extra extra sensitive to any opiod you may take after thetreatment and this can be very dangerous as a dose which you could once tolerate you will no longer be able to tolerate and thus there is the danger of even death.







another drug used is buprenorphine which is an agonist and atagonist opiod which should help you to withdrawal slowly but safely and without pain and the withdrawal symptoms involved with the buprenorphine are minimal compared to other opiods.







personally i would either try the benzodiazapine method or the buprenorphine one virginia, but speak only to a specialist who deals primarily in withdrawal syndrome okay hon.





if you have any questions please reply to me i am thinking of you and feel for you and send you all my heart and spirit that you get through this painful period and come out of it happy and together.







love always andrew korman. please reply anytime virginia i will always make and have time for a good person such as yourself.

by Kat, Oct 17, 2000 12:00AM
Hi,

Have u read To killa  mockingbird??

well there this lady name Mrs dubose..she got rid of it. Now i know the character is unreal but i believe or even hope that being busy might help(maybe just a little) to not think of it. I know that sound easy and is probably be very hard. But it won't hurt to try. Go for a swim, ride bike, hang out with family,go for a walk,go on a vacation,or doing or eat something when u're craving for it. It;s really good that vigirina is cutting step by step. Try to keep busy as possible, i know that's way to much to ask for but i really hope that MS. Aslaken will be off it for good.

by Kat, Oct 17, 2000 12:00AM
Hi,

Have u read To killa  mockingbird??

well there this lady name Mrs dubose..she got rid of it. Now i know the character is unreal but i believe or even hope that being busy might help(maybe just a little) to not think of it. I know that sound easy and is probably be very hard. But it won't hurt to try. Go for a swim, ride bike, hang out with family,go for a walk,go on a vacation,or doing or eat something when u're craving for it. It;s really good that vigirina is cutting step by step. Try to keep busy as possible, i know that's way to much to ask for but i really hope that MS. Aslaken will be off it for good.

by wally, Nov 02, 2000 12:00AM