alternative medication-ms contin wd

[Brian67]

I have been on a pain mgt program for the last 3+years. I lost all medical coverage in June this year and I'm no longer able to afford my medical treatment/medication or any other for that matter. As a result I'm running out of my medications.
The first to go was this past Saturday I ran out of the ms contin. That is the 1st big question. I've taken this medication round the clock for all this time. I noticed I wasn't feeling well by Saturday afternoon and by Sunday morning had an illness like no other. I'm sweaty but cold, my heart is racing, my head is about to explode (avg 8-10 200mg advil a day now), Im shaking, throwing up, non-stop crying and not sure why, but in the last 2 days have been sneezing non-stop. I have a few percocet left and starting taking those. They have helped lesson the feelings I've described but I have 8 left. I have about a months supply left of my blood pressure meds, ambien, flexeril and plaquenil. I've called several places locally to see if I can get any insite &/or assistance and found that to be very difficult. I found this site. I've learned what I'm going through is wd from the ms contin. What I don't know is how long this will last. I'm a single parent of a 2nd grader w/no local family thus, I still have to take care of her. Can anyone give me a timeline and tell me if taking the percocet is helping (thinking it will help until the ms contin out of my system) or making this all worse and take longer. I have yet to have a full or good night sleep even with the ambien, if my back pain doesn't keep me up, the restlessness does. I was hoping today would be a little easier than the past few but it seemed to be worse. I have no idea what I can or if there is any OTC that will help w/this as well as actually assist with my pain mgt. Any insite of timelines and further expectations would be greatly appreciated. Oh, my previous Dr. is part of an HMO and can not provide further treatment or non-covered prescriptions.

[Alison L, RPh]

Symptoms of withdrawal include nausea and diarrhea, coughing, lacrimation (tearing), yawning, sneezing, rhinorrhea (runny nose), profuse sweating, twitching muscles, abdominal and muscle pain/cramps, hot and cold flashes, and piloerection (of body hair). Elevations in body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure may also occur. Without treatment most symptoms resolve within 5—14 days; however, there appears to be a secondary or chronic withdrawal syndrome which may last 2—6 months, characterized by insomnia, irritability and muscle aches.  The Percocet is probably making you feel better because it acts on the same receptors in the body as the MS Contin. If you continue to take that, you will experience the withdrawal symptoms once you stop.  You would need to discuss your pain management plan and treatment for your insomnia with your physician.

[Brian67]

Thank you for the information. I went into an urgent care today. They advised I was having acute WD. My pulse was 116 and BP was only 167/90, not to mention all the other symptoms. They advised me to go back on morphine but advised me to take 1, 15mg tab 3 times a day for 1 wk and try and go down after that. If does not control pain stay at 3 and get connected w/another provider for long-term care again ASAP. I do not know how I can afford this but this week has been something like no other. I do not want to continue to take something that has such an effect on me but have learned my lesson w/taking meds. I'm not sure if what they gave me is the same as what I've always taken. both are small blue round pills, the old one had 15 on one side & an M on the other. The new med has E 652 on one side and 15 on the other. I've taken 2 today and my pain is pretty bad. I'm hoping this will subside soon. Thanks again for the info. I've tried to call many local places for answers and have not had any luck. This was the next best resource to going into see a provider.