Oxycotin to Morphine

[Butch8904]

I just switch my medical care to VA.  They took me off Oxycotin 20mg, 2 morning 2 evening.  Now I am on Morphine S04 30MG 1 morning 1 evening.  My pain has increased.  I am afraid to ask for more, because I don't want them to think I am an addict.  Anyway, I went an had dental surgory, and told him I didn't need pain meds because I was already on Morphine.  Let me tell you, I was in the worse pain in a long time.  I had to call him and get some Hydrocodone, and that helped.  So, I have two questions.  Should I talk to VA about increasing my Morphine?  Why didn't the Morphine work for my dental surgeory?  Thanks.

[sandee1818]

Just be honest and tell the doctor that the medication is not working as well as the one you were taken off of. Also VERY IMPORTANT, tell them you got some hydrocodone from your dentist! They can and will stop prescribing you narcotics if they find out and you did not tell them.
You may just need a breakthru medication. Did the hydrocodone help with the morphine?

[Butch8904]

They only gave me 10 pills of the hydrocodone.  And it worked for the roof of my mouth pain from the Dental surgery, but not the pain from my Thalamic Pain.  Now, I am just on my Morphine.  Right now I take the 30 Morphine in the morning, then around 1 PM my pain goes way up, until I take my next Morphine at 8 PM.  I am taking Seroquel to sleep through the night and not wake up from pain.  This is giving to me from my psychiatrist.  Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

[Utonagan1]

Can you just confirm your Oxycontin dose - do you mean you were on 40mg twice a day?
If this is the case, then you are being under-dosed on Morphine - no wonder your pain increased.
Oxycontin is twice as strong as Morphine - therefore, if your were taking 80mg Oxycontin a day, the equivalent Morphine daily amount would be 160mg.

For your dental surgery you should have had painkillers over and above what you usually take.

Your medical carers/providers/dental surgeon should really know about this sort of thing. I'd be a bit worried if I were you.

[DaveG77]

For me I have found morphine to be not as effective as other drugs.  Currently I'm taking Methadone and Oxycodone for break-thru pain.

Dave
SCI C5/C6
Chronic Pain