switching from methadone to mophine

[michaelllll]

Hi everyone ...i would like some info...and or opinions on how to switch from 180 mg of methadone per day (60mg / 8 hr) to morphine.....my doctor retired and no pain clinics will do that much methadone.....the new pain clinic wants me to take (30 mg of long acting morphine)  with (10 mg of methadone) every 8 hrs.....(30 mg methadone total per day)...(90 mg morphine total per day)....the problem is getting down to 30 mg of methadone...been on at least 100 mg of methadone for 25 years ...the morphine does nothing for or does not cover the methadone withdrawals.....my new docs wanted me to get down to 30 mg methadone in 6 weeks....for me it was way  to fast, so were kind of negotiating my detox for the time being.....just would like some of your thoughts on the subject....atavan seems to help with anxiety...i did try some ultram (a few pills) from a friend and that also seemed to easy the symptoms....i am a Chronic pain patient...bone disease 8 major joint replacements....lumbar back disease......

[BetterGetBetter]

It is not a good idea to take non-prescribed narcs without your doctor's knowledge. A.) It can be dangerous. B.) If/when they find out, you'll be detoxing "really" fast. C.) It will mess up your detox schedule.

It sounds like your doctor is doing the right thing. When reaching higher and higher, escalating dosages of opiates, the ratio of therapeutic benefit to side effects gets worse. Most of the huge amount of methadone you have been taking is going towards "keeping withdrawals at bay," rather than going towards abating your actual pain. (Remember the 'olden days' when one single hydrocodone pill knocked your socks off and killed all the pain.)

By "resetting your opiate receptors," it is good for you in the long run.

Jinx_777's post about fentanyl may be an option; your pain doctor is no doubt very well aware and experienced with fentanyl, but for whatever reason, he's choosing the morphine/methadone route. Morphine is the prototype opiate. That's what's given in the battlefield during war. Very, very powerful. Be careful with it. Don't treat it like an 'aspirin' just because it's not reducing your withdrawals! Did you know that out of a group of opiates, one opiate won't necessarily stop all the withdrawals of another opiate!? For example, if a person is on morphine, and the doctor switches them to oxycodone, that person can be getting relief from the oxycodone, but still have morphine withdrawals! So please be careful.

That being said, it never hurts to ask questions about trying different medications, e.g. "Hey doc, do you think fentanyl is an option for me to try?"

I am sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Try to remember that in being a Pain Management Physician, your doctor's goal is the same as your's: to reduce your discomfort. No sneaking around taking "pills from a friend."

[Jinx_777]

would they switch you over to fentanyl and then taper the fentanyl and then move you to an oral med???
most pain docs have NO problem prescribing high amounts of fentanyl