doctor tried to switch my medication from percocet to morphine

[littlelady2010]

So here is a little history, I'm completely new to this site. I have had a horrible back problem for 8years now. I've been on percocet 5/325 for 3 years, I was only on 3 a day at first, and on tramadol 300mg, I was fine. After that as, my tolerance went up, so he told me to take to take 6 a day. So I did. Then I became pregnant, I immediately went off the tramadol because they arnt sure about using it during pregnancy, well with coming off the tramadol my pain is horrible on top of more back pain cause of the pregnancy(I'm currantly 23 weeks). So now the obgyn I see has prescribed me to take 1O-12 a day! I hate it, I don't want to be taking this much meds while pregnant, I feel so guilty! But the doctor is a high risk obgyn and says she has prescribed much stronger meds to patients, and their babies are fine.  Anyways that's where I'm at, also I'd like to add, I have never abused the meds. I went to see a pain management doctor, he suggested switching my meds. So my obgyn did, he gave her the dose, as she does not do conversions. So I went from taking 12 5/325mg percocets a day to 5mgs of morphine sulfate 2times a day. And after 24hours, boy was I sick, horrible flue like symptoms, chills, shaking, sweats, fever, teeth chattering, it was like nothing I had ever experienced before! So I went to see my obgyn after 2days of that, she put me back on the percocet. But I still am left wondering, what the heck was that? Withdrawals? A bad reaction? I must say after reading on here, I think it was withdrawals! But why did that happen, was the coversion not done right? I'm very confused and would appreciate to understand why that happened! On top of it all, when I called the pain management doc, he said its probably withdrawals, deal with it! Isn't that extremely dangerous while pregnant? Thanks and sorry for such a long post!

[littlelady2010]

Thank you sara, I just want my baby to be healthy. I'm just realizing now that what these meds are doing to my body, I feel very trapped now though, I'm going to put up another post, to get info of how to come off them, I have hope though, there must be a better option then being addicted to pain killers. Thanks again, I find this site very helpful, I found it a few days ago and been reading a lot. It seems the people here arnt judgmental they are just supportive!

[dominosarah]

I am sorry for what you went thru with these meds.  I am so glad you and the baby are okay.  You really covered all your bases with getting informed about those meds too.  That is nice to see.  Let us know how you and the baby are doing~~~~sara

[littlelady2010]

Thank you very much, that's what I had suspected too, that the dose was simply not enough, my obgyn has no idea about how to covert it, she had no idea what she had done. I actually just got a call back from a pharmacist who checked the conversion for me, she said they actually cut my meds by 75percent! If I wasn't pregnant, I wouldn't be so angry about this, I did go through 2days of hell, but so did my baby, he didn't move nearly as much during that time, by the time I had actually got to see the doc, I was having contractions!(They did stop afterwards). We are both much better now, I still feel very drained after all that. However, it did let me know how addictive these things are, I had no idea I am so dependent upon these drugs. I sometimes go 12hours without taking them and feel fine, after about 16 hours it started to hit me. I know one thing for sure, I would like off pain killers as soon as I can. I'm looking into other pain treatment options right now. Hoping there is something that will help. Thanks again! Kaitlyn

[hellc@mst]

Hi there and cogratulations on your preganancy.

Let me start by saying that 5mgs of morphine twice a day was seriously inadequate to cover the 50-60 mgs of oxycodone you have become dependant upon. So, i have no doubts that what you experienced was indeed withdrawals. Most doctors should be able to calculate these conversion doses accurately but i am afraid your doctor had been over cautious and seriously underdosed you.

As you already suspected, your babys health was at risk because of this,so you were right to revisit your doctor and have your original RX reinstated. I hope you are both feeling much better now.

All the best Jeremy.