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how long are withdrawals from 15 mg morphine sulfate IR?

I went off of methadone the end of June, but after 2 weeks Dr. Started me on 15 mg morphine sulfate ir 4 times a day. I have tapered down to 1/2 a tablet in the morning, for the past 3 days, if I just quit how long will the withdrawals be? I know that it has a very short half life and will be nothing like the methadone. Which I wish I could of quit without something else, but it was causing me to go hypoglycemic and I couldn't really tell the difference since the withdrawals and low blood sugar are alot alike, except the wds wouldn't kill me or cause me to go into a diabetic coma. Lol, so any advice?
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1855076 tn?1337115303
Due to your underlying issues with your health, you should see a doctor to figure out whether it's with withdrawals versus anything else.

That said, at one point in my withdrawals (and they were bad) my legs killed and it wasn't RLS.  I had terrible bone pain and not much helped.  I took high doses of advil, tried massage, and I also had a topical prescription gel I used.   For me, I felt like I had ice running through my bones and I could feel it moving through my legs. Sounds weird, I know.

For me, I had to taper.  Maybe you need to slow your taper down a bit.  You've come a long way off methadone, and that is so tough ... very grateful to this forum that I did not go that route in pain management.

You may also benefit from some magnesium.  Also,gnarly suggests a protein/shake supplement you can get at Walmart.  Maybe he'll answer on this post.  I know it has potassium and magnesium and not sure what else.  Losing those minerals can really hurt your legs.

Keep posting.  Check with your doctor tomorrow and let us know how you are!
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4 Comments
Omg.  I've been trying to stop taking my prescription of one 15 mg morphine daily and that is the EXACT withdraw I have....I can't take it so I take a pill.  My legs hurt TREMENDOUSLY!!!  I get NO sleep! I can't sit, lay, think, eat....NOTHING....cause of my legs....they just ache to the bone horribly.  I know I shouldn't take a pill but I am the only one to take care of my 78 yr old father who just went thru cancer and have my 4 grandchildren all the time.  I have arthritis of the spine and joints.  My lower back feels like it's crushed within 12 hours of my last dose.  HOW DID YOU GET THRU IT?  What do you use now for pain?  Please help a grandmother out.  I never did any type of drugs or weed when I was younger....they say go to Marijuana but I tried it and it doesn't touch my back pain.
Hi Me8852,
I think you just posted this on 1-30-23? I could be wrong, but whichever the case, this is an old thread starting 2012.

I’m in pain management and have suffered thru withdrawal to a point several times. (Switching meds or trying buprenorphine) I also understand the leg pain issue, it’s crazy painful, the insomnia is awful, I get it.

Taking only 1 morphine 15 mg is not a huge dose (equivalent to an oxycodone 10mg) and if you absolutely must go off of any opiates, I want to encourage you that the tremendously awful WD symptoms probably will last 5-7 days, depending on how long you have been on opiates.

Best wishes and May God help you and guide you!
I should have said UP TO 5-7 days. It’s a relatively small dose that you are on, so maybe will not have such strong WD.
You should ask your prescribing doctor if you are having trouble. They could give you Rx for clonidine and other meds to help with the WD symptoms.
BassLady.  Yes I did just post this.  I've been trying to find any info on help to get off of this last pill.  I started out being sent to a pain management about 14 years ago after having a head on car crash and suffering thru several surgeries, injections and physical therapy constantly that just stopped working.   I went from taking 3 vicodin from my family doc to morphine at PM. They instantly put me on 3 (60mg) and 3 (15mg) every day!  I have never been a pill person, I'm not a goody too-shoes....never claim to be perfect but as a teenager I was always scared to death to even try weed.  I'm 54 now and after taking the prescription morphine and other doctors making me feel as if I was a drug addiction looking for another fix if I went to the ER (which I did maybe 4 times in the past 10 years) I decided I was cutting back the morphine.  Funny thing is PM acted as if they were upset with me for cutting back!  It took me a couple years but I went from 6 pills a day.....a total of 215mg a day to ONE 15mg a day and I get treated worse there now then ever.  I don't understand it.  
They are trying to force me into back surgery which I refuse.  I have a serious issue with scar tissue and was told by my last surgeon to not have a surgery again unless it's life or death.  I was having my gallbladder removed, a 20 minute surgery.....it took him an hour to get thru scar tissue to find my GB to remove it.  They are wanting to do surgery near my spine, I explained to her that if scar tissue would wrap-around my spine I would be in a wheelchair..... It happened to my ex mother in law and she has been in a wheelchair for the past 25 years. The doctor tells me well scar tissue is scar tissue no one knows for sure what it will do..... Exactly it is my body and I will not have it done.  
I'm hoping that I can find something to help with the severe leg pain to help me get through the withdrawal of this last pill. I know I can do it I've cut down all of those others on my own I can do this last one.
Thank you so much for your comment I greatly appreciate it God-bless
Avatar universal
Yes it did help me, but at that time I was already 2 weeks in. My only big complaint was my legs hurt so bad and nothing would make it better. Well I now have the same problem, my legs are killing me. Its not rls. It is a deep pain in my bones. So now I am wondering if the pain meds were masking something wrong with my legs (I am at risk of blood clots and infections since I have had my spleen removed) or is it wds? I just don't know. Thanks for answering.
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
Are you feeling any withdrawals on the taper you're on?  If not, or if they're mild, I would think you could probably just jump. Sometimes when you trade one med for another, it's a little easier to jump off.  That said, if you can find a doctor to help, that would be great.  Check out the Thomas recipe and keep yourself extremely hydrated.

Just curious, but did the 15 mg. of morphine actually help the methadone withdrawals?

Also, if you're still having any pain, check out the pain management forum here.  It's not quite as active as this forum, but there are really great people with great suggestions and support.
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1416133 tn?1351123217
OK - but with "everything else you do" taking care of YOURSELF has to be first on that list of things to do right?  Find a new Dr.  Now :)
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Avatar universal
Yes I was taking the methadone for pain. I had my pancreas and spleen removed to help with hereditary pancreatitis pain, well the surgeon felt that I would be on pain meds for life since there was so much damage. But I had the surgery to quit the meds. He gave me the morphine to help the methadone withdrawals. He planned on me tapering off the morphine, but I moved and haven't found a new doc yet, so I am not in a very good position. I should always have a dr, but it is difficult with everything else to do. So that is my story. Thanks
Helpful - 0
1416133 tn?1351123217
Why would the Dr. put you on morphine if you were on methadone - were you taking the meth for pain or for withdrawals?  If it was for prior drug abuse,  I think he made a mistake having you take morphine.  Bear with my questions here, obviously I'm not a Dr., but that decision confuses me.

I am sorry you're going through this again.  I think it's best to have a Dr. provide a good tapering schedule for you given your medical conditions.  And withdrawal DOES feel really bad, so given you can't distinguish between withdrawals or hypogylcemia, please let a Dr. monitor your taper and early recovery.

Good luck to you!  :)
Helpful - 0
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