"Big Guns" Medication--Morphine/Opana

[fpainestam]

Hi, everybody.  Has anyone in the group had experience with Opana?  Or know what's in it?

I was on a couple of versions of extended release morphine, first Avinza, and then Kadian, with moderate impact.  My PM doctor suggested that because the system gets used to a drug, its effectiveness can decline over time, thus requiring more of the med to accomplish the same result.  He suggested that a change of meds might help, and started me on Opana, which he described as "more potent" than morphine.  For that reason, he prescribed a dosage lower than for morphine.  So far, it seems to me to have been about equally effective, possibly a bit more effective, than the morphine.  The only reservation I have is that the effectiveness doesn't seem to quite last all the way through the 12 hours between the times that I take the pill.  Any thoughts?

Thanks!  fpainestam

[Wheels1990]

No experience really with any E-R meds except, Kadian ER, and Ultram ER (which did not work at all).  I hated them really, because the Kadian, made me feel like I didn't care, and I looked like a total zombie.  Bags under my eyes, my eyes half closed, that whole thing.  And I don't like being sedated, either.

But I hope you have/will find something that works for you... I am trying to find something as my tolerance is building up to specific medications I take.

[1nomorepain]

I was on those patches and I will tell you it was wonderful to wake up in the mornings and actual want to get out of bed without taking a bunch of pills and waiting for an hour to get up. I don't know if you had followed the news on these patches but some of the generic brands were releasing too much into your system at one time. This was about a year or two ago. A few died here in Utah and even worse some had brain damage. If your going to use the patch I found that the name brand on this one is the way to go but either way if you have to pay for them they both are expensive. Also make sure when you remove the patch that you wash the area very well as I almost lost my little dog because I would change my patches just before I showered but got interupted and didn't get into the shower right after I removed the patch and she licked were the patch had been while I was on the phone and she started having a hard time breathing and could't walk. I was able to save her but learned a lesson and no matter what, make sure that right after you remove the patch wash the are with soap and water.

[itscrazyhere]

Fentynl also has given me my life back. It was amazing. Good luck.

[DrPatty]

Hello, my name is Dr Patty and I am brand new here. I noticed your question as well as the wonderful comments.  I have severe chronic back pain and have had 5 back surgeries.  After my last surgery I developed osteomyelitis which pretty much destroyed everything for me.  I was really having a hard time copy with my pain.  I was one of the first patients on the Duragesic patch and I am so happy to have been put on them.  (Please read my profile for all of my pain info so you can get a better idea of what my pain was).  I also had gastric bypass in 1989 of which had to be reversed in 95. It left me with a severe malabsorption problem.  This meant that All of my pain medication and others did not absorb into my body leaving me with almost as bad of pain as if I never took it to begin with. Now, other than the patch I am on dialuadid, as a secondary pain medication.  Many times doctors give a long acting med like the patches and a shorter acting one like dilaudid.  For me, at first I had to take the dilaudid by injection, but now years later, I am on a pump every day 24 hours and it is given through a long term I V line that gets changed surgically once every year or so.  (It is not common to get these lines unless absolutely medically necessary).  In your case, the pills might work also. Please join my friends list here and I would love to hear how you are doing.

Dr Patty

[Tuckamore]

Hi,
Yes, I hear the patches are very good. Unfortunately I am allergic to them but they have been a God-sent for my Mother. She has severe nerve damage in her right arm following a recent open heart surgery. She was crazy with pain until they ordered the patch and gabapentin for her.

I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you have the ablation. Please let us know how effective that is for you. I am hopefully you will have much less pain following the procedure. I know initially you may have some increased pain but in a few days you should notice some significant relief. I'll be waiting to hear from you soon. Best of luck to you.

Tuck

[itscrazyhere]

I too was wondering as Mollyrae was if your doctor has you on fentanyl patches. They make my life liveable. I have degenrative disc disease. I have had a spinal fusion at L5-S1 in 7/06 and a neruostimulator put in the same place 7/08. I have had to be on fentanyl patches or Duragesic for some time. I am trying to radio frequency cervical nerve ablasion tomorrow which I am very nervous about the post pain. I know I shouldn't be but my surgeon is not sympathetic at all and does not prefer to use pain medicine. Fortunately, I have a pain doctor that controls my meds for me and I am on the patch and hydrocodone. My headaches at the back of my skull and the pain that radiates down my spine a short way is UNBEARABLE at times. I can't imagine not having the patches. You should ask about them. They are worn on the skin for 72 hours and obviously are extended relief. Good luck to you.
I am new to this site. I look forward to getting to know people.
Heather

[Mollyrae]

Hi fpainestam, After reading your post, I was wondering if the Doctor has mentioned a pain reliever by the name of Fentanyl?

Because you've needed an increase like I did, the Doc put me on a 72hr pain patch that works around the clock. This medication has done wonders for my pain and has let me live my life again. It is one of the strongest meds on the market (80X that of Morphine) and you might want to consider it if you are not getting good relief from your current meds.

I would urge you to talk with your Doc about the patch if you haven't already done so. It might really help you.

Take care and good luck,
Mollyrae

[Tuckamore]

Hello Fpainestam,

Welcome to MedHelp. I have not used Opana. It is basically similar to Morphine, which doesn't work well for me. Opana is a brand name for Oxymorphone like Vicodin or Lortab is for hydrocodone. Of course there is acetaminophen in the Vicodin & Lortab along with the hydrocodone.

Oxymorphone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine. Oxymorphone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain.

The effectiveness or non-effectiveness for you (or anyone) is simply your systems response to the drug. So the new medication just is not staying in your system as long as the morphine stayed. You may want to give it some time but its effectiveness may not change.

I hope this has been helpful. Please feel free to share with us how you are doing. I will look forward to your input. Take Care, Tuck