Switching From Hydrocodone To Morphine

My wife is a chronic pain patient. Today she went to have her periodic office visit with her pain management physician. She has, for several years, been prescribed fentanyl transdermal patches, 75 mcg/hour, along with hydrocodone/apap 10/325, 1 or 2 tablets every 8 hours, PRN for breakthrough pain. She changes the patches every 72 hours. Today the Dr changed her treatment regimine changing the fentanyl to 100 mcg/hrs, changing patch every 48 hours. He took her off the hydrocodone/apap, and said if she still has breakthrough pain, that he will prescribe immediate release morphine to replace the hydrocodone/apap. Her Dr says that this is in response to new laws or guidelines from the DEA and FDA. Is this true? He said that they can't prescribe hydrocodone/apap for chronic pain any longer, only if she has surgical post op pain.

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Hello, Doug! How are you and your wife?

Yes, that is a change the government has been wanting to put in place for awhile, because long-term use of the Acetaminophen in that may cause liver damage or failure. Thus, they want such combination medications only prescribed for short-term use.

This is a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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I called my pain doc for renewal for morphine ER 60mg bid and oxycodone ir 5mg. The office closed early now I have to wait 2days (until Monday). I only have 1 morphine left and 30 oxycodone. How do I take what I have left to get me through the weekend?

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Other than habit forming, have they advised you of any other side effects? Habit forming is many times worth taking the risk when you are in excruciating pain. I am certain doctors themselves would. It is hard to physically and mentally handle the debilitating pain. Many times doctors do not take that Into consideration. In the event they deny the temporary relief, you should then demand an immediate relief with alternative medication or fashion to ease the pain. The answer to the root of pain is imperative. Without these answers, they have no right to deny you of an immediate and temporary relief. You may have heard fibromyalgia being the case. Many times doctors rule fibromyalgia which is simply an ephunisim for not knowing what the heck is wrong with you, according to my friend who happens to have a PhD in neurophysiology. My pain was your typical fibromyalgia diagnose. Rules without having an mri done, which I strongly demand for 2 1/2 years. Not until I offered to pay for the darn scan out of pocket. Two days later, I surprisingly got a letter of approval for the bombardment of x-rays. As you may have guessed, It revealed damage to my L5. My advice to you is to exhaust all their possibilities until you get diagnosed, treated and until you are pain free. It is unethical for doctors to arbitrary sentence you to a cruel and unusual punishment based on their own inferences and nor medical facts. I encourage you to act ratther quickly, as pain can drive you crazy.
Take it from me who has gone through seven doctors (being transparent forwarding my medical records to each and every doctor.) Seven doctors and Perhaps over 150 years of medical knowledge, did not pinpoint the root of my pain. It only took three minutes of a YouTube yoga video (what I strongly believe and makes sense) to find the origin of my back pain. Hamstrings is the answer. I recently ran into this video and yet have to educate this group of incompetent so called doctors.
Demand your pain medications! On the other hand, if you have healed and still need the meds, you may have a dependency problem and that should be addressed as well. I hope you get the answer to the root of your pain.

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I've never taken morphine er or any kind... I was on hydrocodone 10 for years and have been off now two weeks. What can I expect from morphine sulphate 15mg er?

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Re: Candy (# 4)

I hated morphine ER. It did nothing for my pain.

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Wow, I can see the doctors point, taking the patch from 3days down to 2 days? This is very strange? Yes, with fentanyl filling your system every 48 hours I can’t see a reason for breakthrough pain, the fentanyl doesn’t even get a chance to loose some mcg. Sounds like it stays strong all the time, anyhow, be careful, your doctor sounds crazy, most patients or all the people j know dealing with fentanyl are all on 72 hours, I would ask some questions to that doctor, hagd

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Re: Ralph (# 6)

As a pain patient who was given a patch they wear off way before 72 hours the pain is off the charts after 48 hours they discontinue working. I guess it depends on the person also but most say 48 hours the patch is working ,after 48 hours patch is not. I was told to change patch every 48 hours and there still is break through pain.

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Seems seriously stupid right! Hydrocodone is much less strong than Morphine! Much! But that one drug is a curse word! Morphine and Fentanyl is so dangerous! It’s asinine because they think the whole world is addicted to hydrocodone! Pain patients if taken ONLY as needed for pain do not get addicted. There is dependence in order to live a quality of life, THAT is not addiction anymore than a routine non-schedule someone needs to live for non-pain conditions! The only danger with hydrocodone is it’s usually mixes with acetaminophen which hurts the liver eventually. It can be given without the acetaminophen. My daughter is a PA with special courses when she worked in pain management. So now your wife is on much stronger more dangerous drug mix!

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Re: Candy (# 4)

I'm no Dr. But I was told that morphine is a speed to brain killing.

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