Prescription pain killers.

[British Bulldog]

I notice the NHS are very quick at chucking pain killers at people but I dont seem to recall them telling me how addicted your body can become after a prolonged period of taking them. If I thought packing up smoking was hard stopping my pain killers is loads worse, Banging head ache's, sweats, shivers, I can see why people who get addicted to things like Heroin find it hard to get off the stuff.

Has anybody else on here suffered this with prescription medication or am I just a one off who becomes addicted to things very easily?

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

What were you taking? If it is something morphine / codeine related you should be on a slow wean off of them.

 

[Nibble]

I haven't had much in the way of prescription pain killers but i find them dubious as they don't actually address the problem. they merely mask the symptoms and over long preriods can worsen the condition because you can be causing continuing damage as the painkillers hide the extent of the problem and sufferers continue to do the thing/activities that make it worse.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Morphine is almost heroin (diamorphine).

 

[British Bulldog]

What were you taking? If it is something morphine / codeine related you should be on a slow wean off of them.

Tramadol & morphine, As much as I'd like to come off them slowly circumstances dictate that I've got to be off them and try & get my system clear by Wednesday. It's not easy going from up to 160mg of Morphine a day to nothing.

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

I haven't had much in the way of prescription pain killers but i find them dubious as they don't actually address the problem. they merely mask the symptoms and over long preriods can worsen the condition because you can be causing continuing damage as the painkillers hide the extent of the problem and sufferers continue to do the thing/activities that make it worse.

Good post

 

[Les Biehn]

Good post

Bloody hell, you're the first one to say that to him!

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Tramadol & morphine, As much as I'd like to come off them slowly circumstances dictate that I've got to be off them and try & get my system clear by Wednesday. It's not easy going from up to 160mg of Morphine a day to nothing.

Then you can't complain about going cold turkey! You HAVE to be on a slow wean off of both of those else you will suffer from withdrawal symptoms!

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

Bloody hell, you're the first one to say that to him!

Be fair to Nibble, Les, he is absolutely spot on here.

 

[British Bulldog]

Then you can't complain about going cold turkey! You HAVE to be on a slow wean off of both of those else you will suffer from withdrawal symptoms!

So how long is the wean off period & how long does it take to clear your system when you stop them?

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

What do you think you're addicted to BB?
Did you read the patient information leaflet(s) that would have been in the packs of tablets, capsules etc, what does it say and more to the point do you understand it?
Have you spoken with whoever prescribed them - I assume it was a consultant or one of his/her specialist team? If not, then do so; I have contact phone numbers for each of the three specialist teams that are looking after me at the Royal Surrey Hospt in Guildford and have used them all.
You could speak to your local pharmacist - they're entire professional training (4 yrs) is about drugs - mode of action, kinetics, interactions, side effects etc unlike a doctor who is primarily trained in diagnosis.
My last resort would be my GP unless they'd prescribed the drug(s) in the first place; however, they may be the least qualified to sort you out as they are generally not specialists just NHS Gatekeepers.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

So how long is the wean off period & how long does it take to clear your system when you stop them?

Weeks! Can't remember the half life of morphine / tramadol, but i think it's a while, i'll have a check

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

Morphine is almost heroin (diamorphine).

Heroin is diacetylMORPHINE - makes sense!

 

[British Bulldog]

What do you think you're addicted to BB?

It's probably the morphine. I've been on it for the last 14 months and they've kept upping the dosage but the wonderful company I work for have now put me in the situation where I get off it by Wednesday next week and work through the pain barrier, Or life gets difficult and I get hit in the pocket.

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

It's probably the morphine. I've been on it for the last 14 months and they've kept upping the dosage but the wonderful company I work for have now put me in the situation where I get off it by Wednesday next week and work through the pain barrier, Or life gets difficult and I get hit in the pocket.

Would it be rude to ask what you have been given 14 months worth of painkillers for?

 

[Les Biehn]

Would it be rude to ask what you have been given 14 months worth of painkillers for?

Have you not watched the Albion for the last 14 months?

 

[British Bulldog]

Would it be rude to ask what you have been given 14 months worth of painkillers for?

It's not rude at all, The whole middle section of my body ( lower back, hips, pelvic area & groin ) is in constsant chronic pain as well as I have a permanant bollock ache. On top of that my legs keep going numb and very weak which causes me to fall over from time to time which can be embarrasing.

 

[Johnny Crumplin Football]

Nice one.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

It's probably the morphine. I've been on it for the last 14 months and they've kept upping the dosage but the wonderful company I work for have now put me in the situation where I get off it by Wednesday next week and work through the pain barrier, Or life gets difficult and I get hit in the pocket.

OK - this is the warning taken from the published Summary of Product Characteristics (Data Sheet if you like) for Oramorph (Morphine Sulphate)Suspension:

"Tolerance and dependence may occur. Withdrawal symptoms may occur on abrupt discontinuation"

As Miss DtG has already advised, you absolutely shouldn't discontinue this stuff suddenly whatever dosage you're on. Get some medical advice today.

 

[tedebear]

It's not rude at all, The whole middle section of my body ( lower back, hips, pelvic area & groin ) is in constsant chronic pain as well as I have a permanant bollock ache. On top of that my legs keep going numb and very weak which causes me to fall over from time to time which can be embarrasing.

Yikes! I'm guessing they haven't a clue whats causing it which is why you are on the funky monkey tablets?