Question/Comment:

HI There Guys, l actually live in Australia and although our drugs and pills are named a little differently they are still basically all the same really?
I've had severe pain now for nearly 8 years and just in this past year l've been told what's wrong with me and meanwhile l'm now taking 150mg of Kapanol twice daily (which is a slow release Morphine) l also take for my break through pain Panadeine Forte (which is codeine 30mg mixed with Panadol or paracedamol 500mg) and l know l'm an Addict to these Pain Killers (Even if there are people in this site that refuse to beleive that they are?) l hate thinking that way too? But lets face it people, if your taking something that you NEED to have for your pain everyday, then your an addict! Or addicted which ever word sits better with you?
IF you still say l'm wrong? Then stop taking everything? Not at once, that would be bloody stupid and dangerous, but wein off everything over the next couple of weeks? I did, l used to take 3 times more than l am now and l know l was drugged out of my brain everyday? I'd fall asleep when my Husband or a Friend was trying to speak with me? I look back at all of those days now and l'm embarrassed!
So my plan is to keep going by reducing the strongest pain releivers l take now and see if l can live on just the lighter pain releif and some alternative stuff because l don't want to die! And my Pain Managemen and my Dr said it could happen anytime with the amount l was taking and still take even now?
I want to live and to do that l have to endure some of this pain and put my brain to good work and try and find and Surgeons who will do my surgery in the USA for FREE???
I'm 44 and l don't want to do this life anymore and l'm sure most of you don't either?
Anyway l'm not here to lecture any of you, l'm just here to talk with anyone wo wants too get on with their lives too like me and try and get off this shit before it does something really harmful to each of us? My Friend l went to school with hurt herself at work 4 years ago and her back was killing her and the Dr's just handed pills after pills to her and she died in her sleep last year just from a back pain people? Too many pills stopped her heart!
I don't want that happening to me, NO WAY! ''
What about you? Please feel free to email me anytime you want to talk? ANYTIME???
Thanks for listening? You can email me anytime at: chezaando@yahoo.com.au

Question/Comment:

Has anyone tried to wean off of Avinza, if so - how'd it go?

Question/Comment:

SINCE I AM ON 400MG OF KADIAN THREE TIMES A DAY AND TAKE PERCOCET 10/325MG WHEN NEEDED FOR BREAK THROUGH PAIN, TO PUT THIS TRUTHFULLY I HAVE TAKEN DOUBLE THE DOSE OF KADIAN 800 MG AND 15 PERCOCET AT ONE TIME AND THE PAIN STILL PUT ME DOWN I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO NOW ???? I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR TO LIVE. THERE IS A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO BEFOR I AM GONE BUT THE PAIN IS STOPPING ME. I HAVE BEEN ON THE DURGEISIC PATCH AND COUNTLESS OTHER DRUGS NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. ANYONE KNOW THE PRO'S AND CON'S OF THE SPINAL BLOCKS

PLEASE HELP TIME IS RUNNING OUT

Answer/Reply:

I'm so sorry that u are going through so much pain. Also I know how hard it is 2 explain that it's the pain that is knocking u out & not the medicene. I have not investigated the ins & outs of the spine as of yet, but I am about 2 start. U see they have finally told me what's wrong with me, well a lil bit of it anyway now it's time 4 me 2 look it all up. I assume lumbar spondylosis has something 2 do with the spine. 1rst question, how long have u been on present medication? U know sometimes it takes 2 weeks just 4 it 2 get through ur system & decide whether 2 work 4 or against ur body. 2nd which should have been 1rst, NEVER double up on an opiod! [without ur doc's consent or at least reading up on it first] I know its hard especially when u have a high tolerance 4 meds & it seems not 1 person that's not with u 24/7 understands or believes u. They find out what u r on & form an opinion, 4get them & think about it, u r on a site where u can learn what 2 talk/ask ur doc., about. I'm on avinza & I may b on the highest dosage, but I'm also 1 of the first 2 have tried it. I know this 'cause I participated in the lil research study program or whatever they callit, when they monitor & run test then put it in a book. no names just ur test results after a couple a weeks or so. Anyway I think u should research some simular meds & symptoms on this site, then go have a talk with your physician. The reason I think this is a good site 2 use is 'cause its real people like u & I, not case studies out of a book. Honestly some things were still changing after they completed their case study of us ;) So my prayers r with u & who knows maybe God will help relieve some of ur pain so u can do those things u'd like 2 do so bad. Oh yeah, don't let the depression that comes with the pain hold u back either, live each day 2 the fullest/ meaning the best of ur ability. They shoild just automatically know that if u have chronic pain u have depression. Good Luck, U live every 1 of these days 2 the fullest. Meaning No More Doubling up on OPIODS ! OK

Answer/Reply:

I would be very, very careful with taking that much. Especially if you are taking other medications.
The reason I say this is because if you have any instance of kidney disease, the amount of morphine in your system will cause you serious harm.
My mother was just release from the hospital. She had sepis. She was taking a way lower dose but she had to be put on life support and almost did not make it. Earlier last month she was in an accident and had a duregesic (sp) patch on and had an episode where she was dehydrated and had renal failure.

Just be very very careful, and whatever you do, do not drive.

I am also a chronic pain suferer. I will not tell you not to take these meds as this type of meds are one of the safest compared to others. Just be safe.

Question/Comment:

As I did not want to become addicted to morphine which I take orally I set a personal limit of 60mg a day, but also take a wide range of other pain medications. I try never to take more than 30mg in one dose. However tolerance has been inevitable. I alway take it with paracetamol/tylenol or ibuprofen, ocassionally both. Then I started adding in 50mg of Tramadol, then as this stopped addressing the pain I increased it to 100mg of Tramadol. Now more often than not I also add in 5-10mg of diazepam. The advice on this webpage is that these interactions are dangerous, but they work for me. My doctor now won't increase any of my pain medications. I also take maximum doses of dihydrocodeine (120mg twice a day) and up to 120mg codeine phosphate a day, the codeine phosphate I again add with 100mg of Tramadol and paracetamol/ibuprofen and often diazepam, up to a maximum of 20mg diazepam a day. Sometimes I am in such a bad way I take the whole 20mg of diazepam in one go. I understand my doctor not wanting to increase my meds, but having been on some of them for ten years and all of them for over two years my body is messed up to the point I cannot go a day without them. Even if I am just an hour or two late with my next dose I become very unwell. Slow release morphine does not work well with me. Slow release dihydrocodeine works better but increases my constipation. Any suggestions how to get out of this mess. My whole life is now about medication, and I feel the pills are destroying me mentally and physically, but cannot tolerate the pain without them. Am I killing myself with this regime? Would it be better to just take one drug rather than do as I am, mixing a whole batch of them so as not to have to increase the morphine? I just fear that if I go over 60mg a day I will be on the route to always needing more, and never being able to stop. Despite all I still cannot think of myself as an addict. But I am sure these 'cocktails' are very dangerous.

Answer/Reply:

check into a detox center

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

The iGuard website identifies potential drug interactions and explains how these interactions affect the medications or the conditions that you have. Not all drug interactions result in a bad outcomes. There are situations where doctors prescribe two drugs together even though they may have an interaction. In these cases, the doctor may feel that the benefit of the two treatments outweigh the risk of the drug interaction.

iGuard feels that it is important for you to know about your medications and how they may interact with each other. We hope you will take the list of interactions to your doctor and discuss the risks and benefits and your side effects of your medications so that your treatment can be adjusted to meet your concerns.

Treating pain is challenging - you may want to seek help from a pain specialist - these doctors and nurses are experts in this area. You can ask your doctor for referrals or you can look around in your area to see if you can find a pain management center that offers these services.

Answer/Reply:

i do go to a pain management center and have had two steroid lumbar epidurals and 1 set of the facets and the next step for me was to have my nerve endings burned a resotomy i think is what they called it and then the dr couldn't decide if that was really what i needed so he tried me on oxycontin and that made me really sick so now they have changed my meds to morphine sulfate and it works a little but they say they won't give me anything for the nausea b/c get this i could get addicted to that !! hahaha i take quiet a few different medications and i truly believe that the mixing of these is what causes me to be nauseated. I just have come to the point that they just don't care. i have a neurological condition that causes alot of my pain, it's called charcot-marie tooth disease and i am having extreme back pain also and i am severly overweight b/c i cannot exercise like i should and that doesn't help. and truthfully i don't eat. maybe 1-2 light meals a day no snacks or junk food. so i just don't understand. they have told me that if the morphine doesn't work they will just release me and that there is nothing else that they can do. so then what am i to do? i don't like being sick feeling, can a person really get addicted to phergan or reglan or zephran ( something for nausea)? please help

Answer/Reply:

Managing pain and thge use or opiates is difficult. I have found that a good pain Doc (usually an anatheisialogist) is helpful and manditory when using high levels of opiates.

Answer/Reply:

I completely relate to what you explained in your comments. I not only went through years of not having any tools to cope with my pain except for addictive meds but I've known many who have experienced the same. It can feel lonely, hopeless and consuming. I finally met a doctor who helped me know that there's more help out there than I ever realized. Knowing that there are thousands of others going through this type of 'out of control' pain, made me feel less alone, immediately. I belong to Kaiser Permanente and several years ago they began a pain management program. I attended groups, saw doctors and realized that there are other ways of handling pain than JUST drugs. I now use 1/10th of the addictive drugs and have replaced the other 90% with other tools...meditation, relaxation, stretching, massage therapy and alot of prayer! :) I doubted that I would ever be able to decrease my meds. I was an 'eye roller' when people mentioned other ways to handle pain. I'm afraid to think of what would have happened to me if I had not made a change. As I said, I'm still on medications but they are no longer my only tool to cope with my chronic pain and I'm no longer on lethal doses. I wake up and thank God that I can get out of bed instead of thinking of how many pills I have left and how am I going to get more. Don't be afraid to be honest with your doctor...if you don't like what he/she has to offer, get another doctor. There is help out there...we just have to find it. Please don't wait too long to make a change and get your life back...it really is worth it.
Female, age 51

Question/Comment:

Question; What is the generic for Avinza and what country is it made in?

I'm going broke trying to afford this every month but it seems to be the least expensive of all that type of morphine.

I'm currently taking Avinza 120mg once a day for severe back pain with an occational oxycodone 5 mg. prn. I try to stay away from the oxycodone and use Advil instead which usually works.

I am a 66 year old female