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Posted 7/28/2012 6:41 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all, some of you know that I’ve had horrendous few weeks.......

I was on OxyContin & OxyNorm (BT) because the Oxycodone wasn’t taking the edge of my pain on my good days anymore, My GP & I decided to do a med switch to MST Continus (MS Contin) & Oramorph (BT) instead of increasing OxyContin.......Cutting along story short, I had numerous server reactions & No Pain Relief!

Because I had such server reactions (I’ll not bore you all with all the reactions) I’ll just say another does of morphine it would have tipped me over the edge, sent me crazy & I was that close of losing my memory altogether! My GP switched me back to OxyContin & OxyNorm ASAP!

Since switching back to Oxycodone I’m back to wear I was before I started on Morphine except for the Short term memory loss......I didn’t really have a problem with my memory when I was Oxycodone before but now my short term memory awful.

Anyhow, my question is......Has anyone else encounter similar problems with medication? &/or has anyone heard of medications causing permanent damage!

With all the other reactions have gone from my system except short term Memory loss, I’m sure the Morphine has left me with permanent damage.

Any help/input will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

Much Love & blessings

Claire x

Posted 7/28/2012 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

 Hello Claire!

      I think short term memory loss is quite common with taking pain med's, and maybe more so that with different med's.  I do know, that when I took myself off all Oxycontin,....I noticed a huge difference in mental ability and memory, and I enjoyed it,....however, the suffering was not worth it.

      Give your body time to adjust to each change, and then see where your at.

       Have a great evening!

  *´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`    SE   wink

Posted 7/28/2012 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Claire....

I'm really sorry you are having a lousy few weeks; I've had them too at different times... :(  I hope things will start getting better for you.

As Michael said... I too have had that same short term memory loss... and it's worse w/ some meds than others for me.  When I've made med changes... it has taken a couple of weeks to get my mind clear again.  How long has it been since you made the change?  I really think that you just need some more time... for your body to stabilize itself.

Let us know how longs it's been since you switched....

Hugs!  -Tina 

 

Posted 7/28/2012 7:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hi S.E, That's for your reply

I don't really know much Narcotics pain meds......My Dr put me on Fentanyl patches first but had a server allergic reaction to them & got the whole dose in one hit!.......I was taken of them & put me on Oxycodone, I've been on this med for years now, until couple weeks ago when I tried Morphine & had server reaction to that too!

I will give my body time to adjust said you suggested......Thankyou so much for you're advice I really Appreciate it.

You to have a great weekend too

Much Love & blessings

Claire

Posted 7/28/2012 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Claire

I am sorry to hear of the continuing problems you are having. I can't comment on the memory loss but I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you.

As I say I have no answer to that but I would say its important not to stress, just relax and I am sure it will improve in time. I know my memory is not what it was pre strong pain meds. I honestly don't think it will be permanent. However, to put your mind at rest I would mention it to your GP for reassurance. Have you read the leaflet that comes with your tablets or looked online at the side effects, it may well mention memory problems there?

Sorry to hear you are still having problems, but good to hear how you are doing. Keep in touch.

((((hugs))))

Jane xx
Posted 7/28/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
I think you were only on the Morphine for a week or two so I can't imagine, even if it was for a few months, that the Morphine itself caused anything specific with your short term memory. And pretty much all opiates are synthetic versions of Morphine so that is why it would be odd to have such a major difference with similar medicine..

So it could be just the cumulative effect of opiates over the time you have been taking them as it can happen with long term opiate use.

I have been on them since 2005 and was on Oxycontin and Percocet until 2007 and then switched to MSContin and OxyIR.

I do things every single day to keep my memory sharp. I watch Jeopardy each night, I play games on the computer (you can Google "memory games"..) as there are tons of them. I do crossword puzzles as well.

As well as any time I talk to people or watch tv...I try to quiz myself on names, where I know people, and things about them.

The key is truly "use it or lose it"...

But obviously I am not a Pharmacist so you can certainly ask yours...but it would be very strange to have any type of damage from such a short time of using the MSContin itself..

Thankfully there are many things we can do to improve our short term memory. The foods we eat are extremely important, along with daily exercise. This has been proven now with studying of Alzheimers and other memory issues.

I walk 45 minutes a day with my pup while I listen to a book on my phone. And I switched to eating all Organic almost 2 years ago. This has made a huge impact on my energy levels and thinking/memory sharpness.

Just my thoughts...but I certainly hope it gets better for you in the upcoming weeks:)

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 7/28/2012 1:51:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/28/2012 7:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Tina, Thanks for your reply hun & Thankyou also for your wishes.

I did the switched from Oxycodone to Morphine 3 weeks ago, I was on Morphine 8 days before I switched back to Oxycodone again. I've been back on that now 12 days now.

I feel better knowing I'm not alone with memory loss. As I said to SE I don't really know about Narcotics medications.

Thanks again Hun for your help & wishes, I really appreciate it

Much love & many Hugs

Claire

Posted 7/28/2012 7:46 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jane & Snowbunny....Thanks for you're replies & wishes.

Jane, How are you feeling now hun, Hope you are feeling alittle better?........I will try to Relax, its hard not to but I will try........If It doesn't improve/worried I will mention it to him when I see him next week.

I couldn't find any info in the leaflet I got about Memory loss, but what I'm confused about is why it's happened now when I've been on Oxycodone for years, its only happened since being on Morphine & switched back.

Thanks hun for your advice & wishes hunni.

Snowbunny, Thanks for your help hun I appreciate it...........I was on Morphine 8 days before I he switched me back to Oxycodone again, the problem I have is.....when I was on Oxycodone before It didn't effect memory, but since being on Morphine the reaction I had which included server memory loss, my memory has not gone back to the way it was before the switch. If that makes sense?

It could be like you said tho because I've been on opiates for along time now.

Thanks for all your advice Hunni, I really appreciate it

Much love & many hugs to you both

Claire x

Posted 7/28/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Claire

I just googled morphine an short term memory loss and oxycodone and short term memory loss, an at a very quick glance it seems that it is not that uncommon. I honestly don't think it will get any worse, it will probably settle soon. I hope so but try not to worry. As Snowbunny says do anything you can to exercise your memory, that will help too.

I am doing ok. I am a bit low, probably just the last six months taking its toll on me. I am so limited in what I can do and I think that is why I feel like this. Another month to go before I can fully weight bear again. I had a surprise visit from my best friend today, that helped cheer me up.

Take care honey and try not to worry

(((( hugs))))

Jane xx
Posted 7/29/2012 3:19 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jane, Glad you are doing better then you was & I am so sorry you are feeling low too, once you can weight bare & start moving around I'm sure you will feel yourself again!.........That was nice of your friend to come & see you. I'm so glad it cheered you up Hun, that would have done you a power of good.

Thanks for finding info on Short Term Memory Loss. I asked my Mum to look thru the leaflet for me again just incase I missed it, she too couldn’t find anything either.......What I’m confused about is why I never had memory loss before on Oxycodone but now since the switch to Morphine & back to Oxycodone My memory is awful. I can understand Morphine doing that but not Oxycodone since I’ve been on it for years & had no problem. If it’s not improved time I see my GP I am going to mention it.

I will also take advice from Snowbunny (Thanks again Hunni)......I never thought about Organic foods, When my Mum goes Supermarket shopping I asked her to pick me up Organic foods for me.

Thanks again Jane for finding info out for me Hun, I’m really appreciate & Thanks again everyone for all your help, advice & wishes I really do appreciate it.

Much Love & Many Hugs

Claire x

Posted 7/29/2012 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear of your situation, another one on a rough path.

When you say you are on morphine, are you on the real morphine, or a synthetic morphine, i.e. Fentanyl, which I have been on now since the first of the year. I worry about the possibility of my meds effecting my thinking and having memory issues. So far, I don't feel it has been the case, and my wife (a nurse) keeps close tabs on me, and hasn't reported any issues.

Earlier in the year, I was doing some intense consulting work, foresnic accounting, and I was worried if I still had it in me to think and concentrate that much detail. Fortunately, I did fine.

One thing I do, just because I am aging, is to keep my mind busy. I read a lot, do lots of crossword puzzles, etc, to keep my mind sharp.

Next time I see my oncologisti/PM, I will ask him about this business of memory loss, and will let you know what he thinks.

Now if I were being dosed much higher than present, I could almost see where I might reach a point where I couldn't think clearly, and that would bother me a lot, especially if I became concious of it.

Hope you do well, and find a good balance there with your meds, this is something my doctor and I work hard together. Finding strong enough doses to kill the relentlous pain, yet not make me feel sedated or drugged out of my mind.

Good luck,

David in S.C>
Posted 7/29/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)

Hi David, Thankyou for your reply, advice & wishes.

I’m happy you doing great on your pains meds & don’t effect you memory, its good that your wife keeps tabs on you too, it can be reassuring knowing she’s looking out for you. You are fortunate to having a loving supportive wife, that makes all the difference.

I’ll going to try & explain whats been happening these past few weeks,

 

I been on OxyContin & OxyNorm (BT) for years now, but the medication wasn’t taken the edge of my pain on my good days (It never helped on Bad days), I saw my GP between us both we decided to do a med switch instead of increasing OxyContin like we’ve done in the past.......My Dr put me MST Continus (MS Contin) & Oramorph (BT) (Real Morphine)

Cutting along story Short, I had server reactions to Morphine, Had No pain relief, I was in so much pain, I was screaming & crying in agony, Every minute I was getting worst........The side effects hit me so hard too, server nauseous even with anti-sickness meds & I was still heaving, massive headaches every day, I couldn’t talk properly, forgetting words/memory loss, I felt & sounded drunk, trouble passing water, major anxiety & panic attacks, I was so low/depressed, crying all the time........It felt like I was having a Nervous Breakdown.

I lasted 8 days each minute getting worst, I was due to spoke with my GP Tuesday afternoon (17th July) but on the same day in Morning I had apt with the Nursing sister (Charge Nurse) for routine 4 wkly injection......Cutting along story short again, she got my GP there & then, he switched back to Oxycontin & OxyNorm BT that morning.......My nursing sister explain things to me, If I took another dose of Morphine it would have tipped me over the edge & sent me crazy. I was that close of losing my memory altogether!

I’ve now been back on OxyContin & OxyNorm 12 days (13 today) everything back to normal now, expect from Short term memory loss.......This where I’m confused, I never had a problem with my memory before on Oxycodone, but since the reaction to Morphine & switch back to Oxycodone my memory is awful......I'm also still feeling low but I feeling like that before starting the Morphine anyway, the Morphine just made me worst that all........

Thankyou so much in advice for asking your oncologist/PM I would really appreciate it! You are so kind.

Thankyou again for your help, advice & wishes. I hope you are having a low pain weekend?

Much Love & Hugs

Claire

Posted 7/29/2012 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have also had issues with memory loss recently. my doctors think it might be my baclofen so I've switched meds (I took it for my gastroparesis) however the new med doesnt help my stomach as much. I now take baclofen 1-2x a day and the new med the other 2-3x daily. I still feel like I have memory issues so maybe it's not the meds at all and just something that's wrong with me....

what did your dr say about the memory loss? Do they think it's the morphine?
Posted 7/30/2012 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Claire,

You story, which is so hard to read (I would have been long out of my mind enduring what you did for those 8 days), proves an important point. What works one way for one person, may have the complete opposite effect on another. (Another great reason why people shouldn't take other people's medications - very dangerous in my opinion).

When I was put on real morphine pills, it simply didn't cut the pain the way the Fentanyl does. My doc tried me on Dilauid (which when I was in hospitals getting it in IV form, worked great), but in pill form, might as well been giving me sugar pills. Same thing happened when we tried one of the shorter term Oxy meds.

In the end, my doctor agreed to let me stay on the Loratabs, and fortunately, with the stronger Fentanyl patch (75 microgram), its allowed me to drop down from the max. dose of 8 per day, to now 4-6 per day. And I never have the bad side effects like some do, i.e. nausea or constipation. I don't know if it's a good thing or not, but my doc said I have become a very stable opiad tolerant patient, which makes treating me that way effective for my type of pain.

Since I have severe nerve damage, one would think some of the nerve type meds would work. We did that as an experiment for a week, can't remember the name, the common one that starts with a "G". It never helped with the pain, but according to my wife, it made me very hostile and aggressive acting, a side effect the med warned. I didn't feel that way, but she said it really did, that I seemed agitated all the time. Again, fortunate enough to have a medically qualifeid person to watch over me. I feel blessed on that point.

The memory loss part would bother me a lot, if that ever happened, and assuming I was concious of that fact, as I value my mind and my ability to deep analysis of subjects. So I can empathize with you completely.

Mostly hope you are moving out of the worse of that experience, and hope you don't fall into that again any time soon. But if you do, come back here, and let's all talk it out together. Venting is a healthy thing to do, especially among your peers here that both understand and support you.

My best,

David
Posted 7/30/2012 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kel, I’m sorry you too are suffering from memory loss too. It could be Baclofen as your Dr said, many medications react differently person to person.......Do you take any other medication(s) beside the ones you mentioned? I would ask your Dr again or Pharmacy for advice. My Dr on holidays at the moment since switching back to Oxy, However I do have apt with My Dr on Friday, if I’ve not improved any by then I will mention it. Good luck in finding out what causing your memory loss Kel, keep us updated.   Hi David, Thankyou again for your reply & wishes I appreciate it.......I’m sorry I made it hard for you to read, I’m not very good at explaining myself......I did post another thread on update of med switch a couple weeks ago, the thread called “Update on Med Switch.....Not Good” It might explain things better for you. I’m sorry again. Yes, it was horrendous 8 days! TBH I couldn’t cope but somehow I did, No idea how tho but something’s are a blur!........In fact it was actual longer then 8 days because when I switched back to Oxys I still had Morphine in my system for awhile. I agree with 110% how dangerous it is to use other peoples medications, as you said what works for one can have very dangerous effects for another, each person is different & have different reactions. I also think people should take their meds as directed by their Dr, I heard/read many stories where people take more meds or not the correct way, that is very dangerous too! I’m sorry to hear you’ve had of problems with your meds in the past! I’m glad you’ve found a pain meds what works for you with no side effects........I’m also sorry to hear you have server nerve pain, I can sympathise with you completely. I too have nerve pain, I take Gabapentin & never had a problem with it......Is that the med you was talking about ? I just want to say too, Thankyou again for your support, help & good wishes you have shown me I really appreciate it David.......I’ve always feel guilty for venting/moaning because people have their own problems/issues without listening to me moan about mine.......I also don’t really like contacting my Dr or Nurse in between appointments because I know they busy dealing with other patients, I tend to wait for my apt time slot but since what happened with Morphine it scared so much, I never ever want to go thru this again! It has taught me a lesson, if worried about anything I will contact my Dr or Nurse ASAP! Hope you’ve had a low pain day today? Thanks again for your support, help & wishes Much love & Hugs Claire
Posted 7/30/2012 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Clare,

Yes, it was the Gabapentin my oncologist had me try. He warned me that there were some side effects that stop a lot of people that try it, and he was right, and it did nothing for the pain.

I tend to take things in life very literal and also can be very OCD about medical matters. I have never taken more meds than prescribed, and if anything, if I get mixed up once I am past a dosing pass, and not certain if I took the meds or not, I simply skip that pass until the next one. And if I am suppose to take a med every four hours, I take that literally too. That's how it works for me, perhaps a bit overboard, but I feel safer being this way. With what I take, I don't want to accidently overdose, and that could happen if I werent so cautious.

Hopefully, your horrific story and experience was a one time shot, and that over time, it will be in your distant memory.

david
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