HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Morphine CR taper question

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/15/2013 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
How long does it take for the last dose to leave your system?
Posted 12/15/2013 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Do you mind elaborating a bit more? I know the Dr. just raised your dosage from 3-4 of these a day, but because it's not commonplace to take 4 of the extended release meds, your insurance wouldn't cover it.

Did you end up running out of meds for the month and worried about withdrawal?

Or did the Dr. take you off all your meds abruptly or did you decide to quit all your meds this last week?

Or is there some sort of drug test coming up and there is medication that you don't want to show?


**I'm truly not accusing you of anything....just trying to figure out the reason for the question to help better...

Everyone is different in how they metabolize meds, it also depends on what type of med it is, and how many you took the previous day....as in 3 the previous day over a 24 hour period will have a different effect of leaving the system than just taking one the previous day.

And then if we are talking about testing someone for meds, then it also depends on what type of test like regular dip stick, GC/MS, blood test, hair follicle, etc.....

I hope everything is ok!!!
Posted 12/15/2013 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Im not worried about tests. I take my med the way I should but my question was how long does it take the last dose to leave your system.

I did have an increase of my med but after reading a couple of post here about "a drug holiday" or "resetting" your pain scale. I thought about tapering down my dose to get to a lower dose. I dont take any other type of narcotic pain med with the morphine. Like many I have read here do. I use nsaids and sometimes x strength tyelenol.

I just thought it would be great to try that approach and just see if my pain scale has changed of if I can now manage it better or whatever.

Just to be clear. I have my med and am still taking it. I have NOT run out will NOT run out but just want to know how to reduce or avoid withdrawl if I can.
Posted 12/15/2013 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing more...

The best way to do this is speak with your Dr....not trying to blow you off...LOL...but when it comes to actually tapering down, it's not safe to have anyone try to give you any real instructions.

The "normal" instructions for MSContin is one every 12 hours.....It's only been the last few years that Drs. moved to every 8 hours for a lot of those meds...

I'm sure your Dr. would be happy to help you reduce your meds and see where your pain levels are. I've done this before as have others but we've done it with our Dr's help.

I wish you luck! Keep us posted and let us know how you are doing!

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 12/15/2013 3:41:49 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/16/2013 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with SB. The best and safest most comfortable way is to have your Dr onboard!! I had tried on my own several times without success and very miserable, thus the reason that most dont succeed!

Your Dr can prescribe other meds to help combat the w/d symptoms that are going to occur and honestly I wouldn't want to have to do it without those!!

I can't imagine any Dr that wouldn't jump at the chance to help reduce your med intake.

Good luck and it's been the best choice for me.
Posted 12/18/2013 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yes...I also agree with SB. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help the taper go easier, and give you an appropriate taper schedule.
Posted 12/21/2013 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Im not going to do that. I have a few more hoops to hop before I will be doing that. My dose isnt crazy huge so last week doc also gave me some new excersises that are tricky but should do my core some good.

Neverthe same. ...Oh and of course my doctor would be with me on the taper. I was asking from people who actually take the med about how the last dose leaving is and that could be with out use of any other med as well. I wasnt asking or saying that I would just suddenly stop without my doctor knowing.

Neverthe same......Does someone HAVE to use other meds to stop taking it? Do you think the side effects would be crazy without help from other meds? Thank you so much for your help and info!!! also hang in there yourself, Im praying that you find a med that helps your pain with out to many side effects!
Posted 12/21/2013 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
No...you can taper without using other meds., but it will make it easier if your doctor prescribes some, and gives you a taper schedule.
Posted 12/21/2013 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had attempted to stop several times but after 13 yrs I would get lower but just got too sick when I tried without anything. My b/p would shoot up and I couldn't keep anything down so I would dehydrate.

Finally with the butrans and clonidine it blocked the w/ds and I was able to get off completely.

If your going down using a good taper on a med that doesn't have the extreme half life as methadone you shouldn't be that sick. Methadone is stored in the bone marrow and therefore can still be detected as long as 3 months after stopping it.

It's the one drug that blood banks will not allow you to be a donor if you've ever been on?

If I can help anymore please let me know. There's several really good conversion tables for titration down and off on the internet. Have you looked at one to see what they suggest?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply