Shoreline

Hi YakWak, Opiate side effects are opiate side effects, regardless of how they are delivered.Hot flashes, flushing, urinary retention, drowsuness, constpation can all be experienced by any opiate regardless of how it's delivered. Meds delivered IT are much more effective and only 1/100th to 1/300th can be used when switched from oral to IT, but it doesn't mean all side effects will be less or greater. It's trial and error just like when using orals. I'm disabled and have medicare, I started with morphine, then switched to dilaudid, tried marcaine and baclofen but the adjuncts had some side effects I couldn't tolerate, now their is a small amount of clonidine in the mix.

As far as refills, With Medicare and a home health agency doing the actual refills, I pay 35 bucks every 90 days to have my pump refilled by a home health nurse regardless of what med they use. Meds delivered by pump are billed through the insurance side, not the prescription side of medicare benefits. I do understand the meds are expensive, it's just a matter of what your portion of the medical cost your individual insurance leaves you stuck with. Cost of meds was a huge factor in my decision to switch to the pump. I've had a pump longer than medicare has had a part D plan so I was paying cash for every med, prior to part D or the pump. From the very get go, Medicare part B has covered my refills for the pump leaving me a simple co pay. Personally I found the side effects of morphine to be be more severe than the synthetics so switching to dilaudid or fent make sense as a way to reduce side effects.
Good luck, Dave