Morphine ER from Fentanyl - Pain Management Message Board

lseidman · 01-04-2006, 08:35 PM

Well I have a terminal illness and was perscribed Durgestic (Fentanyl) 25 mcg/hr and had a rash and just overall didn't do anything for my pain.

I was given 15mg Morphine Sulfate Extended Release tablets to replace the Fentanyl and Oxycodone I was perscribed.

My problem: I took one tablet, and about an hour and 15mins later, I felt a terrible pain in my stomach, and could barely walk because the pain in my stomach was terrible and I thought I was going to the ER again.

Fortunately, 4 hours later the pain has died down...

Anyone know what may have caused this? How to prevent it? What i should do when the pain comes back?

Thanks in advanced!

catnap · 01-05-2006, 10:11 AM

That stomach cramping is one of the many side effects from morphine. If you can tolerate the side effects until your body gets adjusted to the med, it might go away. But if not, you need to tell your pcp so he can change it to something else. The fentanyl patch has less side effects than morphine. The 25 mcq dose doesn't do much for anyone in bad pain. How long did you try to stay with it? Was the rash caused by the patch itself or the medicine in the patch. There are things you can do to prevent that.

Still you need to tell your doctor about any side effects the meds are causing.

lseidman · 01-05-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnap

That stomach cramping is one of the many side effects from morphine. If you can tolerate the side effects until your body gets adjusted to the med, it might go away. But if not, you need to tell your pcp so he can change it to something else. The fentanyl patch has less side effects than morphine. The 25 mcq dose doesn't do much for anyone in bad pain. How long did you try to stay with it? Was the rash caused by the patch itself or the medicine in the patch. There are things you can do to prevent that.

Still you need to tell your doctor about any side effects the meds are causing.

I was on the fentanyl patch for roughly 30 days and while I still had to take the oxycodone in addition to it, as I didn't feel it was helping and didn't want to go to the ER for Dilaudid, since they always perscribe me that stuff and works but very short acting.

An the pharmacist and doctor both thought I may be allergic to the glue thats on the patch, and also thought maybe a higher form of it may work, but I refused as I had to wait a full 30 days untill I could see the doctor and didn't want to take a chance again and be in agony taking 15MG oxycodone.

catnap · 01-05-2006, 04:30 PM

I don't know what to tell you to do to stop the severe cramps. If you take something to coat your stomach you may stop the effects of the morphine also. I would be hesitate to take something that gives me the belly ache. I was like that with methadone. There was nothing I could do but cry and hurt until it stopped. I finally had to stop taking it and switch to something else.

I am so sorry you have a terminal illness.

Carol

Josie115 · 01-05-2006, 06:01 PM

I am so sorry to hear that you are sick, that your prognosis is so bad and you can't find anything that works for your pain. What a challenge to deal with. I have to say that I couldn't tolerate the stomach issues from the morphine, plus it didn't work. The patch has been a god send for me.

I am pretty sure that your doctor would get you the right dosing by trying one week at one level and then adding as you go..I know you have to go pick the script up and hand it over to the pharmacy but I've known others who have been able to move up the dose more quickly to get relief.

For me, I started rather high 75..72 hrs. Went to 150 after 30 days and cut it to 48 hrs. Was still not doing enough but it turned out to be the generice mylan brand and the sandoz works like a charm. It doesn't whack me out either. I had a rash a week or so ago for the first time from the adhesive..hadn't happened before. Hasn't happened since, but I know others here who have worked that problem out.

I sure hope you can find something that works. The stomach problems for me were just too much. Hated feeling that bad. Good luck and keep us posted.