Lortab/ms Contin

I've been on Lortab for 21 years after back surgery. I also had a morphine pump implant, 3 of them to be exact. But after the last one failed I decided that after 13 years of being stuck in the stomach with needles every 2 months to refill the pump, I wanted it removed permanently. So in addition to the Lortab for pain I was put on Ms Contin(morphine sulfate) 30 mg..But I've found myself going through a vicious cycle with these 2 pain meds and have become very addicted to both drugs. My doctor recently increased the dosage of the ms contin to 60 mg. 3 x a day. Does anyone else take these pain meds? If so what kind of long term effect have they had or do they have on you? I'm up in age now and truly hate taking all these pain medications but don't see a way out. I have severe pain in my back from breaking it while on the job in 1988 and have gone through 5 back surgeries, all which failed and was diagnosed with failed back syndrome. If anyone has any suggestions on what I can do, I'd really appreciate it!! In addition to the pain medications I'm also on Soma for muscle spasms, xanax for anxiety and Depakote for bipolar. Man what a terrible vicious cycle this is! I usually run out of my lortab before the due date and have found that I don't go through the severe withdrawals like I do with the morphine. When I withdraw from the morphine I break out in a terrible sweat and throw up, have diarrehia(sp?) severe stomach cramps etc.. After 3 days though these symptoms subside and I'm okay, but then the pain is so severe that I know that I have to have them refilled. Does anyone else experience what I'm going through or am I alone in this? any feedback would be appreciated!

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I do experience much of what you're going through. So, No you are not alone. Ask you doctor to increase your ms contin to 100mg 3x day. I, too, take Lortab, when I would run out early I explained to my doctor and he increased the dosage of morphine until I was able to take the Lortab as directed, and not run out. With the increased morphine dosage I was able to function without pain and I have not had to increase any dosage in over 3yrs. In addition I am Paxil . I was perscribed soma a long time ago, and it made me too lethargic. It takes some experimenting to find the dosage that works right for each individual but please do not give up hope. I deal with my situation by accepting the fact that I will be on medication for the rest of my life and I am thankful that I have the meds to relieve the pain, because I truly was not able to function mentally or physically without the pain relief. I read alot and I pray often Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor until you find the relief you need. I wish you luck.

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i want to know what is the best replacement for 240 mgs oxycontin I was put on 300mgs of ms contin with 30mgs instant release. I thought morphine was supposed to be stronger. What is better for chronic pain this ms contin morphine, or just dilaadid I suffered for two months on the new oxy reformulation. My Dr. says I was his only complaint. My side effects where so bad that I was going into withdrawls just to keep from taking the old meds the oxy's they made me so sick. I need relief and after all the moaning that I had been getting from the Dr. about the oxy's He gave me a harder time switching. None of the kadian or those catergories ever woked for me. I been cpp for 16 years. And I was forced off lortabs which origanally woked fine onto oxycontin at the time the big ama thing. I know everybody is different but I also know that anybody that has suffered in chronic pain for a long time has been tried on alot of different thing. It is almost like nothing I can take matches the relief that I got from the oxycontin. I don't know what to do. Any replies would help.

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Oxycodone is stronger than Morphine/MS Contin, and the strongest option available would be Fentanyl.

They are both opiates, so the FDA does warn that they also carry the risk of being habit forming, and may cause side effects, such as dizziness, headache, dry mouth, constipation, and nausea.

Lotapian15, Kadian is just another name brand for Morphine, so it would have about the same effect on you as the MS Contin.

If the new Oxycontin formulation doesn't work for you, you could ask your doctor about trying the regular release formulation of Oxycodone, that might work better.

Does anyone else have any advice, or ideas to offer?

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Hello. Sorry to hear that you’re struggling. I too have had several failed back surgeries and have had to depend on pain meds for years as well. What works best for me is the Fentanyl patch. I’m currently on 25mcg every 72 hours with Oxycodone 10/350 for breakthrough pain. I’ve been on much higher doses of the patch but have come down in the last year due to all the controversy with the opioid crisis. Initially my pain Dr tried switching me from the patch to Morphine pills but they did not control my pain nearly as well and I too went through similar withdrawals when I ran out of the pills.

With the Fentanyl patch and Percocet I NEVER had a problem with my pain being controlled and never ran out of meds and have not since switching back to the patch. I feel that the patch is the best delivery system for chronic pain as it keeps a steady level in your system, keeping the pain at bay. And of course the pills work wonders for the breakthrough pain. It may be worth talking to your Dr about trying it. I was very concerned about decreasing my dose from 50mcg to 25 but it was a very smooth transition. Good Luck. I hope you find what works for you

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