Switching From Morphine Er To Immediate Release, Getting Off Morphine
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I've been on 15 mg morphine ER every 12 hours for nine months (for pain from thorcotomy/lobectomy for lung cancer). My pain mgmt dr changed it to morphine 15 mg immed release (I didn't realize til I got the rx filled a week later.) None of my other meds have changed (percocet 10-325 mg 4x day, gabapentin 600 mg 3x day, 2 mg zanaflex every night). I would love to stop taking all these drugs but still have significant pain and two young children to care for all day. I told my dr that I'd really love to stop the morphine at least and he said we would just drop it and replace it with more percocet. This alarmed me because my other drs told me it was very important never to stop taking it "cold turkey" and to do it under care of psychiatrist who could prescribe other non-addictive meds to help as my body adjusted. I just want to get off this medicine but want to do it safely and wisely. Is it safe for me to switch from morphine 15 mg ER every 12 hours to morphine 15 mg immed release every 12 hours? Thank you for any advice or insight you can give!

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Butterfly mama ,
Hi there, I wanted to let you know how I've come down on my doses. 1st let me tell you what I was taking. 1st I took 4 - 30 mg OxyContin and 3 Oxycodone 10/325....
I was switched from OxyContin to 60 mg MS Cotin ER 3 times a day or 1 every 8 hrs. And they kept me on the OxyCodone 10/325 for break through pain. I decided one day I needed to come off this medication. I started by breaking the 10/325's in half I would hold off as long as I could. I had a few sleepless nights that's for sure. My stomach also burned like fire for some reason. I am now off the 10/325's and am down to 1 - 60mg Morphine sulfate er's This past weekend I made it 24 hrs before taking so if you decide to come off. Yes taper yourself down. It can be done and you don't need a psychiatrist or Dr. To do this. It's all about will power. I was never a over taker. I just got tired of having or feeling like I had to rely on a pill to get me through the day. I have terrible back, elbow and knee aches. But, I'm taking more over the counter Meds such as something with NCaids in it. Best wishes and I would hope that this would help others. I know if I can do it. Anyone can.

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Hi, I'm Lauren replying to Butterfly mom's, I also have generic zanaflex by Dr. Reddy and yes it's OK to break the pill in half that's why they are scored.

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I also have generic zanaflex, and yes it is OK to break the pill in half, that's why it has scores on them.

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The issue of stopping cold turkey would be if you were completely stopping everything, all narcotic opiates. Since you're still on Percocet, any problems from switching to a different release from the Morphine, or dropping it altogether, especially if you replace it with more Percocet, should be minimal.

And yes, that would be the generic for Zanaflex and no, as long as a tablet isn't time released or specifically list in the warnings that it shouldn't be cut, broken or chewed, then it is safe to do so.

Are there any other questions I can help with?

You can learn more Zanaflex details here.

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Sorry I just thought of another question: I was prescribed the zanaflex in 4mg dosage to be taken 3x day. It was originally for bad muscle spasms in my back/neck around where my lung lobe was removed through my ribs, but it makes me so sleepy that I only take it at bedtime. My pain is improving (9 months since my surgery) so most nights I snap it in half (it has a score mark) and take 2 mg to help me sleep. Could there possibly be any danger to breaking this in half? My script says the mfg is "Dr. Reddy's" (what kind of name is that? lol) and I believe it's generic since it says, "Tizanidine" on the bottle.

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