Morphine v. Oxycontin

[Guest guest]

MS Contin and Oxycontin are both opiates, but oxycontin was designed

especially for slow release. MS contin is slow release morphine. It has been

recently reported that oxycontin is more addictive than slow release morphine.

So

some Doctors are returining to slow release morphine. The least addictive drug

in the opiate group - which means is derived from opium - is codeine. So

there are addiction problems with all three. It is just a question of degree.

Oxycontin is thought to be the most addictive (although I haven't seen any

studies on this), Morphine Sulphate Contin is supposedly less addictive and

Codeine

contin, or slow release codeine, is thought to be the least addictive of the

three. There is also synthetic morphine which was developed to help people

come off heroin addiction. I forget its name now, but some people on this

group take it (Methadone?). It is not an opiate but controls pain as well as an

opiate and this particular drug can not be used to get high (abuse). Before

taking any pain killer, one should read up on three different issues -

Dependence and Addiction and Abuse. I highly recommend seeing a professional

counselor

or psychologist either at a pain clinic or in private practice when you start

to take pain killers. Once a month at least, but even once every three

months is helpful, just as long as you have a professional who is familiar with

these issues to keep watch over you is helpful. Matt

[Guest guest]

At 03:58 AM 12/20/03, you wrote:

>Has anyone personally seen the difference between Morphine (MS-

>Cotton) and Oxycontin?

I was on MS-Contin until the beginning of 2000 and have been on Oxycontin

since then. I didn't notice a difference when the switch was made.

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I made (or I should say) my doctors made the switch from morphine, brand

name Oramorph, to Oxycontin, and felt no difference. I am now taking Methadone

(costs less) and the only difference is that the Methadone makes my mouth and

skin drier.I hope this helps. Harv ReA/24 years, I'm 48

[Guest guest]

I spent 18 months on Oxycontin and then switched to timed-release morphine for

another 18 months. I didn't notice much a difference at the switch, but the

pain clinic doctor calculated the amounts to be comparable to each other, so I

am certain that helped. It took me 3 days to taper from the Oxycontin. The

reason for my switch is because I had begun to have break-through pain

accompanied by horrific headaches, nausea and vomiting. I did not have those

issues with the morphine. Three weeks ago, I switched to Fentanyl (Duragesic)

patches due to the gastric problems I have been having. It is absorbed directly

into the skin (transdermally) and not through the colon. We are hoping I will

get better pain control with less medication. I'm supposed to go back to the

pain clinic in a couple of days and I anticipate an adjustment in the dose, as

this has not been as seamless a transition as before. I have noticed a problem

with getting the patches to stick to my skin for the three days that I am to

wear each of them. (I am very sensitive to adhesives, so even hypo-allergenic

tape has not helped much.) Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Happy Birthday to Walter, Holiday Blessings to everyone and best wishes for a

happy and healthy New Year for us all!

Best regards,

(NC)