I coordinated with my Pain Med Dr. to get off Avinza (morphine) today. He prescribed Librium and Hytrin. I need to get off it due to other medical problems that have become life threatening.

Any experience out there? (watching CSI Miami does not count

I know my reactions to withdrawals because I forgot to take my Avinza 3 times. Like the flu. A really, really bad case. I hit WD at about 30 - 34 hours.

I took Librium in 1970, but don't remember any problems. Hytrin? Dunno.

Dr. said to take my last Avinza capsule at 8am Monday, then take the Librium and Hytrin 24 hours later and 8 hours thereafter.

I read that withdrawal symptoms only last a few days to a week. After reading about Librium I was thinking I might prefer to just get it over with. Take Valium or something.

Suggestions appreciated....thanks... (Oh, I haven't set a date to do it yet, no hurry, once I am ready, I planned on taking my last pill Sunday morning, then I have 5 working days to be sick or get different meds or talk to the doctor again, etc.)

I think a couple RSDers had to come off meds for various reasons , I recall they told of severe flu type feelings. For 2 weeks maybe?? not sure on that part.
You can make a post on the RSD forum and ask for more info-
here- http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

Might be best to stick with the plan that the pain dr suggested.

Jo55 - thank you.

I have no choice right now, I will certainly try the doctor's plan. I am really blessed that I do not seem to have an addiction to the Avinza. I was at 180mg a day at one time, then dropped to 90 overnight, then took a few months to get to 60, then a few months to get to 30mg and so on. My wife is worried about seizures, but I really don't like this stuff. I used it strictly to fight pain. I have not had any problems so far, but the last 30mg are scary. I remember the withdrawal feelings (as I sit here) and do not look forward to it.

I sleep on a Ventilator, with oxygen, so ........ I hope the meds help.

I was not sure I posted this in the right forum, thank you for the suggestion. I will search over there, then I might post my questions again. Or, if you want, you are welcome to move this thread over there. Your choice ... and thanks again....

I copied your first post over to the RSD forum - so you might get replies here and on that one too.
your copied post on RSD forum -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=50091

Jo55,
Thanks again. I searched for people getting off morphine and read through several threads, will try again later.

While I plan on following the doctor's plan, I ALWAYS like to have a Plan B. My complicated
medical problems have a way of biting me in the most inconvenient moments.

An example is Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). My GERD can trigger VCD and I pass out (as I have done a few times before) --- CCHS kicks in and I may not recover. Complicated. I can't predict it, all I can do is try to be prepared. Thanks again.......

No morphine since last Saturday. Detox is as hard as advertised. I have only slept a few hours.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is my main problem right now. NOTHING WORKED. NOTHING.

This morning, about 4am I took Oxycodone. I did not want to take it, but I was at my wits end. I had punched my legs with my fists, trying to get some form of relief, even though my conscious mind (somewhere) knew better. I walked fast, I jumped up and down...then when I sat down, the pain returned. 15mg of Oxycodone and all the pain left me.

I whipped morphine. But I never anticipated RLS to such a severe degree. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING else helped. A total of 2400mg of Neurontin was like candy. Requip x 2 of the 1mg pills was nothing. Valium was nothing...15mg of it. I knew....for hours....that oxycodone would stop it in its tracks. I held out. But little sleep in 2+ days won out. I slept several hours and am still woozy at 5:25pm on Wednesday. I think it was the other drugs, combined with the Oxycodone. I will take oxycodone tonight, hoping for my first real nights sleep.

I don't know how long my RLS will last, but I have access to another prescription of oxycodone.

Am I REALLY getting off opiates if I have to have Oxycodone daily (15mg) so I can sleep?

Suboxone!!!!!! There are a hand full of Doctors that can help with that. Try and find one. I live in the chicago area and what happends is they have you drop your meds and once you have so many symptom they give you sumboxone. It is what I would call a miracle. Ther is no withdrawal from it. How long were you on the meds before? My question is what are they going to do for you after you are offf all of these Its been a month for me and have to say the pain levels are not good. Its been really hard. Is there something else they are going to do to help with the pain. Were in the same boat so may be we can help each other? Lori T.

HOW CAN I DETOX FROM OPIATES IF I AM ON OPIATES??????????????????????????????

You stay on Suboxone ( a PARTIAL agonist narcotic) for a month or so, then ween of Suboxone, which has little to no side-effects.

Suboxone .... ok, but will Suboxone control my coughing (Chronic Bronchitis) and RLS?

I am certainly willing to try it, but without some strong controls, my RLS seems to really be worse than before.

I cannot take cough syrups, even OTC types. Since drinking the drano at 3 years old, I have no tolerance for "hot" liquids. Even what my wife considers warm hot chocolate "burns" my throat and I throw it back up most of the time. I drink Iced Tea all year long. No coffee, etc.

The Air Force gave me "G.I. Gin" for my cough. One time. It came back up and they had trouble at the ER stopping my vomiting. I don't know why. Doctors don't think it is important enough to find out. Sort of like the old story...."Every time I put my hand in the flames it hurts. Dr. tells the patient to quit putting his hand in the fire." Codeine used to stop my coughing. Then it took Hydrocodone/Homatropine. Now... stronger drugs. I don't know if I am just getting older or if my system is weakening or all of the above.

If I cough too much, the mucus/sputum (whatever you want to call it) will break loose, as it is supposed to do when you cough, and I start gagging for air. CCHS, VCD, Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Allergies, etc. can kill me, so I have to be careful to control my coughing.

I'm not sure what effect Suboxone would have on your cough. It has some pain killing characteristics--but in my experience, it doesn do much for acute sorts of pain. Same goes for RLS--not sure. I know only one thing: if you want to get off opiates--this is a miracle drug that will help you do it--no--I take that back--it will do it for you. That is its main purpose.