Has anyone taken much morphine?

[popcornwizard]

I've been given oramorph for pain relief - it's doing it's job but I'm not functioning well. Probably need to take it for another week or two, 5ml four times a day. Will I get more useful as I get used to it, it's taken bloody ages to write this as I basically feel pissed (and tired) and my fingers won't function - are these side effects for the duration?

I had after an operation and I was given a bottle to take home.
I took the recommended dose and stared out of the window for 3 days in a hazy dream.
It was quite pleasant but nothing got done, even though I was on the mend and should have been capable of doing not physically demanding tasks.
Once your pain has abated stop taking it as it is very addictive.

No you don't get used to it. Its true what they say that it doesn't always stop the pain but it stops you caring about it. It always has that effect. Its not something I find you develop a tolerance of.

Yes your body does get used to it. The longer you take it the more likely you are to need higher doses to achieve the same effect (tolerance is the basis of physiological dependence).

It’s a strong drug. I had it after an operation and I did a lot of day dreaming and slobbing about. I really didn’t get on well with it

You might find the side effects get better, but response to opiates is quite variable. Would you feel confident reducing the dose slightly? Are you taking anything else alongside it?

Morphine makes me hallucinate and forget how to walk/move my legs and then my arms and neck gets all floppy. It's fantastic, I feel no pain but I go absolutely loopy which is why I'm never given it unless I'm in hospital

I had it after surgery and I thought it was the best thing ever I can see how people could get addicted to it. I felt on top of the world and like I could sleep for days, so relaxed etc. I’m not sure if you get used to it but if you can just go with the flow and rest a lot it’s good stuff.

I've had the watered down version (tramadol) which I loved and found very moorish 

I suspect morphing could be very dangerous if you have an addictive personality. Not that it would be prescribed long term, I wouldn't have thought?

Oh and in answer to your question, yes you would definitely build up a tolerance to it, but it would take time.

I've been on it for years for chronic pain (I know seriously, who would think they would do such a thing!) and it's a given from my pain clinic doctor that unless they invent something better I'll be on it forever (so I suppose addiction issues don't matter there?). Anyway, you do get used to it, I cope perfectly well with day to day life, it's the pain that stops me not my energy levels. I find with most pain killers as long as you use them to a schedule not as a response to the pain then after a little while they work really well. Don't ask too much of yourself right now, I mean they wouldn't have given you the stuff if you were in good shape anyway.

Actually, why don't you just treat this as a little holiday but try not to take the stuff any longer than you need it for the pain, that's where trouble lies.

I'm actually looking at slow release morphine as a pain relief option. For arthritis?

I would talk to your doctor about maybe lowering the dose at first

Crunchymum that’s what I take and why. It’s good but a fight and a half to get.

I found morphine hard to get on with so I can't really speak, it made me throw up everywhere

I've only felt really nauseous twice, and not for long. I need to be able to drive though, and at the minute I feel too 'spacey'. The staring out of the window in a hazy dream pretty much sums it up, and I'm having to apologise to people on the phone for sounding drunk. I'm also taking naproxen, and was taking tramadol but needed something stronger.

In fact it takes until about mid-afternoon for the painkillers to properly work, and then i'm back to square one again in the morning. Pity party for one, and this is only temporary so I'm just having a whinge where people have to live with it full time.

Opioid reactions are very varied tbh. I can function perfectly well on 50mg tramadol, including driving HGVs, but oramorph and diamorphine after my operations flattened me. No hallucinations or delusions thank God.

Yup. Taken massive doses for years for chronic pain. Slow release 100mg twice a day. Fight through sleepiness and working is difficult. I tend to conk out by 9pm but then wake about 3 and can't sleep - despite being zombie like.

Morphine doesn't agree with me. It makes me vomit copiously, and really itchy.

Discovered that after a major op when I threw up all over the theatre nurses. I'd be a rubbish junkie.

Tramadol doesn't have the same nausea inducing effect on me and works well on the pain. Everyone's different. If you're not getting on with the morphine, ask the GP for advice. Hope you're felling better soon.