Oramorph help please

[Tilllly]

Anyone have experience of oramorph?

I've had my first dose, 2.5ml

Feel queasy and vaguely lightheaded

Is that something that passes as you get used to taking it?

Yes, the lightheadedness is something that stops happening. As is the queasiness.

Unfortunately the constipation does not wear off so make sure you have some laxatives to hand.

@Tilllly if you feel sort of sleepy and warm with the nausea then it’s the opiate doing it’s thing. When you stop feeling that sensation though, it means your body is used the medicine. I don’t wanna be insensitive so I won’t assume your circumstances but if you’re not on palliative care, I’d be very wary of overusing this stuff, it’s extremely difficult to come off. But to answer your original question, that sensation is completely normal and to be expected. If it’s relieving you of severe pain then it’s worth it. Ginger might take the edge off the sicky feeling.

Be very careful re constipation.

Yes the feeling passes, or you can try a half dose as that sometimes gives effective pain relief without the other side effects.

Thank you

They said this dose is not addictive?

It's for stage 3 lung cancer so for pain but also to ease coughing and breathlessness

I'm not planning to take it all the time, just when I'm really uncomfortable and the cough is driving me mad

Some people get much worse nausea than others.

You can get anti nausea pills that mostly take it away.

If the nausea gets really bad ask for them.

It's not addictive the way you are using it.

I need anti sickness tablets and antihistamines with oramorph as it makes me itch and throw up.

Sorry to hear you are unwell, oramorph can really help, are you taking any other medication and have the oramorph as an extra when you need it.

2.5ml is a low dose (5ml is the standard dose iirc) and is fine for you to take if it agrees with you (ie I really wouldn’t be worrying about any dependency issues!).

If you’re not used to opiates then the sick, lightheaded feeling might well wear off as you adjust to it. Ginger tea might help. Golden linseed (only with plenty of water) is a gentle bulk laxative, and if the oramorph does give you constipation then they can give you things for that.

I’ve taken codeine for years with few side effects, so am very used to opiates, but morphine still doesn’t really agree with me - it makes me itch all over and get quite shaky, as well as constipation (which I don’t have an issue with on codeine. My point is that if the oramorph doesn’t agree with you after giving it a couple of weeks to let the side effects abate, do go back to them and they can try you on a different opiate that’ll still have an anti-tussive effect for your cough.

All the best to you, @Tilllly .

Codeine also has an anti-tussive effect, btw - and that might suit you better.

I'm sorry you're unwell. Just to be aware that once you've opened the bottle oramorph loses its effect after it has been open for about 3 months, I thought I would mention if you're only taking it occasionally.

@Tilllly sorry to hear you’re going through that. It’s really shit. I wish you all the best. Morphine is the gold standard of cough suppressant and taken at night will let you sleep and therefore keep you sane. That’s a pretty low dose atm so you shouldn’t worry about using it, it’s very easy to slip into slightly upping the dose constantly which is what you’ve got to watch. I was on a similar drug for years following a back injury, the constipation for me was best managed by bingeing on watermelon. It was a nice way to sort my guts out and my skin looked bloody amazing too. Can you get that where you are?

@Sethos 5ml is not a standard starting dose for someone who is new to opioids. We might actually start a lot lower that 2.5ml.

Also Oramorph is a very effective treatment for cough. Codeine would not be recommended in the OP's circumstances.

And yes @MissSmiley the instructions do say to discard an open bottle after 3 months but in real life practice, I have got a lot of people to dig out old bottles from a cupboard and they are fine.

I'd been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, and a cough suppressant the pharmacist said I could only use for 3 days

Just isn't working as well now. The cough is horrible, totally unproductive and exhausting. I've got all sorts of little pains in my side and back from little pulled muscles

Thanks @Sethos
Anti-tussive?

I take flaxseed capsules, is that the same as linseed?

I know laxatives aren't a big deal but I'd like to avoid taking meds to deal with the side effect of meds.

I can @Rottenpizzas

I will channel my inner Dirty Dancing and get a watermelon 😁

I've had a second dose and am hoping 2 doses of 2.5ml a day will be enough

Will speak to the pharmacist and see if I can top up with paracetamol or ibuprofen

Presumably a stiff gin isn't the answer 🤣🤣🤣

Sorry @Tilllly - antitussive means it helps with your cough.

Yes linseed is the same as flaxseed - it’s a gentle bulk laxative (gentle form of fibre, basically, that helps to keep things moving). It’s really important that you drink plenty of water with it, though, to keep everything softened.

I didn’t say 5ml was the ‘standard starting dose for someone new to opiods’, @AnnaMagnani. I said 2.5ml is a low dose and the OP shouldn’t be worrying about dependency issues at that dose.

I didn’t suggest that Oramorph isn’t an effective antitussive, either - I just commented that if Oramorph doesn’t agree with the OP and the side effects are unpleasant after she’s accustomed to it a bit, then there are alternatives.

Codeine is converted into morphine in the body, as I’m sure you know. I made a suggestion that she could discuss with her care providers - not sure why you’re picking my post apart?

I reckon a stiff gin can help with most things, @Tilllly !

If only I could be bothered to get out of bed and get one!

All opiates are addictive, but pain relief is essential for you, and I wouldn't worry about that side of things in your situation. You will become more tolerant of those feelings with time (and may indeed need higher doses for pain relief). Make sure you're taking regular laxatives and keep up your fluid intake.

I have taken oromorph. I find the best laxative to take with it is Laxido, which you can get on prescription. If you continue to feel nauseous on it ask for an anti emetic. Like all painkillers, it is better take it regularly to keep on top of the pain rather than waiting until the pain breaks through but your pharmacist can advise best on that. I find it is the only painkiller that works well for me and I hope it will help with your pain and symptoms.