50mg IR Morphine sulphate tablets are available on Rx just about EVERYWHERE. It would seem to me that, as in so many pharmaceutical issues (diamorphine and dipipanone Sch I, "no medical use" - two of the most essential contents of any doctor's bag!) it is the USA which, as usual, is out of step with the rest of the world!
SEVREDOL tablets, by Napp and Mundipharma, the companies which are allied with the US Purdue, are made and sold in just about every European country in 10, 20 & 50mg strengths. The 50mg is roughly equianalgesic with the Purdue/Napp/Mundipharma brandname IR OXYNORM 20mg capsules. They have a far lower bioavailability, around 46% as opposed to Oxynorm 89%.
Sevredol 50mg are widely prescribed, more so than Heroin Hydrochloride which is available for oral administration only in 10mg strength, less effective than 20mg Oxynorm. More usually it is in the form of vials of powder for reconstitution with Water for Injection ampoules, in 5, 10, 30, 60 & 100mg dosage.
But back to 50mg morphine, which as noted is widely prescribed and a far better option for pain control than MST/MS Contin. I do not understand why it is not available in the US, in the same way I can not fathom why only the US has to date given a Product Licence for oxymorphone. Or why they are responsible for the biggest analgesic con tricks of all time: the totally unnecessary Percocet, apap doing absolutely nothing to enhance small doses of oxycodone, and the use of the antitussive hydrocodone (dihydrocodeineone) which, granted, DOES turn into a very mild and outrageously priced weak opioid analgesic with the synergistic addition of 65-75mg paracetamol to each 15mg. The ridiculously large 325mg upwards which appears to be the normal formulation is completely over the top and puts people's livers in danger should they require a dosage commensurate with a higher level of pain when they have no access to any analgesic suitable for anything but extremely mild pain.
Next time our American readers travel outwith their borders, I suggest that if they are morphine users, bring back 360 x 50mg Sevredol, being legal, I think, to import a 90 day personal supply of a medicine prescribed abroad. Warning: morphine salts are notorious for causing nausea, so as well as Sevredol it is prudent to buy Valoid 50mg cyclizine tablets. Cyclizine is included in the injection Cyclimorph and also in Diconal tablets (10/30mg) to prevent undue nausea/sickness.
I can't understand a healthcare system which can not provide such essential and much prescribed drugs and in such common dosage!!!