My Mother Is on Buprenorphine

[juice_soldier]

Yes, Yes, I'm well aware that by the title you assumed shes a recovering H addict.

But no, this was prescribed for immense pain associated with her back. And it comes in patches.

I believe they are 10mcg released every hour.

From what I read on wikipedia there isn't alot of information, except that it's being trialled on cancer patients and those with severe pain, suffice to say - It's not working to well for her.

Now she had been on Tramadol for about a month - and i would have almost thought they'd put her on Oxy or Morphine Sulfate?

Thoughts?

(this topic is not in the thoughts of me abusing her drugs by the way)

 

[phase_dancer]

Now she had been on Tramadol for about a month - and i would have almost thought they'd put her on Oxy or Morphine Sulfate?

Morphine and similar opioids are normally not prescribed first off for chronic, non-malignant pain, as once their effectiveness is reduced there's nothing better to offer the patient (well, if it were legal, heroin would be better in many cases, but that's another story...).

From MIMs

Use in chronic nonmalignant pain. The use of MS Contin for the treatment of chronic pain which is not due to malignancy should be restricted to situations where: all other conservative methods of analgesia have been tried and have failed; the pain is having a significant impact on the patient's quality of life; and there is no psychological contraindication, drug seeking behaviour or history of drug misuse.

Doctors will usually also take age into account when prescribing analgesics. I have a friend with chronic back pain who is often in so much pain he can't leave the house. Still, as his condition is considered inoperatable, doctors are not prepared to prescribe him opioids - yet - as he's only in his mid thirties. He struggles with ineffective Tramadol, which does nothing to relieve the pain and muscle relaxants which do nothing to relieve the spasms that make him almost bend in half sideways

 

[Teddles]

Its generally up to the treating Dr what they Use for back pain because back is such an individual thing. One person could be moaning and unable to get out off bed because off the pain but if someone else had the exact pain they might just strech out and carry on with the days to day activities.

Bupe in patches to treat pain is a relatively new idea, i think it only popped up in the mims a few issues back. I'd say the Dr is starting with less addictive drugs first. probably panadeine forte then tramal now Bupe patches And will will re-assess to see if it is effective. Once someone is on MS contin or oxy-contin they don't tend to get off and some Dr's don't like prescribing it.

Has your mum had a injury? ie bulging disk or surgery on her back?

There are pain clinics out there that do nerve conduction tests they can now pin point in which disc the pain is coming from and can be more effective than a MRI or CT scan.

 

[juice_soldier]

She's got a big op coming up soon. shes had all the MRI scans and shit...

shit i cant remember the name of it. But it's some spinal thing they have to remove a disc or something like that. endoscopy something or-rather.. cant remember...

Use in chronic nonmalignant pain. The use of MS Contin for the treatment of chronic pain which is not due to malignancy should be restricted to situations where: all other conservative methods of analgesia have been tried and have failed; the pain is having a significant impact on the patient's quality of life; and there is no psychological contraindication, drug seeking behaviour or history of drug misuse.

Mum's been a chronic drug abuser my whole life, smokes lots of pot every day - was on valium and temazepam as much as possible, so she likes her benzos - but never liked opiates much... I myself have a weak tolerance to opiates, even opiates like codeine give me ill effects at doses above 150mg, mum gets nausea from 60mg. (i used to get it but have got my tolerance up).

She had tried H when she was younger but the side effects put her off it. So i guess the doctors prescriptions are alot to do with that..

What i would like is to see mum with a pack of fentanyl lollipops .. now one of those i would pinch

 

[Teddles]

Hopefully after her back she'll have nil pain at all. ( athough backs are never the same after surgery)

 

[rm2x]

I wish her the best of luck with the surgery.

She could try poppy seed tea maybe?

And don't steal her medication, it's a low act

 

[juice_soldier]

^lol im not gunna steal bupe patches...