Suggest Other Medicines That Are Not As Addictive As Morphine

Posted on Sun, 10 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 Answered on

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 53 year old female on disability for the last 8 years for Multiple Sclerosis (Relapsing/Remitting), Fibromyalgia, Sarcoidosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome...and the list goes on. I had a left hip replacement at 40 years old due to a fall which led to necrosis at the top of the femur. It took 5 years for it to get to the point that surgery was no longer an option. All of this started in my late 20s and I have been dealing with numerous types of pain for over 30 years. A doctor put me on morphine (90 mg day) plus 8 10/375 percoset per day. I have managed to get off the Percoset by myself before I started in pain management. Once I started pain management I am hounded every visit to get off the morphine and treated like a junkie. I know my body is addicted to the drug. I have tried numerous times to try to stop taking the morphine but the pain is just too intense. Now the pain mgt. doctor has threatened me to discharge me as a patient if I don't go to a pain psychologist. Can you suggest any options to help me get off the morphine? and also how to handle this doctor. I don't want to be disrespectful but he has done nothing except write a prescription, fuss at me and then I leave. I have begged him...literally with tears in my eyes on more that one occasion to help me; to tell me how to beat this drug, or suggest other meds not as addictive as the morphine but he never answers. Can you make any suggestions to help me beat this drug and also how to handle this doctor?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Intrathecal pump may be a solution.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Morphine withdrawal should be done in specialized centers for this purpose.

Before to start stopping the morphine it is necessary to find a solution for the generalized pain.

I think in your case invasive procedures such as an intrathecal pump to deliver into your spinal cord small amounts of drugs (baclofen, ziconotide or even smaller doses of morphine) may be a good solution and the risk of addiction is minimal.

About the Doctor, I think you should have a second or even a third opinion for your pain management from other pain specialists.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj