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Changing PainMedication

lara1953 profile image
5 Replies

Hi everyone

I am currently taking 30mg Zomorph twice a day which appears to have lost effect as my pain has increased (I have 3 old fractures of the spine, osteoporosis of the spine and hips, osteoarthritis in 3 vertebrae, a slight bulging disc and rheumatoid arthritis). My GP has suggested swapping over to Buprenorphine 7 day patches. I am a bit scared of trying something new in case it doesn't work and I'm in even more pain. Has anyone used this medication and did it work? I have seen some user reviews that say they don't last the seven days. If they do work and only last 5 days, do I change the patch every 5 days or keep it on for 7 days and have 2 days of pain?

I look forward to your comments

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lara1953
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Savbing profile image
Savbing

I am in no way a medical expert. In the U.K. my friends husband was referred to a pain specialist service. They prescribed an antidepressant at night and added some anticonvulsant meds so that he did not rely on opioids or meds that have the tendency of addiction, or just getting used to them.

judej profile image
judej in reply to Savbing

just saying antidepressants are addictive and if anyone wants to get off them best to seek help

I use Fentanyl Patches with Oramorph for breakhrough pain. I have 4 spinal fractures, osteoarthritis of the hip and RA. My patches are 12mcg and 25mcg. They take the edge off my pain, although the fractures should be well healed now and I still get pain even though Osteoporosis itself isn't supposed to cause pain only when fractures occur, so I don't know if I've got fresh fractures. Anyway, I don't always get relief from the patches or Oramorph. Paracetamol is just as good and Fenbid gel helps to, but the patches are reassuring just to know they're in place.

Sunseaandsand profile image
Sunseaandsand

Hi Lara,

I have just got on to your post through the bone health community.

I was on Buprenorphine patches in 2017.

I had a previous fracture, then had another in May 2017 followed by another June 2017. This was why they gave me the patches.

I have Osteoarthritis in the spine, a good number of bulging discs, one of which is pressing on a nerve.cervical radioculpathy,

The patches worked well at controlling the pain but of being low body weight I am limited to how high a dose I can take.

I did not find at any time they did not last the 7 days.You can start low and work up to what manages your pain.

You rotate the patches each time you change them.

I used them on top of arms, chest and back and sides.You get good information in the leaflet provided.

I did find if out in strong sunlight and the patch is open to it then it speeds the dose up, it does say not to expose yourself or take hot baths.

I have not heard of Zomorph, is it not possible to increase the dose, or is that the maximum dose you can have?

I now have 4 fractures and currently trying to lower my dose of oxycodone but although I've lowered the dose I'm suffering terrible pain.

I had reached the maximum my body could tolerate and after being told I will have more fractures (all without trauma) I asked to come down so I have somewhere to go if and when I fracture.

This is stressful as I just cannot manage my pain now.

Going to discuss with Doctor end of week.

Hope this is of a help to you.

Posy-White profile image
Posy-White

Hello Lara 1953

I am on Buprenorphine patches started on Butec 5 micrograms/hour transdermal patches – The patch changed is weekly the pain is higher on the 7th day, before the new patch, so was moved to 10 micrograms/hour. I cannot absorb oral meds, these patches have been a life saver as far as I'm conserned.

I'm now seeing someone at the Pain Clinic to look at long term management.

I was worried about taking them at first as I had had a bad reaction to morphine, but was told that Buprenorphine was likely to be okay, which it was. My pain level out of 10 (passing out point) was 8-9 before medication and 6-7 on the Butec 5 micrograms/hour and 4-5 on the Butec 10 micrograms/hour.

To get pain refief means you can think, respond and join in life!

Good luck I hope you find something which suits you soon.

Posy White

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