Buprenorphine tablet's and Oramorph.

[Danni54]

Hi all. Does anybody know whether it's safe for me to take 2 ml Oramorph at 1.30 p.m. ? I am trying to take ½ Buprenorphine at 3 p.m. when my RLS starts, then ½ at 9 p.m. , then ½ at 3 a.m. when I always wake up ! A whole tablet knocks me out but I'm finding the 3 half tablets spread out are O.K. ish now ! The main problem now is that my vertebral fracture's are SO painful by 11 a.m. that I can hardly move so will the RLS get worse if I take Oramorph and then 2 hour's later take the ½ Buprenorphine? I hope this isn't too garbled! My Dr. said it would be alright but he doesn't know about RLS except what I have told him !Sorry to be a pest but I thought that I would ask ! Jools or Sue or somebody....advice needed...again ! Still navigating medication but to let you know Jools that today seems a bit better re the tablet's!

Hope you are all coping. Thinking of you all .

Love xx

[Joolsg]

royalpapworth.nhs.uk/applic...

You should definitely check with your GP, so they know you are taking oramorph for breakthrough pain, but, in the meantime, this article by Royal Papworth says taking oramorph is fine.

I do hope the fractures heal and that the pain reduces.

[Danni54 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you Jools . I try not to take any but unfortunately the fracture's have splinters of bone which are digging into nerves. I told my Dr. about 4 year's ago that I had a big painful lump at the base of my spine but he ignored it so, a year later I told him I needed an Xray because the pain was excruciating and I demanded a DEXA Scan and it showed the fracture's , splinters and Osteoporosis in the spine, pelvis and elsewhere! If my Dr. had listened to me earlier they would have been able to operate but it was too late....as usual! I have to try to cope with the pain which I do and the Bup patches helped with that until they wore off but I can't use them...of course! My Dr. is happy for me to take 2.5 ml Oramorph when I'm desperate and he knows I wouldn't overdo it but I just worried that it might affect my leg's. Have you had battles with your medic's ? You have so much to cope with as my friend does. She is waiting for a hip replacement, poor girl. You fight for all of us which I so appreciate. Did I tell you that all of the Neurologist's at our hospital prescribe Ropinirole above everything! I haven't given up yet though and like everybody here , I'm a fighter! Take care and big hugs. xx

[Joolsg in reply to Danni54]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Osteoporosis and spinal fractures are dreadful. My 94 yr old mum has the spinal fractures and has to take oramorph daily.One day, neurologists will apologise to all the people they have treated with dopamine agonists.

In the meantime, I don't trust any of them.

[Danni54 in reply to Joolsg]

Hi again. Thank you Jools. The Dr. did say that it would be alright to top up occasionally but I don't trust any medic and was worried it would affect my leg's. I doubt that we will ever get an apology from Neurologist's! I complained about my cancer misdiagnosis to my hospital and about them ignoring my allergic reaction to antibiotics and had a ludicrous reply but no apology! They never apologise for anything being terrified of being sued so they get away with everything! I'm still wiped out and bombed with the tablet's though I'm trying to stick to ½ 3 times a day because I do get daytime RLS . My spine pain gets so bad I have to lie down in the afternoon and my leg's start. I , also , have Diverticulitis, a 10 cm hernia, adhesions and nerve damage in my stomach from 3 major ops on my tummy and a few minor for Endometriosis so.just a wreck really! Have done so much pre cancer misdiagnosis though and just fought through the pain but I'm really worn out now....still stubborn though!

Sorry...I'm moaning and I do hate doing that! Take care please and thanks again. Hugs xx

[Joolsg in reply to Danni54]

Moan away. It's cathartic. But I understand your lack of trust/faith in the medical profession. Constant pain wears you down.Definitely consider medical cannabis. You can take small doses throughout the day, so you don't get the 'high'.

It really does work wonders for pain. It's the only thing that has ever helped my MS nerve pain.

Stay strong, keep on top of the pain and maybe try Symprove for diverticulitis. ( Although my mum refuses to try it for her back fractures and diverticulitis!)

[Danni54 in reply to Joolsg]

Your Mum and I would get on well I think. Please tell her I sympathise and I know what it's like to be stubborn! I tried a Gummie which my husband asked me to try but that did nothing but I will , definitely, try medical cannabis. I would rather do that than Oramorph which makes me spaced as well. I have friend's who are taking it and it certainly seems to help their pain. I will let you know how I get on with that and you could let your Mum know! You are a good friend Jools. Sleep well and take care. xx

[LotteM]

In my personal experience, I found I could ‘top up’ the buprenorphine with other opioids. And I see Joolsg found trustworthy backup for that.

If this situation last, do consider to get switched to a buprenorphine patch. I provides a stable level of buprenorphine in your system over several days. Amounts in pills do not directly translate into amounts in patches however. Also, many people find the patches do not last the supposed 7d. But that is for when you want to consider this option seriously and want to try it. For now, I hope adding in the oramorph works.

[Danni54 in reply to LotteM]

Hi Lotte. Thank you so much for replying. Unfortunately I can't use the patches as they blistered my skin and I ended up with inflamed and slightly infected blood vessels. I had to change them every 5 days as they wore out and my leg's would breakdance again! All of this is trial and error I suppose. We all hate having to take these strong painkiller's but we have to to survive! I ended up in bed today at 1.30 with the pain from my spine so maybe I need to play around with my tablet times. I get a bit down and tired with the pain and must admit I'm exhausted still! Hopefully my body will get used to the tablet's. Thank you again. Take care.

[LotteM in reply to Danni54]

Trial and error - indeed! So that was you, I remember that story. Then I sure hope this combination works.

[Jumpey]

I'm sorry you are suffering with so much pain.I take oramorph to manage my rls successfully. Hope uou heal soon.

[Danni54]

Thank you for that. I was a bit worried about mixing Buprenorphine and Oramorph but I don't take much Oramorph anyway. Do you find it makes you tired and how much do you take...if you don't want to answer that one that's fine ! Just curious ! Trying to find the best way of helping the RLS as well as the pain.Take care. All the best.