Pain medication Withdrawal

[grasshair]

Hi folks, I have a question for those who have replaced opiates for cannabis. Currently I am on a very high does of Oxycontin and have heard that you can pretty much half your does due to the cannabis making the pain killers more effective. My question is has anyone been successful with this process and does certain strains make it easier. I really want to get off this medication in the long term as it is horrible. The other question is has anyone been able to get their doctor look at sativex as an alternative as a bridge and if so have you had any success with it? 

[louise]

As far as Nabiximols (sativex) goes... the pharmaceutical benefits advisory committee rejected the submission for it to be listed on the PBS last July. The only condition approved by the TGA is the symptomatic relief of moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.

In terms of costs, in the UK people are paying the equivalent of $230 per unit (each unit contains 90 doses) and it wont be any cheaper here unless it is wins approval to be listed on the pbs.

 

As far a cannabis goes... you'd have to try it and see whether you need less opiate based medication. It's easy enough for someone to go online and say blah blah blah I gave up oxy and just use cannabis... but, as a chronic pain sufferer and a cannabis user, I think most of the time, the people saying that are either full of shit or didn't really need such high strength pain relief in the first place.

 

Obviously, I don't get that much pain relief from cannabis.. but it does help me feel a bit better about being in pain and allows me to get on with living.

[Floki]

my dad was on 120mil liquid morphine a day before he passed from lung cancer. when he couldn't get pot he would drink heavily while on the morphine until he would pass out the pain would be that great. 

when he smoked he could reduce the amount of morphine he would have during the day and be more active or would sleep longer during the night. but this depended greatly on the strain he was getting. he gave me a quarter oz once as it did nothing for his pain. was great smoke for me but did nothing for him. 

I think you will find certain strains will be more effective at relieving pain. as for how much you can reduce your oxy that will be a personal thing.

good luck

[grasshair]

wow I was not aware it was so high in cost especially considering how cheap it is to grow and manufacture . I showed my doctor 2 months ago and she did not even look at it which disappointed me. I am sorry to hear that cannabis isn't working for your pain as well as it could, but does it not depend on the type of pain you are in and type of strain you use? I am curious if it is true that it makes the opiates more effective because even a reduction would be fantastic. I am on a very high dose so am interested in what success people have had or haven't had and some strategies which worked for them.

[Lenore]

Obviously, I don't get that much pain relief from cannabis.. but it does help me feel a bit better about being in pain and allows me to get on with living.

 

I feel the same way. It doesn't give relief in the same sense as opiates, it just make me feel better about it which make it easier to deal with.

[grasshair]

wow that's interesting thank you Lenore. it has been 21 yrs since I smoked so it is a vague memory for me. Good times though. Still most of the daily battle is mental.

[grasshair]

Cheers Floki, I am very sorry for your loss that gives me a great deal of hope though and I appreciate your story and hope your father did not suffer. I have been on around 240mg of Oxycontin for 2yrs and I have reduced down to 150mg to reduce side effects even though the pain goes up so it gives me comfort to know it works for pain or even the ability to handle it as it can be draining at times. By the way just seen first episode of viking season 2 awesome show.

[pegz]

They prescribe that shit to everyone these days, eh.

[grasshair]

Oxycontin? yeah but I was also taking different opiates like Fentanyl, MS-Contin and started on Tramadol (which was horrible stuff). Oxycontin was the most effect for pain but also burns off quicker in the body and has the most side effects for myself at least. I would love to be done with all of them period.

[merl1n]

Hey Grasshair,
I too am on high dose opiates and like you have been put on allsorts of variations for pain management. Morphine (this is dangerous for me, I lose it), Endone (Oxy), Fentanyl patches, Tramadol and Panadiene Forte. Now I call it 'management' rather than control, as control means its regulated and my pain is far from regulated. Management takes some skills, to know and understand your pain is key, then using your resources for the best outcome for you.

This may sound awful but I'm glad you found the Tramadol bad, coz I'm having some horrible effects from the bloody things, so knowing I'm not the only one helps heaps
I 'try' to keep my intake of these to a minimum, so that when I need them they work. I've been told I need to take regularly to maintain a level of the drug in my system, I (again) 'try' to stay down to low dose Panadiene Forte but often the panadiene don't work or the pain multiplies in intensity and I need something stronger. I also find that if I use one drug continuously, it loses its effectiveness and I have break thru pain, so I vary it a bit. The endone work and work well but knock me bigtime and the after effect is awful.Along with the pharma drugs, I smoke. I have been substituting the chemical pharmas for the herb depending on need. It hugely improves my appetite. Ive got a nice collection of different smokes and differing hashes as well. This allows me to vary my intake in a similar way to the pharmas to obtain the benefits for me. Some people may say canna is'....the wonder drug....' It hasn't been so much a wonder drug for me, but it allows me to function more
For me Canna is not a pain reliever. Canna allows me to relax, it allows my mind to relax. I've been told constantly thinking of pain seems to encourage the pain. Its the centre of my thoughts and there is no 'control' of it. Canna allows me to 'switch off' to the pain, not completely I must admit, but to have the momentary freedom, to concentrate on something else other than that constant My friend pain. Canna allows this 'peace'
 
So Canna is a major part of my pain management regime, it isn't (for me anyway) 'the wonder drug', but it plays a key role.

Merl1n
 

Edited March 29, 2014 by merl1n

[grasshair]

Thanks for your story Merl1n I can relate totally to your situation. I personally do not expect miracles when the day comes, but my long term goal is to have as many options in my toolbox as possible and to only use what is required. Relaxation is a big part of pain management and anything which helps in that department is great news. I try many things to relax and after 12 yrs have become pretty good at it. I Used to smoke some 20yrs ago and it never occurred to me until I saw on SBS about 8 months ago about Cannabis being used to help chronic pain suffers It is amazing it took me so long to connect the dots. I have a young family so it has been a big decision to go down this road and it gives me hope and courage to know I am not the only one who has made this decision. As for withdrawal I am hoping that a huge reduction in my dose can be achieved at most as I am actually allergic to pain meds ironically. Cheers again Merl1n I find it interesting the contrast between what everyone has said in this thread and what I have seen on you tube.