Morphine patches and Laxido

Hi sue. Do you mean Fentanyl? A 12.5 mg patch is equivalent to around 20ml of oramorph so I wouldn't be stopping right off. Perhaps give your CNS a ring how to come off? I would replace it with oramorph and reduce that over a couple of weeks b ut your team are best placed to give you advice. If you just stop you'll get withdrawal symptoms and they are not pleasant.

I was on. morphine till 12 weeks...four months. So you're not far adrift of that. How is the pain?

Thanks for your quick response Dani, yes it’s Fentanyl 12 mg patches. I have tried to contact my CNS with no luck that’s why I thought I’d have more luck on this forum. I am in no pain but feel very sick with constant diarrhoea and I just want to feel normal again. I do have a bottle of oramorth as back up should I need it.

How long did it take you to eat and enjoy food again and can you eat sandwiches as I struggle to eat anything other than weetabix, custard and not much else!

Sue x

If you stop the patch straight away you may get withdrawal symptoms.  I worked with my GP to come off very slowly having come off too soon in the initial attempt - although the reduction was agreed with my GP.  You could try reducing the frequency of the laxido to one every other day to see how it goes. 

Thanks Peter, I did ask my GP to reduce the dose to 12 mg but they leave it up to me that’s why I’ve needed to ask for the forum’s help which has been brilliant from both you and Dani. 
Because of my lack of appetite and upset stomach I’m blaming everything from the patches to the feeding tube!

I feel worse that it’s taking so long to recover 

Sue

Hi Sue as others have says a phased withdrawal otherwise side effects aren’t pleasant. Try replacing one patch with oramoph then eventually after maybe 10 days only irsmirih the reduce the oramorph sm sorry your gp and cns aren’t helpful. I took around a month to come off them. clOf course above us a guideline on how I stopped co Co codomol  and oramoroh.

. Sandwiches took a good while I still most days have home made soup at lunch it suits me. I can eat any bread nuw but for first 2 years it was easier to have toasted sandwiches on cheap white sliced bread. Now I’m back to baking sourdough. 

That’s great advice thanks Hazel, I really want to see the light at the end of the tunnel as you have.

Sue x

Hi Sue

I was on morphine via a syringe driver, Oramorph and MST from May 2023 until September 2023....gradual withdrawal was the way forward...not easy ........some days I had 3 Laxidos and a Dulcolax tab.... had little guidance from the medics.....possibly contact your CNS via email for support? 

Peter

Thanks Peter I’ve actually managed to get hold of a CNS at last who will contact my doctor to reduce the amount given next time. Another problem is that I should see my consultant each month but he is so busy that my appointments have been moved to every three months so nothing gets monitored, which is why I’m so very grateful to this forum of lovely helpful people.

Sue 

Hi Sue,

Don't do what I did and just completely stop ,I paid the price! I was so fed up with painful bowel movements I stopped all meds. Then suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms. I'm on my 11th week post treatment now and still suffering with nausea and bowel problems. I just take paracetamol now and my dietician told me to do overnight feeds to help with the nausea and hopefully bring my appetite back during the day. I try to eat bits ,but I just struggle with the taste. Just seen my GP and he has prescribed me some fybogel to help bulk up my poop as there is no consistency in my stools which is having an inflammatory affect on my bum !  So sad to hear your CNS is not very good. It's usually the case, mine checked in on me this morning and got my GP appointment as I couldn't get one !!

Thanks Spider3, I feel for you as I’m week 22 post RT and still have no appetite also same as you with diarrhoea which is awful. I did manage to speak to a CNS who contacted my doctors who just phoned me to advise me to take off the patch and take 2.5 ml morphine x 4 times a day then increase to 5 ml and if I don’t get any pain just take when needed so hopefully I won’t get any withdrawal symptoms.

thanks again for your response 

Sue