Suggest Ways To Safely Wean Off MS Contin

Posted on Mon, 26 Sep 2016

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

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 Answered on

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have taken MS Contin 30 for 6 months for severe back problems, stenosis, arachnoiditis, spinal fusion L4,L5'and Si. Also a radio frequency facet rhzitomony. I have recently. Moved from FL to IA
I do not have a doctor yet and would like to know how to taper and d/c this medication safely

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Best done under guidance of a doctor who can monitor

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

MS Contin (morphine) is an opioid pain medication and needs to be tapered off. Going through the following guidelines should help:
http://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/Pain/cot/OpioidTaperingFactSheet23May2013v1.pdf
https://www.nhms.org/sites/default/files/Pdfs/Safely_Tapering_Opioids.pdf

The initial strategy for tapering would be to increase the duration between doses from say 12 hours to 14, 16, 18, 20 hours and then 24 apart. Another alternative would be to try reducing the dose by 20% daily. However, this is best done under the guidance and follow up of a doctor.

In case you feel that you are getting withdrawal symptoms during the tapering, it would be a good idea to visit a doctor without delay.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng