Keithrand...I have stage 3 pancreatic cancer currently take MS contin what works better.I currently take MS Contin 30mg and dlaudid 4mg I'm not getting much relief from them. Anyone know what might work better that I can talk with my oncologist about. I have heard alot about oxycotin, any help is greately appreciated.
Pancreatic cancer - what works best, MSContin, dilaudid or oxycontin?
- Posted:
- 26 May 2011 by Keithrandall
- Topics:
- dilaudid, ms contin, oxycontin, pain, cancer, pancreatic cancer
Details:
Responses (5)
LaurieShay26 May 2011
Hey Keithrandall,
You may benefit from a medication for opiate tolerant patients such as Actiq. You have probably built a resistance to the morphine (MS Contin) and that is why it isn't working. There is also Opana (oxymorphone) which is a step up from Dilaudid (hydromorphone).
You can read about Actiq at: http://www.drugs.com/search.php?is_main_search=0&is_inet_search=0&searchterm=actiq
and Opana at: http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=opana
Just my thoughts,
Laurie
DzooBaby27 May 2011
Actually your dose of MS Contin is pretty low. There is no ceiling effect on morphine. You can go as high as you can before you reach intolerable side effects or respiratory depression. Of course your increments would be small enough to prevent respiratory depression. You might benefit from rotating to a new long acting med like OxyContin. Everyone is so different you can get a thousand opinions on what works better to each individual. You have to find what works for you! If the morphine worked well in the beginning and you have been on it awhile, you might benefit from an increase in dose. Are you taking your MSContin twice a day or three times a day? Some people benefit more by taking more often rather than an increased dose. You need to have an honest discussion with your oncologist and tell him/her how your pain is and how you respond to the medication. You might try keeping a pain diary for awhile.
caringsonbj27 May 2011
What I am about to tell you I hope is something that you can hold on to because having Chronic pain and taking medication such as MS Contin, Dilaudid and Oxycontin (to name a few) there is also Opana and Fentanyl patches, but I don't think anyone can tell you which is the best, or for that matter the strongest because the fact of it is each one of us are so very different so what may make pain better for me may not work for you, I think it takes having a doctor who deals with Chronic pain one who is willing to work with you in order to help you find what works the best for you, I have been having to deal with Chronic pain for more than 10 years I can tell you from what I have experienced that this is still something that I work with my doctor in order to try and recieve the best care possible,
Anonymous 27 May 2011
I agree with everything Caringsonbj just said. I will add one thing though. It may be a good idea to keep a pain journal. I was advised to do this by a pain specialist. You keep track of what your pain level is on a scale from 1-10 noting the time and your activity. Then you write down what you took for pain and how long it took to get relief from the pain. Then you rate your pain level again. Write in your journal at the very least 4 times a day. Then bring your pain journal to your next doctors app. This can give your doctor a good idea of what's working or not working. Hopefully he will then be able to find the right meds or combo of meds that work for you.
I hope this helps. Good Luck
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
Is there any medicine that is sustained release that works better for pain than MSContin?
currently taking 60mg MsContin 3x's day due to pain from surgery, radiation, and chronic cancer pain. I dont want to take fentanyl patch,but the ...
5 answers • 6 Jul 2010 • 
Anyone changed from oxicontin to mscontin?
has any body gone from oxicontin to ms contin the new oxicontin op has plastic in them thats why i want to go to ms contin and to know how it works ...
2 answers • 13 Oct 2010 •
What is the difference between oxycontin and mscontin?
3 answers • 18 Nov 2010 • 1 star
Is Dilaudid a time-release drug like Oxycontin, etc.? Thank you in advance for your help?
A good friend of mine can't afford Oxycontin, even with her insurance ( Humana ), so I'm trying to help her get something comparable to it ...
1 answer • 3 Mar 2011 •
Morphine - I have taken Opana and ms contin at the same time before, with great success, and now?
... will not give me anything but mscontin. The amt of mscontin will be 400+ will be way too much. My dose now is 270mg of ms contin, and I am ...
2 answers • 7 Nov 2011 •
I want to thank everyone for their help. I spoke with my pain specialist today. He changed my MS Contin to time released and increased it to 4 times a day. I also take Dilaudid 4 times a day. I now take the MS Contin the same time I take the Dilaudid. It seems to work best for me mixing the two together, taking them at the same time. I mentioned Oxycontin and he said he doesn't write prescriptions for it. Just finished my six months of chemo and now beginning radiation laser treatments.
I am shocked and amazed at how much weight a person can loose. I weigh 320 when I got sick a year ago, I now weigh 170.
Once again thank you for all your help and advise, I'm new to cancer and the incredible crazy pain and sickness associated with it.