Morphine Sulfate ER for Chronic Pain User Reviews

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

"Due to the opioid problem, the VA switched me to Morphine Sulfate 15 mg three times a day for chronic spinal pain. It was effective for about 5 days. After that, it seems like every pill has a different release pattern. Sometimes I get no relief at all. Why is there so much problem with the release portion, and why does somebody not fix it? This is the 21st century. If the VA wants people off Oxycodone, there needs to be a working alternative available so pain sufferers get pain relief."

• JJa...
• June 28, 2020

"I started working construction for my family's company when I was 12, just in the summer and by 18 full time. I wrecked my back by the time I was 30, had my first fusion before I was 35. Now I still suffer chronic pain, severe degenerative disc disease, and I've developed arthritis in my shoulders. My first pain doctor was horrible, at one point I was taking so much MSContin a day, I was a zombie! Once I got away from him, spent six months working my way off MSContin, I toughed it out for almost two years. When I couldn't take it anymore and was on the verge of suicide from the pain, I went and found a good pain doctor. Over two years I slowly went back on MsCon, now I take 45mg three times a day. He saved my life and gave me back some quality of life, more than I ever thought I would have. I've been at the same dose for the past ten years. I've seen both the good and the bad of this med and have no reservations about taking it, my life would suck without it!!"

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2023

"I tried using this brand of medicine (imprinted RD 70) for over a year and a half, with no pain relief at all from this brand! It was so bad that my doctor had to start prescribing a name brand (MS Contin) since CVS will not order any other generic brands, even though this one is ineffective. I was told by a CVS pharmacist that when prescribed Morphine Sulfate ER 15 mg, CVS orders the generic Morphine Sulfate only from the brand/company named Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. / Sun Pharma. This brand is so horrible I will never take any medication they make again!!!"

• Don...
• December 9, 2017

"Many years ago, I chose medication over surgery to treat severe, chronic pain. Although dependency on pain medication has its own problems, I still think it was a good choice. I have had almost 20 productive years that I would not otherwise have had. I have learned two things in those years. First, if you are taking Morphine ER, try to arrange your schedule in such a way that you have an hour or two to nap after you take your meds. This medication is more effective if you are sleeping or at rest as it takes effect. Second, avoid oxycodone or OxyContin [time-release oxycodone]. That medication rapidly loses effectiveness and becomes unreliable. For me, the best overall pain med has been Morphine ER. Hope this helps, and God bless."

• 96c...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 1, 2018

"As a 21-year-old who has been dealing with chronic pain since the age of 11. I've been on almost every opiate (fentanyl, oxymorphone, codeine, methadone, etc.). I've found morphine 30 mg every 8 hours to be by far the most effective out of all opiates. I am rx'd Roxicodone 30 mgs 3 times a day for breakthrough pain, but I rarely take it as I find it only gives me a 'buzz' and lasts 1-2 hours as far as pain relief is concerned. I am also prescribed Klonopin 1 mg t.i.d. prn for PTSD and GAD. Also, Adderall 20 mg (90) for ADD/social anxiety. This combo I've found to be effective for all of my conditions, and I truly feel this is the best method for my chronic pain. Yoga helps as well, I've found. I suffer from severe sciatica, gallbladder calculus with acute cholecystitis with obstruction, severe spondylolisthesis, severe thoracic and lumbosacral neuritis, chronic pain syndrome, scoliosis with spinal stenosis, inguinal hernia with obstruction, degenerative disc disease, biliary obstruction, etc."

• Jew...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 17, 2014

"Morphine Sulfate ER 15 mg. I have been using this for approximately 6 months. I find that many of the side effects listed have become apparent to me. I do experience shakiness, constipation, elevated liver enzymes, difficulty urinating, uncontrollable sleepiness, blurred vision, sensitivity to bright lights at nighttime, including some indoor lighting. In addition, I suffer from stomach pain, feel lethargic at times, memory loss, lack of desire to socialize, depression, and other minor events that I did not have prior to taking morphine."

• Res...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 23, 2022

"The Ranbaxy manufacturer morphine medication works differently than what was prescribed at a different pharmacy. I will be going back to the previous pharmacy, which carries a different manufacturer. The Ranbaxy/Sun 15 mg ER tablets are inconsistent. For the past two weeks taken this medication, I have been nauseous and vomiting after 4 hours, get really sleepy occasionally after one hour, not holding pain as usual for 12 hours. Something is really wrong with this extended relief medication. Will let CVS know this medication needs further review. Doubt anyone will take notice since it is a pain medication that the government and doctors view as a patient problem."

• Phi...
• January 17, 2018

"I've been on various opiates since my mid-20s and now I'm in my mid-50s. If I could choose whatever medicine I wanted for pain relief, I would choose Morphine, as it is the smoothest, longest-lasting, and most consistent narcotic. It comes on slowly and has long legs. I avoid Oxy, as it hits very quickly and falls off often randomly but always sooner. Morphine ER lasts a good 8 to 12 hours. The worst side effect long-term for me is constipation and occasional hot flashes. Together with Gabapentin and a muscle relaxer, it masks my severe back injury enough that I can avoid a major risky surgery."

• Man...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 31, 2022

"In 2001, I had knee surgery. The surgeon cut a nerve, and I’ve been in chronic pain since then. The surgeon didn’t care. My GP went through many combinations of medications. I was relieved when he put me on Morphine Sulfate ER 60 mg (with Gabapentin and Ibuprofen). Taking this twice a day, I no longer want to break things or am aggressive. I hope the government realizes that pain medication is necessary, even though others abuse it."

• Ros...
• May 21, 2015

"Have been taking ER 120 mg 3x a day, with 60 mg for breakthrough pain. I suffer from chronic spinal stenosis with achondroplasia. That being a progressive disorder. After many different doctors' prescriptions not helping, I went to a pain management clinic. I was inpatient for 4-5 days till they finally found the right drug and, most importantly, the right dose. I do take 60-90 mg for breakthrough pain. It works so well. Bless those doctors that took the time and effort to find answers. I am on the same dose for a while now. The only side effect is bad constipation. I use a stool softener. What a relief to finally have a decent quality of life finally."

• Lil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 4, 2017

"I have tried several different pain meds. I had 2 discs in my neck replaced in 2008 and have a neck fusion. I also have severe and chronic pain. It's unbearable at times. I take 60 mg ER, one in the morning and one at night. It's the only thing that lets me function, and Xanax 2 mg relaxes the muscles in my neck and back. I find it works better if I take 1 and lie down for about 20 minutes to let it work better, then I'm good 'til evening. I wouldn't be able to get out of bed without them. It really takes my pain away like nothing else ever. I've been on it for about 7-8 years."

• LSC...
• October 12, 2016

"I have chronic back pain for 23 years following a fall down a flight of stairs. I ruptured 3 discs and fractured various vertebral areas in my lumbar and thoracic spine. I also have chronic Lyme disease, brucellosis, and I have developed fibromyalgia and chronic regional pain syndrome in both lower extremities. I have various types of paresthesia from burning to lancing. I have been on many types of Schedule II opioid pain medications from fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone. The best relief and safest medication has been the morphine sulfate extended-release 200 mg every 12 hours with 30 mg oxycodone every 4 hours for breakthrough pain. I just wish it was less expensive since I do not have insurance."

• CAR...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 11, 2021

"I am 55 and have been on this long-acting medication for decades. It keeps my overall pain at a level but doesn't seem to conquer the severe bone pain. I have another med for breakthrough pain. I have had RSD for almost 30 years now, had endometriosis as well as fibromyalgia, DDD, spinal stenosis, post-Lyme arthritis, and adhesive arachnoiditis from the 14 years of constant epidural injections, one of which went very badly in 2007. Morphine ER saved my life. When the doctors decided to force taper me off both of my Rx opioids in 2018, due to the totally misread 2016 CDC guidelines, I simply wanted my journey to end. The pain was worse than I could ever explain, and I would only get 1 to 2 hours of sleep. I finally found a doctor in January 2020, and while, due to the overall stricter prescribing standards, my doctor could only prescribe a little bit each month until I finally got up to my dose of 60 mg, 3 times daily. This medicine is a godsend for my quality of living."

• Anonymous
• February 20, 2018

"I have been diagnosed with MS for 20 years. And just recently had back surgery. I'm taking 30 mg morphine sulfate ER along with 10 mg Norco for breakthrough pain. I'm 4 weeks post-op and still having severe lower back pain, and the morphine does not seem to be touching the pain, which makes me take more breakthrough pain. Has anybody else had issues with morphine not helping?"

• win...
• September 24, 2017

"Zydus is the worst brand MS ER 60 I have ever been given in over 15 years! It only works 8 hours instead of the 12 it is supposed to. No pharmacy should be using this. I have six large screws in my spine; L3-5, and suffer chronic and debilitating pain. I have never been given a generic that didn't work - until now. Stay far away from Zydus!"

• Sro...
• March 5, 2018

"I have been in pain for 30 years from my spinal cord being overstretched since age 13. During my growth stage, when your spinal cord lifts away from your lower back, I have spinal bifida occulta. The spinal canal does not make a full circle around your spinal cord, it makes a C instead. A fatty lipoma grew through the C and attached itself to my spinal cord and tethered it to my bones, cutting off blood flow to my nerves, which is causing nerve damage and pain. I have been to more than 20 pain specialists, there is no way to operate on it. So right now, I’m on 6 Oxycodone 10mg, 3 Morphine Sulfate ER 75mg a day, and 2 fentanyl patches 100 mcg/hr every 2 days. Basically, I’m on a huge amount of pain meds-all narcotics. I’m now 44, I still have a huge amount of pain. What I have learned about all pain meds is you build up a tolerance to all of them after a while. There is no magic pill like Morphine Sulfate ER. If you have enough pain, nothing works good enough, and you have to make it work."

• Cop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2016

"I was on 40 mg of Methadone four times a day for 5 years, and it worked fairly well to control my pain. I have had back surgery at L5/S1 and have disc degenerative disease. Due to a change in insurance, I have had to change to a different med. Now I am on 90 mg of Morphine Sulfate ER. This does not seem to be helping close to what the Methadone was. I need help to find a medication that will help. Both my pain specialist and I thought this would do the trick, but even with steroid injections, I am still in massive pain."

• Ski...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 22, 2021

"Like a lot of you here, I'm suffering from chronic back pain due to multiple auto accidents. I used to be on 100 mg Morphine ER 3 times a day with 3-30 mg morphine IR for breakout. That enabled me, with Advil and Excedrin, to work for 7 more years. Since then, with the massive cutback on opioids, I'm cut back to three 30 mg ER tablets a day and not able to do anything. On top of that, I just moved and cannot find a doctor that even wants to work with me here. I've been on Vicodin, Norco, and Fentanyl during all this also. Morphine has been the only one that has held the line against the pain."

• Kev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2016

"Kind of useless on the pain I'm in, was on it for 7 months, 4x a day 2x30 mg ER and 2x30 mg IR, and I was still in pain, and coming off it was a process. I never once took it other than prescribed, and there is no doubt in my mind I was physically addicted to it. I weaned myself off for months to the point I was taking 1/4 a pill right when I laid down just so it did not feel like my skin was crawling as I tried to sleep. This is an addictive and useless pill for sciatica issues in my experience."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2016

"I've tried MS Contin a few times over the years and finally given up. What I really liked was good pain control without the euphoria or crash of IR products like oxycodone. What I didn't like was, after a few weeks, developing hallucinations and delusions that were so... real. I actually listed it as an allergy on my med records. Others tolerate it well. I'm not them though. Morphine derivatives like Dilaudid cause me no problems. It sucks, and is terrifying, to wake up convinced the bed is covered in spiders, to the point of seeing them. Not for me."

• kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2015

"15 mg 3x a day ER. I've been trying to find the right medication to treat fibromyalgia pain. I've experienced nearly every side effect, worst being respiratory problems and weight gain. My attitude has been poor, and I'm completely miserable. It's increased my depression. For all the horrible side effects I've experienced, it doesn't seem worth it to stay on the medication for minor pain relief. The same has happened to me with Lyrica (Neurontin with a prettier name) and tramadol ER. Morphine is by far the worst. I gave it 2 weeks, but I can't take any more of the nausea and illness this medication has caused. I took a morning dose today and feel ill, as usual. I can't wait to flush this garbage from my system."

• sil...
• June 11, 2015

"I have been taking Vicodin for near 20 years now due to chronic pain in my lower back and chronic pain and burning in my shoulders from factory work. I have been on six 7.5 Vicoprofen for a few years now. That amount works fine if I just sit around all day. If I want to take long hikes, lift or move furniture, or do extensive house cleaning, then six is not enough, and I was using seven or eight a day. The doctor wanted me to try Morphine ER 15 mg, two a day, and try to get down to three vs. a day. A month into this trial period, and I'm not liking the Morphine ER (and I've tried 300 mg Tramadol and Butrans patches). The morphine just leaves me feeling sleepy, it just takes the edge off, and like so many other medicines, I have flu-like symptoms. If I had 10 mg pills, that would work."

• Joe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 27, 2024

"Giving me life back. My chronic joint pain is being lessened with its use. I am not pain-free, but more mobile and can exercise daily. I have been able to better enjoy living. I have been on stronger meds but gained significant weight with OxyContin. For me, morphine is great!"

• bru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2023

"I have CRPS and have tried a variety of treatments, i.e. ganglion nerve blocks, TENS, Oxy, etc. and found that the Morphine ER works best for pain along with gabapentin. I also found that Lidocaine Infusions 2% along with saline infused simultaneously works extremely well. Administered about 30 days apart. I have been having the infusions for about 2 years until my Medicare Advantage plan reduced reimbursement to the provider, and the Pain Management provider dropped the procedure."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 28, 2022

"I have been in acute chronic pain for the last 26 yrs. I was at a dosage that actually gave me pain relief. Morphine Sulfate ER 30 mg gives me about 2 1/2 hrs of relief from my pain. I take it 3x per day. If you can get your Dr. to prescribe a different medication for pain, I definitely would."