Morphine

[Gracedarko0908]

Hello can you hurt yourself by taking two 30mg morphine at a time onece a day

[caregiver222]

One fact regarding opiates must be made abundantly clear. If one has been on a high dose, and then there is a hiatus, where the patient goes off opiates, the cells "reset".  The time to "reset" cannot be determined.. This is a situation that varies with the individual patient.

In many cases, if there is a hiatus, and the patient starts at the high dose they used to take they may stop breathing. This is not fantasy. This is not "internet rumor".

This observation has nothing whatsoever to to with making a recommendation as to the dose to relieve pain.

The problem comes about with street use of drugs, but many patients alter their opiate dose, or try to eliminate use of opiates without informing their physician.  If you stop using opiates for any period of time, and begin to use them again you must be extremely cautious and start again from an extremely low dose. So the word "Dangerous" in this situation is quite appropriate. This situation can take place when switching physicians and a patient may be without a prescription for a period of time. They go to a new physician, he pulls the medical record, and prescribes the same dose they were getting a month ago.

BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ON THE OPIATE FOR A WHILE!

This patient may go into respiratory arrest upon ingesting the opiate at the old dose.

[Emme80]

First, I do want to extend a most sincere welcome!!
It's all good..I understand 100%. I too am faced (and taken off)w/  Dr's saying that 1, 30mg. Morphine ER., 2x's per day is "dangerously high dose". But I also just underwent brain & spine surgery 4mo. ago that has not gone well, complications. So, I certainly DO understand when you a reaction to "yes, dangerous". Yet they're more than willing to put me on wild msg. of meds. that aren't "opiates" that are just as "harsh"-they're word, about opiates- on my body  and can cause a whole rash of problems(my guess, some of these new meds. will be off the market, class action suits, etc. b/c of horrible reactions / impact on body & mind...but THOSE meds. they promote as though there's NOTHING, no ill effects on my body.)
Indeed, It's frustrating. Maddening. And I'm dealing w/a hard 8-9 pain now 24/7 b/c they feel opiates are "bad for the body", while my pain has not even been managed another way yet(I've to wait until Feb. 16th for Nerve Blocks... I'll certainly try it if it'll reduce this pain... But I'm still puzzled why they would want to have me OFF what has at lest make it manageable, without having managed it another way yet. The stress on my body is great & find it harder to move, hold my head up-literally- and less movement is not good for the whole of my body. Ugh. It's becoming more than a huge problem&i honestly don't know how I'll make it right now. The stress the pain causes, the lack of sleep-waking up w/every turn my body makes at night, I wake up. Pain. Vicious cycle.
I digress.
I certainly do understand your frustration w/ the words "dangerous" or such.
Again, I welcome you here!!  I think you'll find a great source of support and hope you stay around as you'll find frame at people and you can be a valuable source to others as well! ;)
Indeed, Tuck is a fighter...in life as well as for the rights & necessary treatments (not JUST opiates..but unfortunately, it IS something that DOES help, but...it's a sad reality that they don't want to have that as a viable treatment.) for CP patients who have fallen victim to as Tuck says, the "War on Drugs".. It's turned sideways.
Welcome!
~emme~

[Snew2]

Emme80 Thank you for pointing some further info out to me . I did see some other posts from tuck and realized that he does fight for patient rights and as I am new to this forum I had jumped a little too fast to a defensive position. I am just so used to Dr.s and others saying that stuff to me and lately it seems that they are prescribing less but telling me that I am taking huge levels! It's getting ridiculous the way their views are changing due to the media and general uninformed public. sorry for the hasty comment

[Emme80]

I must say, Tuck did not say that. The comment was appropriate. It can be dangerous and unless otherwise directed/under a physicians care/monitored, it certainly can be dangerous. The original poster did not give any further info. to allow any other answer, except as the two so eloque put it. To be honest, I myself responded b/c-and if you feel I'm wrong for this then I am,  but, I was worried that it could be someone doing this on their own-vs. under a doctor's orders. If the person was that worried, as was suggested, definitely seek prescribing De's advise. The original post was one blanket question. So, one must be honest that yes, and especially if that person is not normally taking that ammt., it can be dangerous. I think if you read more about Tuck, you will see a person that is helpful and fights for the rights of pain patients. Like you, like me, like Tuck...like so many. I do not think it was creating fear. I myself have been on such & know that yes, my body can handle it-but with such an empty info. question, I don't know how it could not be mentioned that it certainly can be dangerous. Tuk didn't not just say that, so I don't know if you picked out that one caution, but there was more to that post. I do wish the original poster had given more info...as I know it would've been SO much more helpful. But if someone, a stranger,  walked up to me and asked that question, I would say yes! You need medical supervision. To suggest it would not be, without knowing if that person is already being treated, is under the care of a physician to oversee, than anything otherwise would be irresponsible and inappropriate. Trust me, I do know how much pain relief can allow a life to be lived. But I cannot tell someone, with NO info, that it's completely safe as I do not know the situation.
It would've been much better had the original poster given at least some info.
I'm def. not trying to be rude, but I have to say that I don't know what another reply coukdve been. But Tuck DID give more than one reply.
Someone could ask, is putting your hand on a hot stove dangerous? The answer is..well yes, but to a chef, that degree of tolerance the heat of a hot stove changes the answer. But all stoves come with the warning.
All my best-I am sincerely glad that you have found some relief!

[Snew2]

Tuck, I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful to you in any way and I agree that if a persons system is opiate naïve,  it can be dangerous ,but for many other people that have been on pain meds for years and still suffer with severe pain , 60mg is nothing. Don't scare people if you don't have that kind of tolerance or experience because that is what keeps so many of us others under medicated and left suffering . I have been on a way higher dose of meds than what this person is describing and have never had a problem and if anything the higher dose saved my marriage and brought me out of severe depression and immobility that had gone on for years. Again, no disrespect but please don't decide what is a large dose when a Dr. can and does prescribe much more when a person needs and can handle it.  

[Emme80]

You two said it much better than I ever could've!
Thank you for saying it so...correctly.

[caregiver222]

Morphine is a respiratory depressent. Taking too much will cause you to stop breathing, which results in an end to your life. The dose to do so varies. People that have been on opiates for a long time can ingest a dose that would kill someone who has never used the drug. Then if they stop for a while, their tolerance goes down. Morphine is a terrible trip, with nausea and discomfort and constipation. Not something to desire for recreation.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Grace,

Welcome.

You asked a seemingly simple question, "Can you hurt yourself by taking two 30mg morphine at a time once a day?" There isn't a simple answer - it's complex.

First - you should always take only what your physician ordered - for more reasons that I can list right now.

Second - is this a short acting (SA) or is it a long acting (LA) Morphine? 60mgs of Morphine is one heck of a one time dose. I would not take it. There could be serious complications, especially if you your system is opiate naive.

Don't take it.

~Tuck

[Emme80]

Hello, welcome. I must say, with the little info. you gave, I'm a bit worried about your question as you don't indicate your Dr's directions...is this what your prescribing Dr. has you to do? The way he has prescribed it? Because if so and your worried, you should certainly contact/consult your doctor immediately about your concern. More information would be exceptionally helpful to be able to answer your question...such as reason(diagnosis/what the treatment is for), how long you've been prescribed, if your Dr. has gradually increased your dose and is prescribing it this way, as directed. Again, more info. would be greatly helpful to better answer. If you're not prescribed to take it that way, yes it can most certainly be dangerous. Very dangerous to take more than what is prescribed for you. So, please consult your Physician or give us more info. so we can more adequately address your question. We're here for you.
I hope you're well & please do let us know what your condition is & how your pain is being treated so we can further help you.  
Most Sincerely,
~emme~