August 13, 2009 - 11:00am
I posted a message on here a few months ago concerning the pain meds I was on. Here is a run down of what I am taking and why. I was diagnosed through MRI's with bone spurs at C2-C3, degenerative disc disease, a herniated disc and bone spur at L5-S1, osteoarthritis of the spine and hands. When I was 29 I had an MRI that said my bones appeared osteopenic (sp?) for stated age of 29. I'm 34 now and I hurt all the freaking time! I was on Avinza 30mg. once a day and Lortab 5/500 twice a day for break through pain. About a year ago the doctor said my insurance wouldn't pay for the Avinza and he switched me to 15mg morphine sulfate es, twice a day(still equals 30 mg a day) and the Lortab is the same. I have been on the same dosage of medicine for 4 years now and it doesn't work anymore. I've tried talking to my doctor about this, but he doesn't seem to care. I'm not the type to complain all the time. I've only told him about 3 times that my meds aren't working, because I don't want him to think I'm just a drug seeker and cut me off. But he has to know that I'm tolerant to the medicine by now, doesn't he? I also have a heart condition where my pulse beats faster than normal, usually between 85-95 beats per minute, and I've had this since I was young, but my blood pressure is never high. I was never hyper as a child so they don't know why it's like this. Here lately my pulse is beating even faster. The last time I was at the doctor it was 124 per minute. I have been timing it on my own several times a day, and it is way over 100 everytime. I finally broke down and saw a psychiatrist yesterday because my nerves are getting worse by the day. I have a lot going on in my life (10 yr.old daughter 9 yr. old nephew I take care of; I help coach my daughter's cheerleading squad, and both of them are involved in other sports as well) and the pain seems to make everything worse. I am so tired of hurting and some days I feel like I cant even function. Okay sorry for such a long post but here is what the psychiatrist put me on: Clonazepam (for nerves) 0.5 3 times a day, Mirtazapine (he said to help me sleep) 30mg 1 at night, and Propranolol (blood pressure med, but he said to slow my heart rate down) 10mg 3 times a day. I told him abouth the pain meds I was on and he seemed to think it was safe to take all this together. I'm wondering if it's safe to mix all of these meds. I have taken Clonazepam before and it does help calm me down. I'm just really worried about mixing the blood pressure med with this and the sleep med. I'm afraid to slow my heart down too much because it has always beat fast, just not this fast. If anyone has any experience with this or any info it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Syd
August 14, 2009 - 10:23pm
#2
think Oneir right on there
an add that try taking 800mgs ibuprohen daily, 400mg at bedtime, 400 1st thing upon arising, does wonders, if it gives gastro-troubles try Aleve Woodstock
Make sure to tell the doctor prescribing the pain meds about the new prescriptions and he will be the best source for an answer to this question.
However, in my limited medically educated opinion that drug combination does not seem problematic. I've known individuals who take the same or similiar psych drugs with hydrocodone and have no problems. The question then would be if the morphine will interact with the psych drugs. I think the main concern would be the risk of respiratory depression (slowed breathing rate) caused by both the clonazepam and the morphine. However since you have been taking the opiates for an extended period of time and the relatively low doses of both the morphine and clonazepam, combined with an already increased heart rate it is unlikely that this will be a major concern.
Here is a link regarding the drug drug interaction http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/clonazepam_d00197_morphine_d00308.html