Why does Morphine give me a headache?!


Question: I take Methadone for my primary pain care and Morphine for breakthrough pain. The Morphine has been giving me a headache for the first time since using it. Plus it doesn't seem to help with my pain like it used to. I've had several surgeries and tried just about all the pain meds and treatments, and found that this combination worked the best. That was over 10 years ago when I started these meds, and had the dosage changed a couple of times since I started taking them.

Now it seems like I take them to stay out of withdrawal. My pain levels have increased significantly lately. My doctor wants me to stay at my present dosage, but again I don't feel them working. It's hard enough to find a doctor that will prescribe pain meds now a days and I'm afraid if I complain too much my dr. will "cut" me off.

So has anyone experienced headaches from taking Morphine? I'm on 120mgs a day, if the pain is too much. (which it is most of the time)

Thanks in advance for any help,
ROK


Answers: I take Methadone for my primary pain care and Morphine for breakthrough pain. The Morphine has been giving me a headache for the first time since using it. Plus it doesn't seem to help with my pain like it used to. I've had several surgeries and tried just about all the pain meds and treatments, and found that this combination worked the best. That was over 10 years ago when I started these meds, and had the dosage changed a couple of times since I started taking them.

Now it seems like I take them to stay out of withdrawal. My pain levels have increased significantly lately. My doctor wants me to stay at my present dosage, but again I don't feel them working. It's hard enough to find a doctor that will prescribe pain meds now a days and I'm afraid if I complain too much my dr. will "cut" me off.

So has anyone experienced headaches from taking Morphine? I'm on 120mgs a day, if the pain is too much. (which it is most of the time)

Thanks in advance for any help,
ROK

I have never taken it, but from my own experience with medications (which I am allergic to most of them) headaches, nausea, change in skin clarity, etc. could be from an allergic reaction. Alot of people are allergic to narcotics and don't know it. Maybe you should look into holistic/herbal medicine. There have been many breakthroughs in body management. Or if you haven't asked the doc., see if he can put you on the morphine patch. My cousin has it for fybromyalgia. It releases at a slower rate and may work better for you.

There may be an ingredient in it that's causing your headaches or maybe it's just too strong for you. Ask your doctor to call in a new Rx to your pharmacy that's not as strong.

Morphine is often given to people having a heart attack because it dilates blood vessels and helps so the heart doesn't have to work so hard pumping blood through the body. Dilated blood vessels in your brain can caues a head ache. When I worked ICU we gave a lot of cardiac patients tylenol to help with the head aches. Check with your MD and see if it is okay to take excedrin or tylenol for the headaches

talk to your doctor immediately because it seems like you have become dependent on your medication and the headaches are very likely to be a sign of your chemical dependence





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