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What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms Of Morphine?

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Posted on Sat, 2 Apr 2016
Question: Wrote in several times about the same condition!! The waiting game is causing me absolute havoc for my condition to be properly sorted!! Real anxiousness has taken me over!! How do i get my sleep pattern back to normal when its like this!! Not a nights sleep in 5 weeks as you may be able to read on my reports that i have sent in been on several medication because of this and the pain i feel this partly to blame for how i am feeling! How do i deal with this anxiouness some things are easier said than done!!! I am desperate on this one!!! No history of it before!!!!
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

It is obvious that the cause of your sleep problems is mainly anxiety. Please try to remember that nerve compression issues while potentially really painful represent no threat to life, so should try to ease a little bit.

Morphine withdrawal can cause anxiety, but I do not think that is the only cause, it must be adding up to a background of previous anxiety as well. Anyway the dose you took was small, for a short time, so effects should gradually vanish in a week.

Now regarding what you can do for sleep, if you meant medication, I believe the answer should be a sedating antidepressant. That is because antidepressants in general are the best option for long standing anxiety and give the sleep issue those more sedating ones are more proper. The one I would recommend for that purpose is Mirtazapine.

Benzodiazepines like Diazepam which you mention are also used, but they are not recommended for long term (and you state 5 weeks), as they develop tolerance (same dosage is not effective anymore). If you've been taking Diazepam for some time should be careful not to interrupt cold turkey though as it can cause withdrawal effects on its own, should lower the dosage very gradually.

From a non medication perspective, I would advise some exercise and activities like yoga, but I am not sure on your pain status right now, whether your nerve compression issue allows you to do that.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms Of Morphine?

Brief Answer: Read below Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. It is obvious that the cause of your sleep problems is mainly anxiety. Please try to remember that nerve compression issues while potentially really painful represent no threat to life, so should try to ease a little bit. Morphine withdrawal can cause anxiety, but I do not think that is the only cause, it must be adding up to a background of previous anxiety as well. Anyway the dose you took was small, for a short time, so effects should gradually vanish in a week. Now regarding what you can do for sleep, if you meant medication, I believe the answer should be a sedating antidepressant. That is because antidepressants in general are the best option for long standing anxiety and give the sleep issue those more sedating ones are more proper. The one I would recommend for that purpose is Mirtazapine. Benzodiazepines like Diazepam which you mention are also used, but they are not recommended for long term (and you state 5 weeks), as they develop tolerance (same dosage is not effective anymore). If you've been taking Diazepam for some time should be careful not to interrupt cold turkey though as it can cause withdrawal effects on its own, should lower the dosage very gradually. From a non medication perspective, I would advise some exercise and activities like yoga, but I am not sure on your pain status right now, whether your nerve compression issue allows you to do that.