Expert: Jacqui - 3/26/2010

Question
I'm currently taking 7.5 mg of Morphine Sulphate, 100mg of Lamictal, and 1 mg of Either Clonopin or Zanax daily.  I want to stop taking the Morphine, but I'm afraid I'm going to die.  Nobody knows Im taking the Morphine, as I was getting it from my boyfriend.  I've been on it for about 6 months.  I want to stop taking the Morphine without anyone knowing.  The Clonopin and Lamictal are given to me by my psychiatrist. What should I do?  hat are the risks if any.  I'm scared to death. I was also drinking on these meds, which I have stopped about 2 weeks ago, aside from an occasional glass of wine or two.

Answer
Hi Angela,

I can understand your distress, but dying from morphine withdrawal is not very common.  In fact, it is drugs like high doses of alcohol and on occasion benzodiazepines that can be very damaging to someone's physical health if they are stopped suddenly.

With opiate withdrawal, the best way to do it is slowly. I know it can be difficult to break up tablets (if it is tablet form you are taking), but it is better to reduce a little bit, such as 1 mg a week.  I do note, however, that you are on quite a small dose - not that it doesn't mean you are dependent - but I have heard of people coming of 100s of miligrams a day.

The other thing to consider is to do one drug at a time.  So, I guess what I am saying, is that you shouldn't be withdrawing off anything else - i.e.: the benzos.  

Finally, the symptoms from opiate withdrawals are things like restless legs (which people can find really annoying), stomach upset, sleeplessness and anxiety.  I often suggest people look up some relaxation strategies on the net prior to starting, then if you get stressed out, you have a non drug tool to help you relax.  You can try by Googling 'progressive muscle relaxation' or 'sleep hygeine'.  There are also recordings you can get of guided imagery which you might be able to find on the internet (and on the off chance you have an iphone, there are some apps that have this).

Angela, good luck.  I must also say, don't hate yourself if you lapse, it isn't uncommon and doesn't mean you are a failure.  Just pick yourself up and start again.

Take care, and whatever you do, do it safely.

Jacqui