Migraine

Hi. I ended up in the ER this weekend with the worst migraine of my life. They first gave me a shot of stadol & phenergan. Didn't touch it. Next,it was dilaud(?) & phenergan - eased it up a little, but not much. So they gave me another shot of stadol. I have a few questions:
First, does anyone know anything about dilaud? I think I may have heard it mentioned before , but not really sure and have been unable to find much about it.
Second:I am not currently on a preventative. I came off of Effexor XR a few months ago after being on it for a few years. It helped some, but they kept increasing my dosage, all the way up to 300mg per day. I was on the patient assistance progran for it because I have no insurance. Well, my (ex) doctor never called my prescription refills in on time and I kept running out and finally after waiting so long, I decided to wean myself off of it. I did it very slowly, a little at a time. Anyway, right now I am seeing a regular MD because I can not affor to see a neuro or headache specialist. He is not sure what to do as far as a preventative, since I have tried a lot. But I was thinking I may ask about Cymbalta. I did ok on the Effexor - better than I thought, because it was not nearly as bad as what I have been dealing with lately. My head hurts almost constantly, with the intensity worse then EVER before. I can not go on like this. They did a CT scan at the Er Monday, and it was ok, so at least it isn't something new. Sorry to get off topic, but any opinions? I could really use some advice right now. I am really low and at the end of my rope. I have never felt so horrible and hopeless in all of my life.

Sorry to hear you had such a rough time.
It sounds like you really need to be on a good preventive plan. With over 100 different meds used to treat Migraine disease don't lose hope. After you read this article, talk to your doctor about which med may be best for you.
http://www.helpforheadaches.com/articles/prev-meds.htm
Let us know how you make out.

Hey Sherry,

The dilaud(?) you asked about is basically synthetic morphine. I really hate getting that one. It takes out the migraine for me, but puts me down for two days. For me that one is a last resort. The only reason I know this is my wife is a hospice nurse and keeps really close tabs on what the Dr's give me, especially when I have to go to the ER.

But Take Nancy's advice and try to get on a preventative plan. Its not an exact science, but hopefully you will find the ones that will work.

Edited by Teri to make a correction. Dilaudid isn't synthetic heroin. It's synthetic morphine.

Hi Meanshark!
Welcome to the migraine forum! Feel free to go post an introduction in the "introductions" folder Over Here where you'll get even more welcomes- and a basic "where stuff is" 'round these parts!

Take care,
Jamie

quote:

Originally posted by meanshark:
Hey Sherry,

The dilaud(?) you asked about is basically synthetic morphine. I really hate getting that one. It takes out the migraine for me, but puts me down for two days. For me that one is a last resort. The only reason I know this is my wife is a hospice nurse and keeps really close tabs on what the Dr's give me, especially when I have to go to the ER.

But Take Nancy's advice and try to get on a preventative plan. Its not an exact science, but hopefully you will find the ones that will work.

Edited by Teri to make a correction. Dilaudid isn't synthetic heroin. It's synthetic morphine.

My bad, I guess I need to do some research instead of my wife using the "street slang" for it.

Just goes to show what I know. But After researching it, I know now.

Hi there!

I'm sorry I edited your post, then didn't post to welcome you. So, welcome to the "family!"

quote:

Originally posted by meanshark:
My bad, I guess I need to do some research instead of my wife using the "street slang" for it.

Just goes to show what I know. But After researching it, I know now.

Hi Teri,

I don't know if I ever posted at the introduction folder. Since you already know me and I am about to head to bed, I will forego that for now, ok?

This poster was given Stadol, then dilaudid then more Stadol. Isn't Stadol an opioid antagonist which causes your body to dump any opioids in your system rather quickly? Wouldn't giving her the dilaudid be pointless considering she had the Stadol first?

I hope you are doing well here. I like the fomat of the forum. It is much more comfortable.

All my best,
£eslie

Hi, Leslie! You can post to the intro folder whenever you get around to it.

I can't answer the Stadol and Dilaudid questions, but I wanted to pop in and say hello.

Hi Leslie. Welcome to our new home.

I can't answer the stadol/dilauded question either, but I wanted to say I had a tough time with the forum for a while until I found a system that worked for me. Each time I log in, I choose the find option and then "new since last visit" - it's worked great on organizing my posting.

quote:

Originally posted by lesherb:
Hi Teri,

I don't know if I ever posted at the introduction folder. Since you already know me and I am about to head to bed, I will forego that for now, ok?

This poster was given Stadol, then dilaudid then more Stadol. Isn't Stadol an opioid antagonist which causes your body to dump any opioids in your system rather quickly? Wouldn't giving her the dilaudid be pointless considering she had the Stadol first?

I hope you are doing well here. I like the fomat of the forum. It is much more comfortable.

All my best,
£eslie

Leslie!

Hi, there. Post to the introductions folder if and when you want to. Certainly some of us already know you, and introductions are optional anyway.

Good question about the Stadol. I've always seen it classified either as a "narcotic" or "synthetic opioid analgesic." Tonight, looking it up, I found those classifications as well as "Butorphanol tartrate is a synthetically derived opioid agonist-antagonist analgesic of the phenanthrene series." So, I really don't know the answer to your question since that last one says "agonist-antagonist." Talk about confusing!

I AM doing well here, thanks. Pretty pleased with the forum format. As you can see, it's keeping me busy. It's really good to see you.

hugs,

quote:

Originally posted by lesherb:
Hi Teri,

I don't know if I ever posted at the introduction folder. Since you already know me and I am about to head to bed, I will forego that for now, ok?

This poster was given Stadol, then dilaudid then more Stadol. Isn't Stadol an opioid antagonist which causes your body to dump any opioids in your system rather quickly? Wouldn't giving her the dilaudid be pointless considering she had the Stadol first?

I hope you are doing well here. I like the fomat of the forum. It is much more comfortable.

All my best,
£eslie

Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is a derivative of morphine just like all other opiod analgesics (hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, codiene.

The doctor probably mixed the dilaudid with an opioid antagonist to prevent overdose. Many opioid antagonist's will not stop the agonist from working but rather keep it at a stable level creating a ceiling effect.

They do this with methadone and buprenorphine in addiction recovery so that the medication cant be abused. It creates a cieling effect so that once you hit a certain amount it in your system taking any more will be pointless.

I think in a hospital setting the idea is to fill some of your opioid receptors since dilaudid is such a potent drug so that it cant occupy all of them and cause you to overdose because the doctor doesn't know you tolerance to the drug.

quote:

"only you have the right to choose what path you follow"
"right and wrong is a moral decision not an institutional one"
"Pain is as real and pain relief is everywhere"
"Know yourself and everything else will follow"

Matt,

Hello and welcome!

I hate to do this on your very first post, but some of the information you posted isn't quite accurate. Let me clarify...

Not all opioid analgesics are derivatives of morphine. Fentanyl is not derived from morphine. Codeine is either obtained from opium OR prepared from morphine by methylation. Hydrocodone is a synthetic derived from the opium alkaloid thebaine.

Welcome again!

quote:

Originally posted by Matt:
Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is a derivative of morphine just like all other opiod analgesics (hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, codiene.

The doctor probably mixed the dilaudid with an opioid antagonist to prevent overdose. Many opioid antagonist's will not stop the agonist from working but rather keep it at a stable level creating a ceiling effect.

They do this with methadone and buprenorphine in addiction recovery so that the medication cant be abused. It creates a cieling effect so that once you hit a certain amount it in your system taking any more will be pointless.

I think in a hospital setting the idea is to fill some of your opioid receptors since dilaudid is such a potent drug so that it cant occupy all of them and cause you to overdose because the doctor doesn't know you tolerance to the drug.

quote:

"only you have the right to choose what path you follow"
"right and wrong is a moral decision not an institutional one"
"Pain is as real and pain relief is everywhere"
"Know yourself and everything else will follow"

Just to let you know hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is 10x stronger than morphine and what was said about the ceiling effect with stadol is true..

"D"