Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Hello all-

Looking to hear some experiences from anyone who came off long term opiate treatment. I believe I have developed opioid induced hyperalgesia after speaking with several doctors/professionals and Im going to be speaking with my pain management doctor again tomorrow about starting a tapering schedule. I have been taking various opiates for about 3 years. Im currently on 20mg of Exalgo which is extended release dilaudid.

Thanks in advance-
Merrie

Merrie,

Some docs prescribe low dose naltrexone "LDN" to help patients tapper off of narcotics. The LDN is normally compounded and taken at night on an empty stomach. This med is used by addictionologist and some pain docs to help patients tapper off of narcotics. There is a possibility that the LDN helps with pain as well but it has to be taken long term to see if it helps. LDN can work as an anti-inflammatory and at the same time help wean patients off of narcotics. There is an interesting thread on this sight about LDN. Patients can also ask their pain doc to prescribe the less expensive generic (Hydromorphone) and just start taking less and less until they are off of it. Suboxone is another drug that is prescribed by addictionologist that works quite well for getting some patients off of narcotics. Most pain docs have an addictionologist that they can refer patients to if they want to get off the easy way. The tough question is: How do we get along pain wise without the Exalgo. There are some docs who who say that drugs like Exalgo are counterproductive for neuropathic pain but every case is different and options are limited at this point. Hope this helps in some small way.

TCB