Kadian is the brand name for the generic morphine sulfate. It is also available in the brand MS Contin. Kadian is a controlled-release tablet that contains morphine. The medication is used to moderate severe pain. This medication is typically taken every 12 hours, although some patients may only need it once a day.
As a treatment for pain, Kadian is intended for people who need a morphine painkiller for more than just a few days. Available in capsules, Kadian is an extended-release oral formulation of morphine sulfate. It is generally used as part of a progressive plan of pain management.
Abuses of Kadian
As a mu-agonist opioid, Kadian has an abuse liability similar to that of other opioid agonists. It is a Schedule II controlled substance and can be abused. Kadian has often been diverted for non-medical use, especially in combinations with other psychoactive substances.
Those who are seeking to obtain the Kadian drug tend to use such tactics such as emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing or referral. These individuals will also tamper with prescriptions and will doctor shop to obtain as much of the medication as possible.
Effects of Kadian
Patients can experience adverse reactions as a result of taking Kadian. On the minor side, effects can include anxiety, constipation, depressed or irritable mood, dizziness, drowsiness, exaggerated sense of well-being, light-headedness, sedation, sweating and vomiting.
More serious reactions can also be present with use and they include respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, apnea, circulatory depression, cardiac arrest, hypotension and/or shock. Without proper monitoring, Kadian can be life-threatening, especially if an individual happens to overdose on the medication.
Withdrawal of Kadian
When Kadian is taken over a long period of time, addiction and dependence is likely to emerge. When the individual stops taking the medication, they are likely to experience some degree of narcotic withdrawal syndrome. Within 24 hours an individual can experience dilated eyes, goose bumps, restlessness, restless sleep, runny nose, sweating, tearing or yawning.
Any and all of the following symptoms can occur in the Kadian withdrawal stage over the next 72 hours:
• Abdominal and leg pains
• Abdominal and muscle cramps
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Hot and cold flashes
• Inability to fall or stay asleep
• Increase in body temperature
• Increase in blood pressure
• Increased breathing and heart rate
• Kicking movements
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal discharge
• Nausea
• Severe backache
• Sneezing
• Twitching
• Spasm of muscles
• Vomiting
• Weakness
Treatment of Kadian Addiction
Kadian is a powerful medication and those individuals who develop a long-term mental and physical addiction to the medication find it very difficult to stop taking the drug or to function normally without it. When Kadian is stopped, the withdrawal phase can be extremely difficult. As a result, detoxification is required to cleanse the body of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist.
Many quality treatment centers suggest comfortable detox using withdrawal medications for Kadian abuse. A quality center will do a full physical on a person to determine the right medications for comfortable detox. This method helps to correct the chemical imbalances in the individual and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care.