A family member has joined hospice and a nurse delivered "Comfort Kit" containing "Morphine Sulfate 25mg/ml s

His instructions were to use as needed. My questions are how is this different from mscontin that my wife gets and what is the best injection method along with dose for ea. IM IV, SC or oral.

This really sounds best if you ask the nurse or better still a doctor, so as to be sure you get the right information. We wouldn't want to make any mistakes here!

IM

Definitely ask the nurse for more detailed instructions.

However, for people with pain related to cancer, they will often be prescribed two medications...one that is a long-term pain medication, and one for "breakthrough" pain. The MS Contin is a long-term pain medication, given orally, usually twice daily. Doses can vary dramatically depending upon the person. The goal of this medication is to keep the pain generally stable at a low level. This is a medication that you take on a schedule---whether you feel great or have pain.

The Morphine Sulfate "IR" or immediate release is a breakthrough pain medication. It sounds like what she has is probably an oral liquid. This one works more quickly, but for a lesser period of time. This is the one that she only needs if she is hurting, so if despite the MS Contin she still has a period of pain, that is when the "IR" Morphine is used. If she is comfortable, this one does not need to be given.

The one thing I can't stress enough is that you really should contact the hospice nurse about the doses. Too much can overdose someone and even stop their breathing and too little can leave someone miserable. The dose that is appropriate for any individual person can vary a lot.

Good luck.

ok, ms contin is a much stronger form of morphine, morphine is an old tryed and true analgesic..ms contin lasts for 12 hrs regular old morphine will only last 3-6 hrs and must be repeated..they are both the same drug..just one lasts longer(timed release) naturally injected in an iv works quicker, but doesnt last but an hour or so, IM takes about 15 min to kick in and lasts 4-6 hrs..oral, takes 20-30 mins to work and lasts about the same as IM...ms contin is just in oral form. most people on ms contin has to take a lower dose in between the 12 hour doses..