Question
I read that ms contin 100 mgs only last 5-8 hrs if that is true why do the DR. only say take the pills every 12 hrs?

Answer
Hi Norman and thanks for writing,

A patient's daily morphine requirement is established using immediate-release oral morphine (dosing every 4 to 6 hours); the patient is then converted to MS CONTIN by administering one-half of the patient's 24-hour requirement as MS CONTIN on an every 12-hour schedule. It sounds like your doctor has determined that 200mg/day is your required dose.

The administration of single doses of MS CONTIN on a q12h dosing schedule will result in higher peak and lower trough plasma levels than those that occur when an identical daily dose of morphine is administered using conventional oral formulations on a q4h regimen.

I hope this helps and I iwsh you all the best,

Margot