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Pain Resources for Patients

American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)

www.theacpa.org
This site offers downloadable articles, the ACPA 2009 Consumer Guide to Pain Medications and Treatments, and information for patients with chronic pain as well as their families and caregivers. (English and Spanish)

American Pain Foundation (APF)

www.painfoundation.org
This site provides a pain information library, pain management tips, PainAid online support community, a pain advocacy center, and a resource center for clinical trials.

National Pain Foundation (NPF)

www.nationalpainfoundation.org
This site is an online educational and support community for people in pain, their families, and healthcare professionals.

PainACTION

www.painaction.com
PainACTION is supported by King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., through the sponsorship of the National Institutes of Health. The goal of painACTION is to help patients improve the self-management of pain. This site is written with the help of health educators, pain experts, and people dealing with pain. Resources include pain education information and tools to track the occurrence of pain.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

AVINZA® (morphine sulfate extended-release capsules) is a prescription drug that contains morphine. Each AVINZA® Capsule contains enough morphine to last for 24 hours and should be taken once a day. AVINZA® is for adults 18 years or older with moderate to severe pain who need around-the-clock, nonstop treatment for an extended period of time.

  • AVINZA® Capsules are to be swallowed whole. DO NOT chew, crush, or dissolve the beads in capsules before swallowing. If the beads are chewed, crushed, or dissolved, the entire 24-hour dose may be absorbed into your body all at once. This can lead to serious problems, including overdose and death
  • If you have trouble swallowing the capsules, you may open them and sprinkle all of the beads on a small amount of applesauce just before swallowing. Make sure to swallow all of the beads whole
  • Do not drink alcoholic beverages while using AVINZA®, or use prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol. Consuming alcohol while taking AVINZA® may cause the rapid release and absorption of a potentially deadly dose of morphine
  • Because AVINZA® may make you sleepy, you should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform any other possibly dangerous activities until you know how you react to AVINZA®
  • AVINZA® should not be given to anyone other than the person for whom it was prescribed

Tell your healthcare professional about the following:

  • Any and all other health or medical problems you may have
  • All medicines (prescription and nonprescription) and vitamins you are taking. Do not take other medicines without your healthcare professional’s approval
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • If you are breastfeeding, because morphine will pass through the milk and may harm the baby
  • If you have abused drugs in the past. There is a risk of abuse or addiction with all opioid medications. You may have a higher chance of developing an abuse problem or addiction again while using AVINZA®

AVINZA® is not for everyone. Only you and your healthcare professional can know if AVINZA® is right for you.
Make sure to follow your healthcare professional’s directions exactly.

  • Do not change your dose unless your healthcare professional tells you to change it
  • Do not take AVINZA® more often than prescribed. You should not stop taking AVINZA® all at once if you have been taking it for more than a few days. Your healthcare professional can instruct you on how to stop taking this medicine slowly to avoid uncomfortable symptoms

Constipation is a common side effect of medicines that contain morphine, including AVINZA®. When you start taking AVINZA®, discuss steps to prevent or relieve constipation with your healthcare professional. Other common side effects of AVINZA® are nausea, drowsiness, headache, and itching. Some of these side effects may decrease with continued use.

Keep AVINZA® in a secure place and out of the reach of children. Protect from theft. When AVINZA® is no longer needed, the unused capsules should be destroyed by flushing them down the toilet.

Please see full Prescribing Information.