Pain Pump Narcotics Affect Hormone Levels

If you have a pain pump, did you know the narcotics in it, may affect your hormone levels?

Some background on me… I’ve used the Medtronic intrathecal pump since 1995 (Well, I’m actually on my third pump, due to battery replacements). Up until the last two years, the only medication I’ve used in the pump, has been baclofen. This drug has helped my leg spasms, and back tone.

I started having pain in my lower back and legs, that was not allowing me to sleep. I’ve always had some type of pain, but it’s been tolerable (the burning in my legs in 1995 was anything, but tolerable. Thank God that went away. That’s another story though). My doctor recommended combining the analgesic narcotic, Dilaudid in my pump, with the baclofen. Dilaudid is similar to morphine, but has less side effects. I’m currently on a small dose of 0.3093 mg/day.

So, I’m getting a refill of drugs last week, and my nurse informed me that the Dilaudid could affect my testosterone level. She said, after time, the drug lowers the level of testosterone output in the body. This can lead to depression, loss of sex drive, apathy… you know, the usual stuff. I’ve been feeling as fine as a paralyzed guy can feel, so wasn’t to worried about it. It’s good to know though. She had one patient that had less testosterone being produced than a corpse. They gave the guy some type of hormone medication, and he feels like a new man.

Narcotics in the pain pump will affect estrogen levels in ladies, so another caution there.

I don’t like taking medications, but sometimes you must. Trying to tolerate pain, or spasms, can wear a guy out. The pump has helped me feel better. Knowing the side effects those drugs produce will help me stay that way.