Doctor wants to start me on Methadone??

[Barbj55]

I am not receiving very good pain relief from my current meds for spinal pain. I have spondylolithiasis, nothing that can be helped by surgery. The meds I'm taking are Lyrica 75 mg. and Ultram ER 100 mg. both 3 times a day. I also take Norco, a half tablet every 4 hours for breakthru pain. My doc wants to switch me to Methadone. Is that a more effective medication? Would a morphine pump be better? Is there anything else that is better than Methadone or is that the direction I should go. I don't know what to do.

Thanks everyone for any help you can provide. I sincerely appreciate it.

Barbara Johnson

[debhun]

Hey Barbj55 I am on Methadone but before that I was on opana er it was doing it's job but hubby lost his job and the cost of the meds was over $200 for a month. so I had to go down to a med that didn't cost that much which was Methadone. It also works very well I just have trouble being on it. You hear so many bad story's about it. But my Dr told me that it why she was there and she knows what she is doing. So I have left it at that. But hubby has ins now but Dr said it may not be able to which cause of ins. We will see cause I want to come off of Methadone and on to something Else. But it does work on my pain just not on my feelings on it. So try it and see if it is for you.

Deb

[suede]

Hi Barb,
I was on methadone foe several years, after being on many different meds, it worked on ,my pain well but I was a zombie on it I mean way out there and I was on a low dose.
Also if your Dr. is going to put you on methadone be positive that your DR is well experienced in the use of this drug because not just every Dr. knows how to dosage it.
I am now on Ms Contin(generic) and works well with out the terrible side effects I had on methadone, of course it is different for everyone but as for the Dr knowing that is a must.
Good Luck,
Linda

[spondygurl1]

Barb I have the same thing and have been on Duragesic for the past 4 years. I am on 50 every 48 hours and Vicadin for bt pain. I also take Topamax and am on xanax for anxiety. Altogether these work pretty well. I take the generic fentanel instead of the name brand Duragesic and use the Mylan brand but you may prefer the Sandoz. I just don't like the large size of the Sandoz or the resorvoir type patches so talk to him about this if you haven't already tried it. The dosages go pretty high and may be safer than the methadone. Good luck.

[Mark N]

Barb, Linda is right about your doctor being well versed in the use of Methadone. It is often an effective medicine and cheap but its use can be dangerous if not used properly. The triation rate of it is different than other meds so there are dangers about how much to take and the timing of when to take it. This is not a medicine to take unless you are very knowledgeable about what to do and what to avoid with it. There are medicines that are much safer to use and I would question why the doctor wants you to start with Methadone.

[Annie1234]

Hi ... I usually post at the Multiple Sclerosis board.

I've been on methadone for 12 years (yes, 12). The cost is only pennies per pill.

Follow these guidelines:

1) Nausea/vomiting will stop by using Compazine suppositories (yes, slipped into one's rectum). Use suppositories faithfully until nausea stops.

2) Dopiness will stop after one to two weeks -- do not drive during this period.

3) Increasing from one's long-term maintenance level might be difficult because of #1 and #2 above; therefore, Oxycontin (or something similar) is necessary for breakthrough pain.

4) Follow your doctor's instructions for getting off methadone to ensure no problems.

Best of luck,

~Annie

[macoutlaw@mac.com]

Hello,
I've been on Methadone since 1990. So, almost twenty years.
I think it's the best.
The stigma attached is for people who don't respect the drugs. Before I got methadone, (For RSD), I was on other things that messed with my head, I don't like to be "High".
That's what's great about Methadone. No Buzz!
(If there is, it's almost Always from something that's being mixed with it).

You need to have good breathing ability.
It can be dangerous to your breathing, and can cause constipation. I use Miralax.
I take 50-60 mg/day. At one time, I was at 100 mg./day.
Titrate up.

It's a good drug, if you and your doctor are knowledgeable with it.
Of course, be careful with alcohol.

Best wishes...

AintSoBad

[Mark N]

Barb, I was wondering how you are doing and what direction you decided to go with the medication. Mac is right that some people have great results [usually if other meds don't work well Methadone does] with Methadone but you and your doctor need to know what the issues are. I hope you have started on something to relieve your pain.

[Kathleen55]

I've been on Methadone (120 mg. per day) for about 5 years now. It's really too bad that it has gotten such a bad reputation because of people overdosing as a result of taking it without a doctors guidance. There have been several movie/t.v. stars who have died as a result of using methadone with other drugs. The problem with methadone is that the half life is quite long and when you are on it you aren't able to feel any "buzz" or high. As a result, folks who are using it to get high keep taking more and more of it. It takes very little to cause death if you aren't used to taking it. But: I have to say that it is the best pain medication that I've ever used. Nothing that I've taken in the past (and I've taken just about everything in the Class II group) has come close to giving me the pain relief that methadone has. Having said that, methadone should not be the next drug choice if you are on Ultram and Lyrica. There are so many other less potent narcotics that should be tried, in my opinion. How about oxycodone or hydrocodone, morphine or even the Fentanyl patch. Sure hope you find a med that works for you!

[Barbj55]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my question about Methadone. The reason I want to get off Lyrica and Ultram ER is because of the side effects. I'm carrying a lot of fluid. My ankles and legs are heavy with fluid and are making it difficult to walk. On my own since I last saw my Doc, I have reduced those two meds from 3 a day to 2 a day. But I continue to take 1/2 tab. of Norco as needed for breakthru pain

When I told my Doc that I'm having trouble with the side effects, her reaction was, "Everyone has trouble with side effects." She didn't listen to the problem I was having. Instead she simply filled out a prescription for Methadone and wrote directions as how to take it.

I feel I need a second opinion from another pain Doc before starting on Methadone. I have also read on the internet about radiofrequency facet injections. The doctor uses a needle to heat the nerve which in turns dulls its pain impulses. i only need it in my neck. Why won't pain management docs consider that? Is it that it takes more skill than writing on an Rx pad. This is why I'm seeking a second opinion.

I don't have pain all over my body, only specific areas of the neck and the sacro-iliac region. I think a spinal injection as mentioned above would do the trick and better than drugs or at least reduce the dosage. Am I wrong?

Mark N I haven't made any progress so far except for reducing my current meds on my own. So far that seems to be working okay.

I did try to get a second opinion from a pain doc recommended to me. She spent the entire visit talking about her pain and the problems with socialized medicine. When I asked what she took for her pain, she replied, "I can't take any meds, I'm working as a doctor. I only allow myself an Ibuprofen once in awhile." I thought to myself, Lady you don't know what pain is!!

[lobelsteve]

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my question about Methadone. The reason I want to get off Lyrica and Ultram ER is because of the side effects. I'm carrying a lot of fluid. My ankles and legs are heavy with fluid and are making it difficult to walk. On my own since I last saw my Doc, I have reduced those two meds from 3 a day to 2 a day. But I continue to take 1/2 tab. of Norco as needed for breakthru pain

When I told my Doc that I'm having trouble with the side effects, her reaction was, "Everyone has trouble with side effects." She didn't listen to the problem I was having. Instead she simply filled out a prescription for Methadone and wrote directions as how to take it.

I feel I need a second opinion from another pain Doc before starting on Methadone. I have also read on the internet about radiofrequency facet injections. The doctor uses a needle to heat the nerve which in turns dulls its pain impulses. i only need it in my neck. Why won't pain management docs consider that? Is it that it takes more skill than writing on an Rx pad. This is why I'm seeking a second opinion.

I don't have pain all over my body, only specific areas of the neck and the sacro-iliac region. I think a spinal injection as mentioned above would do the trick and better than drugs or at least reduce the dosage. Am I wrong?

Mark N I haven't made any progress so far except for reducing my current meds on my own. So far that seems to be working okay.

I did try to get a second opinion from a pain doc recommended to me. She spent the entire visit talking about her pain and the problems with socialized medicine. When I asked what she took for her pain, she replied, "I can't take any meds, I'm working as a doctor. I only allow myself an Ibuprofen once in awhile." I thought to myself, Lady you don't know what pain is!!

Where are you located (state only)?

I'm sure we can find you a pain doc willing to treat your pain adequately and legitimately.

[Barbj55]

Thanks, Lobelsteve. I live in California.

Barbara