Methadone

[eagle18]

If there is anybody who may be taking methadone for pain, I would be interested about their experience. My current medication does not seem to be working as it once did.

Thanks

[mike bauer]

I have been thoinking about it also. I am on Avinza and Morphene and Lyrica for pain. It has done some good. It does seem to be working somewhat. But at this high level of constant burning and pins and needles... its hard to expect anything to work. BUT!!!! some of our friends from the UK (England) tell me that Methadone seems to be the only real thing. I know its at the extreme end of the scale??? BUT who cares... Im at the extreme end of the pain scale as well... so whats the difference.

[rfbdorf]

Hey, guys - check your PMs.
- Richard

[arndog]

I took Methadone for about a year. I have a love/ hate relationship with narcs, especially long acting narcs. My problem with Methadone (I was on 10mg 3 times a day - not a huge dose) was that I developed tolerance and as the drugs levels dropped, I felt withdrawal symptoms and increased pain. Once I made this realization, I withdrew as fast as I could (arguably the most unpleasant thing I have ever done). I drew the conclusion that if I had to take narcs for pain, I would stick to short acting agents like oxycodone. The 55 hour half life of Methadone worries me. I actually had less pain when I got off them which I attribute to 'awakening' my own endorphin productions. I know that sounds paradoxical but I then learned that others described this paradoxical effect of having less pain off the narcs.
This is just my opinion of course.
Good luck to you.

[Spinalbreakdown]

I'm on 10 mg Methadone 3x daily along with 3x600mg of Gabapentin. This generally helps me. I do experience episodes of excessive sweating which my doc tells me could be a symptom of my SCI or from the Methadone. It gets embarassing when the sweat starts pouring off me in front of a customer at work. I tried weaning myself off them once and along with not working (the pain returned full force) the side effects of withdrawl were significant. It works great for me because of the long half-life but I'd think twice about going on it if something else is working ok.

[David Berg]

Along with everyone else's comments (since I've never used it) I mention that methadone may work better for some people than other opiates because I understand it works on different receptors. Of course, that's no guarantee, but something to keep in mind.

[JonnyC]

I take 50ml / day in liquid form.
Its good for pain and yeah, it is highly addictive. However, if one needs it, one needs it.
Its not a med which gives long term probs e.g, liver damage.
I've come of it before without tapering and it was a bad move. However, coming off it gradually is fine.
Give it a go and see what you think. You can always up your dose.
On the consipation side. Taken with "Movicol" and theres no such thing as constipation!

[angel7]

I just started on Methadone. I take 6 - 5 mg tablets through the day. It seems to work very well for me. At first it made me a little too aggressive and anxious but then he added clonazapan and that helped a lot.

Deb

[LBUSH49]

Right now I'm taking 30 MG's of oxycontin 3 x's a day and the DR. at the Pain clinic had said something about switching over to Methadone , and that was all she said , would that help relieve the pain more than Oxycontin , am I better to leave my medication the way it is or should I try switching over , would I get more relief ?

[arndog]

LBUSH49 - 2 reasons I can think of to switch, no, maybe 3 reasons.
1. The cost of an oxycontin pill is about 3 dollars compared to methadone which costs about 20 cents.
2. The half life of Methadone is 50 hours compared to a half life of oxycontin of 8 to 12 hours. This can be good and bad. But it is fair to say that Methadone lasts longer than OC.
3. I think methadone has less euphoria than OC which might not be as fun but in the long run may be better.
But I can tell you from personal experience that it is a bear to come off Methadone - because of its long half life - That experience goes down as one of the worst of my life.....

[angel7]

I have to agree with arndog. I am also on Methadone.

Deb

[LBUSH49]

Right now between the Oxycontin and the Pecocet , I'm not getting any relief , and at the Pain Clinic the DR. asked me if I ever tried Methadone and I told her no , and that was the end of my appointment , she said that I needed to go to , what she called the best Pain Clinic in the north east Beth Isreal Pain Center which is in Boston Ma. about a hour drive away , and with me taking narcotics I don't drive god help me if I got into a accident and someone died , then I'd be in jail for the rest of my life and I don't want that. ;LBUSH