Methadone For Pain Control Posts

Methadone For Pain Control Information

Methadone For Pain Control Information in Answers

Whats your opinion on methadone used for pain control? I want to know how people think about it,and why Thanks to all of you that answered I have been on it for six years now.I fractured my spine in three places,and will have nerve damage in my left leg for the rest of my life.I wanted to know what others thought of it.Thank you

beel replied: "its strong. it'll knock u out. . . . depends on u tolerance. there are different dossages tho.."

ledzep4210 replied: "gave it to a few in my career dont know if it was really that effective though-definately not as popular as percocet,roxanol or oxycontin-seems likes all the world is on those"

wAKinG uP In HIs DReaMs replied: "Well, I don't have a very good opinion of it. My husband had major surgery about 5 years ago and was put on Methadone for quite a while and his doctor didn't really monitor him for the side effects. He just kept refilling the scripts. My husband always took the correct amount, he never abused it or took more than he was supposed to. But even though he was taking the prescribed amount it turned him into a completely different person. His doctor didn't care what it was doing to him. He would fall asleep while driving, while smoking, while eating. It was horrible. Then he became physical with me one time. He is not the kind of man to put his hands on any woman, especially me, his wife. That was the last straw. This medicine had him completely out of his mind and his doctor didn't care and my hubby wasn't in his right mind enough to realize what he was doing. I ended up leaving him because I was afraid of my safety. Well, it took a few months but we did get back together (thank God). It took me leaving for him to realize what this horrible drug was doing to him. He quit cold turkey. It almost killed him. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance because of the terrible withdrawal effects. But all these years later, he is doing great, our marriage is better than ever. :) I have in the last three years gotten an illness. It's a painful, chronic, neurological disorder. My doctor wants me to take wither Methadone or Oxycontin and I told him no way. I take the maximum dosage of Ultram a day and 2 or 3 mild xanax a day to relieve my pain enough so that I can walk. I don't believe that people should be given medications that strong unless it is the very last resort and then are monitored several times a week by their doctor. These doctors are prescribing this medication to people than leaving them on their own and then when they become addicted to it or have crazy side effects they don't want anything to do with them as patients any longer, it's ludicrous!!"

DynodiKk replied: "It depends on the level and severity of your daily pain, what is wrong with you and your experience with these drugs. It is a awesome painkiller but it's pain blocking begins at 60 to 100 mg's a day and a person must be gradually brought up to higher doses. It is a full MU agonist and NMDA too. It is lightest on on all the organs and if used correctly in a doctor's plan with oxycodone or hydro it is fantastic. Methadone is not a blocker and it's mode of action actually let's other pain killer's compliment each other's effects. But this must be done in the right doses. If you use it, bring up your tolerence gradual. Example 5mg a day for three days, than 10 for three days and so fourth. It is the most scrutinized drug on the planet and no drug has gone under all the rigorious testing methadone has and the long term effects are extreemly documented. It was invented for pain as a replacement for morphine in the 40's. It STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM LONGER, SO dosing this medication does not have to be that much, even twice a day is enough. It maintains a constant flat blood level reducing the mental addiction for it keeps these levels flat where other pain killer's fly high and drop like a rock changing your mood thinking you want more of the crap, Methadone does not do this. On this premise it is superior. There is a lot of negative stuff on Methadone, don't believe any of it, do your research. There is a lot of lies out there. iF PRESCRIBED by a good doc and you are a advanced user of these meds it is great! If prescribed by a quack it can be deadly. The success of Methadone for pain is all dictated by the initial starting doses and this should begin at as little as 5mg's, never 10 nor 20 and gradually brought up and monitoring is crucial. it is a long term thing also and if you do this expect to remain on it. The use of any other medication must be strictly monitored and the patient must know how he or she reacts to this med with other meds. This stuff is nothing to play with, but if used properly it id fantastic. And...........If a person thinks Methadone withdrawal is bad, they ought to feel Ultram withdrawal and Xanex. Ultram is the worse Pain med (It is a narcotic opiate and it's SSI properties make the withdrawal absolute hell) ever made and Xanex is the worse most over prescribed benzo ont he planet, these are two horrible drugs! One month one Xanex and you are a benzo addict, and nenzo withdrawals can kill you, methadone withdrawal WILL NOT! Doctor's have been lying about Ultram for years, saying it is a non-narcotic and saying Xanex is safer than Valium. ALL LIES! ."

How many people with chronic pain have been prescribed methadone for pain control? If you are one and it works for you too let us know. Thank you a chronic pain sufferer for 27 of 47 yrs To make it clear I have been prescribed it for the last 6 yrs and it changed my life! My pain went from an 8 level down to a 1 or 2, but recently my femoral head has collapsed more and my pain level has increased and I am forced to take a breakthrough pain medicine in addition to the methadone, I believe it is "the other pain med" reducing the effectiveness of the methadone, and at times it seems to cause pain rather than help it like the methadone always has. Any comments on this? oh and Ryan: your answer was the very first! but what exactly is the one word "no" referring to? Could you clarify, I do thank you very much for your input, Thank You all ' ' Also the methadone does not give you the "High" feeling that other opiates do, except a slight buzz for maybe an hour or 2 when you first start the meds. this goes away within the first 3 day's with most people I have confided in that also take the same thing "methadone". it is great to wake up every morning and not be in the beginning stage of opiate w/drawl, like other opiates do after you are on them for an extended period.

Ryan P replied: "no"

ms.contin replied: "i have been prescribed methodone in the past for pain control and it worked very well for me. not amny side effects though a little sleepy and some slight nausia. it has a long effect on pain compaired to percodan and lorcet. just ask your pain care center if its right for you."

What are alternatives to methadone for pain? I had shingles in 2003 and it caused nerve damage (phn). I take about four or five 5mg doses of methadone a week to control the intense pain in the trigeminal nerve in my face. I am afraid of becoming addicted to this drug. Loritab does me no good at all. Has anyone had this experience. I have a physician that will prescribe methadone but I would really like to get away from it and him. My family physician can write lesser painkillers but I absolutely don't know which way to go. Are pain management doctors usually effective?

the_only_solorose replied: "the key to pain meds, like methadone, is that if you have pain, and use the medication for that purpose, you do not become addicted. Addiction occurs when you don't need the med for pain and you only use it to get high, then you become dependant on the stuff. If the methadone works for you, then be grateful, because many meds will not work on neuralgia like yours."

Charlie B. replied: "Any pain killer type of drug can be addictive if it's taken over a long period of time. There are drugs that are less addictive than methadone, but it's really a question that should be answered by a doctor. Pain management is an alternative, but I personally have never been to one."

Rockford replied: "If you really are in pain, its unlikey you will get addicted. I doubt you feel high, all you feel is a reduction in pain that allows you to function. For nerve pain you might want a pain medicine that actually targets the nerves like neurotin or topamax. Neurotin works better, but you gain weight. You loose weight while on topamax, but it fogs your thinking for about six weeks. The longer you take it, the more clear you think and the side effects go away. "

GloBug replied: "If addiction is a problem, you can find help at this site:, Methadone is extremely addictive and the side effects on your body will be worse than your pain. Yes, pain management doctors are generally effective. I have nerve damage due to scar tissue from a surgery. Be honest and detailed with the doctor and you should be able to get some relief. Let the doctor know your concerns about certain medications and that should save both you and the doctor some time. Do your research on line. You can search for a doctor in your area: You can research different drugs at:"

fisherwoman replied: "I have suffered chronic severe pain for many years, I have tried just about everything out there, many are short acting, such as hydrocodone, you need to take it every 4-6hrs to gain relief. I take Methadone, and I wish it would have been offered to me a long time ago, it has made my life of pain easier to deal with, yes you can become physically addicted, I'm not and I don't really understand why, but I am just grateful that it is available to me. I have not tried a pain management clinic, but if the Methadone begins to not help, it will be something I will consider. Good luck with your jouney."

Dib replied: "What is it about the methadone that you don't want to continue using it? It sounds like it's been effective for you and that you are not having any problems with it. You're not using a high amount of it and you're only taking it when needed. It doesn't sound to me as if "addiction" is an issue you need to be worrying about because you're using it for the right reasons and taking it at the right times."

icesk8er replied: "I eventually went off all of my narcotic medications for my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (nerve pain). My pain management doctor was able to help me out a ton with other options that didn't include narcotics. I would recommend that if you don't know how else to get off the medication, and control the pain."

Anybody out there on methadone for pain management due to herniated disks? My son has herniated and bulged disks due to automobile accident. He became addicted to narcotic medication that was given to control his pain. Went through detox but doctor wants him to go to methadone clinic to manage his pain. He completed detox 3 weeks ago and has had no narcotic pain pills since, but today started on the methadone program. I am having a hard time understanding this, can anyone give me insight from personal experience?

Princess replied: "Methadone is way less addicting than other narcotics. It has fewer side affects, and is much easier to go off of than narcotics. The benefits far outweigh the fact that he is starting these. My dad has been taking them for pain for about three years now. He can go days and weeks with no withdrawal symptoms, and he is much more active in his day to day activities than he was when taking the narcotics."

Yvette C replied: "I took methadone for pain in my hand (I had a flesh eating bacteria in my hand and lost one finger.) They had been giving me large doses of pain meds in the hospital, and I slowly built up a tolerance to them. Methadone is an excellent pain releiver, but it is something to respect also. It is potent and if he already has an addictive personality he should be aware that someone will monitor how much he is taking. If he is going through a clinic, they will only give him what he needs for a set period, to prevent him from abusing it. Remind him not to take it with any other narcotic he may have or sleeping pills and absolutely no alcohol. Evidently he is being given the methadone through a program, because of his previous addiction to the other narcotic meds, and this is a very good idea. The program should only give him small doses and he will not be able to get more than he should be taking. That is probably why his doctor decided to go this route. The methadone program will treat his pain, it is not being used to detox him from the previous narcotics. He needs to also be aware that if he goes to any hospital, he absolutely must tell the doctors and staff that he is on methadone, so they do not give him anything to interfer with his treatment. Good Luck and I hope this helped."

Chas B replied: "It's called methadone maintenance. They dispense a predetermined dosage everyday. My experience with methadone is that it is not a very good pain killer. I was on the program for 1 1/2 years and finally reduced the dosage over a period of months and went to a pain management clinic. Detoxing from methadone is far worse than pills or even heroin so I don't recommend it at all. I would say 85% of the people I saw every day at the clinic were drug abusers. They've been on methodone for 20 years and they don't care what it has done to their liver after all those years. MediCal pays for it so they get a legal boost daily for free and then they sell drugs in the parking lot. It's a very sad life they live. You see a lot of broken humans in those places. There were a few folks there like me that were dealing with chronic pain but for me it just didn't work as well as being under a good doctors care I got started on that path from being hit by a drunk driver and fracturing my neck. 2 operations and 2 years of PT later I just accept the fact that I take hydrocodone, oxycotin everyday and will for the rest of my life. I never take more than the dosage and if I do experience too much pain I call the doctor. That's why I have been able to live my life on pain medication without the down side of them Also anyone that been on methadone will tell you methadone is far more addictive and far harder to kick than oxycotin, heroin, anything Good luck"

Old Beach Sage replied: "Methadone is no place if your son wants to have a normal life. Short term maybe, long term no. Think about this: if your son ever gets arrested they will come and detox him in 7 days which normally takes months. He will suffer like never before. Get him help in pain management"

I'm prescribed methadone for pain - Oh the effects.. MethadoneForum.com contacted me last night? I am on methadone pills for pain management and sent me an email and said they were a safe online discussion group but when I went there it appears to be only me in the forum. I yake methadone for pain control but have side effects. Because of the side effects I would like to talk to someone besides my doctor which says their normal. Are posts and threads hidden on the forum or would I be the first patient to visit the site. Safety for myself & privacy are important since I have a high paying job that I wouldn't want to lose.

Rachel T replied: "I took Methadone for pain too and came off of it after only 4 days because of all of the side effects. Plus, after some research, I discovered that this drug is very hard to come off when you are ready and I decided that it was not for me. Even though I was only on it for 4 days, and was immediately switched over to OxyContin for my Pain Management, I still had some pretty nasty withdrawals for about 5 days. My feet, legs, hands, arms, and stomach swelled up to 3 to 4 times their normal size. I could not get my shoes on for a week! I could not get my wedding ring on either and almost had to cut it off because of the severity of the swelling. I had severe insomnia and anxiety. I think I slept about 4 hours the entire time that I was on the medication. When I called my doctor about the insomnia and anxiety, he said these were normal side effects and that I just needed to let my body adjust to the medicine. I started it over the weekend, so when the swelling started, I called the pharmacist who said that swelling can also be a typical side effect and should diminish in a few days. Well, it did not, I scheduled an emergency appointment with my PM doctor, and once he saw the severity of my swelling, he immediately took me off the Methadone. He said that was not normal and was a severe allergic reaction. I have found that Methadone is some pretty nasty stuff. I think that it has a purpose for patients who will never come off pain meds, but I will be able to come off of them after I have the surgery I need on my neck (hopefully). If you are unhappy with the Methadone, then you need to convey this to your doctor. Do some research online and present it to him along with an argument for trying something else. I found that when I went in with an alternative and well researched plan, my doctor responded better to me than when I just called and told him I didn't like the medication. As far as the web site, I went on to the link you provided and it looks like the administrator just started the forum a couple of days ago, so there may not be any members yet to post anything. Or, if there are members, they just have not posted anything to the forum boards to date. I use a forum that looks like this one and they can be run by anyone, so the possibility that there are no members yet is highly likely. Good luck with the Methadone. I know it can be useful to some people, it was just completely awful for me!"

qtpie20121 replied: "The forum is definitely new and probably not a great place to go for help right now. There are some well established groups out there that can help. I have a website but other than info a website is not interactive so I would suggest which was created by NAMA (National Association of Methadone Advocates) & which has a chronic pain forum. Both would be good. As far as side effects go though I don't know what sort you are having but there are many that are considered normal which almost everyone has especially at first. Usually, these disappear within the first 3 mo.'s."

i was on methadone for server pain..weened myself off..went threw dope sick..been 26 days..read below..? i was on 40mg wafers..3aday=120mgs aday + 1 mg of xanax..im a asthmatic...and recently found out i have sever apnea...have to go back to pain management tomorrow cuz i thought i had the pain controlled i got fooled..and tramadol dont touch this pain..i was on opioids for 3 yrs..what is the drug to ask 4..i want something that wont effect my apnea i ressptory deppreshion..but in the past had no problems with breathing when i was on methadone..now they dont prescribe methadone anymore 4 pain..what would be the right narcotic too use it only has to work on me during 8am-6pm were i can walk without sever pain!!!!!!! 10 POINTS ASAP!!!!!!!!!!

Kimmie replied: "Jamgerky, Been there done that! Look into the Duragesic Patch. I used to be on Oxy's (I wont even go there) but the patch is awesome. Change it every 3 days.. If you have trouble keeping it on the company "Jansen" will send you some transparent covers to put over it and it WILL stay on. But you have to use the brand and send them proof. If you do go this route and I hope you do this is the number to get the patch covers 1800 526 7736. They are free also I wish you luck I know how you feel."

Chas replied: "I've been through the methadone program and I don't think very highly of it or the pain and suffering you go through getting off it. I don't know what you take pain meds for but I have a cervical spine injury and here what has worked for me I also take hydrocodone, oxycodone and a few other nerve damage meds. Here are a couple of links that may help you. Here is a link to see if there are any clinical trial that may help you in your area "

rey replied: "Use biomagnetic therapy The body's energy is thought to flow through channels known as Energy Meridians. These can be compared with the currents that exist in a magnetic field. The meridians can be accessed through classic acupuncture points (acupoints) on the skin surface, and form the basis of ancient therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure. In good health, energy flows through the meridians in a balanced way. Ill health is thought o be associated with imbalances or blockages in energy flow through the body. Many illnesses affect the bioenergetic functions of cells. When energy flow becomes abnormal, acupoints on the surrounding skin become tender and painful to touch. These are known as tsubos. In acupuncture, these points are stimulated with fine needles to generate electrical impulses and restore energy balance. In magnetic therapy, the acupoints are stimulated by tiny pulses of electromagnetic energy. Our bodies today have been developed in an environment enriched in oxygen water, nutrients and MAGNETISM. All of the natural human systems in our bodies are electro-magnetic in nature and respond to the earth's natural magnetism. Our bodies' natural magnetic field is created by the flow of electrically charged ions in and out of cells, and the transmission of electric impulses through cell membranes. Due to the fast pace of modern living and the continual development in technology and society, the earth's geomagnetic field has grown very much weaker in the recent past. This field is constantly being shielded from us by everyday items we take for granted such as: steel cars, trains, airplanes, ships and metal framed buildings. The measurement now used for magnets is called GAUSS, named after the 19th century German physicist Carl Gauss, gauss measurement is based upon the lifting power of a magnet. Size, shape and construction of the magnet can also affect the strength. It is a natural way of stimulating your body to combat pain. The measurement now used for magnets is called GAUSS, named after the 19th century German physicist Carl Gauss, gauss measurement is based upon the lifting power of a magnet. Size, shape and construction of the magnet can also affect the strength. It is a natural way of stimulating your body to combat pain. Arthritis & rheumatism Joint and muscle pain Shoulder pain Back ache, headache and neck ache Respiratory Problems: coughs & asthma. Constipation Inflammation Insomnia Jet lag Stress."

ratfanatik replied: "i take morphine 30 mg ir tabs. they are instant release instead of the ms contin which are released slowly. my dr gives me methadone for pain. depends on what the pain is from. i have severe fibromyalgia and rheumatiod polyarthralgia. have you tried lyrica? i dont know much about it though. DONT TAKE ULTRAM(tramadol)IF YOU ARE ON METHADONE! it causes severe withdrawls. also dont take subutex, bupernorphine, or any other narcotic antagonist. that could kill you if you are on methadone! where are you located? i know some great doctors here in southern california. good luck"

US_DR_JD replied: "Methadone is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for chronic pain in the world. It is still used, and is prescibed frequently. In order to use it for addiction you have to be specially trained, but many pain specialist use it commonly. The 40 mg tablets are now, in most cases, only used in addiction medicine, and pain medicine specialist, usually prescribe their patients 10 mg tablets. This does not mean a patient is limited to 10 mg, and in fact I had one patient who I saw at one time who was taking 19 X 10 mg tablets three times a day. The concern is that many people who were starting patients on methadone for pain did not understand how to control the medication when converting a patient from other medications, and patients were often given too high a dose. Methadone is effective, if started at a low dose and built slowly until effective. Of the medications for long term chronic pain, I prefer methadone, Duragesic, and Kadian, due to their stability. They do not have a great amount of fluctuation in effect throughout the day, and give a constant level of pain control, without significant issues of respiratory depression in most patients. If your problem is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, then that needs to be properly managed, if you are properly controlled on CPAP or BiPAP then the opioid analgesic, in a reasonable amount should not cause a significant problem. Respiratory depression is a side effect encountered if the dose is too high, escalated too rapidly or the prescribed, and known controlled dose is exceeded. Good luck with your pain control."

methadone therepy question....? hypothetically speaking how does one get started on this treatment? I've been on pain meds for a few years I recently tried not taking my meds and after about 24hrs I started not feeling very well and by 36hrs I was so sick everyone thought I had the flu which is what it felt like... I could not take it anymore and started taking my meds again within about an hour I was healthy again. I can not believe how sick I got..... people suggested methadone not subutex cuz the fact I have cronic pain so methadone may be my best choice as I still need pain controlled and methadone will do both control pain plus help me stop the oxycodone meds. Is this true? Can I just walk into a methadone clinic myself and talk to someone about my situation? Will they start treatment that day if I tell them I am out of meds and do not want anymore refills and I am in withdrawl. How does this work? Do I need my Dr. to send me for insurance to cover...I can't miss work though.

davidt replied: "i suggest you visit your doctor,get a referral for the methadone clinic,i thing you are doing the right thing,do it now while it is fresh in your mind"

gw7772000 replied: "Walk into a methadone clinic and talk to someone about your situation, and hopefully someone can help you there. Not sure if your insurance will cover. Depends on the policy. The methadone will control pain, plus eliminate the need for other opiates. However, good luck getting off the methadone. It is as addictive as heroin. You will probably need the help of a pro to get off it. Good luck."

tabata g replied: "most methadone clinics you need to go there daily for your drink and they open early enough so you can get to work You earn take home bottles with clean urine and yes call first cause the doctor is not always in those place you will need to see him first i suggest suboxone to get offf the pain pills im doing it now email me if you want"

singforjesus247 replied: "Do not go to a methadone clinic. Most of them ignore your symptoms if you have a reaction to the methadone. My brother died from a mmt(methadone maintnence clinic) after the 5th day. He was taking nothing extra. Please whatever you do, do not go to a mmt, they kill. END OF STORY! If you would like to know more, go to my brothers memorial site.(http://www.matthew-fielder.memory-of.com/) This may sound harsh, but if you dont want to end up dead. I highly encourage you not to treat your addiction with methadone... Thanks, Meghan (R.I.P. Mat Fielder)"

Is it safe to go to an online Methadone Forum for answers? I am prescribed methadone for pain management and pain control. I'm not sure how they know or if they do but I just got an email from saying to join and that it is a safe online methadone discussion community, but when I went there it looks like nobody is there. Do they hide the threads and posts because it's related to methadone or am I just the first person to get the email and want to ask questions about methadone as well as post some of the effects. Should I try it out?

Katie P replied: "Maybe wait and see if you anyone is on there, or if you want you could ask a question and see if anyone reponds. But yes I suppose you have to put your info on there. If they say it is safe then it may be. Good luck, it may be beneficial for you."

just wondering replied: "Getting answers anywhere on the internet is just like getting answers from people you know. Sometimes it is right, and sometimes it is wrong. As for this particular website, I do not really know, but I belong to several forums, and have found that answers are wide and varied. Some are true, and some are false. It is hard to tell what you are getting. I would suggest any answers you get from an internet source should be verified somewhere else. Your Dr can help you out some with this. I know it would be nice to be able to talk to people with the same problems you have, but be careful what you accept as fact or fiction."

educate yourselves methadone wasnt made for addicts of any kind? it was used instead of morphine,during ww2 because we had a law called trading with the enemy act.But the bush family prescott grandpa bush was funding the nazis and paid for 33 percent of there borders..anyways it also helps addicts but is more like morphine and wasnt made for addicts but pain control...

charlton_g_w replied: "if you would present your argument (which i am certain is true) in an educated, well written, correctly spelled manner, more people will take you seriously. it was discovered later late 60's early 70's that it could possibly help addicts get off heroin. but dont fool yourself, methadone is highly addictive, difficult to get off and apparently quite a high."

Brennan L replied: "not sure if that is true but I know methadone saved my bestfriends life"

The mom replied: "How about you continue your education some? While it is true that methadone was developed in what was then Nazi Germany- the Hitler connection is all myth. It was developed by a pharmaceutical laboratory trying to develop a muscle relaxant, and the narcotic properties took them completely by surprise. It wasn't used during WW2, even though there was a morphine shortage. It wasn't used for pain relief until afterwards, once they had the dosages worked out. Oral methadone has been used in hospitals since the 1950's, when they realized it was very helpful in treating opioid addicted patients, and has been used so ever since then. The fact is, it was not made as a pain reliever in the sense of morphine- it was designed to be a muscle relaxant more like Motrin. It was considered to be a wonder drug at first, until studies and long term treatment showed it was very difficult to wean patients off the methadone. It is still used as a pain reliever, in cases where other opioid treatments are not effective, but it must be very carefully monitored and adjusted- and the doctor needs a great deal of experience in using it. You won't see it prescribed for use outside a hospital or treatment center for that reason. The whole Bush connection thing may or may not be truth, however- and honestly I don't care either way. Lots of folks were in with the Nazi's, right up until they discovered the concentration camps. We didn't get into it with Germany because we disagreed with how they treated the Jewish people, or anybody else for that matter. We didn't go to war with Germany until after Japan attacked us at Pearl Harbor, and German declared war on us as part of their pact with Japan. They gambled that the US couldn't fight a two front war, and would take on Japan first, while they made gains in Europe. They gambled and lost, and the rest is history. Amazing what a little education can do for you, huh?"