Any input on methadone and roxicodone combo

 

So I met with my new PM Dr yesterday and he advised a new combo of meds for me - 30 mg Roxicodone three times per day and 10 mg of methadone 3 x per day.

Anyone else been on that type of combo??  I am a bit nervous about the methadone cause of the stigma over that drug, but I do trust his advice.  The way he explained it seemed to make a lot of sense to me.  He told me to take the roxicodone first, which is quick acting and short acting, then to take the methadone about an hour later, and repeat 3 x / day.  He explained how the methadone is long lasting and will keep a good level of pain relief and the roxicodone works much quicker, but produces a lot more highs and lows of med level and pain relief.  I was previously on just the roxicodone by itself and found that it worked very well, but it did give me a lot of ups and downs. 

I am hoping that this new combo does what he says it should!! 

Any idea how many days until I get to a steady state to be able to tell if this is a good choice for me or not??  (I forgot to ask him)

 

you need to read this article . I would not combine the 2 at all

http://www.medications.com/drugs/roxicodone

Why do you say it is a bad combo??

The methadone is a long acting med and the oxycodone is short acting and kicks in faster. The way my Dr explained it to me was that it was similar to those that are on OxyContin as the long-acting med with oxycodone IR for BT pain - but it is MUCH cheaper!!

Question for those that are on methadone for pain .... what do you use for BT ??

Bubsy,
I take Methadone. It's not perfect but it gets me through the night.
Doctors sometimes prescribe unusual combinations. PDR would scream, but in their practice they've found it's ok. If you're too nervous, change doctor. SEE WHAT THEY SAY.
...NOT
Pamela Neckpain

Tom ...
I can't read ALL the posts. What's BT?
When you speak of "Depression" do you mean emotional or physical ... as in breathing.
Don't ever tell anyone what you're taking. They may like it too much and when they visit you they may pluck some pills from your medicine cabinet.
I live in CA. Not many people think I'm a junkie. I'll bet this is different in different states.
I fear Methadone because I don't believe it will help in immediate pain such as a
sliced hand, broken leg, or Migrain headache. Doctors don't seem to know much about it.
Pamela Neckpain

Hello all,
I haven't posted here for a while but I browse alot to see whats going on w/ my fellow CP'ers. Bub, I've been taking this combo for years after trying lots of different meds either alone or together and for me it is by far the best control for my pain. When I took oxycodone alone in different forms and doses it gave me that dopie spacy feeling which was extremly hard to do my work and make it through the 10+hr day with all the ups & downs. With 10mg of methadone in the morning I can work fine w/o feeling like a zombie untill the pain starts to build. As soon as I know it's coming on bad (I never really get rid of all of it) I take a 10mg Roxie which goes staight for the pain and "nips it in the bud" and it seems to be a low enough dose that does not get me stupid. I will end up taking 2 - 4 of the 10mg Roxies during the day depending on how it's going and then take a 10mg methadone at bedtime which kind of gets me through the night. But as someone stated earlier, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT!!! so what works for me may not work for you. I do get those looks at the pharmacy when the person behind the counter asks what I'm picking up, I know some of those counter make beleive wantobe pharmisists love to do that to you, especially when there is a long line! The M-word always gets attention and those "looks" but at my age I just don't care anymore!! Let them think what they want! The only thing that really scares me is all the kids especially here in Florida who are dying from methadone. I'm afraid they are going to stop prescribing it just like the did with Oxycottin a few years ago. Then it will be back to the drawing board. I hope I don't sound cold, of course it gets me every time a kid dies from an overdose, my son overdosed twice and only God knows why he lived both times. Good news, he is all cleaned up and has been in the Navy for 3 of a 6 year enlistment on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Anyway, thats my 2 cents for whatever its worth. I hope everyone has a pain free night tonight and figures out the best treatment for themselves soon!
Your old friend,
Pete

Bubsy,

Yes I do live in paridise~hell depending how you look at it. I live in Central Palm Bch. County but work in Pompano Bch. I just love that 95 commute every day. Fact> US95 in Palm Beach & Broward Counties is the most deadly road in the Nation! I guess its the combo of drivers from all over the nation added to all the islanders, South & Central Americans and lets not forget the "Blueheads" and young "Fast & Furious" kids in their little zoom cars racing around the tractor trailers!!! Hope I don't offend anyone!!

Your friend,

Pete

PS>Sorry about all the PC jibberish on the bottom of my page, my main Forum here at HW is Prostate Cancer. 

Bubsy,
Sounds like you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about! Sorry to all the others for being off topic.
Pete