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Posted 10/23/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)

Ok Family....I have asked about this before but I now have new information.... I have been wanting to change from Methadone to something else for a while now...I just learned about Opana ER and was concerned that my TennCare wouldn't cover it...Well, I just found out that it is on the Preferred Drug List....Yippee!!  So, at least I have something I can take...

Now, does anyone take Opana ER?  And what do you think about it?

I also saw where the conversion was .5 from Methadone to Opana ER...I think that means that I can take half the mg. of Opana ER than the Methadone....so I take 120 mg. Methadone...I would be able to only take 60 mg. Opana ER?  Right?

Any help I would love...

Me.

Posted 10/24/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have never took Opana, but I have heard that it's very wonderful for pain, if not one of the best. I even decided that if Suboxone didnt work out for me (which it did), that I would try Opana next since that's one of the VERY few I havent tried yet. I dont know about conversion, but I would think your doctor would know what they're doing when switching. Also dont forget to ask you doctor about maybe tapering the methadone and slowly upping the opana (or any other med you try) cause Methadone causes withdrawals no matter what med you switch to. I really feel that if you suddenly stopped the methadone your gonna think that the new med isnt working and give up to easily. Most docs are unaware about methadone and having to be tapered when switching to a new pain med, so ask your doctor about what they know about this and their advise.

-Carmen
Posted 10/24/2009 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
The largest dose of Opana ER is 40mg and it's unsafe to start a new drug at a peak level. I was on methadone for awhile before switching to Opana and I've found Opana to be MUCH stronger than methadone. 10mg of instant release Opana had the same effect on me as 80mg of oxycodone (I see you take it, that's why I mention it). Talk it over with your doctor and let him/her decide what's best, but generally when started on a new drug, you should start low to see how it affects you.
Posted 10/24/2009 7:49 PM (GMT 0)

 

 

This is exactly what I was hoping for...stories about someone using Opana ER..and especially from someone that took Methadone first....That was very helpful

 

I did try to change to Morphine from Methadone once but the Doc didn't taper me before starting me on the Morphine so it was a disaster!!!!  I was on 120 mg. Methadone and he put me on 120 of Morphine...I thought he was a specialist in Pain Management...at least, that's what it says on his info. page.....so I was shocked by how he handled it.

 

He wrote me Opana (regular kind) when it was hard to find the Oxycodone but I couldn't afford $700 for a months worth...I didn't have insurance at the time.  Now that I know that TennCare covers it I might try it...Would I have to have both scripts at first?  To start the tapering?  I know that the ER kind is like Oxycontin as far as it being Timed Released...but other then that....are they alike?

 

I know NOTHING about Hydromorphone or Oxymorphone...only what I've read....so any knowledge is greatly appreciated..

 

Thanks for all the info and experiences...it helps me.

 

Me.

Posted 10/24/2009 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
You're right about OpanaER being similar to OxyContin. 1 pill releases the med at a steady rate over the course of 12 hours (I take 2x/day, but I've heard of people taking more than that). As far as hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and oxymorphone (Opana), they're relatively similar. Hydromorphone is to hydrocodone as oxymorphone is to oxycodone: hydrocodone and oxycodone are "prodrugs" that metabolize into trace amounts of dilaudid and opana in the liver. I've had both hydromorphone and oxymorphone and from my own personal experience, the analgesic effects are pretty much the same, but the oxymorphone lasts for a longer period of time (We are talking about the instant release formulations, right?).
Posted 10/24/2009 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I think if I get Opana it would be the ER...since I'm thinking about changing from Methadone....but, I might just try the Opana IR and stop taking the Oxycodone 30 mg. That might be wha they want to do first.... Heck, I don't know....I'm just going to ask about trying something else besides the Methadone...I've been taking it for over 4 years and I think I need to try something else...if only to take a break from the Methadone... My Doc has never talked about changing for that reason, but I have read that many Dr.'s like to switch it up so the patients don't get a high tolerance... and I think I've already gotten to that point with it.

As far as the Oxycodone goes....well, it does help. But not that well.. she may want to keep it the way it is,,,

me
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