HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Going on Methadone! UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! March 20,2011

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 23
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/23/2010 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
I visited with her again tonight and it seems that they will up the dose tomorrow to 10mg....so you are right Straydog in that they are working their way up slowly. I'm willing to bet the 10mg wont be enough either.

I was thinking most members who are on this take it x2?

SE
Posted 12/23/2010 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
SE some take it as much as 3 times a day. Are you saying they only started her at one tablet a day?? Wow, I hope not unless she is super sensitive to it. I know she took it previously and it helped her then, keeping my fingers & toes crossed it works again.
Posted 12/23/2010 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
stray, you would be correct, and I was shocked as well. I believe she also told me that she is breaking the #10 in two. She believes that is equivalent to a #5.

I'm not a med expert, but I was thinking that is not right. Isn't it still a #10 just not the full dose prescribed?


She will start the full dose tonight, but was worried, as she said they made her feel weird. I told her that it may take a couple of weeks to get used to.


SE
Posted 12/24/2010 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Thinking of you, Suzane.

I hope you are doing okay.

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 12/24/2010 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
I did some quick reading on dosing and it says for a person who is not opioid tolerant which TMJ is not since she has been off of pain for quite some time, the usual initial dosing is 2.5mg to 10mg every 8-12 hours. Titrating the dose is slowly done too, remember it has the half life to it. It says to get optimal effect it can take 3-5 days depending on the person too on how they break it down. It is stored in the liver. Most side effects are gone within 2 weeks. Sme people complained of being drowsy and nodding off during this break in period. They said if the side effects become too bad the dose can be lowered.

So, it sounds like her dr is doing 5mg every 12 hours. Just hope it works for her.
Posted 12/27/2010 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Suzane, why did u wait all this time to take it again? I've been on it for many years and am now considering changing to Opana ER....
I hope it works again...
Posted 12/29/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for posting. I really appreciate all the care and concern.

 

Thank you Michael for keeping them updated.

 

It's been somewhat rough but I will stick with it. I hope in two to three weeks that some of these side effects

 

will decrease and that I will get some pain relief soon.

 

Uniquelyme, answer to your question is that we have been trying different treatments.

 

 
Posted 12/29/2010 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry you aren't feeling any better yet.  I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you and hoping you will find relef soon.  You have been through so much and I know there has to be someone or something out there that will help.  I hope the side effects go away and take the pain with them.

Keep the faith, my friend.

Posted 12/30/2010 7:59 AM (GMT 0)
has anything helped as well as Methadone?
Posted 12/30/2010 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Unique! I could not sleep too well tonight, and took a look here at the boards.

I'm sure Suzane will let me answer for her, until she gets to feeling better.

She has tried almost every pain med I can think of, even Ketamine to no avail. I did speak with her by phone several times today, and for the first time she seems to be a bit better, and thinks the Methodone may be starting to work.

She has been quite sick and very sleepy, and these are some of the side effects that many of the members had warned her of. She is still in quite a bit of pain, but noted that it is not so pin pointed now. I'm hoping that another week or two, and maybe an increase will put her at a lower pain level so that she can have some sort of quality of life.

I'm sure pulling for her, and nothing would please me more, than to see her get some relief.

SE wink
Posted 12/30/2010 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Michael, thank you so much for keeping us updated on our dear friend...as usual you rock! Please let Suzane know I am thinking of her and along with everyone else hoping she soon gets some relief. Oh yeah and Michael...don't forget to take care of yourself too. Love you both!
Posted 12/30/2010 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Damouthy! I will continue to update as I visit with her.

As for me!....Well!.....I pulled a BOO BOO...a few days ago! I changed a flat tire on my wife's van nono I told Deborah that I think I made a mistake in doing so, and I was right, cause about an hour later I started getting sharp pains that almost drove me to my knees. Tue was the worst, so I made an appointment with my Dr. We saw him yesterday, and boy did I ever get a chewing out. He said the next time I did that he would personally put a boot in my rear! smhair

I guess I still think that I'm Hercules, and could pull it off. Its a small reminder that even when we all are on pain meds, we still have to be careful. wink

I started Ibuprofen as soon as I started having trouble, and by the time I saw the Dr, I felt much better. He said the next time I will receive a Trigger Point injection. Tomorrow my wife and I both go in to have blood work done. I have to have this done for the cholesterol meds I take every six months. We also made a follow-up appointment for my med check and will adjust whatever is needed at that time.

I have a wonderful Dr, and almost have him trained! smilewinkgrin

Take care, and I hope all of you are doing well.

SE wink

PS: Suzane won't mind a bit if I robbed a little of her time here, cause she is my buddy! smilewinkgrin Hang in there girl! Relief is on its way now! smilewinkgrin
Posted 12/30/2010 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Michael for keeping everyone up to date for me. YOu are a sweetheart

as we all know.

Yes it's been a rough time but I am praying hard that this will be it for me.

I think in another two or three weeks we will see a difference.

Thanks Mom and Shannon for your prayers and everyone who is praying for me.

I too am praying hard for myself and always for other members on this forum.

I am in shock with the news of Cathy so that has certainly brought me down even further.

One day at a time right, even one moment at a time.

Thanks for keeping a watch out for me. It makes me feel better to know there are many out there

thinking of me and praying for me.

Hugs to all

 

Posted 1/6/2011 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. Thought i would give you an update. Well it's been 17 days now and most of that has been pretty tough. I have had so much nausea. just awful. I started taking the med at night since it does cause drowsiness but I had the opposite. I could not sleep thru the night at all. So I changed it to taking it in the morning and now I sleep all night and thru till noon. I couldn't believe it. Well it's been years since I have had good sleep so I am taking it. And even after sleeping all of that I am still tired all day long. And I still have the pain but 8-10. I will see my dr. next week. So I keep praying for better days.
Posted 1/7/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
What Suzane is trying to say here is that she is feeling better. The nausea is gone at the moment, and her pain is a little better now.

I visit this woman almost every day, and yes sometime several times a day, and have seen a change in the last day or so. It's a very small change in the pain, but the big thing is that the nausea seems to be under control now.


Somehow, I got the job of being her personal daily bodyguard! smilewinkgrin So I check in on her whenever she lets me, which seems to be a lot! smilewinkgrin


I do everything except for tucking her in at night, when her husband gives me some relief! smilewinkgrin Just Kidding!....were good friends! I think I will keep her around for a while!

Take care kiddo!

SE wink
Posted 1/7/2011 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Michael, Yes Methadone can reek havok on the body...when I first started taking it i would throw up every day at the same time for over a month....then I would get sooooo sleepy...but that all went away...Now, after all these years I'm still on it....and doing pretty well....I think she's very lucky to have you as her body guard....ha ha.

Methadone is a very good pain med...if you can tolerate it....Wish her well for me....Thanks,

Rhonda
Posted 1/7/2011 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
hi rhonda

thank you for your well wishes

I have had no nausea for two days now so I hope that is gone

it's an awful feeling to have that all day long

Now i hope it will soon help me in the pain department.

I am always tired and could sleep all day long.

I am happy for you that it has helped you so much rhonda.

Yeah I am lucky to have such a great bodyguard. So lucky.

Michael is such a wonderful person. I am so glad to have met him here on HW.

Even better yet, I am going to meet him in real life.

We will be vacationing in Florida for one week, along with our spouses. this is the trip

that Cathy and her husband were going to be joining us.

We will also be meeting Pete and Lindaloo, so you can imagine the excitement that we are feeling.

We are just waiting for our big day on Jan. 26.

 

Posted 1/7/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
well I'm very interested in how its going with the methadone. I saw the addictionoloogist yesterday and told him that I was getting no where with the 32mgs of subutex and he switched me to 80 mgs of methadone and 4 10/350 norco for breakthrough. I was on 10 mgs 4 x's a day of the methadone in 2007 but it offered no relief. I explained this to the doc but he insists on trying it and I'm afraid if I don't "behave" they will cut off all meds. The thing that worries me is when I took the script to the pharmacy she questioned it and would not fill it at first stating she had never heard of an 80 mg dose to start with. Now I am concerned. I asked the doc about side effects and he said there won't be any but maybe I'll be a little sleepy. ( I thought I had remember4ed differently from when I tried it before.) I'm suppose to start it tonight waiting 24 hours after my last dose of subutex but I have to tell you all, i'l anxious about it all.
Suzanne. I am praying that it works for you. I've been following along with all of your trials and hope that this will finally , finally be the answer.
catahoula
Posted 1/7/2011 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cat
I am on day 18 of starting my Methadone. I can say that I have had a lot of nausea, feeling shakey, unstable when walking, some anxiety, very sleepy. My dose is 10mg daily but I have not been on any opiods since July. I have had slight decrease in pain only so far. I will see my dr. next week. So I am not sure about your dose. It does seem high but if you were on other opiods then your dr. probably made the switch to methadone accordingly to what other drugs you were on. Do you understand what I am trying to say. I started my dose by taking at in the eve. since a side effect is drowsiness but for some reason it had the opposite effect with me and I could not sleep all night long. So I made the switch to daytime, taking it at 8am. So now I sleep all night long and until noon. When i get up i still feel tired like i could sleep all day long. It's crazy. I am in Ontario so not familiar with Subutex and norco.
Let me know how you make out ok. I pray that this will help you too.

Hugs
Posted 1/7/2011 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I understand you perfectly Suzane and thanks for the reply.Girl..you have been through soooooooooo much. There has to be an end in sight and you deserve it. Like you I am suffering with daily headache, headpain, nerve pain etc which is why I've been following you so closely hoping they'd find something that would work for you. All we can do is pray.
I have to admit I am NOT being a "good" patient and already took one of the 10 mg tab and will take another in 4 hours and slowly work up to the dose he wanted at one time. I just got nervous about taking such a large dose and then going to sleep as the major thing he warned me about was stopping breathing...well how would anyone know I had stopped breathing if I was suppose to be sleeping???!!!
I pray it works for you.
cat
Posted 1/7/2011 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
hey cat
i did not know you were suffering from headaches as well
send me an email and we can chat more there
Posted 1/7/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Cat-
My pharmacist told me 80mg/day was standard dosing for addiction issues & CP was much lower. Not sure about that, but that's what they told me when I picked up my meds.

Suzanne,
I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I've been trying to adjust to the Methadone, too. Fortunately, I have a bit of my prior med if I choose to skip doses of Methadone, but I've been so very sleepy on it & haven't been breathing fast enough. It seemed so promising at first. I'm hoping you fare better & can get past the side effects and up to a beneficial dose very soon!

peace,
frances
Posted 1/9/2011 9:27 PM (GMT 0)

Cat and Frances, how are you doing with the Methadone?

I have had no nausea for three days so maybe that is gone now. I sure hope so.

Otherwise the pain is still high, so no change there and I am so sleepy that I

could sleep all day. Let's see how this week goes.

Posted 1/10/2011 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
well I haven't had any nausea but I can't sleep!! I feel as though I am "buzzing" right along. Rather than taking all 80 mgs at once I start with 10 at around 4 pm and then take another every hour to an hour and a half. Knock on wood but i have had very few issues with breakthrough pain so I have not had to take any of the norco. ( Boy I hope this is for real and not just some psychological issue knowing I have the norco if I need it so I don't need it. Perhaps it is to early to tell. I'm afraid to say anything for fear of "jinxing" things. I guess I will just have to wait for awhile and see how things go once my body has adjusted to the methadone. I'm hoping you are both having good luck with the methadone. Please keep in touch
catahoula
Posted 1/10/2011 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
too funny i just emailed you cat.
lol
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
123