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

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Posted 1/10/2011 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
about 5 years ago, I had been on fentanyl patch100mcg for over 5 years, and was not getting any relief and the dr did not want to go up on the dose. I went to a PM dr, and was put on 50 mg of methadone.  My first biggest side effect was itching. It  also made me very sleepy. I was told by the dr that due to the long half life of methadone, I could take the entire dose all at once, and it would be evenly sustained.50mg proved to be too much for me , I thought, so I went with 40mg for awhile and was still sleepy, I then went down to 20 mg daily, and my pain increased, but I was able to stay awake, when I sat down, and watched tv, etc. I struggled by for 4 years on the 2o and after a couple of years for 30 mg a day, all taken at 9 pm at night. I was told to use elavil if I needed it for sleep, but 10 mg made me sleep for three days. I stayed status quo on 30 mg no breakthrough meds, except tramadol which I was allowed 180  month, but never did use it much. I also had lidocaine patches. I was forced to switch to a new dr as that one left town. I was not a PM and did not want to prescribe any methadone. I did get over the sleepiness, but had a constant dry mouth. So he wanted me to go on oxycontin. He tried starting it low and tapering off the methadone. It took 6 months to get completely off the methadone, and still had withdrawal even though I was on 40mg oxycontin every 8 hours, and had vicodin for breakthrough. I have been on that for a few months.I miss the long acting methadone, where there were no ups and downs. BUT never want to go through gettting off it again. Due to the new oxycontin, and no generic being available soon, I do not want to pay the copays required for the name brand required by my insurance. So am hoping to talke him into fentanyl patch again, I guess. So far I have been able to find the generic oxy, but it really does not work that well for me. I do not know what I want to do. I hope the methadone turns out well for you, it did give me better pain relief, I believe  and had I had a good breakthrough prn med, it might haveTh been much better. The present dr also offers me ambien, but those sleepers and muscle relaxants make me too sleepy.  Good luck
Posted 1/10/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Cat, Just curious...when are you taking the Methadone? What time of the day? It matters because it will keep you up at night...if you take it early in the day it will be better...I take mine early afternoon, but I've been on it for years....every now and again I'll have some problems sleeping but rarely is it from the Methadone....I also take Provigil daily for narcoleptic problems.....I fall asleep at the drop of a hat sometimes....it works great....keep me posted....

Rhonda
Posted 1/10/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
 

     Purplereading, I just recieved my refill script from my Dr on the oxycontin and little did I know that the New medicine provider now needs a yearly approval and that can take several days. I asked how much for cash and it was $148 (60ct) (#10's) without Ins. $30 with Ins. 20mg a day makes a big difference to me since it is a ER med. I have no problems with the new OP oxycontin's.

  

      I have been without for 24hrs and that was enough for me, so I sent the wife in to pick them up.

       SE wink

    

Posted 1/10/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
uniquelyme_
Doc wanted me to take the methadone right before I went to sleep but I wasn't a "good patient" and I took them starting at 4pm. I also take 10mgs of ambien right before bed and still I have been up all night. Last night I finally fell asleep at around 330 but was up again at 430. I'm just going to have to start taking them early enough and not tell the doc...some things they just don't need to know.
cat
Posted 1/11/2011 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Purplereading, now I am scared for when the day comes for me to come off
of Methadone. I know my dr. will guide me thru the tapering but still
the withdrawal scares me terribly as I have had some withdrawal from previous
medications.
Why must life be so difficult?
Posted 1/11/2011 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Suzane try not to let that worry you because if and when the dr wants to take you off of the medication there may always be the chance of a newer and better drug available to help with things like this. You could be stressing over something that may not even happen and life is too short for that.

I sure hope you get some relief.
Posted 1/11/2011 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Straydog. Your support means a lot to me right now.
I have not been feeling well at all.
Posted 1/12/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
hey TMJ, as long as your not taking above 40mg of methadone, suboxone/subutex(buprenorphine) can be used to detox you off totally in apprx. 5-6 days then when the suboxone taper is almost done apply 2-6 clonodine transdermal patches and that should be relatively easy. if you are taking more than 40mg per day like some folks take 240mgs/day you can convert to a equivilant dose of a opiate with a very short half-life (fentanyl, hydromorphone, ect.) and then wait about 24 hours from your last dose and begin the suboxone taper and clonidine patch. some doctors will use a benzo. like ativan or valium but some stopped that because of respritory deprssion when mixed with buprenorphine, they also use rohypnol in some countries. trazadone is good to improve sleep and set circadian rythyms. i think you will be OK for a while because you are on a low dose and if you end up staying with there might be a reason to discontinue. i wish you a pain free, restful night. guten nacht
Posted 1/12/2011 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Gosh spinal soldier, you are really scaring me.
I will be going thru my dr. for whatever needs to be done.
Posted 3/21/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)

UPDATE:

I have had not really any relief from the methadone. I saw my pain doc almost two weeks ago and he

felt that medications are not going to be my answer. We have tried everythhing possible. We will be going

 with some counselling for now and see how that helps. He does not understand the reasoning behind

me feeling so well pain wse when i   was on my trips in the land of sun. I will be going back to the land of sun in

near future to get some relief. I spent a week at my mom's last week and i  was still sick there as at my home, so

perhaps there is nothing wrong with my home in regards to air quality, etc. So i continue to be in very bad pain

and my depression is terrible. I am having anxiety attacks and my sleeping is terrible. All I can do is continue to pray and do one day at a time.

Hugs

Posted 3/21/2011 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
On April 7, 2011 I will be changing to Exalgo....I have been on 120 mg. Methadone for many years and I am terrified....but with Heart issues I don't have a choice now. Wish me luck.

Rhonda


Anyone out there ever take this drug?
Posted 3/21/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)

       I saw an interesting show on the Explore TV show, and they were talking about test they did back in the 60's, using LSD for cluster headache's. They came up with several med's from this study, but they have not been approved at this time. I think one of them was called Bromo or something like that.

          If is can find the information on the Tv show I will post it here for you both.

        Sorry to hear of your returned pain Suzane. Unique!...good luck with you're treatment as well!

     SE wink

Posted 3/21/2011 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
this is nini53 i was on methadone 60 mg. 3xday(they come in 10mg. or 40mg.) I was also given dilaudid 4 mg.3xday for breakthrough pain. I was on these meds for various lower back problems ddd, neurophy, ets. in 2006 the doctor I had been going to for 15 pluvers years took another job and I began a very long search for another doctor. What i found were about 4 doctors who were basically cash cow businesses. I finally found a good doctor but I have never been prescribed methadone since my first doctor methadone works, and is probably one of the least expensive meds out there. Any I have adjusted to what I am taking now but I miss methadone. the trouble with methadone is it has since a bad vibe with because it is also used for herion addicts in helping them not be sick. The looks I got everytime I said methadone people started looking at my arms for needle marks. anyway i hope it works for you and wish you good health
Posted 3/22/2011 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
hey Suzane, nice to hear from you. what does your doctor think "counselling" will do for intense TMJ/facial pain? do you have a diagnosis, i cannot remember? even if they say we have tried everything and medication may not be your answer that p***** me off, i am tired of hearing doctors that are not qualified. you are far from having tried everything, much less a finely tuned combo. i'll be back, i need to stretch a second.
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