Anybody take Methadone?

Hi Jessi, yes Methadone can be a very effective pain reliever for someone. We have some people on the forum that are on it and I am sure they will come along later. Nausea seems to be one of the things we get faced with when trying a new pain medication. Give it some time, if it doesn't clear up soon, then give your dr a call. Susie

I was on methadone for several years and it worked great, but I gained 40lbs in the 2 years I was on it. I read that you also take Ultram, if your still taking it, dont take it with Methadone cause it can cause you to go into withdrawals while taking Methadone. Ultram is not suppose to be taken while your taking other pain meds, and I found this out the hard way. There are a few meds out there that cant be taken with Methadone, one of them being Fioricet, and I know theres a couple others but I cant think of it off the top of my head right now. But be very careful, and it can take a month or so before you feel the full benifets of Methadone, it has to build up in your body, and it is very easy to overdose on it. But it is a very wonderful pain med especially for the price, I actually started on it when I had no insurance for a while and a months worth of it was $40, but when I got my insurance back I decided to stay on it cause I loved it. But the weight gain is pretty common with it, espcially in the long run. I'm slowly starting to lose the weight now tha I'm off of it, but not fast enough.

-hellokitty

Jessi21
I have been on methadone for a lot of years...too many. Just about everyone has the same problem at first..until you get on the right dose. You tend to nod off and feel sick, if not actually throw up. It will stop eventually so don't worry. You are not alone. And methadone really helps with my pain, but I take oxycodone 15mg for breakthrough pain as well.

What mg. of methadone are you on?

Me.

Jessi21,

I take Methadone 5mg 3 times a day, but 2 pills morning and 2 pills night. Along with that I take 30mg Morphine (one each of those 3 times), which seems to bolster the Methadone.

I also take Cymbalta (60mg twice a day). I take it on top of Lyrica 150mg, three times a day.

The way the pain doctor explained it is the Lyrica is the main medication fighting the pain (neuropathy from diabetes), and the Cymbalta acts to make the Lyrica more effective. Same thing with the Morphine on top of the Methadone.

But I've only started with the intense pain in May 2008, and a pain specialist in November or December 2008 so others here can probably give you better details.

On the Methadone, I almost refusesed to take it. Being a substitute for heroin was the only way I had heard Methadone used. But the doc explained that it is a very common medication for pain. But each of us differ, so we had to test whether it would work for me (I had failed on several other medications and three nerve blocks before we got to methadone; the fentanyl patch didn't do a thing for me either).

I'm fairly big, 6'2"+ and 245lbs, so I've gotten different results. No sick to stomach or other startup issues, although MAJOR dizziness and sickness when I started on Cymbalta.

I don't think 5 mg. twice a day will do anything for your usual pain.

With EXTREME stomach cramps, you go to ER or call the doctor, for heavens sake.
I can't prescribe otc (Over the computer) It could be anything!

turns out it was constipation...i think. I still feel the pain but difinitely not as much as last night. I know 5mg twice a day is real low, but if that is causing mr THIS much drowsiness, (can barely keep my eyes open all day) than what will more do?? I really do hope though these sideffects (or at least the extremeity of it) will fad in time and that I will see more effects of the med. I have an apt. coming iup in two weeks so I figure i'll wait it out and see how I'm doing with it then. This was supposed to be a temporary fix for me until they were able to get me on suboxone..IF its covered by my Medical. Even my docs say that they've had their patients tell them how much better it was than meth. Again, if anybody knows if its covered or not here in Cali, then please let me know. Otherwise, I would love to hear more about what to expect from the methadone. How long will I have to take it...do you think they plan on keeping me on it indefinitely?

Thanks guys.

pjs1
When you take methadone you eat more sweets...why? I don't really know, but you do gain weight.  Also, there are a lot of things that Docs will tell you are not true...but take it from people that take methadone for a long time.... Watch out for your teeth, brush them a lot. and use that toothpaste that has calcium in it...If I can remember the name I will post it.  Also, take vitamins, and DO NOT DRINK GRAPEFRUIT JUICE...it will counteract the methadone...

Take stool softeners, not laxatives....take one every day to stop constipation...The sleepiness will wear off, and it's not because of the dose you are on, it happens at every dose.

Just be aware of what is going on in your own body, if something feels wrong write it down and talk to your Doc....

Methadone can be taken short term as well as long term, just keep it in your mind how long you want to be on it...For chronic pain it is indefinite...Good Luck, and I'll answer any questions you think of..

Me.

Me ... O M G ... I thought grapefruit did just the opposite.
Every now and then I buy some and think Ahhhhhh. Relief. NOT! (I guess)

Jessi: I don't understand why your "doctors" say your body creates your pain on its
own when you don't take Opiods.

By saying that, I suppose they mean that you go into withdrawls all the time. Do
they know what they're talking about, girl? You have Chrohns-Colitis, IBD, and
Crohns-related arthritis. Those sounded painful! I don't really see how Crohns could
cause Arthritis - but I guess it does.

I hope the doctors aren't telling you that your pain isn't real. ( It sounds like it.)
How many doctors have told you that?

Why are you so afraid of switching meds? Have you heard that it is difficult to go
off Methadone? I take 120 mg. of Methadone daily and it definitely doesn't do the
job of keeping my pain down. We all have different pain, of course.

Your doctor's assistant will tell you if any med is covered by Insurance. (or medi-cal)
Pamela

Post Edited (Pamela Neckpain) : 2/15/2009 9:49:56 PM (GMT-7)

Hi Jessi21, I took methadone for almost 10 years. The only severe problem I had with it was dry mouth. In turn I had many dental problems and lost many teeth; even with constant dental care. Methadone finally quit working for me and I had to switch to another pain med. Wish you the best.

Frankie

My docs pretty much give me two options to these types of meds: Methadone or Suboxone. Right now I am on Meth, and we are in the process of seeing if my Medical will cover Suboxone or not with Doctor requests and T.A.R. forms. The main reason I've been thinking about switching is because of itching and little tiny bumps from the itching all over my body after I started the meth, of course. I've been on benadrill for the past two days to see if it will go away or not and the doc says that if it doesn't on the benadrill then its definitely from the pill itself. Also when I first started the meth I would complain of extreme fatique and it not helping much with the pain. Well, now, I'm more alert and its been helping OK with the pain - I think if we up the does just one, I will be ok on that. Sooo..not sure what to do now..continue giving methadone a chance, or just switch to suboxone..?

Meanwhile today I found a great naturalist who through a few tests told me I had severe problems with my adrenal gland, and gave me good enzymes according to what was acceptable to MY body, and I really have high hopes for this. I believe that the little things really have to do with the big things - like being diagnosed with Colitis/Crohns!

OH! QUICK QUESTION: Does anybody know if your colon grows BACK after you've removed it (or pieces of it)??????

Me:

I couldn't retrieve the infomation about Methadone.

Pamela

Hi Uniquelyme

Like your name. Is very unique. I don't mind sharing that I now use the fentynal patches 50 every 48 hours with norco for breakthrough pain. I was on oxycontin and morphine but the stomach upset was too much for me. I take aricept to offset the memory problems that I was having. So far the fentynal has been very effective for me. Hope this helps.   frankie

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