Re: Methadone

[Guest guest]

>> Yes, i still have pain, depending on the weather, depression, but the

> Methadone worked for me.<<

------------------------

Not being a chronic pain patient myself and being a person that HATES taking

even an aspirin for a headache, I have a question. Does Methadone usually

work for a long time, like forever, or does the body eventually get used to

it and it stops working?

I'm sorry for sounding ignorant, but I really don't know how narcotics work.

They're scary to me, but I understand that people need them if nothing else

helps their pain.

Marita in Montana

[Guest guest]

Hi Marita

I have been on Methadone for about 3 months after trying

many different pain relievers. Some worked but I had to take a lot of

them some were too expensive I do not have good prescription

coverage.

There are a lot of myths and misinformation about it. . It

usually does not cause the euphoric high some drugs such a Morphine

or oxycodone (Percodan or Percocet) . It will not turn you into

some sort of raving, depraved drug addict. . There are not any inert

substances that will for that matter a person causes then selves a

drug addict. by abusing the substance. .

It might cause some

constipation and mild lightheaded ness the first few times you take

it. . It is not expensive there is a urban myth that anti drug

people like to spread, that it cost 300 or more a month. . It s does

not it cost about 15 USD for one months supply maybe 20 if you need

to take it more than 2 or three times a day .

Some facts about the drug., It takes about one hour or so give or

take a 10 minutes for the drug s effects to be noticed,. It does

metabolize slowly meaning it will stay in your system for a while

Methadone has a half-life a half-life of 13 – 40 hours and the

average is 25 this is from a PDR. .

The usual does for pain management is either 5 or 10 mg 2 x a day

the average dose for opiate addicts is about 40 mg a day A drug

addict usually cannot go ot a pharmacy and purchase Methadone a MD

can write a prescription for pain for it and many pharmacies are

becoming more tolerant and used to customers buying the drug and

are slowly becoming less hostile toward them.

Because of the slow action and long duration of effect i.e. pain

relief it takes a long time for people to become so tolerant that it

does not work.

Opiates (I do not use the term narcotics) work in part by attaching

to what are called opiate receptors in our nervous system we have

opiates in us they are called endorphins. These receptors are found

in our brains and spinal cord. They help us cope with pain but often

the pain is more than our endorphins can handles or last much longer

and our body cannot produce enough of them . .

In part this is why a pain patient does not feel the same " high " a

person who is not in pain experiences when they take a opiate.

Some one may become dependent on a drug such as Methadone but not

addicted. . They need the drug to function and lead some semblance of

a normal life. Rarely does taking the drug interfere with their life

and cause problems though there are exceptions usually a person so

intolerant and ignorant of opiate pain relievers that the other

individual will react negatively to that person taking the drug.

I use the analogy of insulin . I tell the anti drug person look

if I do not take mehadone I will lie in bed oj disablty now I

can function normally for the most part and I can evenm climb 14,000

ft peaks ! but take my meds away and I will surely be in a lot of

trouble just like a diabetic. . I will not exercise or eat right I

will become very depressed. And maybe even resort to suicide.

That does the trick most of the time.

Well I have said a lot. If you want I can email you more info on

Methadone

Rick

[Guest guest]

Hi , this is Barb k. and I'm new. I'm wondering

what type of dr you see and who prescribes these

wonderful pain relievers for you. I've run into so

many docs who just think you're asking for a fix,

you're too young to be in as much pain as you say,

etc.

thanks, much love,

barb k.

--- wrote:

> First of all I am not a doctor or a nurse, but a

> patient with RSD that

> has taken Methadone for about 8 years with no side

> effects whatsoever.

[Guest guest]

reply to the getting a fix. yesterday my dr. didnt refill my perscrption, i dont

have an app. for 2 more weeks. around here you hate to ask for anything because

of all the misuse. he talks about all the pain i must be in. he is an omt and

tries to help me with therapy but its hard to go without something to take for

pain. thats why im on the comp. at this hour. i never sleep.

[Guest guest]

>

>yesterday my dr. didnt refill my perscrption, i dont have an app. for 2 more

weeks.

lordy, lordy, lordy... I'd look for another doc. Not sure of the details, but if

you used

according to the script he ought to refill with no problems.

However, my doc warns me if I ever try any 'funny stuff' the DEA will be all

over me AND him.

On occasion he's written out two Rxs for me (if he's going to be away). If I

were to try and fill

them both the same day, at different pharmacies, some law agency will be knockin

on my

door.

The pharmacies are all on some sort of network and compile records at the end of

the day. If

I try double filling I get reported.

But if you've been on the up and up there's no reason they should restrict you

like that

[Guest guest]

Hi All: Ahhh - Methadone. After years on Norco, a year on morphine helped

w/management keeping Norco for breakthrough. Then last November management got

worse and saw a Pain DR for the first time and he switched me to Methadone to

a level that manages well...doesn't eliminate, but manages better. A side

effect for me has been to stop the IBS I was plagued w/for years. Additionally,

the Methadone is less than $20 per month...significantly cheaper than the

Morphine. Good luck. Kathy in Central CA

[Guest guest]

God connie what are you gonna do for 2 weeks!! How

can you heal if you never sleep??

much love,

barb k.

connie wrote:

> he is an omt and tries to help me

> with therapy but its hard to go without something to

> take for pain. thats why im on the comp. at this

> hour. i never sleep.

[Guest guest]

dont know. he gave me sleeping pills a few months ago and i took a half. they

make me feel like crap the next day. i told him i had a child to get up in the

mornings for school. he said hes 14 years old let him get himself up. yeah

right.lol

and also to me morning time is the time you start your kids out on the right

foot, breakfast, even if its cereal, a little chatter and a kiss at the door.

just because im in pain im not going to quit being a mom. thats all i have now.

this has been the worst year ever, ive lost my home, my 20 years marraige, and

my job of 11 years. it has been my lifetime work. i grew up in a flower shop and

i was stilll working.

i cant give up my mornings with my son too.i just try to nap during the day.

connie

[Guest guest]

Connie, I'm so sorry you've lost so much b/c of your

illness. I understand why you still want to get up

with you son in the morning. Our kids our 12 and 14

and they do get up and get themselves off to school in

the morning.

I'm a sleeper and my hubby usually works a 12 hour day so he sleeps until around

7am. The kids catch the bus at 6:50 every morning.

much love,

barb k.

--- connie tackett wrote:

> dont know. he gave me sleeping pills a few months

> ago and i took a half.