Re: New Member:

[Guest guest]

> I look forward to meeting you all. So where is everyone from?

Cincinnati here, welcome. I'll eventually wind up with methadone but for now am

being

maintained on Oxycodone.

Whaat's emthadone like? can you function well? take anything for " breakthru "

pain? I know it

might be an unprofesional question, but is there a " buzz " or anything like that

with the

methadone?

Welcome to the group, it's been nice for me, let's me know I'm not alone and not

the only one

going thru some of the things we do

[Guest guest]

Welcome ! My name is Gwen. I live in Kansas, you know our state probably

because Dorothy and Toto lived here and then the tornado came and the Wizard of

Oz happened. I am a 52 year old female, mother, grandmother, pastor's wife,

former social worker, I love kids, and life in general!

I am in pain 24/7 and take alot of pain med's. I have several rare diseases

but I try my best not to complain to much. I was in very good health until I

had a brain tumor 13 years ago in April. They removed that and part of my pit

gland and now I have problems. Everyone has problems, mine just happen to be

pain.

Right now I am passing out like zonk on the floor every 15 minutes if I stand

up that long. Sure makes everyone in the Walmart or Grocery store stop what

they are doing and stare at you! It is a good way to get attention! They are

trying to figure out why that is happening. So I am having a lot of fun with

that right now. I figure I just as well laugh and find the humor in it as cry

because it is going to happen no matter what I do. I am seeing a new

neurologist on Monday so maybe he will know.

I am so gald you joined our group. When it gets hard just let us know and we

will try to cheer you up. Then when it gets hard for us we you can cheer us up.

Welcome and hope you like it around here. I sure do! Gwen

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome to the group. Sorry about all the problems you are having. There was

a time I was tested for Lyme but it was ruled out.

I hope you will find answers to some of your problems and that you will get

help for your pain.

God Bless

[Guest guest]

Interaction with Pentazocine

Patients who are addicted to heroin or who are on the methadone

maintenance program may experience withdrawal symptoms when given

pentazocine.

Interaction with Rifampin

The concurrent administration of rifampin may possibly reduce the

blood concentration of methadone. The mechanism by which rifampin may

decrease blood concentrations of methadone is not fully understood

although enhanced microsomal drug-metabolized enzymes may influence

drug disposition.

Interaction with Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors

Therapeutic doses of meperidine have precipitated severe reactions in

patients concurrently receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors or those

who have received such agents within 14 days. Similar reactions thus

far have not been reported with methadone; but if the use of

methadone is necessary in such patients, a sensitivity test should be

performed in which repeated small incremental doses are administered

over the course of several hours while the patient's condition and

vital signs are under careful observation.

Interaction with Other Central-Nervous-Systern Depressants

Methadone should be used with caution and in reduced dosage in

patients who are concurrently receiving other narcotic analgesics,

general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, sedative-

hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, and other CNS depressants

(including alcohol). Respiratory depression, hypotension, and

profound sedation or coma may result.

WARNINGS

Methadone hydrochloride tablets are for oral administration only and

must not be used for injection. It is recommended that methadone

hydrochloride tablets, if dispensed, be packaged in child-resistant

containers and kept out of the reach of children to prevent

accidental ingestion.

Methadone hydrochloride, a narcotic, is a Schedule II controlled

substance under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

DRUG DEPENDENCE-METHADONE CAN PRODUCE DRUG DEPENDENCE OF THE MORPHINE

TYPE AND, THEREFORE HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR BEING ABUSED. PSYCHIC

DEPENDENCE, PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE AND TOLERANCE MAY DEVELOP UP ON

REPEATED ADMINISTRATION OF METHADONE AND IT SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED AND

ADMINISTERED WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF CAUTION APPROPRIATE TO THE USE

OF MORPHINE.

Interaction with Other Central-Nervous-System Depressants

Methadone should be used with caution and in reduced dosage in

patients who are concurrently receiving other narcotic analgesics,

general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, sedative-

hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, and other CNS depressants

(including alcohol). Respiratory depression, hypotension, and

profound sedation or coma may result.

Anxiety

Since methadone, as used by tolerant subjects at a constant

maintenance dosage, is not a tranquilizer, patients who are

maintained on this drug will react to life problems and stresses with

the same symptoms of anxiety as do other individuals. The physician

should not confuse such symptoms with those of narcotic abstinence

and should not attempt to treat anxiety by increasing the dosage of

methadone. The action of methadone in maintenance treatment is

limited to the control of narcotic symptoms and is ineffective for

relief of general anxiety.

Head injury and increased Intracranial Pressure

The respiratory depressant effects of methadone and its capacity to

elevate cerebrospinal-fluid pressure may be markedly exaggerated in

the presence of increased intracranial pressure. Furthermore,

narcotics produce side effects that may obscure the clinical course

of patients with head injuries. In such patients, methadone must be

used with caution and only if it is deemed essential.

Asthma and Other Respiratory Conditions

Methadone should be used with caution in patients having an acute

asthmatic attack, in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

or cor pulmonale, and in individuals with a substantially decreased

respiratory reserve, preexisting respiratory depression, hypoxia, or

hypercapnia. In such patients, even usual therapeutic doses of

narcotics may decrease respiratory drive while simultaneously

increasing airway resistance to the point of apnea.

Hypotensive Effect

The administration of methadone may result in severe hypotension in

an individual whose ability to maintain his blood pressure has

already been compromised by a depleted blood volume or concurrent

administration of such drugs as the phenothiazines or certain

anesthetics.

Use in Ambulatory Patients

Methadone may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required

for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a

car or operating machinery. The patient should be cautioned

accordingly.

Methadone, like other narcotics, may produce ortho-static hypotension

in ambulatory patients.

Use in Pregnancy

Safe use in pregnancy has not been established in relation to

possible adverse effects on fetal development. Therefore, methadone

should not be used in pregnant women unless, in the judgment of the

physician, the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards.

Methadone is not recommended for obstetric analgesia because its long

duration of action increases the probability of respiratory

depression in the newborn.

Use in Children

Methadone is not recommended for use as an analgesic in children,

since documented clinical experience has been insufficient to

establish a suitable dosage regimen for the pediatric age group.

PRECAUTIONS

Interaction with Pentazocine

Patients who are addicted to heroin or who are on the methadone

maintenance program may experience withdrawal symptoms when given

pentazocine.

Interaction with Rifampin

The concurrent administration of rifampin may possibly reduce the

blood concentration of methadone. The mechanism by which rifampin may

decrease blood concentrations of methadone is not fully understood

although enhanced microsomal drug-metabolized enzymes may influence

drug disposition.

Acute Abdominal Conditions

The administration of methadone or other narcotics may obscure the

diagnosis or clinical course in patients with acute abdominal

conditions.

Interaction with Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors

Therapeutic doses of meperidine have precipitated severe reactions in

patients concurrently receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors or those

who have received such agents within 14 days. Similar reactions thus

far have not been reported with methadone; but if the use of

methadone is necessary in such patients, a sensitivity test should be

performed in which repeated small incremental doses are administered

over the course of several hours while the patient's condition and

vital signs are under careful observation.

Special-Risk Patients

Methadone should be given with caution and the initial dose should be

reduced in certain patients, such as the elderly or debilitated and

those with severe impairment of hepatic or renal function,

hypothyroidism, 's disease, prostatic hypertrophy, or urethral

stricture.

OVERDOSE

Symptoms

Serious overdosage of methadone is characterized by respiratory

depression (a decrease in respiratory rate and/or tidal volume,

Cheyne-Stokes respiration, cyanosis), extreme somnolence progressing

to stupor or coma, maximally constricted pupils, skeletal-muscle

flaccidity, cold and clammy skin, and sometimes, bradycardia and

hypotension. In severe overdosage, particularly by the intravenous

route, apnea, circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest, and death may

occur.

Treatment

Primary attention should be given to the reestablishment of adequate

respiratory exchange through provision of a patent airway and

institution of assisted or controlled ventilation. If a nontolerant

person, especially a child, takes a large dose of methadone,

effective narcotic antagonists are available to counteract the

potentially lethal respiratory depression. The physician must

remember, however, that methadone is a long-acting depressant (36 to

48 hours), whereas the antagonists act for much shorter periods (one

to three hours). The patient must, therefore, be monitored

continuously for recurrence of respiratory depression and treated

repeatedly with the narcotic antagonist as needed. If the diagnosis

is correct and respiratory depression is due only to overdosage of

methadone, the use of other respiratory stimulants is not indicated.

An antagonist should not be administered in the absence of clinically

significant respiratory or cardiovascular depression. Intravenously

administered naloxone is the drug of choice to reverse signs of

intoxication. Because of the relatively short half-life of naloxone

as compared with methadone, repeated injections may be required until

the status of the patient remains satisfactory. Naloxone may also be

administered by continuous intravenous infusion.

Oxygen, intravenous fluids, vasopressors, and other supportive

measures should be employed as indicated.

NOTE

IN AN INDIVIDUAL PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT ON NARCOTICS THE ADMINISTRATION

OF THE USUAL DOSE OF A NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST WILL PRECIPITATE AN ACUTE

WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME. THE SEVERITY OF THIS SYNDROME WILL DEPEND ON THE

DEGREE OF PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE AND THE DOSE OF THE ANTAGONIST

ADMINISTERED. THE USE OF A NARCOTIC ANTAGONIST IN SUCH A PERSON

SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF POSSIBLE. IF IT MUST BE USED TO TREAT SERIOUS

RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION IN THE PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT PATIENT THE

ANTAGONIST SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED WITH EXTREME CARE AND BY TITRATION

WITH SMALLER THAN USUAL DOSES OF THE ANTAGONIST.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Hypersensitivity to methadone.

PATIENT INFORMATION

See WARNINGS, CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS

.. I'll eventually wind up with methadone but for now am being

> maintained on Oxycodone.

>

> Whaat's emthadone like? can you function well? take anything

for " breakthru " pain? I know it

> might be an unprofesional question, but is there a " buzz " or

anything like that with the

> methadone?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dave, Sorry to hear about your pain. You're not alone - I have MS

and I spend a lot of my time on the couch, too, trying to find a

comfortable position, and get pretty frustrated sometimes when I

can't. Reading a book is even more difficult. People don't seem to

believe that it can be that bad.

Hope things improve.

, Toronto