ADVICE?

Ok- I just learned that my mother who is diagnosed with hep c, end stage renal disease, receives dialysis 3x a week and is a methadone patient (100mg per day) has abused lortabs, tramadol, darvocet and flexirils (approx consumed 70+pills in one month) and eats phengran like candy..... Her nephrologist doesn't seem concerned- she had 14yrs of soberity that lead to a relapse after hystercotomy  in which she started the methodone- 11years later all this has occured. I think she may need inpatient assesment- she argues the dialysis cleans out her blood and body so she isn't abusing the drugs because no longer in her system- i am sure this isn't true- Anyone have advice, know of treatment facility that may help detox the methadone and continue dialysis- or does she need additional detox from the prescription drug abuse- and why phengran? Also she is taking benedryl and pepcid frequently. Thanks!

[SableZen]

Could you clarify - is she only taking methadone now, or do you think she is currently also taking lortabs, tramadol, darvocet, flexiril, etc?  

Phenergan sometimes contains codeine by the way. But it would be clearly labeled.

[kygirl30]

Yesterday I learned she has been taking methadone daily since 97. Since mid March she has taken 35 lortabs in the last 7 days she has taken 20 tramadol, 20 flexiril- in the last 48 hrs 13 darvocets. Over the last 7 months she has taken approx 20 phenegran every 10 days or so--- consistently. She notified her nephrologist and her methodone counselor- none of which seemed concerned- She will see methadone counselor on Friday and nephrologist later today. I think she needs substance abuse assessment- and some medical test- but is that right-shouln't they be as concerned as me?

[SableZen]

I would think her nephrologist would be more concerned if she is taking anything that may be harmful to the kidneys... Acetaminophen is found in Lortabs and Darvocet, and Tramadol is contraindicated for anyone with kidney problems.

Phenergan has a sedating effect at high dosages and is also sometimes given for nausea (which she may be experiencing due to renal disease).

In any case, Lortabs, Darvocet, and Tramadol are all opioids and should be addressed by the methadone counselor. Not sure why the counselor wouldn't be interested in knowing this...

Flexiril interacts with opioids but I don't know in what way. Not sure if it has a synergistic effect or not.