Fibromyalgia & Methadone

How common is a 20 mg dose 4x day for FM/Chronic Pain?

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
A combination of Lyrica and Methadone has been found to be effective in controlling Fibromyalgia pain. Methadone may be administered alone without a combination because it is a potent analgesic. It is a narcotic analgesic similar to Morphine. However it is not used commonly for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
It has some serious side effects. Risk of serious side effects may occur even if patient has used other narcotic medications and if the drug is used improperly. So all instructions need to be followed carefully.
Like other narcotic medicines, Methadone can slow breathing. This effect lasts long after the pain-relieving effects of the medication wear off. Failure of respiration may occur if breathing becomes too weak. Methadone dose should not exceed more than that prescribed by the doctor. Methadone can not be stopped suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Dangerous side effects can occur when alcohol is combined with methadone.  
Methadone treatment for analgesic therapy in patients with acute or chronic pain should only be started if the potential analgesic benefit outweighs the risks. Also, as with all opioid drugs, it is necessary to adjust the dosing regimen for each patient individually, taking into account the patient's prior analgesic treatment experience.
Please discuss all these risk factors with your doctor before initiating the treatment with Methadone. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!