hep c and methadone

as a nurse in a london clinic several male hep c patients who are  long term methatdone users have been complaining that their methadone is not holding them  and that they are suffering withdrawls regardless of the quantity that they take.  could the hep c be causing this?

[chemister]

That is right, I use methadone before 100 mg, and after I start with hep C treatment, I get very ill. I had stop with methadone in several years, but have to start again because I was very ill and the old 100 mg was not enough. I had to start with 200 mg, and I read about methadone that you have to increase the doses when you have pain, and take it several time in a day, and not only one time like normal.

From a Detox center: Due to methadone’s totally synthetic structure (man made chemical), its pharmacological effects are longer lasting than those of other opiate drugs, allowing for once-daily administration in pain management and opiate treatment programs such as methadone clinics. However, the pain-relieving effects are shorter than the pharmacological half-life, so that dosing for pain control usually requires multiple doses per day. Depending on its form, Methadone can also be known as Dimepheptanol. As with heroin and all other opiates, methadone tolerance and methadone dependence usually develop with repeated doses. Tolerance to Methadone administered in a pain-control program usually occurs during the first few weeks of use; whereas respiratory depression, sedation, and nausea can be seen immediately.

[rexx73]

im on methadone too,35 mg/day.

i only had to increase my dosage while on treatment with interferon/riba.

does anybody know if methadone does some kind of damage to the liver?

[rexx73]

i know many people with hep-c on methadone.but they all stay at a stable dose and do not have to increase their dosage.

[chemister]

Methadone is a safe drug for people with liver disease
We work directly with methadone patients and have never seen a problem with methadone exacerbating the disease or interfering with treatment drugs. Diana Sylvestre, MD, from OASIS Methadone Clinic in Oakland, CA has done many studies with her patients.

[jusjames]

why are meds being wasted on users, they need to get clean first, chances of them sticking to the meds whilst on meth are slim , also the risk of using brown whilst on meth is high and therefore reinfection is likely...just a thought  

[rexx73]

so you think poeple like me dont deserve to get treatment?

im 14 years off any kind of drug,so whats the matter?

[chemister]

In Norway they give Subutex and Methadone to people who have stop to use
drugs with a lot of control with urine-tests. Most of them start to live a normal life.
Do you think you have more value than these people or me???

I had stop to use drugs for 10 years, educated me to an engineer in chemistry and biotechnology. I had to start with pain killers after 2-3 weeks after Tx start. I get very ill and they give me methadone, not my first choice...