Methadone instead of Oxycontin

[MamaBlaze]

My husband has been taking Oxycontin 10mg for a couple of months now. They are now wanting him to change to Methadone10mg. Is it safe to change? How long should he wait between his last Oxycontin and his first Methadone?

[Jessica7495]

my dr has me on oxycodone 10 mg 4x a day and also 5 mg methadone one in morning one at night. All from a back surgury. But I am so scared to take the methadone because of what I read about it. I want to get off oxycodone and take the 5 mg methadone for withdrawal but I don't know how long to take the methadone for. I know me being paranoid of pills so I wouldn't take more than the 2 methadone a day. I'm wondering how long would withdrawl last from oxycodone from taking them for a little over 2 yrs. How would I know when to stop the methadone for the withdrawals. Because if the withdrawals only could last a week then I only would take the methadone until there gone. I have anxiety and I get nervous and scared of pills. So if someone could tell me please how long to take the 5 mg methadone 2x a day for withdrawals then I would greatly appreciate it. Ty.

[Coach707]

I have a little problem, actually a big one.. August 2010 my wife and I managed to allow COBRA to cancel on of us ME. I only had 17 of the required 18 to be HIPPA certified..I'n short I am apparently uninsurable and on disability with Sedgwick not SSI yet... My Oxycontin has cost 2480.00 mnthlu. That's right over 15 thou. My Dr. I am just about over the bend as the late COVRA was a 2c error TTl BS.. But I am really bummed. Last month I Titrated down from 6 80's to 2 80's with no problem. I had over 75 tabs left... I was afraid of the monkey, but as I suspected the pain is the demon.. Anyhow content I am not emotional my dr still wants to move me to Methadone to stop the arterial bleed on my 401k.. I have a stigma against Merh- anything from the movie "panic" I paid UHC for thirty years my 119k bypass my wifes lupus and my oxy, cynbalta, has caused the insurance to play ugly and evil.. Please help.. The oxy dies not jack me up .. Buy I an going to have to win the lotto or find a true grit Marshall Ti help a couple of beat up Anericans who have been manhandled by the system.. Feeling alone, but never dead.. Denier fi, coach....

[jimgreg]

you can ask the doc..but you can go to methadone from oxys but not the other way around,,cuz a matter of withdralws..im on oxycodone now..was on methadone 5 yrs..its great for pain..but this med can be scary med..i detoxed it from 160 mgs in 2-3 yrs  my last detox was 38.5 mgs a mistake..learn on detoxing from methadone.. 10mg aint alot on oxycodone..but 10mgs methadone will help..20 mgs be better...to be honest i couldnt tell the diffts between 160 mgs and 40 in my pain control..

[namnam46]

Hi jr41,

You have posted on a VERY old thread from 2009. If you would please go to the top of the page and click on the Green tab that says "Post a Question" and re-post this question then you will get MANY more answers to it.

This will help a lot as you have a very good question.


Thank you.......Sherry

[jr41]

I take 360 30mg oxycodone  4 in thr morning 4 afternoon and 4 at night i have  a steal rod in my back and i sometimes take more then prescribed ,since 1998 started with 4 160mg oxycontine and 90 .8 dilaudid for break pain now how do you come off  500+milligrams a day i tried everything but dont forget my back is broke very bad ,funny didnt hurt that much b4 the operation but was more money to the lawyers . any help tho my way

[NoMoMeth4me]

I couldn't agree with nurseaudrea more. I had been on Methadone for over 2 years for severe pain. I tried to get off it and it took me three times to do it. I'm 95 days free of the liquid handcuffs and will NEVER go back to it. There are definately better drugs out there for pain control. I still have W/D symptoms after over three months if that tells you anything. The most I ever took was 40mg which is not that high compared to others.
I won't even begin to tell you how horrible the first month of W/Ds were.
I'd say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.......Ask you husband to speak to his PCP about alternatives to Methadone.
I wish you all the best :-)
Feel free to PM me for anything.
Brian.

[james708]

Once you go methadone you will notice that your other will be okay for awhile.  Just for awhile and will get to the point that they cannot remember what they said.  Tread lightly on this treatment.  I have learned the hard way and choose not to go there again.  Follow what the doc says but when you start to see changes let the doc know so you can avoid bad problems.  Changing is good and I hope the best for you.

[nick30]

I will try to find the adhesive cleaner you speak of, thanks. I have been trying to get a tan and don't want lots of funny red patches all over me.

[inpain41]

PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR HUSBAND TAKE METHADONE, UNLESS HE WANTS TO LOSE ALL OF HIS TEETH AND LET HIS BONES GET SOFT AND BRITTLE NOT TO MENTION THE MOOD SWINGS! ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN AS I HAVE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES! MAYBE TRY FENTANYL, MAKE SURE TO USE THE MYLAN BRAND. IT HAS NO GEL AND STICKS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER BRAND, IT COMES IN DOSES OF 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg AND 100mcg. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU!!  GOD BLESS...

[BOK2Bjan]

Well, I just wrote you a response and lost it - it's floating out in cyberspace - but not in your direction I don't imagine. --  Yes, they have us by the short and curlies - no doubt - but Obama will make it worse I have a feeling! lol  When I had to stop the fentanyl, my insurance co. said both the patch AND actiq were only for cancer patients from then on.  It seems unfair - given that many cancer patients have less pain than so many.  I know I have more than many of them - but I have so many different diseases pulling on my nerve endings at once!!! :(  BUT - I have such a strong sense of humor that as long as I keep distracted and laughing etc., I'm OK - but when the pain takes center stage - oh my - it can really get me down.)  Yesterday was bad - my son's graduation - and he's got a lot of problems due to the abuse we suffered (mostly me - and only me physically).  He was crying last night about some things and I feel so helpless.  I feel good that I've been helpful, but you can only do so much.  Anyway - my hand was really in pain (see pic on my profile) even tho it was a lot better than the couple days before.  I took a pic after it had already gotten a lot better (always goes that way) but it still is a bummer.  Scleroderma really messes with your hands.  I don't think I have a body part that isn't effected by some disease - seriously - not an organ - nothing.  I DIGRESS!  I believe I was talking about sense of humor!  I think I'll have to prove that another time!!! lol.  

Hey - I've got something from my pharmacist you might try to get the gummy stuff off your skin from those patches.  They use it in hospitals and it is wonderful.  "detachol" adhesive remover.  Comes in 4 oz bottle and you squirt small amount on cotton ball (or other such thing) and rub on your skin and whala - it comes off.  Much better than when I used to gouge the stuff off with my fingernails - only to end up with giant red marks all over!  I didn't care unless it was summer and I wanted to wear a swim suit or sleeveless, but still - it can start to look like you're a bad art project!  Try it - might like it.  Oh dear - must go - some nerve endings need attention.

Blessings, Jan

[jmsl5]

Googone does the same thing. You can find it in some grocery stores.  Application is the same as well.

[nick30]

nah never used actiq, they are rarely prescribed over here. really only for cancer patients i think. I have all those funny red squares on my body where my patches have been lol. i wish they would dissappear quicker. $600 a box, whoah. they cost me $5. full price here is still only $155. the big pharm companies really have you by the short n curlies huh? feel sorry for eveyone who has to pay such obcene(?) amounts for drugs.

[BOK2Bjan]

Been there - done that!  I was on the patch for a couple years - at a high dose, actually, but my insurance doesn't cover it anymore.  We (when married) bought it for a while @ over $600/box along with my $1000/mo insurance premium.  Needless to say, as a divorced medicaid user, it no longer is an option.  The Avinza is great at a higher dose.  I actually got tired of cleaning off all the sticky stuff etc.  Glad you're happy with your patches - I'm GLAD you can get them!  Have you ever used actiq suckers for breakthrough?  Take care

Blessings, Jan

[nick30]

I've tried a similar drug(kapanol). it is just another name for the same drug.
it's also known as Kadian, MS-contin etc
As far as i'm aware they are all available in mono preparations.
I actually found the duration to be beyond 24 hours but it just wasn't strong enough at the dose i was on.
glad it is working for you though.
if you ever tire of taking pills once a day you could always try duragesic. lol.

Nick.

[Red931]

To be very honest I have never heard of Avinza. I am going to research it now.

[BOK2Bjan]

Hi fellow sufferers,
I posted about having switched many times and my pain management doctor - the only one I've ever had, has told me that it is often a good pain management technique underused.  The body can get used to a med and by changing, you can get good results again. That being said, many of my switches were due to the medicaiton being taken off the market or an insurance company change meaning it wasn't covered anymore.  But, I've never had anyone acknowledge my input about the drug Avinza.  It is a 24 hour dosing and works wonderfully.  Methadone was offered to me and I have nothing against it at all.  But my doctor felt it was harder to regulate due to its short duration of action.  He wants the longest acting drug possible to keep the blood levels constant.  Has anyone ever tried Avinza?  

Blessings, Jan

[ChronicPain1]

Ugh, I need to have my medication changed. This 25mcg Fentanyl patch is 100% ineffective. My pain is at a 7 most times minimum, when on the previous medication it could be a 2 at most times.

[Red931]

I agree with you 100%. I also only have two doctors that prescribe my medications and had a switch only once because Vicodin did not work for me. I understand exactly where your coming from.

I don't think you were being harsh at all. I just wanted you to be aware of her explanation as to why she posted the way she did.

[Mollyrae]

I do realize the reason for posting in the two forums and  I also find it hard to believe that the Doctor is so nieve and uneducated by making a merry-go-round out of the pain regiment. I have never heard of that and I have been involved with pain management for quite a few years. I have only had 2 Doctors who ever did the prescribing in 20 years and they never kept switching my meds. The only time I have had a switch was when one was not effective anymore and that took quite a bit.

I may have been somewhat hasty in my comment but I guess  that's the way I felt at the time and still do but to some degree more understanding. I apoligize for being somewhat harsh but find it strange as well.

Thanks Red for your input. I appreciate it.
Molly

[nick30]

So long as it's working for you thats the main thing. Glad you have something you're happy with.

Nick.

[Red931]

You are correct with the Oxycontin duration. I don't get twelve hours out of it either. I am lucky if I get eight. My point is if his doctor felt he needed 40 mg. daily why not prescribe 20 mg. twice daily as it would be properly prescribed that way. When you start overlapping doses of time released medication you are going to have problems.

I think what turns so many people off of methadone is that it is used to detox people that are addicted to heroin to be honest. When people that are not educated about it hear it they immediately think of heroin.

Even though the Oxycontin only gives me about eight hours of relief it does work for me with very little side effects so I stick with it. I have the Percocet for the breakthrough pain so I squeek by like the rest of us do day by day.

[nick30]

You are right about oxycontin being a 12 hourly med however I used to also take it 4x a day. for some people it lasts well under the specified 12 hours duration. In the end it gave me so much trouble that i switched to fentanyl.
methodone is also longer acting than oxycontin, maybe that's got something to do with the switch, who knows.
like many others i'm also surprised about the negativity surrounding methadone. having said that though i rejected it because i thought everyone would think i was a heroin addict if i took it. anyway, as far as i can tell(i haven't actually taken it) the only real negatives are the withdrawals(which aren't a big problem if you expect to be on it long term) and the link with bone de-calcification.

Nick.

[Red931]

Molly,

She didn't realize that there was a Pain Management Forum that is why she posted there first. She explained why she did that and I understood her reason for doing so.

I posted my question about my medication over there first also when I first found MedHelp. When you google your medication it always takes you there first.

I really think that his doctor wants to switch his medication because he didn't prescribe his Oxycontin properly in the first place. He seems to need 20mg. twice a day, but his doctor had him on 10 mg. 4 times daily. I am not a doctor but I know you should dose Oxycontin on a 12 hour basis.

[Mollyrae]

MamaBlaze:

I find it really hard to believe that his Doctor is not educated and prescribing him many different medications. Doctors DO NOT change the patients regiment when they are doing so well on one particular drug. If anything, they will want to see him take less of the drug and eventually become opiate free. Doctors don't keep adding to the mix, at least none that I have ever heard of.

I see some red flags in this post and the one in the Substance Abuse Forum. If the two of you truly had no addiction then what would bring you to the Substance Abuse Forum in the first place. I wouldn't have even considered it with my pain and the constant struggles I have. Like Red said, you must be honest and in my opinion...we all have one....you have not been honest here.

We are a great group of members with something in common and are willing to help with our advise to anyone who needs it. All we ask is that your honest with the information.

I think the comments with the Methadone are disheartening as well. I feel that it is a safe and effective drug for pain as well as w/d. There are opiates just as powerful and hard to come off of as the Methadone so I wouldn't single it out.

MamaBlaze, I hope your situation improves and you find the right path as well as your Husband. Please take care.
Molly

[ChronicPain1]

I'm surprised to see all the negative comments about Methadone, as I've read a few articles by doctors that it's safer than even Morphine! It's disheartening to hear, to say the least.

[jmsl5]

I too have no problem with methadone. I have taken it for a few years for nerve pain.  I take 10 mg every 12 hr.  I was getting along fine with it and my doctor all of a sudden changed it to OxyContin 10mg every 12 hours two weeks ago.  I now have double vision and am tired and cold, I have a few methadone left, I’m wondering if I could just quit the OxyContin and take the methadone until I can talk to my doctor on Monday.  Any help I would appreciate.

[backhurtz]

I would not suggest taking ANY methadone unless and until you have gotten the approval from your doctor FIRST. Even if he/she previously prescribed the methadone- it would be considered as a violation of your pain management agreement , self medicating and taking a medication not prescribed to you. Doing so could easily get you dismissed from the drs practice and reported on the state database for misuse/abuse of opiates. That would make it very difficult to get into another drs practice.