oxycontin/methadone

My dad has been on oxycontin and percocet for about a year for his back pain.  I forget the medical diagnosis, but he has a cluster of blood vessels that have "expanded" in his spine(lumbar region).  He can't move his neck, arms and now has pain in his legs and feet. He might as well be paralyzed. From what I understand it is hereditary.  An uncle had it in his brain as did a great aunt who passed away from it.  He started out taking just vicodin. Then he started taking percocet, the doctor then added oxycontin to the mix.  He takes them throughout the day and evening.  His personality has completely changed and he is not at all the person he used to be and his memory is at a total loss.  On top of all of this my father is an alcoholic and drinks everyday, which Im sure makes all of this a deadly combination.  He had back surgery that didn't affect the pain at all, he went through radiation everyday for one month and it also had no results.  He went to the doctor yesterday and was taken off the percocet and put on methodone.  So now he is taking oxycontin, methodone and a nerve pill that I can't remember the name of(starts with a t and is taken like a steroid).  I've read that methadone has only recently been approved to be used as management for chronic pain and that there are serious side effects that the patient might not even notice, like change in heart rate/rythms.  I am wondering if anyone out there has taken methodone for chronic pain and I would like to know how it has affected them.   Also if anyone would know about taking oxycontin and methadone at the same time and what problems that could cause.

[Spooked]

Check out the Addiction forum...tons of the info you seek.  FYI, from what I gather the worst thing about Methadone is the fact that it hs such a long half-life (acts on your body for 24-36 hrs)...which apparently makes getting off of the stuff VERY hard. As far as him while on it, most addicts call it a miracle drug because it helps with the pain but produces none of the euphoric effects typically associated with opiates. Accordingly, it allows them to function as productive members of society and stay off the dope.

[bubba38]

believe me, your dad is a lot better off taking the methadone than taking that prescribed heroine called oxycontin.  I've taken both for extended periods of time, and never again will i take the oxycontin.  I thought i would never get off of that ****.  And all the while that i was taking, i worried that some dope head was either gonna break into ny house  or knock me in the back of the head just to get my medicine. I think you will have your old dad back before long.  P.S.  I will say a prayer for your dad and ask the Lord to convict his heart so that he will except Jesus as his Lord a yournd Savior.  My dad is lost to so  I will lift them both up to the Lord at the same time. May God Bless you and give you peace about your dad.

[tequila1272]

the only bad thing about methadone could potentially be the long half life if too much of it were taken....if someone kept popping methadone pills looking for a high then the level would suddenty creep up and can cause death secondary to respiratory failure (the methadone causes the central nervous system to relax is the best way to describe it and the central nervous system is what ultimately controls an individual to take a breath in order to receive oxygen, thus, live.........by depressing the central nervous system, the respiratory drive becomes less and can stop if too much of something is taken).

[mr.lucky66]

It all depends on dosage. He could be taking  a 5 mg. methadone and a low dose of oxy. It's something that should be closely monitored especialy in his case because of the boozing. This combination could easy be a killer or something that improves his quality of life and it all depends on how it's taken. I wouldn't suggest someone like him to manage his own meds if he drinks like a fish. all the best

[mrpat]

I take 20 mgs of methadone 4 times a day. Before I was taking 40 mgs oxycotin 3 times a day plus 15 mgs oxycodone every 4 to 6 hours for breakthrough pain. Since I have been on the methadone I have actuallt gotten somewhat of my life back as I can now function and not feel like I am in a constint state of being stoned. The methadone actually helps with the pain where as before the oxys just made me where I did not care about the pain if you understand what i am saying. That and I am no longer over medicating myself because my pain meds would always wear off to fast. Just make sure he is careful on his dosing and try to see if you can make him cut back on the drinking.

[mr.lucky66]

Pat I'm glad you are getting releif from the methadone and have gotten your life back as you say. One advantage to it is that it has less peaks and valleys like a opiate like oxycodone. 80 mg. per day is a pretty good dose and another good thing about it is that you are slower to build a tolerance to it. Remember that both of these drugs (oxy&methadone) are lethal and I hope the man who this thread was started about isn't doling out his own meds drunk. all the best