Was Methadone Appropriate

My mother was in the hospital suffering from severe pain due to factured vertebrae.  She was doing better and was expecting to come home soon.  Then a "traveling" pain specialist came by and took her off her current pain meds and gave her methadone and then left again.  Apparently, my mother had a severe reaction to the methadone.  She subsequently had three strokes and eventually died.  I realise that it is natural for people to want to fix blame when someone dies unexpectedly, but I do have some serious doubts that methadone was appropriate for my mother.  She has been diabetic for about 27 years and had only one kidney operating, and that one was at reduced capacity.  She also had heart trouble and had a mechanical heart valve.  She took cumadin (coumadin) and nitroglycerin.  The fact that she had had a stroke was not discovered for nearly a week and the only thing the doctor was trying to do was to get the methadone out of her system because everyone thought she was just having a reaction to the methadone.  Then she apparently had two more strokes, two of them in the front of the brain and one at the back.  Did the methadone lead to her strokes?

[dkhiggin]

I'm not trying to imply that there is ALWAYS a connection between methadone and stroke -- just in my mother's case, given the fact that she had reduced renal function and diabetes.  I have read that methadone should not be given to patients with either of those conditions.  It seems to me that the immediate reaction (severe muscle spasticity and thrashing and difficulty breathing) appeared to be similar to methadone overdose, and that the stress of the overdose may have caused the strokes.

My mother lived in a very small town in the Midwest and there is no such thing as a neurologist, not within 100 miles.  She was self-admitted at the time the "traveling" pain specialist came through, so no doctor was actually monitoring her at all.  Eventually, her GP told us to remove her feeding tube and let her die.  He said that the areas where the stroke damage occurred indicated that even if she did recover a little, she would never have recognition of us again.

I know that doctors all stick together when it comes to questions like this, but it sure seems to me that methadone was contraindicated in my mother's case, and I would like to know whether the pain specialist was negligent or not.

[hopein2005]

if i were you i would not seek the advice of a doctor in this matter ,but i would however sugest going straight to a lawyer make sure you have records and the name of the pain specialest not to mention what doctor sent for the pain specialest  to asist your mother in pain managment.good luck and God Bless ,i am truly sorry for your lost and i do hope this has helped in some small way.

[Donatella123]

I would recommend you seek legal advice asap regarding this matter, methadone is not usually used  as a painkiller, it is a substance to help drug addicts addicted mainly to heroin to help with withdrawalls, it is highly addictive and i have never heard of methadone ever been used in your type of case believe me someones messed up somewhere, seek as much help as you can and dont believe every word doctors tell you as they have been proven wrong many a time. Get as much information on doctor's names etc, previous medicines but i know a lot about methadone and am pretty sure it was wrong to prescribe it in this type of case, i am really sorry for your loss, but time can heal a little!
Good Luck
Donatella xx

[caregiver222]

The problem with methadone is that it "masks" symptoms that one would associate with a stroke. Methadone is not usually used as a pain killer. You must request an atttorney to immediately file a subpoena duces tecum for all nurses notes and patient history. This is a "request for documents" . Obviously, there were a lot of medical problems and I would not be so quick to contibute negligence. The missing piece may have been an honest attempt by a caring physician to eliminate intractable pain. You have my condolances.

[Blondie_7]

My Mom has been taking methadone for 13 years & now she is being hospitalized for Liver, Kidney & Bowel failure & they don't know if she is going to make it. We need answers to our questions about this. If anyone could help us in anyway please do. Thank you.

[Alexa58]

Methadone IS used as a mainstream pain management medication.  I am not sure where your info came from, but you have been mis informed.  Litigation is what drives up medical insurance and Doctors cost passed onto us as consumers.

Please have accurate information prior to spewing incorrect info.

[Alexa58]

I am sorry I aimed my post at you.  It is DONNATELLA123 I should have posted to!  Again, I apologize!

Alexa