I have to be on a pain management program for several chronic painful conditions, one of the medications used is the methadone in a low dose! It works well for pain but I too had my bladder shut down completely! It got to the point that I was self cathing every 2 hours and having to put in a catheter if we went out anywhere for long periods! This was a very embarrassing and isolating thing making me afraid to leave my home, esp since I was unable to self cath out for many reasons! I did find that AZO over the counter prydium helped quite a bit but not always!
My URO finally put me on Flowmax and the problem has completely resolved! Flowmax is only FDA approved for men but my URO has found it helps many women as well! He gave me samples at first to see if it worked! I only take one at night!
Because of the FDA approval issue I was not able to get a patient assistance program with it however I did find it at a Canadian pharmacy for 1/4 of the cost!
Hope that helps!
Shelly
Hi,
Addiction to any drug is difficult to deal with. The methadone program will help but the effects vary from individual to individual.
It is possible that your sister does not drink enough water and as a result finds it difficult to pass urine.
It is also possible that long-term use of hydrocodone has depressed neurogenic impulses in her bladder.
Do encourage your sister to do the following.
Keep fluid intake over 2000 ml per day.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Increase high-fiber foods, such as wheat bran whole fruits and vegetable, in her diet.
Eliminate sticky, hard-to-digest foods from her diet.
Encourage intake of chocolate.
Do keep us posted on your doubts and her progress.
Regards