Is sub different than methadone?

[Thrace]

I have been on the same dose (50mgs) of methadone for severe pain control for seven years.  I was recently dx. with Central Sleep Apnea, and read that it could be caused by methadone and xxanyx . . (I take.5 mgs xanyx at night for sleep).  Also,  I moved to Iowa recently, and my regular MD here decided she didn't want to prescribe for pain control anymore..So I'm having a hard time finding a MD to presribe methadone..but suboxin docs are easier to find (is it the money?)  What I have been reading on this site makes me very concerned about switching to suboxin.

What I like about methadone for pain control is 1) I don't get high, it just stops the pain  2) I haven't had to increase my dosage in 7 years 3) I don't have cravings for more.

Any methadone vetrans out there?  I need some help for this chronic pain, but am afrid to go on suboxin.  I'd like to get off all strong pain meds, but until I get the support of a good doc ( a psychpharmachologist?) I 'm not going there.
Any ideas, suggestions, etc?  I don't know anyone besides me who has been exclusively on methadone for pain control for this long(7 year) period.  Thanks for any help.
Sincerely
Trace

[worried878]

I am also a chronic pain patient...my neck is also fused..with 2 discs totally deteriorated and more on the way..pain can become an accepted part of ur life..but u always think how it would feel not to have pain each and everyday of ur life..someone who has not experienced can not empathize with u..same as addiction..those who have never had an addiction do not understand..chronic pain and addiction have a bit in common..no one understands..and is one reason i do not judge anyone..never..cos we have never walked in their shoes

I have similar dx's as u..narcotics are not the recommended drug for fibro...neurontin, lyrica and lately cymbalta are the drugs of choice for this condition..i think i abused narcotics due to the lack of nrg chronic pain can bring along ..chronic pain canbeat the nrg right outa u

one day i decided i couldnt lose myself in order to control pain which in reality was no longer controlled due to tolerence to hydro....it is a dead end street..it takes more and more and more..holy cow..where would i be at 60???!!!

seriously..my p[ain is not worse without the hydro..and it also releived a bit of stress worrying bout pills all the time..yoga, heat . ice, injections, and truly trying to keep my stress level down help more than anything.....but stress follows us i think..or me anyway...u know what is best for u..if u need any help..dont hesitate to pm me

[mtgoat911]

i have a journal on staying clean while living with an injury or illness, it might help

[Thrace]

Thanks for sharing your experience and ideas...I was in a bad car accident,,had  my neck fused and suffer from migraines, and fibromyalgia. I also have depression and am not sure if that is a side affect of the methadone, the pain, or living with physical limitations,  
My first time on this site was tonight and I've had some good feedback and ideas,  I was starting to feel hopeless, so thanks everyone,
I'll read the Health pages and am open to any suggestions.
Blessings
Thrace

[mtgoat911]

i was on mehtadone longer than you at a higher dose but i took it for adiction and pain control
you seem to want advice from someone who only took it for pain, i have also taken suboxone
both drugs to me felt the same, but you can google a methadone to suboxone conversion chart and look at the archives, there is more information at opiatedetoxrecovery.com if you need it
if you feel comfortable telling us what the nature of your chronic pain is someone here is going to have alternative pain management options
most injuries do not need this type of medication, for this long, but i also know what its like to be sick and in pain

[worried878]

have used both drugs...never addicted to either..one is a partial agonist/sub...methadone is a full agonist...wds from both r bad if u have been on them for a while...mg for mg sub eats up methadone..4 mgs of sub would make up urj meth dose so as not to have wds as a rule/but we r all different...but sub offers a much less pain relief component than methadone..it is a detox drug rxd from mds..after a course they take/a sub course for 8 hrs....and yes they make a killing off of the sub..methadone was adopted from germany during warfare as it controlled pain for a long time on the battle field/the usa turned it into a detox drug...some love the stuff i hear//but not usually an abuse drug//as a rule i repeat cos some people do have methadone as their doc//but not many or there would be lines in front of the clinics to get the stuff...methadone is govt regaulated...13 dollars a day here/ a private physician can rx it for pain but not for addiction ...0.2 mgs is the dose of sub rx for sub/called temgesic in other countries...0.2 mgs would make an addict laugh but it is also a pain med that the usa adopted as an addiction drug...lots in commmon/sub and methadone..lots of differences too..good luck in fiding the help u need..there is also a pain forum here that rox