Aa
Help anyone been here done this
can anyone tell me about getting off methadone and back onto loratab for my pain help??
can anyone tell me if i can swap from 125mg of liquid methadone to a 50 or 100 microgram fentanyl patch and get better pain relief and not go through withdrawels and or what dose of the patch would i need to make the transition ?
Hey there,
As a nurse (and a sufferer of chronic pain) it is certainly not advised to stop any type of narcotic suddenly, and to follow the advise of both your doctor and pharmacist to make a set plan to decrease the amount of methadone you are taking.
If you are switching from one pain killer to another pain killer, doctors and pharmacists have 'conversion charts' to help them decide how much of another drug is so called 'equivalent' in dosing. For example (numbers NOT accurate) methadone 10 mg might be equal to morphine 20 mg and to taper from there. Different medications would be used depending on your specific situation. Many people that I know that have been put on methadone is either due to drug addiction program, or because their chronic pain is not controlled with any other medication.
Keep in mind, the longer a person uses a narcotic, the body adapts to it, and the affects lessen, and more needs to be used for the same effect, or a newer stronger drug needs to be utilized. Various things need to be kept in mind when changing and I suggest you not do it alone. Withdrawal will most certainly happen for any abrupt stops to a medication regime and is not proactive-- isn't the point of taking pain meds to increase function?? I do not know your story, so sorry if I'm making any assumptions.
All medications need to be used for their intended use. Are you on any other types of medication for your pain? (like antidepressants? topical agents? muscle relaxants? etc) Do you use any other therapies, like massage therapy, acupuncture, etc?
I would speak with your pharmacist the next time you can about changing and see what they say and bring it up with your physician. Is there a specific reason you want to change medications? If there are any addiction issues, please seek professional help for this.
To Pumpkin 310: I would highly suggest to get your friend some medical help. Anytime a medication is used for another reason other than its intended purpose is of great concern. In a hospital setting, many other narcotic analgesics are used to help the withdrawal symptoms as well as other medications to help 'relax' a person, including benzodiazepines and anticonvulsants (for both alcohol and drug withdrawal) This needs to be monitored directly by health care workers. Please encourage your friend to see her doctor to discuss her options. There may be options for her to be at home to continue her care, but she may need help and need hospitalization (or another facility or sorts) to help her at this time, to ensure her safety, as withdrawals can be quite scary. The first thing for her is to want help, which she needs to want. If her safety at any time is compromised or she cannot judge safety for herself, please seek help for her.
Dana
As a nurse (and a sufferer of chronic pain) it is certainly not advised to stop any type of narcotic suddenly, and to follow the advise of both your doctor and pharmacist to make a set plan to decrease the amount of methadone you are taking.
If you are switching from one pain killer to another pain killer, doctors and pharmacists have 'conversion charts' to help them decide how much of another drug is so called 'equivalent' in dosing. For example (numbers NOT accurate) methadone 10 mg might be equal to morphine 20 mg and to taper from there. Different medications would be used depending on your specific situation. Many people that I know that have been put on methadone is either due to drug addiction program, or because their chronic pain is not controlled with any other medication.
Keep in mind, the longer a person uses a narcotic, the body adapts to it, and the affects lessen, and more needs to be used for the same effect, or a newer stronger drug needs to be utilized. Various things need to be kept in mind when changing and I suggest you not do it alone. Withdrawal will most certainly happen for any abrupt stops to a medication regime and is not proactive-- isn't the point of taking pain meds to increase function?? I do not know your story, so sorry if I'm making any assumptions.
All medications need to be used for their intended use. Are you on any other types of medication for your pain? (like antidepressants? topical agents? muscle relaxants? etc) Do you use any other therapies, like massage therapy, acupuncture, etc?
I would speak with your pharmacist the next time you can about changing and see what they say and bring it up with your physician. Is there a specific reason you want to change medications? If there are any addiction issues, please seek professional help for this.
To Pumpkin 310: I would highly suggest to get your friend some medical help. Anytime a medication is used for another reason other than its intended purpose is of great concern. In a hospital setting, many other narcotic analgesics are used to help the withdrawal symptoms as well as other medications to help 'relax' a person, including benzodiazepines and anticonvulsants (for both alcohol and drug withdrawal) This needs to be monitored directly by health care workers. Please encourage your friend to see her doctor to discuss her options. There may be options for her to be at home to continue her care, but she may need help and need hospitalization (or another facility or sorts) to help her at this time, to ensure her safety, as withdrawals can be quite scary. The first thing for her is to want help, which she needs to want. If her safety at any time is compromised or she cannot judge safety for herself, please seek help for her.
Dana
I have some one very close to me that has to be on Methadone and we are aggressively looking for alternatives to getting off this evil drug.. Methadone is the devil... This situation isn't because of previous substance abuse... The reason for getting started on methadone actually is really stupid and this person didn't realize or have any knowledge of the medication methadone.. Decided to try it one day and continued to do it for only about a week or two and wantd to stop not seeing what all the fuss was about... Guess what happened when they tried to get stop taking it!!!!! Yep, the endless attempts to stop have been extremely discouraging and frighting for this individual and if it wasn't for the insane withdrawals, has zero desire to take this medication or any other drug for that matter.. We are running out of options... Loritab doesn't come close even touch the withdrawal symptoms.. Oh, and since finding out that methadone is apparently an opiate blocker will any form of pain killer such as Oxy's effective in at making the withdrawals from methadone bearable? I realize that one of the reasons some are on methadone is because of addition to pain medications but if someone isn't on it because of an addiction to another medication or substance abuse is there a pain killer that a doctor can provide to help get you off of methadone? There has to be something that can help the withdrawals be somewhat bearable in order to get off this horrible devil... I have read some of these posts and the horror stories of it taking months if not longer to even start to feel some relief from the pain let alone any sign of normalcy... I would love to know if you or anyone has used any other resources or medications to help get off methadone...
HELP, HELP, HELP... The desire is there for my friend and realizes the risks of getting addicted to another kind of pain killer but is willing to try anything at this point... Don't be stupid and try this drug for any reason at all especially an insainly stupid reason as "just wanting to try it"...
HELP, HELP, HELP... The desire is there for my friend and realizes the risks of getting addicted to another kind of pain killer but is willing to try anything at this point... Don't be stupid and try this drug for any reason at all especially an insainly stupid reason as "just wanting to try it"...
Mate Good Luck,I went 56 days cold turkey from 150mg and I just kept getting worse daily and finally bit the bullet and could take no more of no sleep so I went back on. It is insidious deathadone.If you need any advice dont hesitate to ask.....
Hi Brian,
I am 68 days off a few years of 60mg daily Methadone and I'm currently on Endocet 10/325 only. It was NOT easy.
How much Methadone and for how long were you taking it? If you can give me more info I may be able to better advise you.
All the best.
- Brian.
I am 68 days off a few years of 60mg daily Methadone and I'm currently on Endocet 10/325 only. It was NOT easy.
How much Methadone and for how long were you taking it? If you can give me more info I may be able to better advise you.
All the best.
- Brian.
Hi Brian,
Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. You do understand that your pain will probably increase greatly without the aid of the methadone. You say you have pain (I assume CP) and I also assume that the methadone is prescribed by a physician. If I am wrong and this is an addiction issue the Substance Abuse Forum members may be able to assist you better than our Chronic Pain members.
I do not have true experience with that. I took methadone for a short time for CP and had no withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking it. During that time I took Hydrocodone for break through pain. I continued to take it when I stopped the methadone.
Have you discussed this with the prescribing physician? He/she should be able to help you through any withdrawal symptoms you may experience. Sometimes diazepam or something similar at HS (hour of sleep) will help you with the sleeping and relaxation.
Good luck to you as you try to get off the methadone. Please discuss this with your PCP and ask for some help. I encourage you to keep in touch with us. We are here to support you in anyway we can. Take Care, Tuck
Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. You do understand that your pain will probably increase greatly without the aid of the methadone. You say you have pain (I assume CP) and I also assume that the methadone is prescribed by a physician. If I am wrong and this is an addiction issue the Substance Abuse Forum members may be able to assist you better than our Chronic Pain members.
I do not have true experience with that. I took methadone for a short time for CP and had no withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking it. During that time I took Hydrocodone for break through pain. I continued to take it when I stopped the methadone.
Have you discussed this with the prescribing physician? He/she should be able to help you through any withdrawal symptoms you may experience. Sometimes diazepam or something similar at HS (hour of sleep) will help you with the sleeping and relaxation.
Good luck to you as you try to get off the methadone. Please discuss this with your PCP and ask for some help. I encourage you to keep in touch with us. We are here to support you in anyway we can. Take Care, Tuck
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
