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Avatar universal

Im Scared

My doctor wants to put me on METHADONE and im so scared to take it, i have been on Vicdon for 2 yrs and its not working anymore please help me decide.....
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Avatar universal
I've been on Methadone for several years and it does a very good job. I, too, was scared of it, still am to a point. It's very safe and very effective but you MUST take it responsibly, as prescribed and DO NOT mix with alcohol, not even a small amount.
I take it for a rare neurological disorder, Spastic Paraplegia,  and it's a great choice for anyone who needs pain meds for long term.
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Avatar universal
HAVE YOU HEARD OF A PAIN PUMP? COMPANY IS MEDTRONIC IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE. I HAVE A PUMP AND IT IS IMPLANTED LIKE A PACE MAKER STOMACH AREA AND THE CATHETER IS IMPLANTED LOW LUMBAR SPINE. NOT A BIG SURGERY. WHAT EVER MEDICATION THE NEUROSURGEON OR PAIN MANAGEMENT INTO THE PUMP IT DOES NOT GO INTO THE BLOOD STREAM. I WILL LET YOU RESEARCH IT BETTER THAN I CAN EXPLAIN IT.  HARDLY TAKE OPIATES ANY MORE. MY CASE IS SEVERE, I HAVE ADHESIVE ARACHNOIDITIS. I CAN THANK NEUROSURGEONS FOR THE "LIFE" I LIVE NOW.
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441382 tn?1452810569
Don't be afraid!  Just follow the doctor's dosage instructions to the letter and you will be fine!

I've been on oxycodone for the last six years for the management of adhesive arachnoiditis with a side order of fibromyalgia.  The oxy helped me tremendously, however the price of the meds was going higher and higher over time, and I am self-pay, I do not have a prescription plan, and my meds were costing me over $600 per month out of pocket!  Methadone is a fraction of the cost of drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxycontin, MS contin, etc.  Themain thing to remember with methadone is that, in order to be safe while taking it, you absolutely CANNOT drink anything with alcohol in it, and be sure to tell your doctor about every single medicine product, either prescription or over the counter, that you take so that he can be sure nothing you are taking will interact with the methadone.

Problems with methadone usually occur in high doses (over 80mg/day) in people with low tolerance levels to opiates, and in patients who don't take the drug safely and who mix alcohol and other substances in order to get a "higher high".  Otherwise, even though all people are different, IN GENERAL, the pain relief achieved by methadone is said to be REALLY good.  Take it for a week or so and see how you do.  If you don't see an improvement or don't like the way it makes you feel, call your doctor and set up an appointment to go in and have your meds changed.

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
937140 tn?1246013288
I wouldnt be afraid to take it as long as your doctor is prescribing it.  I had a friend that was taking it for pain and she said it worked great and her doctor wanted her to take it cause it is a opiate blocker and I guess it blocks the " high " feeling of other narcotics.  She seemed to think that it was safer but personally I dont know... but I feel that she did really good on it.  I never heard her complain about being in pain or feeling  bad.  I dont know what mg, she was or is on but she seems to be doing ok.  If you type in Methadone and hit search you will find out alot of information.
Good luck and take care !!!!                                                      Jazzmin1986
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Avatar universal
I'm a 42 y/o male that's currently being seen by a pain management specialist for spinal stenosis.(entire spinal column)  The stenosis is impenging on a nerve which is causing me extreme pain behind my left knee that leaves me hobbling like i'm 90 or something.  A recent MRI of my throacic spine showed disc space narrowing with a broad disc -osteophyte complex. (bone spur pushing on my cord)  There's impingment on the throacic cord  and canal stenosis.  I also have type II degenerative signal changes (from wear and tear).  My doctor is prescribing me MScontin 15mg x 3 per day.  She had also given me oxycontin for the break through pain which i used.  The combination of meds seemed to give me relief but now that I want her to refill the oxycontin, I'm being told she won't refill it because it was a 30-day supply and i took in 20 days. It was prescibed to take every 6-8 hours so I took 3 per day.  I know it looks like I'm abusing them butI was following what I thought was the correct dosage. My question is that if the 3 oxy's per day were helping, shouldn't she try either changing my meds or increasing the dosage to 3 per day?  Obviously I've built up a tolerance to the meds and this would seem appropriate.  i guess my question is should I be talking to her about changing my meds or increasing what she's giving me or am I just being unreasonable.  I thought pain management was just that, in this case my pain is not being managed like it should be.  I'm scheduled to have epidural injections on the 24th and pray it works but in the meantime, shouldn't she be trying to manage my pain?  Please help me with this because I'm sick of being in pain all the time.  thanks!!
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1 Comments
Under the new laws, any narcotic as prescribed must last 30 days.. no exceptions.
I won't say that you're abusing it but I think maybe you have misunderstood how to take it. There should be a specific dosage given and it must not be for 3 a day if you've run out already.
Pain management generally doesn't just use medication to control pain. Pain management actually tries other methods to try to keep you from needing medications: therapy, injections and such.
Also, under the new laws, there are guidelines that must be followed and all doctors have to follow them. Many people will actually be getting a cut in their meds because of the new guidelines. They factor in different things and it doesn't matter what you're being treated for, the amount is preset.
Hang in there! Just follow their instructions and hopefully they can get you fixed up so meds aren't needed.
547368 tn?1440541785
Hello Fredswife,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am glad that you found us.

I understand your fear of Methadone. I took it for several weeks and it was not effective for me but others have found it to be very effective. There are so great articles on the rational and benefits of utilizing Methadone for pain control. If you search the www you should be able locate them. If not send me a PM and I will try to help you.

Others that are using Methadone for Pain Control may post and offer their suggestions and opinions. I do know that some have not had a good experience with the narcotic. But remember that we are all different and our systems all react differently. I tried it per my physicians advice. When it was effective she was willing to try another narcotic. I hope you will comply with your physicians suggestion and at least try it. If not effective discuss this with the prescribing physician and hopefully they will make a change.

Please let us know how you are doing. We are here to support you and offer suggestions. I will look forward to your updates.

Good luck to you,
tuck
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