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Methadone replacing Lortab 7.5

I have been taking Lortab 7.5/500 for several yrs. At least 8 a day. Started a pain mgmt. clinic and they have put me on 5 mg methadone 2x daily. Don't know why....feel like I am jumping from the kettle into the fire.
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Avatar universal
I have had chronic and at times acute back pain since 1998, and have tried almost everything for pain, including injections, surgery, a tens unit, physical therapy and all sorts of meds. I was taking Lortab7.5, but built up a tolerance to it and didn't like feeling "stoned" at work. My pain management Dr. gave my a choice between Methadone or Morphine. I chose Methadone, and have been so happy with it! Not only is it the best thing I've taken for pain, it doesn't` affect my state of mind. It did take a little getting used to, when I first started taking it I suffered from constipation and dry mouth, but drinking lots of water and taking colace (stool softener),  both helped with these issues. I have been taking it now for 13 years and have not had to ever increase my doseage  (40mg/day). I don't know why more doctors don't prescribe Methadone for pain-it lasts longer and works better (in my opinion) than other narcotic analgesics without the mental effects.
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Methadone is becoming more and more favored with Physicians for the obvious reasons. It can be a good pain management med for many ppl.

However I think the problem comes when, for whatever reason you lose the Physician that initially prescribed the drug. It can be extremely difficult to locate another Physician that will prescribe Methadone. Some ppl have had to resort to going to Addiction Centers to obtain a presription... others have had to change the med that what has worked for them for years. Neither are a great situation to find yourself in. Laws and preferences vary state by state and Physician by Physician. It is my opinion that there needs to be more continuity between Physicians and states.

I agree with the feeling of "jumping from the frying pain to the fire" when you are transferred from short acting to a long acting opiates, especially to one with the old connotations that has surrounded Methadone for years.

I whole heartedly believe that we should be involved in our Plan of Care. It's our lives and our bodies. If you are not comfortable with this change you should have a say in it.  Talk to your PMP, tell him how you are feeling. His rational may make sense to you once he explains it.... it may not. Voice your opinion.

Remember that Physicians are service providers. We hire them. We should always be comfortable and confident in their decisions.... but we should always be allowed choices and input. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

I wish you the very best and hope you'll let us know how you are doing.... and how this turns out for you.

Take Care,
~tuck
Helpful - 0
441382 tn?1452810569
Different meds work differently for different people.  When I first started pain management I had been on Vicodn 7.5, four a day, but it always ended up that I was needing double that, so essentially I was taking the same thing as you.  The pain management doctor that I started with put me on methadone, 2mg, three times a day.  It worked wonderfully!  The only thing that she warned me about was that she wanted me to take the methadone AND the Vicodin together for a few days because since the methadone has such a long half life, it takes about 3 days for it to build up in your system and start working.  She didn't want me to start taking the methadone after the Vicodin ran out because I would essentially have had no coverage for a day or two until the methadone kicked in.

Don't discount the methadone until you've tried it for a bit to see how it does.  Did they give you anything for breakthrough pain?  That's the one thing that I, personally, find is essential for me with methadone.  The methadone works well, but there's enough breakthrough pain to make it VERY necessary to take something for it.

Even now I am taking a low dose (10mg) of methadone once a day.  My doctor is using it as a baseline for pain control, and I take 30mg Roxicodone, 2 tablets, every four hours with liquid oxycodone (20mg/ml) 1cc for breakthrough pain.  The methadone is enough to keep me from having large peaks and valleys in pain control, the Roxocodone is strong so it handles my pain well, and the oxycodone liquid works INSTANTLY on my breakthrough pain, so with this regimen, my pain is probably a 3 or 4 as opposed to a 6 or 7 on other medications I've tried.

I'm rambling.  Give the methadone a chance.  You might find you like it.  If you don't, have the doctor try something else.  Pain management is definitely trial and error finding that good combination.

Ghilly
Helpful - 0
1855076 tn?1337115303
Some people find methadone a good pain management medication.  It was suggested by my pain management doctor to try it.  I had been on a lot of medication and at very high doses.

What kind of doctor do you see for your pain?  If you shared a little more information about the kind of pain you have, how long you've had it, and how you've tried treating it, you may get more responses on people who've had similar problems.

I did a lot of research on methadone when it was suggested and I determined it wouldn't be the right medication for me.  I don't know what your history is, so I can't give any personal opinion.  I will say do your research on it and know what you're getting into.  I think everyone should be knowledgeable about what medication they're taking.  I chose not to take it mainly because it seems to be a very difficult med to get off if you ever want to.  Even tapering is very difficult.

I hope you'll keep posting and let us know how things are going.
Helpful - 0
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