Methadone withdrawal

[Supermompenny]

I have been on Methadone for about 8-9 years. I was up to 90mg every 4 hours then cut back to 40 mg every 6 hours and didn't feel much more pain. The problem is I made the mistake of having my medical records switched to another provider that isn't allowed to prescribe pain meds through his practice. So I tried to ask the old doctor if I could come back. They have denied me. My new doctor has sent in referalls every where to no prevail. I got a weeks worth from the emergency room last Thursday to hold me over til I tried again. Someone or something has been put in my file that is a lie and turning the doctor against me. I have Osteogenisis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and over 250 broken bones. I will never be able to walk and the pain will never go away. Could anyone tell me how to get off this I have no other choice. I am down to 30-40 mg 2-3 times daily but I only have about 36-10mg pills left, please help me!!!

[Tuckamore]

I am sorry I did not see your reply before I posted. I had your post up and took time to care for some wash and returned to respond.... in the meantime you responded to Millie. Sorry.

After reading your response I think it's even more important to obtain your medical records. There's a fly in the ointment some where and you need to uncover it. If your medical records are clean as I suspect they will be.... I suggest that you use those records to search for a PMP.

Sweetie there has to be someone out there willing to treat you with your diagnosis.

Again best of luck and I will look forward to your updates.
~Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Hello and Welcome to the Pain Management forum. I am glad that you found us and took the time to share your horrific chronic pain condition with us... but very sorry to hear about your current situation.

I would request your medical records. By law they must provide them to you. Find out what is in them that keeps someone with your type of pain from obtaining pain management. You need to know what you are fighting. Does your PCP have any idea why you are being refused treatment? Does your state allow him to prescribe for you short term? I would certainly keep in close contact with him and explain your situation again!

You may not be able to find a PMP before your meds run out but you should be able to find proper Pain Management in the near future. Unless there is proof that you have purposely abused or distributed narcotics I can't understand the refusal. Something must be in those records that make you look suspicious..... or guilty.  

By no means am I suggesting that you have an addiction issue. However for your specific question we have a Forum that will be able to assist you with more suggestions and information. Here's the link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77

Please know that you are welcome here. I sincerely hope that you will continue to post and share your search with us.

Best of Luck to You,
~Tuck

[Supermompenny]

I have had 4 different doctors prescribe methadone. The last one I've had for about 3 1/2-4 years,and she was my pcp. She would only do 1 thing at each appointment and not very well, if I got sick the day before my meds refill and asked her to look in my throat or ears, she would say" Do you want your pain meds, or for me to look at your ears?" She found cancer in my paps smear in Oct of 09 and has done nothing about it, including doing my mammogram. I have asked her repeatedly and all she could say was," I can't find anyone to see you" I am on Medi-Cal because I'm disabled and get SSI. I live on $830. per month and can't afford a private pay Dr., or food.  So I went to switch to the Dr. I she took over for, that had been my Dr. for 3-4 years prior, then before I even saw him he called me to tell me that the clinic he works for does not allow him to prescribe Opiodes and that I needed to switch back. So I called and said I was sorry and that I didn't know any better and please let me come back I haven't see the other Dr. yet. Well they jerked me around for 3 months and I've been to E.R. twice and E.R. docs have talked to head doctor that I was getting my Methadone from and told them to have me call and everything would be o.k. But when I did as they said, I got the same thing. I believe they have me confused with someone else, or they have put something in my chart that is wrong. I have never sold, gave away, lost, run out of my meds or order them  early. I can't believe this is happening, but I have called numerous places for help or other Doctors and I've run out of options. I'm down to about 20 Methadone so I have switched to taking 2 twice a day, with 1 Norco. Down from 4Methadone and 2 -3 Norco every 4-6 hours. I'm sick, tired, and in so much pain, I can't keep fightighting a useless battle.
I even called the Dr. that gave them to me 7-8 years ago and 150 miles away. I can't believe some doctors are so uncareing, I thought they took a creed to cause no harm, I was wrong. Thank you for your advice, I will look for Gnarly and I hope your feeling better, take care.

[mellie4]

I'm not sure why this happened to you with your doctor that was prescribing the methadone.  Did you have the same doctor for the 8-9 years?  Methadone is a very difficult drug to detox from.  It has such a long half-life.  If you have to get off them, will your current doctor help in any way?  You should also check out the Substance Abuse Forum here and post your question.  Even if you're not an addict, you will still have the same withdrawals.  There are people on that site that will help you.  Pay particular attention to any advice from gnarly.  He's been through the methadone detox and is very, very knowledgeable.  There are supplements and other things that will help with the withdrawals and also you'll get a lot of support.

There may be someone on this forum that will have suggestions for the pain aspect of things but for the withdrawal part of it you'll get a lot of help on the substance abuse forum.  Best of luck and keep posting.  You're in a very difficult position.  Keep trying to find a doctor that can take over your care but since that could take a while, prepare for the methadone withdrawal as best you can.