methodone for norco

[TKK333]

I have been taking at least twenty norco for about three years chasing pain.  they used to work but you all know how it goes.  more and more for the same effect.   I went to my doc yesterday and said the wrong thing.  I am tired of taking more and more pills that dont work anymore.  he frowned and questioned whether i was trying to solve pain or get a buzz.  I said hell,  they dont do anything at all anymore and i just want to quit this...  Well,  i walked out of there with a script for 30 mg. of methadone and  30 mg. of valium daily.   Will someone let me know if  this will curb my withdrawals from the norco.   Or,  am i in serious trouble..  I have to check back in with the doc in one week so i cant take more than prescribed.  I dont think the methadone dose is high enough.  

[Ghilly]

You're absolutely right, Tuck, it took four or five days before I really felt comfortable on the methadone, but now that it has built up a level in my system, the pain control properties are MUCH better than just with the oxycodone.

I am still taking the 15mg oxycodone for breakthrough pain, but even though my doctor prescribed TWO tablets of oxy every four hours for breakthrough, I am successfully managing my pain with one tablet, and sometimes even HALF a tablet is enough!  I'm so excited over this, because I was getting to the point where I was up to between 250 and 300mg of oxycodone a day just to control my pain to where I could do my job comfortably and just live comfortably in general, and now I'm taking 10mg of methadone, supposed to be every four hours, but it works out to more like every five to six hours, with one half to only ONE of the 15mg oxycodones for breakthrough pain, and it adds up to only about 5 or 6 of the oxycodone a DAY now!!  I am at the end of my first week of this and not so much as a hint of withdrawal from the oxy, even though the dosage of methadone is so much lower than the dosage of oxy I was taking.  PLUS (and this is the biggie) - it is costing me more than $300 a month LESS than all the oxycodone (pills and liquid) I was having to purchase every month!!  Life is good!  LOL

Ghilly

[Tuckamore]

Methadone does not normally give ppl a "high" or a euphoria and your physician should not be too reluctant to increase your dosage in time. However it is also usual to prescribe a lesser narcotic for what is called breakthrough pain. either way you should discuss this with your prescribing physician.  

The beginning or initial dose of methadone is between 15 - 30 mgs per day.  If I understand the ratios' correctly (and I beleive I do) there is a 2:1 ratio. Therefore  7.5 mg of hydrocodone is equivalent to about 15 mg of methadone. But this is for single dose not for long term pain management treatment. Most physicians beleive in the good practice to start low, go slow. Remember that methadone builds up in your system. It is stored in your body tissues. So it may take days before the full effectiveness of  methadone is realized. Methadone levels in the blood will continue to increase for five days from the initial dose.  And remember you are adding a hefty dose of Valium to the equation. So to be safe and take this slow.

Methadone is an excellent opiate for pain control as long as all the safety precautions are in place and practiced. It will just take some patience to get to the level that works best at controlling your pain. I hope this information was helpful. Please remember that I am not an expert nor a physician. These are personal opinions and should never take the place of your physicians advice.

Please let us know how you are doing. I will continue to watch for your updates. And as always....
Take Care, Tuck

[TKK333]

Thank you for replying to my post.  It has been two days now and your right,,  I have not experienced the hard withdrawals that i thought i would.  I am not noticing much relief from the methodone but at least im not on the floor with chills and crying like a baby.  Last time i tried to quit the norco,  it was horrible and i got very emotional and the pain came back tenfold.  I think when i report back to the doc next week,  i shall tell him that it seems to work but i may need a slightly larger dose.  any ideas folks.  cause the 30 mg seems a little light.After all that heavy hydro use.  what dose of methodone would be feasible without  another abusive situation and would still ease my worn out body..  I  dont want my doc to think im looking to get high but my tolerance seems to be off the charts..   hope you folks can help with ideas...  
       thanks again for replying to me..  this is important to me and my wife

[Tuckamore]

Hi TKK,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I'm sorry you are having such uncontrolled chronic pain.

Ghilly is correct. Methadone has proven to be a great medication for treating pain.  Have you taken it yet? If not I encourage you do to so. It may take a bit to build a therapeutic level. It should be much more effective in treating  your pain than the hydrocodone you have been taking. You should not experience any physical withdrawals from the hydrocodone. If you feel a bit jittery the Valium will stop that feeling.

30mg of Valium will enhance the effectiveness of the Methadone and also help with the pain and any spasms you are experiencing. Please let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
Tuck

[Ghilly]

The methadone will not only curb your withdrawals from the norco, it will work wonders on your pain as well.

I was taking 300+mg of oxycodone a day for the management of the chronic pain associated with adhesive arachnoiditis.  I had been on the oxycodone for five and a half years, and within two days of taking 10mg methadone every four hours and using the oxycodone 15mg now every four hours for breakthrough pain, the methadone is working SO well that I don't even have to take the oxycodone every four hours, and when I do, half a tablet (as opposed to two tablets, which is the dose) is enough to control the breakthrough pain.  I never would have believed it, but it is AMAZING!  And there's NO withdrawal at ALL, even cutting my oxycodone dose to a fraction of what it was!

Ghilly