pain medication

[lynne7121954]

Are their benefits to taking methadone to oxycontin?  Espeically when you are takin oxycondone for break through pain.

[JadedSweetheart]

Methadone doesn't really "block" anything.  It doesn't have a eupohria (that I've ever experienced).  What I guess it does to help heroin addicts is stops the withdrawls and since they are taking an opiate already, they don't get "high" off the heroin because they've already got something in their system.  (If that makes sense)  There's a lot of info out there about it.  
I found this on a website when I did a basic search:
"Methadone, as an opiate, is an addictive central nervous system depressant. It product analgesia or insensitivity to pain, sedation, slowing of respiration, lowering of blood pressure, constipation, slowing of pulse and, in some patients, nausea. The subjective effects following single doses in non-addicted individuals are similar to those noted after morphine or heroin use: feelings of well-being, drowsiness and euphoria. "

There was a whole page of info, but I figured that summed up the basics of it.  I also couldn't find anything about it having opiod-antagonist properties, however I believe that in some formulas they can add it to methadone to make a better addiction recovery med.

As it is, though, it's apparently stronger than morphine and one of the longest-used pain meds in this country, developed after WWII to combate opium and morphine addiction and to provide pain relief.  

It didn't work that great for me, but compare to what I've been switched to I would go back on a decent dose in a minute.

[mellie4]

I agree methadone often has negative connotations to a lot of people.  Myself included, until very recently when I did some research after my NP talked about it being one of the choices for going with a long-action medication.  (I ended up going with the Fentanyl patch instead.)

I have heard that methadone withdrawal is very, very difficult, even when tapered under a doctor's supervision.  I have also heard it is VERY effective for pain relief.  What I don't understand, though, is if you need a breakthrough medication, how can that work with methadone when it's supposed to block opioids?  Does it just block the "high," but you still get the pain relief, or does it block everything?

I tried oxycontin with oxycodone for BT pain.  It wasn't a good combination for me pain-wise.  It took a long while to convince me to go to something else, and I was very reluctant.  We finally went with the Fentanyl patch, and I was really concerned, but after getting a lot of information from the wonderful people here, I went with it, and for the most part, I think it's a perfect fit for me.  It works much, much better than the oxycontin for me.

[JadedSweetheart]

Methadone was originially developed as a pain medication (I believe).  It is one of the oldest, and hence, one of the least expensive.  It is also one that is considered not to be as addictive as oxycontin, although I don't see how one opiate is not as addictive as another.  Your body will become tolerant and dependant on both.  Some say tapering off methadone is easier than others.  I have heard that methadone withdrawl can be terrible, too.
It gets a bad rap in some medical communities because it IS used to help heroin addicts with heroin withdrawls.  I took methadone for a while and it was pretty effective as a long acting pain med.  My only problem with it is that I needed an increase after about 4 months and needed more BT meds.  I was with a different PM doctor then, and had other issues anyway.

If you are considering making a choice between the two, like the above poster said, do some research on them and talk to your doctor about which would be best for you.

[tomskat]

Hi there and welcome.You're taking 2 very addictive drugs.I know pain mgt docs often perscribe methadone and oxy together I believe to help offset the addiction-methadone is essentially a medication used to help stop withdrawls from heroin but has pain-relieving proerties to it.Supposedly without the "high" (although there are plenty here that will attest otherwise).Not sure if this answered your question?Do a little research on the health pages as well as read some of the other posts...there is much to be learned hre so stay with us!~A