anyone an expert on Methadone?

[bluepill]

I have been taking methadone for two weeks now for pain relief. I was taking Ms Contin and was up to 60 mgs 3 times a day buy it wasnt doing shit for me. My doctor didnt give methadone because he felt i was taking too much morphine and wanted me to get off it, his goal is to help me live with my pain. He told me this is what he gives patients when ms contin doesnt work for them and he feels its a great pain reliever. Its going to save me about 70 dollars a month too. My doctor has me on 5 mgs of methadone 3 times a day and i still am having to take my breakthrough meds about 5 times a day ( around 10 vics a day). Should i give it some more time on this dose or is it to low for me. I have been doing alot of research on methadone and have found out that it accumalates over a period of time. My second question is i am a beer drinker, i have about 7 beers every night and have no problem taking vics and ms contin with them but was wondering if i should cut back with methadone, ive heard its some powerful shit. Any info that you can give me on methadone i would be grateful. Thanks for reading.

[sands of time]

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that you are definately damaging your liver if your drinking 7 beers a night and taking 5+ vikes a night. Vicodin has acetaminophen in it, and acetaminophen is hard on the liver, especially when comined with alcohol. If you wanna see your liver turn all shades of death, please continue.

Try cutting back on the booze and sticking to your doctors regiment, because what your doing now is gonna lead you into further health problems.

[deji]

Yes, about the half-life of meth. Basically takes 24 hours for 1/2 to leave you.

So the first day, you drink 20mg and may not feel it. Then day you go to dose and 10mg is still in you, drink 20mg more, now you have 30mg, next day to dose 15mg, drink 20mg more, now 35mg in you.

Your usual dose is just under double of your daily dose.

To be honest, methadone is the safest thing out of all of that stuff. Just a BITCH to get off when its time, thats all.

5x 3 isnt much. Most people take like 40x 3 for pain. But, taking only 15mg a day and if its helping, means pain isnt that bad and have hope for the future.

And roxis should be used for breakthough pain, not vicodin, like he said, along with that beer, you will be through before you know it.

Dont have much experience with chronic pain, is this even chronic pain? If not, get the hell off the methadone. But find a forum that specializes is chronic pain and you will get more help there.

[deji]

I forgot to mention one last very important think. Drinking alcohol will take the methadone right out of you.

The full 5 years I was on MMT, rarely drank. Even 2 beers and I would notice something was up. 7 beers a day and will suck that 15mg right out of you. Have to give up drinking if want to use methadone.

Dont know the exact reason, as I was never a big drinker and cared much. But increases the liver enzymes that take away the methadone, so the methadone leaves faster. Thats just off the top of my head, research to get the true answer.

[CrookedEye]

Cocaine also makes the methadone less effective.. Methadone takes 3 days of dosing to raise your blood level.. When they get you to a stable dose, then you can maintain that dose, and if you miss a day on occasion, it isn't too bad.. But yes, I agree, it is probably the hardest opioid to kick, having such a long half-life.. One thing I did notice while on methadone, is it seemed to boost my immune system, and I never even caught a cold in 3 years... However it ruined my sleeping patterns, and I would often just fall asleep for short periods, but never got a good nights sleep, not to mention screwing with my sex drive and my metabolism..

[sands of time]

Originally Posted by CrookedEye

Cocaine also makes the methadone less effective.. Methadone takes 3 days of dosing to raise your blood level.. When they get you to a stable dose, then you can maintain that dose, and if you miss a day on occasion, it isn't too bad.. But yes, I agree, it is probably the hardest opioid to kick, having such a long half-life.. One thing I did notice while on methadone, is it seemed to boost my immune system, and I never even caught a cold in 3 years... However it ruined my sleeping patterns, and I would often just fall asleep for short periods, but never got a good nights sleep, not to mention screwing with my sex drive and my metabolism..

It was more likely that the methadone was blocking the effects of a cold. If you had a cold, you wouldn't even know it. Opiates can stop you from coughing, keep your nose from running, ect.

[Gaius315]

SWIM is by no means an expert on methadone, but has taken it on many occasions, sometimes for a week or more. The wonderous thing about methadone is one doesn't feel the need to dose every few hours. Once a day is all you need because of the half-life. 5mg 3x daily is not bad at all. SWIM's friend takes 10mg 5x daily for back pain. She takes 2 in the morning, 1 midday, and 2 before bed. If you feel it isn't enough, see if your doc will take you up to 10mg, maybe 2x daily at first and go from there.

And they're absolutely right, ask your doc for roxycodone or Oxy IRs for breakthrough pain. I'm assuming you're on 10mg hydrocodone, but whatever the dosage, ask your doc for the same dosage in roxycodone or Oxy IR (instant relief.) Your liver will thank you.

"Acetaminophen is a hell of a drug!" Seriously, though acetaminophen is nasty. It has very little analgesic effect for the damage it does to your body long term. I know a guy who after a few years of vicodin abuse had to go on dialysis and was put on vicoprofen (hydrocodone / ibuprofen) and those will just make you sick. Tell your doc you aren't wanting to step up your dosage on the breakthrough meds, you just want something without acetaminophen.

[Gaius315]

Lol, just realized this was from 06 and not 07. Oh well, maybe someone will find the info useful!