Methadone Question please

**Spiny** · 10-18-2010, 12:37 PM

Yesterday I posted about the RFA I had done and the pain from that, including extreme itching. I've been taking Methadone for 8 years now and it really helped a lot. Of course there were other pain meds, Oxycodone, Morphine, etc. but only for a little while and never had a withdrawal symptoms. I ended up just taking Methadone because after so many years the pain wasn't as bad any longer. Of course it wasn't always the same. Sometimes more pain or less.

Now, the doctor talked me into the RFA and it backfired on me. I was told by 3 people here in the forum that this can happen and it will take few weeks to get better. Gosh, I hope so !

Here is my question. Before the procedure I usually took 30, sometimes 40 mg of Methadone a day. Now, I need 50 mg and by the late afternoon I'm ready to take another 50 mg. I'm sure that is to much, but I don't want to bombard myself with Ibuproofen on a long term. I'm sure it's not good for your liver.

I'm waiting for a call from the doctor but sure he wont give me other narcotic pain meds. So, how much of Meth is to much. I know it lingers in the body. I'm also sure people here in the forum are more honest than the doctor.

Thanks, for a course in narcotic medication. What would be the next step after Meth to help with the pain and please no Vicoden or Percoset. They're useless for me. I'm so grateful and lucky to have this forum. Other pain patient are so caring, helping others.. . . .more than a doctor will. (Sorry, English my 2nd language)

**Justin** · 10-18-2010, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Spiny

Yesterday I posted about the RFA I had done and the pain from that, including extreme itching. I've been taking Methadone for 8 years now and it really helped a lot. Of course there were other pain meds, Oxycodone, Morphine, etc. but only for a little while and never had a withdrawal symptoms. I ended up just taking Methadone because after so many years the pain wasn't as bad any longer. Of course it wasn't always the same. Sometimes more pain or less.

Now, the doctor talked me into the RFA and it backfired on me. I was told by 3 people here in the forum that this can happen and it will take few weeks to get better. Gosh, I hope so !

Here is my question. Before the procedure I usually took 30, sometimes 40 mg of Methadone a day. Now, I need 50 mg and by the late afternoon I'm ready to take another 50 mg. I'm sure that is to much, but I don't want to bombard myself with Ibuproofen on a long term. I'm sure it's not good for your liver.

I'm waiting for a call from the doctor but sure he wont give me other narcotic pain meds. So, how much of Meth is to much. I know it lingers in the body. I'm also sure people here in the forum are more honest than the doctor.

Thanks, for a course in narcotic medication. What would be the next step after Meth to help with the pain and please no Vicoden or Percoset. They're useless for me. I'm so grateful and lucky to have this forum. Other pain patient are so caring, helping others.. . . .more than a doctor will. (Sorry, English my 2nd language)

Spiny, I would speak with your pain management doctor. Methadone can be a very dangerous drug when the dosage is adjusted, so it is very important to make an appointment with your pain management doctor to discuss any changes. I would not change your dose without getting the OK from him or her.

**KBear** · 10-18-2010, 10:06 PM

I agree with Justin. I have never taken Methadone, so know absolutely nothing about it, but would suggest speaking with your pain management doctor regarding any medication changes.

**Jack-of-all-trades** · 10-18-2010, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Justin

Spiny, I would speak with your pain management doctor. Methadone can be a very dangerous drug when the dosage is adjusted, so it is very important to make an appointment with your pain management doctor to discuss any changes. I would not change your dose without getting the OK from him or her.

Very good advice fro Justin. The half-live is so long fo Methadone it would not be practical in the immediate post-op time frame. get to much built up and they will be grasping for Narcan to block the opiates,

**Spiny** · 10-20-2010, 04:13 PM

thanks for everyones advise.

Nothing was explained to me after the RFA, just handed a paper to read. I was in such terrible pain that I went to the ER. Of course they didn't do anything except get a shot of muscle relaxent. I was expecting different action.

I don't belong to a good PPO and I'm sure you know anything below that, the service is not good. I could go on and write about this but sure nobody wants to hear this. Our healthcare is lousy, say the least.

I would love to find a new healtcare provider but not sure if another would except me and including my age (70) Is there any place I could ask that question ? Didn't Obama suggested we could find another one and they've to accept us including existing old problems?

By the way, the pain is getting better, except the itching. I had to find this out from a forum than rather from my doctor how this possibly would work.

Thanks everyone and the best to you. Also, how this forum works. It's still a bit complicated. What's a Trackback ?

**SemperFi** · 10-31-2010, 04:30 PM

Spiney,
I have taken Methadone for 10 years nearly and my dose is 10mg/day. I have sometimes increased the dose but only by very small amounts such as 2.5mg additional in a.m. and 2.5mg additional in afternoon or p.m.

So my total increase of dose was 5mg only and it was very effective for additional pain relief. I understand that may not work for everyone but I would caution increasing your dose without mentioning the increased pain and desire to increase dose with your PM and to recognize that as a central nervous system depressant increasing your dose significantly can cause problems with respiratory depression and also potential for cardiac arrythmias.

I hope your pain has subsided since you posted this question and/or you have spoken with or seen your PM by now.

take care, Maria

**SemperFi** · 11-14-2010, 08:11 PM

It's been awhile now and I was wondering how you're doing? Did you mention something about itching? I find that if I am in an environment that is too hot for whatever reason (even artificial lighting vs. sunlight) I will get very hot and itch like crazy. Have to get "away" from that feeling and cool off ASAP!

**NancyC** · 01-11-2011, 07:36 PM

Hi Spiny,

I just wrote a question about Methadone, and here you are!

I know that the only pain medicine stronger than Methadone is Fentanyl, and you have to wear it as a transdermal patch that will last 72 hours. Apparently you cannot take it as a pill or any other way except by I.V.

About the Methadone, are you hesitant solely due to your liver? And what do you mean by taking Ibuprophen?

Now what is an "RFA"?

Sorry I have more questions than answers, but ask your doctor about the Fentanyl patchs.

Nancy

Originally Posted by Spiny

Yesterday I posted about the RFA I had done and the pain from that, including extreme itching. I've been taking Methadone for 8 years now and it really helped a lot. Of course there were other pain meds, Oxycodone, Morphine, etc. but only for a little while and never had a withdrawal symptoms. I ended up just taking Methadone because after so many years the pain wasn't as bad any longer. Of course it wasn't always the same. Sometimes more pain or less.

Now, the doctor talked me into the RFA and it backfired on me. I was told by 3 people here in the forum that this can happen and it will take few weeks to get better. Gosh, I hope so !

Here is my question. Before the procedure I usually took 30, sometimes 40 mg of Methadone a day. Now, I need 50 mg and by the late afternoon I'm ready to take another 50 mg. I'm sure that is to much, but I don't want to bombard myself with Ibuproofen on a long term. I'm sure it's not good for your liver.

I'm waiting for a call from the doctor but sure he wont give me other narcotic pain meds. So, how much of Meth is to much. I know it lingers in the body. I'm also sure people here in the forum are more honest than the doctor.

Thanks, for a course in narcotic medication. What would be the next step after Meth to help with the pain and please no Vicoden or Percoset. They're useless for me. I'm so grateful and lucky to have this forum. Other pain patient are so caring, helping others.. . . .more than a doctor will. (Sorry, English my 2nd language)

**Justin** · 01-11-2011, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by NancyC

Now what is an "RFA"?

RFA = Radiofrequency Ablation

Here's more information about Radiofrequency Ablation -- Spine Patient Society Educational Materials -- Radiofrequency Ablation.

**Jack-of-all-trades** · 01-11-2011, 09:15 PM

Then thing about methadone is that it has a very long half-life when compared to some of the other opiates and metabolism rates vary a lot from person to person. It is not really meant for acute pain but more for chronic pain control. You don't want to OD. Your pain management doc who knows your case should be able to give you something to supplement the methadone or help in the proper dose.