What's Good About Methadone.

I have been trying to understand methadone. We've all pretty much agreed
that it's different from other Opiods. It's been explained to me several
times. Despite the explanations, I can't get it.

Uniquelyme/rhonda sent me some material about Methadone. It was almost
understandable. Unfortunately, the type was too small and very difficult
for me to read on my Mac. Mac sees different from other computers. Anyway,
thank you, rhonda.

What I've learned so far:

1) Methadone isn't as hard on your body (especially your liver) as other
Opiods.

2) Methdone rushes to many receptors in your brain and gets to work
making your pain less. It's the most effect Opiod for certain types of pain.

3) Methadone is particulary good for nerve pain (neuropathic pain) and not
so good for visceral pain. It wouldn't work good for surgery pain.

4) It has a long half life. That means the Methadone can be a potentially more
dangerous medication than others. For instance, you might take your usual
dose and find it doesn't help your pain so you take more. Taking more could
become an overdose!!
I don't think a doctor would prescribe Methadone to a patient he/she didn't
trust. If you take methadone, FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S INSTRUCTIONS.

5) It takes quite awhile for Methadone to start working in your body. During
that time, I remember calling my doctor 3 times in less than a week. That's
bad!

6) It not the drug of choice for those people who rob pharmacies for Opiods.
With Methadone, you will not get the Euphoria that so many people complain
about.

7) I don't think there's a limit to the amount of Methadone one can take. My
doctor prescribes 120 mg a day and he has told me unofficially that I can take
an extra one with every dose. He has not yet prescribed that amount. Also, I
don't know how much my insurance would be willing to pay for.

If you are an expert in the subject of Methadone, please feel free to make
comments. I tried to extract the information and make it readable. I think
it's the right information but it could use some polishing.

Post Edited (Pamela Neckpain) : 4/16/2009 11:08:43 AM (GMT-6)

Tony,

With what you wrote above, I do believe you are a born story teller.

I TRIED to say that. The words twisted.

Congratulatons.

More congratulations will be in order if you can find out if Methadone
blocks the use of other opiods during surgery. That's the big one I'm working
on.

I can't have anything removed or added to my body until I have the
answer to that.

Pamela

Pamela,

You covered that Methadone *itself* doesn't give a person euphoria. Or at least I thought you did.

What I was saying was that it DOES block OTHER opiates from giving a person their feeling of euphoria.

If I am right (just from my understanding since I came here), then it would block that feeling of euphoria at any time. The limitation being opioid.

But it doesn't block the **pain-deadening*&* properties/capabilities of those opioids.

If I understand correctly!

Pamela,

good job girl..now about surgery. I have had 2 back surgeries while on Methadone...Luckily, the Dr.'s know what to do...They had me on Dilaudid in the hospital after surgery...Then when I went home I took my Methadone along with Dilaudid for pain...it worked great!! I had never had Dilaudid before and could see why people liked it!! So, don't worry about what happens, they will take very good care of you..

Rhonda ( Me )

MISTAKE MISTAKE MISTAKE!

In #7 of the material above, I wrote this

"I don't think there's a limit to the amount of Methadone a person can take."

That is misleading. Very.

You know you're not supposed to believe whatever you read on a forum.
Don't you?

OK ... A correction:

I believe a person can take a fairly high dose of Methadone. I don't know
how much. A lot.

THE THING IS: YOU HAVE TO BUILD UP VERY SLOWLY TO A HIGHER
AMOUNT. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. METHADONE TAKES CAREFUL
WATCHING BY YOUR DOCTOR. IF HE/SHE BELIEVES YOU NEED MORE,
THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW.

Pamela

People in Methadone Clinics have taken as much as 300 mg. a day...for how long you ask? Years!!! I know, that seems like it's defeating the purpose of getting off drugs (Heroin or other pain pills). But, some people, like me, are very tolerant when it comes to opiates, and I can see taking up to 200 mg. a day.. And yes, if you have surgery, like me, they will make sure they give you something that overrides the methadone for a bit... I never had any pain after my surgeries...and I took Dilaudid. It was wonderful!! And I still took my methadone. So, it all worked out...

Me. (stands for Methadone Expert) ha ha