LibraBalancer

Hi Relinda!
I was in a very similar situation as far as trying those drugs as well. Started off with the Vicodin, Percocet, etc. short acting drugs...then had to start the long acting meds once I was in Pain Management, like the morphines and Fentanyl. They all had some benefits, but where not as beneficial as I would of hoped them to be. Also, the prices (esp. Duragesic) where a big factor in my eventually switching to Methadone.
Methadone is not only the cheapest of the LA medications, but for me and many others out there, Methadone is VERY effective in releaving pain. esp nerve pain...like in my case Sciatica. It really really helps the constant annoyance of the tingle, burn, electric throb feelings of Sciatic pain. Although the pain is still always there...it's much more easy to tolerate thanks to the Methadone. When I was 1st Rx'd Methadone I was taking it twice a day (40mg every 12 hrs.), but noticed it didn't last that long for pain relief, so I went to 3 times a day (40mg every 8 hrs.) and stayed there for a while. As of yesterday I'm now taking it 4 times a day (40mg every 6 hrs.) I guess it just depends on individual reactions, responses to the medicine, but I guess on average it is effective to some from 6-12 hrs. So now it's a total of 160mg's daily. That may seem like alot at first, but it's easy to escelate to that level w/ very few side effects...at least in my situation. I don't itch, I don't doze off, etc. The only side effects I get are mild constipation and decreased sex drive.
Overall I would say, given in the right dose, Methadone is extremely cheap and effective. But there is only one way to find out...and that's by taking it. So good luck to your husband and I would tell him you've read good things about it, and to be positive when trying it. OH, it does work immediatly (30-60 min.) after ingesting it, BUT....it will take 4-5 days for someone to 'balance out', so to say reach a plateau of even pain relief. So essentially, the more days it's taken....the better it works.
*Word of advice, if possible get the medicine made by Roxane Pharm. They have a superior product. Try and stay away from Mallinkrodt (sp) Roxane makes the 10mg and 40mg waffers that disperse in liquids. Both Roxane products have a '54' above a 3 numerical code. The 10mg is 54/142 and the waffers are 54/883. I only tell you this, because many people KNOW that mallinkrodt's version of methadone (METHADOSE) they call it, it's just not up to par, for WHATEVER reason, but believe me I'm not making it up. It may be just a tad bit cheaper, but not by much. For instance my Dr's office has a pharmacy there (a pain mangement practice) and they go by price per pill/tablet, not quantity. So for each 40mg tab it's .69 cents. Thats $82.80 a month. Compared to Duragesic 50mcg/hr @ around $300.00 a month. And 40mg's of methadone every 6 hrs is alot of pills, in comparison to what a patient might start out at. So the savings are even greater. Good luck...I hope it works for your husband.