Methadone long term effects - Pain Management Message Board

karebear02 · 07-10-2003, 09:46 PM

My husband has been on Meth for pain management since Jan. Since then his health seems to be deteriorating. I am only assuming it is related to the Meth but don't know. Anyone been on it long term?
Thanks.

Jack Beanstalk · 07-10-2003, 10:21 PM

Howdy Karen,There are several Methadone people here,I think if we can get a bit more info,it may help us to help you.How long has your husband suffered from Chronic Pain and what did it come from?Has he been on other meds before the Methadone?How much does he take?
I,ve taken Methadone for about 2 years and have done pretty well other than the usual side effects.I,m on 100mg. a day.Jack Beanstalk

lostsoul15204 · 07-11-2003, 06:31 AM

Hi Karen, I have been on methadone for 7 months and I don't notice any side effects except the usual constipation and urine retension. The pain relief is better than any other opiod I have tried and that is most of them!! I have some deteriation of health also but that is from the osteomyelitis infection I contracted from discogram, I"ve been sick since 6-02 with it, Infectious disease docs say I have a very rare bacteria causing it and they don't know what antibiotic will kill it. I have had 6 months of IV rocephin and ( weeks of IV cleocin and was taking oral clindamycin until last week, It has been a rough year for me,but I could not have Made it through this without the Methadone pain relief, I don't know what is foing to happen down the road as tto long term side effects, But now I live life one day at a time and I will make it through this, I hope the best for your hubby and you good luck and God bless, Rick

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Rick

Autumn Angel · 07-11-2003, 08:07 AM

Good Morning Everyone

I am not on Meth but I know a few people that are.
My question is gonna be off topic but I saw the previous poster mention Constipation and Urine Retention. I know how to get rid of the constipation but how do we fix the urine retention? I dont know if its just the heat or what but my lower legs (calves) and feet have been swelling quite a bit. And I am trying to figure out if its the painkillers (percocet 6 to 8 tabs a day as directed) or just water retention from the heat. A friend offered me some "water pills" and I refused of course and am gonna talk to my doctor but I wanted to see is there something you guys do for it? I know I hate it I bloat something awful and when I finally do "p" I am there for 20 mins like Niagara Falls lol. Anyway God Bless you all and have a wonderful day my friends.

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Love To All
Autumn Angel.

07-11-2003, 09:31 AM

Karebear 02,
I have been on Methadone treatment for severe chronic back pain since Sept. 2002. Before that I was working and going to differant doctors to try and get something to atop the pain. It had all resulted to me having to buy my poain meds thru my best friend from his neibor.

I had gotten a couple of scripts of Vicodan 5mg and Norco 10mg but none of the doctors would write over 2 scripts saying that the pain meds were too addictive to continue taking. That's when I would go to another doc and try to get something. I understand the addiction from pain meds, but it's much better than being in pain all the time. It got to the point where I was having to take 100-150mg of Lortab to just get the pain down to where I could tolerate it. I had got addicted. When I didn't have any Lortab, I was always depressed and in a bad mood.

One day while visiting my friend, he gave me a 10mg Methadone. That was all I needed. I started taking 1 Methadone tab every now and then and I never wanted to see another Lortab again. I could get by up to 2-3 days at a time from one 10mg Methadone tab and I felt normal again. I only took about 10-15 Methadones thru my buddy when I finally got into a very good pain clinic. I started out taking Methadone 10mg 2x a day and a couple of months ago was raised to 3 a day.

From what I have seen and read, 30mg of Methadone a day is a small dosage. Once it gets built up into your system, you can skip a day and never miss it. I have stopped taking Methadone for up to 2 weeks straight and I never got sick or in a bad mood like I did with Lortab. All that would happen is my pain would come back.

WARNING: Large doses of Methadone can cause severe withdrawal when not taking it. I think 50 mg a day would be the most someone could take a then just stop it cold turkey without severe withdrawals, but don't hold me to it, everyone is differant.

Doctors should honsetly look into giving Methadone instead on the Lortabs and stuff like that. That's just my opinion.

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DragracerNpain

Pain suxx !