New Rx-methadone I've never used this before.

Bictwin · 03-30-2006, 11:24 PM

Okay so I've intorduced myself about a dozen times but my name is Ashley I am 20 years old (21 on April 3rd) and I had a spine fusion surgery T10-L1. I have been on a ton of medications and the last year and a half I have been on Dilaudid 8mg every 6 hours, and Flexeril 10mg 3 times a day. Plus Zofran (my anti-nausea med) 3 times a day. Now my doctor decided that she didnt want to up the dilaudid anymore, so she put me on methadone 10mg twice a day with the dilaudid for break through pain. SO my questions are:

1. Has anyone had any problems with the methadone? Any side-effects I should be worried about? I am allergic to codeine (I have hallucinations) and they said to watch for that with the methadone. Has anyone had any side-effects?

2. My doctor didnt really describe the whole break through pain med thing. How does that work? If I normally take dilaudid every 6 hours? If I take the methadone at 6pm when can I take a dose of dilaudid?

I'm just a little confused when and how often I take the dilaudid. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance for the help...

Ashley

JoeD617 · 03-31-2006, 08:03 AM

I had taken methadone for a few years and the only problem I was getting off the stuff. I was taking 20 mgs twice a day.

Amy0104 · 03-31-2006, 01:16 PM

I had been on 10 mgm of methadone 3 times a day for 4 months, Ashley. I started titrating down on Jan. 31st and today is my 1st day of reducing my dose to 2.5 mgm a day. JoeD is right as to how difficult it is to get off of. We chronic pain sufferers are left with very difficult choices sometimes. The meth took care of my pain, but I lost Amy. So Amy is back which feels really good, but I am researching profusely as to how I get my body back. I never took Dilaudid so I cannot share anything with you about what to do. I hope Shoreline or Director stop by soon with their wisdom on this topic. I wish you much success with treatment and all of the difficult decisions you are being forced to make at such a young age.

Be well, Amy

Director · 03-31-2006, 03:38 PM

Hi Ashley and Amy too: Starting On Methadone at 20 mg a day is pretty common. Most doctors will start you low and bump you up (titrate) until you reach the optimium dose where you can handle the side effects (if any) and your pain is under control. Most people, unless you have really terrible pain or you're like me and have a high tolerance and fast metabolism, you can get by on a dose of Meth that's fairly low. Meth is a very potent pain med and good for nerve pain. I have to take 180 mg a day, but most people get by with much less. As far as side effects, you tend to gets the nods, when not doing something that keeps you really occupied. I have trouble driving long distances and watching TV. Also, there's the ever popular constipation to deal with. As far as being allergic to codeine, I don't think you need to worry, as Methadone is a stynthetic med and codeine is a natural opiate and breaks down into morphine in the body.

Your Dilaudid you said you could take every six hours as needed. Unless the doctor told you different, I would say you could take it every six hours. I really think you'll find you don't need it very much, especially when you get established on the Methadone. It takes about five days to get fully up to speed with Meth and it has a long half life. Your doctor is intending for you to use the Dilaudid for breakthrough pain? I don't have anything for breakthrough, so I think you'll find you have very good coverage with the Methadone and not need the BT much.

Sorry this is kind of a mixup, as far as expressing myself but, I've had a bad morning today and I'm having a lot of pain. I'm hoping I can get it under control soon, it's not too much fun to go through these bouts that flair up occasionally. If you have anything else to ask, or I forgot to tell you something you need to know, please don't hesitate to ask.

Take care and have low pain.

Bictwin · 03-31-2006, 05:45 PM

Amy: What exactly did you mean by you lost Amy? Does that mean when you were on the meds you were a different person? I'm confused...

Thanks for the help everyone else. Last night I took my first dose of methadone, and throughout the night I had a hard time sleeping, I felt nausous, and this morning I felt like I couldn't even sit up. The doctor said I would know if the 10mg was too much, and if it was too much I could cut it in half. I ended up not bein able to go to PT today because I felt like I couldn't get up, and I called in sick to work cause I was nauseous. Will the side-effects go away? I'm on Zofran (the anti-nausea med used for chemotherapy patients) but it hasnt helped AT ALL! Thanks for the help guys.

Ashley