Sorry guys..a couple more ??'s about Methadone..

[RubySlippers]

Hello All

I switched from oxycontin 20mg 3x day to methadone 20mg's 2x day 5 days ago. During the transition my doc told me to continue the oxy's 2x day for three days, then 1 xday for two more days (to avoid w/d's while the meth gets into my system).

I am having GREAT success with the methadone relieving the pain (not to mention the $$ savings since I recently lost my health insurance).

A couple questions about side effects.....I have the following:

drowsiness (not so bad that I fall asleep at the drop of a hat, but enough that if I laid down in bed I would go to sleep)
sweating
dizzyness (not to where I can't drive but enough to bug me)
wierd "ringing" in my ears but only when I talk. It's not really ringing but I can't find a word to describe it any better)
itchy skin....developed a small rash on the side of my neck last night, no where else but just general "itchy-ness)

Anyone have these side effiects, and if so, did they go away? How long did they last?

Thank you all. Since the meth is helping w/the pain soooo much and is sooo cheap, I'm hoping these side effects will go away or lessen eventually.

Thanks...and hope everyone has as pain free a day as possible

Angela

[Shoreline]

Swaeting isn't one I found disapeared, The nodding off became limited to when I was watching TV in the evening or after the use of BT meds, I never drove at night do to this. If I was involved in something drowsiness wasn't a problem, but you can only stay awake through so much sponge bob and kid shows. LOL.

Itchiness is caused by a hystamine release caused by most opiates, You have to determine if you broke out into a rash Vs you scratched to the point of leaving marks. Itchy is normal, rash is not and is a sign of allergy. Visterill is often used for the itchies, It's a prescription antihytstamine that is also used to potentiate some opiates, used for nausea and used for anxiety at higher doses.

Keep an eye on the rash and if it doesn't go away make an apt to have your doc evaluate, but try not to amplify the rash by scrathcing.
The side effects are a bit different than other opiates but still fall into general side effects of all opiates. The pro drugs like Oxy tend to be more stimulating, that's why no nodding off with Oxy. Morphine ca be very sedating at the beginning but it does get better. Nodding off and sweating are the two biggies that cause people to discontinue meth if another option isn't available. Plain old benedryl will help the itchies but if your truly alergic a change may be in order. Good luck, Dave

[pufnstuf77]

My mother took methadone for over 17 years.
She suffered RSD, cancer, vonRecklinghausens syndrome (NF1), and many others....
It is synthetic heroin. BE CAREFUL!!!!!!
I'm glad it is working for you!!!!
I am scared to take Oxy, though my doctor has offered -
I would never touch methadone :-\
Hydrocodone makes me sick :-\
the only thing that works is the darvocets...

my back just keeps getting worse!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[erfan]

That is quite an ironic statement you made...you won't touch meth but you take darvs...well, I took darvs for years until my back got too bad for them to work...darvs ARE meth just much weaker.

[zandy]

Darvocets are nowhere near anything like methadone.