Hydrocodone & Methadone

mccarville · Silver Member Joined: 13 Dec 2000 Posts: 290

Are both Hydrocodone & Methadone narcotic analgesics? If they are which one is better? I don’t want to get addicted on it? I would like some explanations about these two drugs Hydrocodone & Methadone. Thank you.

morello · Silver Member Joined: 14 Oct 2001 Posts: 296

Narcotic analgesics are used to relieve pain and some of these medicines are also used just before or during an operation to help the anesthetic work better. Codeine and hydrocodone are also used to relieve coughing and Methadone is also used to help some people control their dependence on heroin or other narcotics. I think it is important that your doctor determine which one is for you and most effective for the condition that you are suffering from. Narcotic analgesics act in the central nervous system to relieve pain and if a narcotic is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming causing mental or physical dependence. These medicines, Hydrocodone & Methadone, are available only with your medical doctor's or dentist's prescription.

rr0320 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

To add: Hydrocodone causes an euphoric type feeling in a person, along with the pain relief property. As such, it has a higher incident rate of abuse then Methadone. Methadone has a bad rap in most peoples eyes, because its association with herion. However, it is a very effective pain medication used for long term care! Now with that said, Methadone W/D is one of the worst out there and can be torturous on the person stopping use of it. Hydrocodone also has bad W/D, but NOTHING compared to Methadone. I know from personal use of both for pain mgt. and I was hospitalized for 3 dys to get off of the Methadone. Methadone typically doesn't cause a tolerance issue, like other pain meds, so doses aren't typically increased with time. The difference in the two is the way the body stores and metabolizes the pain med. Simply, Methadone is stored in the body tissue and that is why it is longer lasting than hydrocodone. However, this is also what causes the severe W/D from Methadone. It takes much longer for the body to break down and rid itself of Methadone, unlike hydrocodone. This is also the pain mgt downfall. You cannot pop a pill and get relief in 30 minutes, because it must build-up in your system and be stored. It typically takes at least 24 hours to start seeing the pain relief with methadone.

Most people will experience about a week of W/D when ending a codone drug. Whereas, Methadone can take weeks to months to recover. Most doctors won't prescribe Methadone because it is a schedule II drug and under much scrutiny, so it's primarily used in hospice care...hence, once on never off till death!

The decision to go on methadone should not be taken lightly and I strongly urge you to research it first. I was under the belief that it was a non-addictive medication, being that my body wouldn't become dependent. Even though it doesn't cause mental "addiction" it does cause physical dependency, even on small doses! Many people mistake addiction and dependency, like I did. I was on less then 30mg a dy for 4 months and I went through 2 weeks of W/D...3 dys that required in-patient hospital care! Also, very few pain mgt. W/D clinics are prepared for this type of W/D, so be prepared to do it with little guidance! I did it under the supervision of a general hospital doctor and I was just observed and put on other meds to help ease the W/D, i.e. sleeping meds, ativan for anxiety, tylenol for pain, senemet for restless legs, and muscle relaxers.

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I have been addicted to hydrocodones for ayear and a half. I also take i mg. of xanax 3 times a day. 4 days ago, i got fed up with depending on these pills(Hydrocodones).I went to my dr. and told him i was addicted tohydros. iwas taking upto 20 pills a day. He gave me some flexorals and is sending me to drug counseling. My friend had some liquid methodone she gets (pink stuff) and gave me some cuz i was physically sick not functioning, didn't want to move, and mentally could cry at anything. The meth really helped. I have counseling tomorrow and i have to go back and see my dr. to this week, i'm going to tell him about the meth, im wondering what heis going to say and if would write me my own perscription Please help.

shellyp · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I've been on methadone for a few months. At most I took 65mgs per day. I'm down to 5mgs & feel so bad! The methadone was for back pain from ruptured discs. I now have a spinal cord stimulator & desperately need my life back. My pain Doc gave me klonidin & that gave me a horrible headache! Had to get a shot of demoral. It still hurts & I'm taking excedrin for headaches which I have daily. I'm also taking 3mgs of xanax & that is my only relief to be calm & sleep. I am a real estate broker with my own company. I have a husband whose sick of my issues & a 12 & 14 yr. old. I can't work right now & its so hard to be a part of anything. Especially their activities. I will take the last 5mg pill in about a week & a half. I'm so scared to keep feeling this way. I wish I would have known more about methadone before going on it. I hope that soon I will only need the zoloft for depression & hopefully have success going off of that.
I never dreamed this could happen to me! Thanks for all who are out there for your support.

Hydrocodone & Methadone

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