oxycontin verses methadone for pain control

I have been on methadone for 5 years. I had been on oxycontin for 6 or 7 years before that. I have fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome plus have 4 pins in my neck due to receiving a donor disc. I am in constant pain. When my doctor decided to try me on methodone he started me out on 5 mgs 3 times a day. When I went to my pain specialist and he found out I was on methadone he immediately called my family doc and ask him if he had tested my heart as people who have a certain rhythmatic undiagnosed heart problem can die from methadone. My doctor was unaware of this and so I was called into the office for a two minute test. I wish I had been one of the people that could not take methadone. It built up in my system and caused extreme problems from sleeping constantly, no energy at all!!! to bladder leakage problems. I had no quality of life. I have begged my doctor to take me off of it and he refuses so in the last month I weened myself off of it. It was horrible!!! Now I am left to find someway to deal with my pain. There is not enough evidence or clinical trials yet to know all the horrible side effects that long term use of methadone will cause.

why do people ask ?s here rather than asking their doctor? Isn't it like....talking into thin air or a wall? This is not a criticism, just a comment of curiosity? A pain dr. would know equivalent doses of oxy compared to methadone.

The reason she most likely died was methadone has a very long half life 24hr, so its in your system still working the next day so if she was also taking Oxycotin she most likely overdosed, because she took a large does of OC but she did not realize the methadone was still active in her system

Holy c**p, JUSTSHOOTME, no offense, but you are on waaaaay too much medication. Anything above 200mg of oxycontin a day puts you into a fatal range. Even people with terminal illnesses are at risk with anything over 200mg. I have been on 240mg a day for years, and just today, was told that was too much and could kill me, so I cannot imagine how you are still alive, taking 1600mg of oxycodone total between the 2 meds, in addition to methadone, a powerful painkiller in itself. That's 8 times the maximum "safest" dose. Wow. Rather than stopping the methadone on your own, you need to find a methadone clinic or doctor who specializes in methadone/chronic pain and get off the oxy. If the dose alone doesn't kill you, what that much is doing to your liver will. The insomnia, leg cramps, sweating, etc are classic symptoms of withdrawal and at those incredible amounts, coming off them will be absolute hell. But at least you'll be alive, though you may wish otherwise throughout the process. I'm really hoping that since your post is over a year old that you've stuck with the methadone and gotten off the oxy's by now. I've had chronic pain myself for 18 years (and I'm only 30) so I completely understand, but those doses scare the hell out of me! Good luck.

Oh Dr Live, please if you could help me I'd be so grateful. I'm currently on 150 mg of methadone and need something else for about 6 days. I need to take my parents up north(where no clinics are) and my mom will let me know only days notice. They both are critically ill and want this last trip so bad. I don't want them to be worried about my issues. So I need to be well enough to watch out for them (I'll have help from a sister ) and not go through the agonizing withdrawals. I've told my counselor about the trip and the closest one is over 3 hours. So not possible. So I would be subing with oxycodone. Again I take 150 mg methadone, now to appox. how much pain meds ??? Thank you, thank you thanks so much. I truly need to do this.

I've been on 320mg of oxycodone i/r for over two years and my new said the fentanyl patch @ 75 MCG/HR would be better for me, keep me more even without ups and downs. This med. don't even come close to what I'm use to. She bumped it up to 100 MCG/HR and I'm still @ 6 from an 8 on the pain scale. How strong should the patch be to = 320mg per 24 hours of the oxycodone i/r?


Thank you so much in advance!

Stephen

i live in australia and have experienced poor results from oxycodone , i have svere neueropathy and am recovering from 4 opoerations 9thoracotamy0 with a 40% survival rate. I have gained excellent pain relief from a combination of what i assumed inescapable hellish pain an debilitating anxiety on 100mg methadone and valium at a dose closely monitored. without out i am screaming within 45minutes of doses i am eating happy and my wife suffering due to witnessing mine is a god send. hang in their all the best anthony. my main asset ..honesty.

i ment to say an end to my wife suffering was a relief....sh*t. anthony

Man what kind of pain do u have to get that much medicine??

I know how your treated by heart!!! I hurt my back 21 years ago.Loved working an rarely even took a asprin for anything. Yet when I finally hurt so bad I needed pain medication daily to keep working I also was treated like a addict or junkie. I am 57 yrs old an have to take methadone even though it causes me to vomit daily. I've ask several times for my doctor to change to something else but he refuses even though he drug tests about every visit(every 3 weeks) to make sure no other drugs are in my system.After my last doctor retired,it took almost 3 yrs befor I found another doctor that would give me pain medication as a long term patient. During those 3 yrs I suffered so bad with back pain I became pretty much confined to my bed anvery,very depressed.I'm afraid if I keep asking,he will stop being my doctor.Its horrible!!!!

I'm sorry but I don't no the termolagy u use for some of this post...tid.?...dose stacking.?I have been on it 4 1,1/2 yrs. It still makes me nauseated an vomit.phenegran helps but makes me useless for at least a day after.my vomiting i think is causing my hair to fall out.from 1,to 10,10 being worst pain level,it takes 4 -10 mil. tablets a day as needed to keep the level at a 4 which so far i can live with.Is there something u no of that has the same strength i can ask to try besides the metadone?would like 2 or 3 alternatives.back pain an arthritis in neck,57 yrs old,120 lbs,damage to back 21 yrs ago

I can understand your frustration being a chronic pain suffer myself. I had been on Kadian 15 mgs twice a day and norco 7.5 / 325 for the last 5 years. Had no problems was doing well and never asked for an increase. Then when the new laws took effect in Ky my family Dr. tried to take me off every thing with a butrins patch. I was never so miserable in my life not only was I fighting withdrawl symptoms I was in sever pain. My spine had just about calapsed ( sever degenerative arthritis) Had to have spinal reconstruction surgery from t-3 down to coccyx plus 2 rods attached to my pelvis on each side to maintain it and although I am not curving I still have a lot of pain. When I notified my PCP she told me she could no longer be my Dr. She left me high and dry so to speak. I am still dealing with the emotional effects this had on me. I went back to my pain management dr. who put me on morphine 15 Tid. This made me so tired and fatigued as well as depressed. He just switched to methadone and I am so much better. I am no longer depressed or as fatigued and my pain is managed pretty well also. The only worry I have is with the long half life. I do take my meds as prescribed and I do not abuse them so I feel very safe. I also trust my new pain dr as well. I am still however very upset with Ky government. I can sympathize with thoses who have lost there life to drug addiction. But to just ban these medications is not the answer, especially when there is a real cause and need for it. I feel it was not thought out very well before it went in to effect. But that is Ky. I also am a nurse and we have been fighting for staff pt ratios since I graduated 30 yrs ago. I also work with the elderly and have seen a shift in providing adequate pain control for them since the new laws have gone into effect. Personally I think the state has little reqard for its citizens. Have lost faith in the beautiful blue grass state of ours.

Sorry but the other guy is correct. If you could get a book on molecular pharmacology it would explain it just as he said.

From my own life experience, i am nearly 65.
My pains come directly from my football playing through high school'
I Need something strong to help me Live a good Life for me and my family.
I for one do not care about the stigma or the rumours or bad talk concerning drugs like Oxy contin and methadone.
When you are in pain You need the best and that to me is oxycontin and then methadone after the pain has subsided.
Never be shy to ask for, No, demand Oxycontin.
Also, keep walking.

I am a medical professional. Methadone does NOT "block" any opiate medication. Methadone is a synthetic morphine - long lasting and does not cause euphoria. It can have side effects absolutely; however a patient who has severe pain should NEVER be made to "tough it out" secondary to an M.D. being uncomfortable, judgemental or just plain stupid about pain management. There are plenty of docs who take that approach. Methadone can be used in conjunction with other medications to manage pain. PLEASE seek out a different doctor if you believe your pain is being mismanaged, or not controlled. NO ONE should be made to suffer. Look for an M.D. who specializes in pain management. Your insurance company does not manage your medications either, your M.D. can always override an insurance company if they are telling you they cannot pay for Methadone or Oxycontin. Look for prior authorization forms from your insurance company that your doctor can fill out so that the insurance pays. Be your OWN ADVOCATE!!!