You're going to struggle getting prescribed methadone 50mg, 4 times a day. You can say that it's what you take, but that doesn't make it normal, or indeed safe. If you had overdosed by accumulation, the prescribing doctor would be in deep trouble.

50mg is quite a bit for a doctor to prescribe. Mine is 10mg methadone 3 times a day and 4 10/325 Norco 4 times a day. My Doc does not like to prescribe methadone and has taken most of his patients off of it and switvhed them over to Fentenyl patch. (I know I spelled that wrong). He told me on my last visit that this is what he is wanting to do with me.

I've been on methadone for pain for over 10 years now without any problems what so ever and my doctor also give me percacets for breakthrough pain.

I've never had a problem with methadone or percacets but you have to USE th emedicine in the way that it's written for. Never too much or more than prescribed.

when you say you never knwo how much to take, that you take too little or too much tells me that you're not using methadone properly. Not preaching but please be careful.

I'm sure you probably know this but Methadoen due to it's long half life accumulates in the body so that after 5 days of dosing at the "same" dose it has an accumulative aspect to it which makes the dose in your blood level almost double. that is why it is SO improtant NOT to juggle your dose and maintain a normal dose. so a dose of 20 mg a day at the end of 5 days would probably be closer to a dose of 35mgs in your blood serum.

If you're nodding off you're probably at a higher dose than you probably need knowing that you'll NEVER get 100% pain relief. Just try to closely manage it.

I've had to take all this myself because of my MS. Hope this helps you out some.

good Luck.

Individual responses vary greatly with methadone, and the normal starting dose is 5-10mg, possibly 4 times a day. Is is usual for the dosing interval to be increased after analgesic titration, and 8-hourly dosing is needed for some patients, but I've never seen it given more often that that with chronic use.

This is why those on MMT can be given the dose once daily; even then the usual dose range is 60-120mg daily.

Having said that, 200mg per day may have to be divided more due to the sheer amount.

A treatment regimen of 200mg/day of methadone for four and a half years is much more like a methadone maintenance program than one for chronic pain. You may have found a very unusual doctor where you lived previously but trying to replace that prescription level at a pain management facility will be extremely difficult regardless of your insurance situation.
I've never heard of that daily dosage of methadone tabs taken for pain at intervals during the day. If you are trying to find 200mg/day, I suggest you find a local methadone clinic that might accomodate your financial situation.

The sad story RIA refers, just convinces me once more that the ethical distinction between "good" patients (suffering from pains in the body) and "bad" junkies suffering from pain in their self is a barbarian, middle aged belief our descendants will be horrified from...

But, in the meanwhile and being pragmatic, since Dubya is an awful memory of the USA past and in Italy the not inject-able form of Morphine (the Sulphate caps and the other preparations) will be available with a normal prescription without any ID cross-check (as it already is for Oxycontin 10 since November 2008), my trust for a radical, but silent change is much more stronger now than yesterday.

Even if the speculations of media's piranhas (CNN or FOX is the same, being prohibition a poisonous crosswind) on Michael Jackson's death due to a supposed abuse of prescription products, don't help the cause.

In these days, Europe seems much milder and supportive to people surrounded by "pain"....

While I have no idea what you think "Dubya" had to do with your chronic pain treatment, I do know without a doubt that Fox News and CNN are not the same.
And when the facts about Michael Jackson's death are confirmed, I doubt that you are going to like the resulting publicity. He likely abused prescription drugs and it cost him his life. How would reporting about that be a poisonous crosswind?

That much methadone is never giver for pain because it causes cardiac arythmias. the ONLY reason that its given in 200mg/day doses is for heroin treatment.

They are not the same, be excepted for the attitude to attack the freedom to decide how and through what one may cure itself.
And last night on CNN International, there was a "red-hot" journalist (on Jackson' case) invoking jail, punishments and (my God) a "Social Reaction" against this nth "evil" (prescription drugs) and its witch Docs...
I don't think this is properly what US (therefore the entire world) need.
I was disappointed being a CNNer...
BBC starts to sound different, here and there.... but still hesitant...

Poor George has nothing to do with my diseases, of course ;-)
They have (probably) an etiology similar to Michael's one.

For some reason, GWB represent to me the neverending legacy of one aspect of the anglo-saxon "vision" of the world that embarrass me a bit: the resolution of geo-political and economic question, through "religious" war against various "evils".
Maybe the first Chapter of this history is the War of Opium in 1850 and the novel keeps on today with prohibition (a total, full of side effect defeat that's under our eyes) and west Africa transformed in a giant "hub" for south American products (kindly brought to Europe inside warm bellies, lent for the job).




I don't like at all.
There are many ways, as you know, to introduce a news to the public.
Criminalize all the physicians that do their best to help a part of suffering humanity to dampen the impact of prohibition, is like invoking the close-down of the pastry stores because of the death of an imprudent diabetic.
I'm ready to get this from Fox, not from CNN...

Ciao

It sounds funny to me to hear an original colonialist, a European (an Italian, no less) invoke the USA in such terms. Pretty PC, funny in an infantile way. Chiunque si ricorda di Il Duce?

No need to criminalize all doctors but there is definitely a need to criminalize the fool who provided this patient with IV propofol as a sleeping medication. That will appropriately be well-covered by the news media.
And I hope you are not holding up President Berlusconi as an example of a politician who is not "embarrassing." Instead of a presidential history, his CV reads more like a rap sheet.
I'm not even going to inquire about how your diseases are similar to Michael Jackson's.

Guilty for the off-topic diversion I imprinted to this thread...



Totally agree. The problem is that me and you and the readers here we do know the difference among demerol, oxy and surgical IV anesthetics. I hope Media will strongly point out this difference (once the case is cold) and stop putting everything in the same basket.



Why you figured out that my critics on a small part of the USA approach to foreign policies and individual freedoms, automatically mean that Europe, and my country in particular, is a sort of "graceland"?
In Italy, a part from the Health Services Coverage, we adopt the worst (most conservative) positions of any west democracy trying to lock any improve/change and killing social promotion to protect lobbies interests.

Without USA support (Marshall plan and NATO), my country would still be a land of an-alphabet slaves, manipulated by the Catholic fist and a bunch of modest, weak and ridiculous dictators (Banana Republic style).

So, I'm terribly aware of the dramatic similarities between the "Dux" of yesterday and our actual one.
Therefore I watch with extreme gratefulness and genuine curiosity at your politics, your choices, your national debates. Don't want to be misunderstood.
I'm freely talking on sensitive matters in a board its life is possible thanks to the 1st Amendment.

So said, let me say I consider death sentences and prohibition perspectives as unreasonable stains on an evening dress.




My narcissism is insane, probably... anyway is something related to "father's role" and to family as a psy-concentration camp.... with related needs to escape from "adultness" and a disphoric state about body, masculinity etc...

Hi,

actually methadone is a dandy pain reliever and the oxycodone (instant release) is for breakthrough pain.

the reason it's used to "detox" heroin addicts is it's such a LONG acting opiate they can ramp your dose up high enough it takes a MOUNTAIN of heroin to feel it over the methadone dose... and you give up trying to "get high" shooting smack... and you don't get sick if you do your methadone... and all is good while they SLOWLY drop you down.

does anyone know how much oxycodone 80 would be with prescription/without insurance at pharmacy?

http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/prices/drugprice.asp?ndc=60951071070&trx=1Z5006

then add 10% for your local pharmacy's overhead.

Your quite correct. I am prescribed 10/600 Lorcets, and 10mg of methadone. The Lorcets are for the breakthrough meds. Thet work well together.

Oh BTW, before I was taking 10/325 Norco and since last week the Doc upped it to 10/650 Lorcets. Does work much better. Just hope my liver can take it. It doesnt seem to bother my stomach like it does some people.

I'd think I'd rather have the Norco...

even the FDA is on to the toxicity of apap and had a press release a while back about it.

and I can't imagine a little more tylenol would improve much in the way of pain relief considering you're doing methadone AND 10mg of oxycodone...

Actally bumping up the tylenol is helping out a little, not much,but anything is better. I havent been on that strength for long. Well see. Could be from taking the Norco's for a long time. Thet really dont do much for me anymore. Thats why he did it. It works different ways for different people. I will see him in 3 months and no telling what he has planned.

much easier to add APAP that take it away... i would ask to go back down to norco, and on the days that are bad and you feel you need 650 APAP buy a bottle of 325 mg tylenol and take one with it... or break an extra strength in half and you will have 575mgs of APAP with the norco. better yet, if you are on methadone, he should be giving you 15 milligram oxycodone IR for breakthrough, will work much better than the norco or lortab and cut out all the APAP (your liver will thank you!) i cant believe you get any relief at all from hydrocodone while being on methadone. that is a good thing though i guess... most after making the switch to meth for pain mgmt do not feel hydrocodone at all in regards to pain relief.

Thank you. You are correct on the apap. I thought the doc would aslo put me on oxycodone IR with the methadone too. All I can say is, if I attemp to question anything with him about my meds, he tends to get upset.

The Norco's were not working for me well, that was his resolution to the problem. It took me a long time to get a PM doc. The MRI's a had were covering my nerve damage due to my big mass of authritis covering it. He ended doing some kind of nerve test that hurt like h*ll. Shocking me from my feet all the way up to my back and then found out I have a cut nerve in my back. I went through severe pain for almost a year until he found it.

My situation is I cant ask for anything from him. It's either his way or no way. I'm sure you know what I mean.

Too bad you werent my PM doc, I know I would feel a lot better. LOL
Taz

I'veread this whole thread and so appreciate your very informedd reples. I just heard about methadone for pain 3 days ago from one of my kids, no less.

Over the weekend I got dumped (along with everyone by this eclinic doctor and was in shock...what was II going to do??

I went to a methadone clinic on tuesday, and had my 2nd dose today. I can't feelanything else and I want my norcos, but I am going to hang in there and will report how it goes. I got desperate, I thought the clinic was only for heroine addicts. I am unhappily off pain pills, but I had run out and the freaking doctor left. I'm curius, are any of you getting these drug combinations from any
f2
f docors with the OCS companies? If you don't want to say here you could pm me...

Thanks,

Boogie

Yea, at breakfast my kids and I talk about the latest in pain meds. My little one really likes the oxy IR and my older ones are all into the Dils.

OMG....Your one sick puppy Q&W.

Taz

Qui moi ?

I just spent $570.00 today for 60tabs of 60mg oxycontin without insurance and just a discount card.

Hi I read your info about Norco and if you dont mind me asking what state do you live in? I live in Mi and my dr is not giving me the right dose of Norco(generic) and I also think I have a high tolerance of the meds it is making me have to take more. I asked where you live because I need a new dr in Michigan suburb of Detriot to re-evaluate me and give me the right dose for my pain. I am on Norco generic q 6 and I need q 4 which means I am out of my meds after 17 days an have to wait 7-10 days in order to get my refill. I am looking on this site to order more meds while I have to wait to get my refill. So
1) are you in MI, if yes what is the name of your dr? so i I can be re-evaluated for the rigth Rx. ALso do you get Norco online or local pharmacy? I need to order online without Rx more norco or something stronger, maybe oxy to have me covered until I can get my refill. I have looked all over this site and can not find where to get hydro or oxy without Rx and shipped farily fast and not costs me 300.00 or more. Do you have any places you can direct me. thanks JOBLESS

That is a lot of money for a small amount. did you get online. if yes can you give me the site??

No I get my meds from a real PM Doc and it took a lot to get there. If I ever lose insurance, I will have to go to a F2F. Good Luck.
Taz

I get 400mg per day find a real pain dr