What is a safe dosage to take of Methadone?

Question

I'm currently on Methadone for chronic pain in back, from a severe injury. I'm seeing a pain specialist, and he has tried everything under the sun. I've been seeing him for almost 3years now. Finally, he has me on Methadone pills, 10mg. per pill. I'm advised to take 100mgs a day, in even doses (20mgs 5x per day) well, I did that for about a year...It doesn't seem to help me. My pain doctor will not give me anymore than the 100mgs a day, he does from time to time give me Oxycodone to take in between. My question is, why can't he give me a higher dosage than 100mgs a day? Since I have been on them for so long. Has anyone been on methadone for a long period of time taking more than 100mgs a day? Just unable to bare the pain, need something...open to suggestions.

I have been to chiroprators, acupuncture, I get injections every other month with hot needles....I've had surgery....I am just 35yrs old, don't want to be on pain meds all my life....what is good natural herbs, etc?

Answer 1

you can take more than that but it will eat your kidney tissue and liver tissue, dont do it, I stop taking it for about three months, I ask if I can switch out to something else cheap, since my third surgery my insurance found some technical error and dropped me, so I have to pay for the RXs myself. I take methadose for about three or four months then I take vicadin and or oxycodone for three months,,, after it has been out of your system it starts to work better, be careful, always start out slowly dont take what you were taking, because just in case, like if you got hit by a car, totally not your fault and were hurt and taken to the hospital and they draw blood, they will report to the police what you have in your system and assume it was all your fault. so be careful not to drive with it in your system.


Pain medications slow your metabolism down to a stop and you begin to store fat even if you dont eat differently or less than before it will make you gain weight, it also causes lots of digestion problems, you can take cascara sagrada from the vitamin store to solve that problem and homeopathic medicines found at the healthfood store can sometimes relieve pain to a degree... worth a try. I would not take more than 100 mgs a day, notice how many methadone deaths there have been in the news lately??? It is a tricky medicine, it slows everything down and your heart can just stop, you can develop phenomonia from fluid leaking into your lungs because your heart is not beating fast enough to move it along. but, if you wan to reduce the pain, try doing this... instead of 20 x 5, start off in the Am with 30, and two extra strength tylenol... wait as long as you possibly can (methadone is a long acting, long lasting drug) and then take another thirty at 2PM or 3PM, I can make it to 4PM now, then take twenty at bedtime with a tylenol pm and a hot water bottle or heating pad... then you will sleep better... Ask the Dr. to switch you over to something else to give your body time to clear out the methadone, then come back to it as the other one becomes less affective... good luck, write me if you want more info...

there are lots of cool websites for chronic pain sufferers.

Answer 2

Methadone up until recently was used for Heroin addicts to stop their craving for drugs. The first drug addicts who were given Methadone were considered guiny pigs since noone knew what the outcome of long term usage would be. Now Pain dr's are using it because it lasts 24 hours, much longer then regular pain pills. I'm not sure why your doctor won't give you more then 100mg daily but I must tell you, that IS alot of methadone. The Safe Dose to take daily is around 60mg. daily. Taking the oxycodone for break thru pain relief is a good way to go. Oxycodone is Percocet without the tylenol or aspirin in it.

If I were you, I'd talk to my pain dr OR Find a new Pain Dr.
Also since you're only 35, I'd get OFF the methadone and try to find something else to take. Methadone has ALOT of side effects that noone talks about.. i.e. Bad Teeth, Memory Loss, Liver problems, etc. Visit Methadone sites to find out more about it. You may be surprised and learn something.

Answer 3

The main thing is just to never give up.
I had a severe auto-immune disease and could not find relief for my pain. I went to all sorts of Drs. as you have, and finally have patch-worked a regimen that works for me. I still have terrible pain on some days, and some pain every day, but I am no longer incapacitated.I take no narcotics now, which helps me to enjoy life on a better level.
Have you tried the NeuroRadio Frequency procedure? It works on the same principle as acupuncture, with the added benefit of the Dr. using radio waves to cauterize the nerve endings in the affected area of the back. It helped me a lot. I also have had good results with LidoDerm patches. It numbs the pain for 12 hours.
Hope this helps you in some way.
Good Luck.

Answer 4

I do not take methadone, but I work in a medical clinic. Methadone is a HIGHLY addictive pain medication and most doctors will not give you more of a dosage then initially prescribed. My guess is your body has become tolerant to the methadone and it doesn't work well to ease the pain. If your pain doctor gives you the oxycodone, take it. You may need to alternate the medications so you don't become tolerant to them. Doctors will not deliberately keep you in pain, they just prescribe the best amount that is safest for you. Have you tried accupuncture or the like? Ask your pain doctor about alternative ways to ease your pain without medications. Good luck!

Answer 5

Sandy my heart goes out to you and your pain. Methadone in high quantities can be toxic to the body and liver. Have you tried to see a pharmacists that specializes in helping patients for the exact dosage and what narcotic is best for the type of pain you have? They cannot prescribe any narcotics to you, but you can get a better understanding of the drug and its effects on you. Sandy there are also patches of narcotics they can give with the Methodone or another narcotic to help control your pain much better. In order for a narcotic to work you have to take it every 4-6 hours cause if you don't and the pain gets severe it is more difficult to control the pain. I hope I have helped a little by answering you. Narcotics are very dangerous drugs and people with chronic pain absolutely need the narcotics to live their life somewhat normally. Please let me know what you find out okay? My prayers are with you and God Bless You.

Answer 6

Sandy I am not sure i have had surgery last Sept on my neck a fusion or something lol i got a titanium plate thats all i know of.i am having same issues here where i live but to no avail i am getting nothing like you are my pain is from degenerative disc disease in my lower back nothing seems to work for me but i do not ask for the drugs to many abusers here to ask for a paticular drug like vicodin or percocets,these dr's very harsh.But for your ? your body is tolerating the pain meds (methadone) 100mgs a day is max i believe don't want to end up like anna N smith now.I will make sure so look here in future

Answer 7

Pure opioids have no ceiling (no limit on the dosage). Your doctor isn't comfortable giving you more than 100 mgs tablets. You need to find a new doctor who's not afraid of drugs or has preconceived notions about pain medications.

I'm also a chronic pain patient and can truly sympathize with you.

Answer 8

The doctor would know best the dosage that is right for you...have you tried other forms of therapy such as chiropraactic care or accupuncture? Possibly visit a neurosurgeon for another opinion...they may be able to give you a shot to relieve it, depending on the exact type of injury. Good luck from a fellow back injury sufferer....chiropractic care has worked wonders for me

Answer 9

You may want to consider getting an intrathecal pain pump. The dose you can deliver to the spine is much less than what you need to take orally. For example, if you take morphine 300mg per day, you can get the same efficacy with 1 mg delivered to the spine.

Answer 10

as a former heroin addict, i was on 120mg of methadone, i very very quickly got off this is dose, this is very high - over long periods is becomes harder to reduce dose. all i can recommend is that you do some research on methadone on the internet as it is honestly, not a pretty drug. I'd watch the oxycodone as well, that's a very dangerous drug.