The generic is methadone hydrochloride. There seems to be two different generics. The first is methadose, which comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 40 mg tablets. The other is roxane, which comes in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets.

On the old board a few years back, there was a long thread about the differences between the two types. The conclusion, based on a good dose (sorry 'bout that) of science and topped off by experience, was that roxane tablets contain more of the active ingredient, methadone hydrochloride, than the methadose.

I have been taking methadone for awhile now, and I have always had the roxane type, as that is what my pharmacy orders. I talked at some length with my pharmacist about this issue once -- he felt that the roxane was a bit superior but he couldn't really back it up with anything concrete.

I would just add that I do not think that Cathie's experience is typical at all for anyone starting methadone. Of course maybe she had that 40 mg tablet of methadose, in which case, her reaction was probably quite normal. An individual just starting would be prescribed a 5 mg pill to start.

I would just add that I do think that methadone can be a very good choice for pain management. However, there are a few clinical issues that need to be addressed. And prescribing properly is best done by an experienced doc.

There is more info on this site if you do a search. And if you are seriously considering starting, then you might want to post questions here . . . or just indicate such and I can add a lot of relevant stuff.

rafi