http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/472711451
http://www.actionstudio.org/public/p...d=7555&tmode=0

On June 24th 2006 I lost my fiancé (Ron) to this deadly drug prescribed by a physician with a combination of other medications that acted as additives to the Methadone. He had knee surgery and became addicted to the percocet he was prescribed. He checked himself into Greenleaf in Valdosta, GA for detoxification. Upon entering the facility he was drug tested and did not come up positive for opiates (he had stopped taking the percocet 4 days before entering the facility). On the fourth day in detox he died sometime between 2am and 1pm in the afternoon (he was never checked on in all of those hours). The night before he died he was complaining of migraines and vomiting, apparently the staff thought he was still experiencing withdrawals and was not concerned about these symptoms. The symptoms of methadone toxicity mimic withdrawal symptoms physicians and staff must be very cognizant of the complex properties and metabolization of methadone. There were many errors made in my fiancé’s death including the fact that he was given numerous amounts of additive medications such as benzodiazepines. He had only been taking percocet for about 4 months and according to the DSM IV he wouldn’t be an appropriate candidate methadone maintenance treatment.

It doesn't matter specific reasons for taking methadone but what does matter is that this medication is deadly and physicians need to more prudent in prescribing it as well as monitoring their patients while beginning treatment of any kind using Methadone. I'm not sure if Ron was given methadone for the sole purpose for detoxification from opiates or if it was a combination of pain relief associated with numerous surgeries and opiate addiction. Methadone is difficult to properly dose no matter what reason it's being used for and primarily relies on the patient’s indications of how they feel (assumedly they are being monitored). There are ways to make the administration of methadone safer, it's just a matter of putting the focus on this drug and the deadly consequences when administered incorrectly or not monitored.

Many people are dying unnecessarily at the hands of the physicians they turn to for help. Methadone deaths are rising throughout the country. Ron was 32 years old and has 2 children from a previous marriage that now do not have a father.

I'm also providing you a link to a website I created in his memory to give a more human touch to this email. http://renato-capozzo.memory-of.com/

Current statistics show that nearly 4000 people a year die from methadone. These deaths are mostly happening to pain management and detoxification patients within the first 10 days of taking initial dose. Most of these deaths are related to methadone prescribed with other medications that react as additives with methadone. Diversion of methadone is a serious problem because it lands this most deadly drug on streets. Statistics also state that methadone is contributing to more deaths nationwide then heroine and cocaine.

It is totally unnecessary for doctors/rehab to be so blind and uninformed.

Data about methadone has been out for about 5 years. I have been posting
about the risk for about 2 of those.

I have a post on Chronic Pain here if it would help your website:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1120
it is post #4.

Switching people over to high dose methadone from other opioids is not
safe without cardiac EKG testing to rule out congenital prolonged QT events.

4 months on Percocet could be tapered by your doctor. Why a dramatic rehab was done, I don't understand.

I am so sorry for your loss!

Dear Melis;

I am a neuropathic pain patient on methadone. My pain management doctor took all necessary steps before prescribing the med for me. I was given an EKG, I was educated about methadone and initialled every page we discussed, especially the information about the drugs extremely long half life, which personally made me stand up and take notice! Also, the drug cannot be increased quickly, adjustments for me were made "slow" (a month at a time) and "low" (I was increased 10% of current dose.)

I guess what I am trying to say is that anyone who gives a patient methadone absolutely needs to understand the drug! Especially those who are watching over a patient who has turned their life over to them. It's possible your finace didn't even know what he was taking as he trusted those working with him. I am so sad for you and for Ron's children.

Sincerely;
nancyh

Melis...

I am so sorry to hear about the death of your friend. I was given a prescription for oral methadone in February of last year, as a replacement for fentanyl, which I wished to discontinue. I was taking about eight different meds at the time, and just a day after starting the methadone I began to feel sick. After three days I stopped taking it altogether. Now, thanks to you, it all makes a little sense to me. It also makes me wonder what might have happened had I continued to take the methadone as my PC wanted.

Idealist