Not Proud of It
 

But I take Lyrica, tramadol, and oxycodone. As a probation officer, I always feel uncomfortable refilling the last of those meds. But....reality is, after trying to wean myself off different combinations of this cocktail, I have decided that I will continue to take these three meds. They have improved my pain level tremendously. I'm able to go for walks, exercise on my elliptical machine, and be much more positive with those around me. I can't answer as to why a narcotic would have a positive effect on, what really is a nerve disorder. You go to the pharmacy to refill this drug, and the looks that you get are very eye-awakening. You'd think that you are the next drug addict to get his hillbilly heroin. I have a client on methadone. He is recovering from heroin addiction. He tells me the horrible side effects that he gets when he doesn't get his daily dose. He says that it is worse than heroine. I can sympathize somewhat with him when I have run out of my script, and the Twin Cities had completely run out of Oxycodone two weeks ago. The pharmacists really had no sympathy for those that were on this meds. Well...I'm rambling here...but it is one thing to have a difficult disease like PN, and then deal with the issues surrounding narcotic medications.

WOW!!!! LMAO dude! I laugh because I take Methadone for my SFN and since I started to get those "looks", I started to say its for my SFN, even though the pharmacist didn't ask me!

Jay

They look at you like you're either in the final stages of cancer, or your garden variety drug addict! I don't care anymore. The pharmacist knows me better than my wife! I start walking toward the pharmacy, and he immediately looks for my grocery list of drug refills. 10 years ago, the only pill I ever took was aspirin. Now, my medicine cabinet looks like the pharmacy at Walgreens!

Methadone is actually the better choice for PN pain.
It is a NMDA antagonist. The NMDA receptors are responsible for pain transmission.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methadone

Methadone is less abuseable, and does not cause the euphoria that other opiates do.

Its downside is that for people susceptible to long QT syndrome it can be dangerous. QT is a heart rhythm problem. It can be induced by some drugs, genetics and/or dehydration with low potassium and magnesium. So it should be monitored carefully and not increased suddenly.
No pharmacist who knows about drugs should give you any "looks" or hassles about methadone.
Methadone is the only opiate that causes this side effect.

my thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1120.html
post #4

Jakatak

That is exactly what I am talking about. After I informed my doctor that tramadol is not working for me his statements listed below was in insult. Advil or Motrin for pain from neuropathy??? Because he is worried about long term addication use??? So suffer through the pain ..... time for new doctor bad thing he is suppose to be the best in neuropathy and neuromuscalar diseases.

03/09/2009 14:12 Donofrio, Peter D: "You do not have many options at this point. You are presently taking the maximum dose of Neurontin and tramadol. You could increase the amitriptyline to 150 mg per night (3 tabs po qhs), but this is also a very large dose. You could add Advil or Motrin to your pain regimen. You could take 2-3 tabs po 4 times per day as needed for pain." P Donofrio

03/10/2009 08:36 Donofrio, Peter D: The next best choice would be acetominophen 2 tabs 325mg each four times per day. I would prefer not to advance you to a narcotic because of long term addiction issue. P Donofrio

I was suggested methadone as well but there was concern for me with my other health issues but have heard the benefits others have recieved too. That angers me about people generalizing especially in the health care field. You have to focus on this giving you better quality of life. Anyhow I have had little success with meds and why I need to do a treatment. I know that I think Dan excuse me if I am wrong is on fentnyl and has had great results. He told me his story and it was very hopeful.

I have an appointment with a pain management clinic and hopefully they will be able to figure something out so that I get a break from the pain and be able to be a more pleasant person, a better mother and better wife.

MrsD
 

I don't want to get into a disagreement with MrsD. She possesses a tremendous amount of information, and has been very helpful for many on this website. However, having recovering heroin addicts tell me, that methadone is by far.....more difficult to kick, then heroin. The euphoria that MrsD speaks of, has certainly gone from my use. As long as it isn't abused, and you maintain the same dosage, I haven't had any problems. I do know that the system eventually adapts, and I have a friend who is on very high doses of oxycontin due to his quadraplegic condition. Every so often he has to detox, so that he doesn't increase his dose to the point of it being serious to his respiratory system. Those on higher doses of methadone have actually appeared catatonic at times.

Actually, I find Methadone the best by far that I've tried for my SFN. I had a real bad allergic reaction to Fentynal that almost stopped my breathing and heart rate. I get no euphoric feeling from Methadone, its the narly constipation that only really bothers me. But as mentioned before, its a quality of life issue for me. Its better than laying on my side in bed all day and doing nothing else. For example, this Saturday my son plays in his 2nd piano recital, if not for the Methadone, I couldn't go to see him and he would be negatively effected (he is 6 y.o).

My neuro doc has me go on a 3 day "drug holiday" each month to refresh my tolerance to the methadone. I'm not sure it works and its a bad 3 days for me, but I do it anyway. I need to up my dose anyway.

Jay

Tramadol in the beginning just made me sleep..then my body adjusted to it and now I am taking 100mg 4 times a day which my neurologist says is too much.

Does anyone know what affects of too much neurontin or gabepentin have on you. Some days I take a little over 4800mg of gabepentin. I have already experienced short term memory loss. But what other choices do I have. I have gained weight so my doctor doesnt want to put me on Lyrica.

It is so frustrating everyday all day only you guys know what it is like my husband and friends do not. And to describe the various pain sensation from day to day is even more frustration.