Question for MrsD
 

What is the name of that very inexpensive narcotic med that is used for pain relief AND for helping addicts to come off narcotics they are addicted to? Someone asked me about this and she wants to ask her doc to let her try it for her pain and for the life of me I can't think of it's name. Thanks.

Could it be Methadone ? Methadone is a narcotic that is both used for pain relief, and given to help detox addicts.

an other one is suboxone, or subutex. my dr recommended it to me to help get off of oxycodone if my medical marijuana worked out

Methadone is what I think you are referring to. Very inexpensive still --(unless the FDA does something to change that! )

It has to be used with care, because it is the only opiate that affects conduction of the electrical circuit in the heart. At high doses this can become problematic, also additive with certain other drugs that do the same thing, or may affect normal people who become dehydrated or low in the electrolytes potassium and magnesium.

Some doctors don't screen people properly for this, so it is up to the patient. So everyone starting this pain reliever should get cardiac screening for QT potential.

More here;
http://www.azcert.org/

The other drug mentioned here is Suboxone, and it is quite expensive and only certain licensed doctors can prescribe it in US at this time. It is used for tapering people off heroin or RX opiates but also is finding a niche as a pain controlling agent as well and there is some evidence for drug refractory patients with depression.

Yes, that's it - THANK YOU.