Debbie, Jim takes his zanax with methadone. Are they wanting you to titrate the methadone first before adding in the zanax? I'm sorry you had such a bad night. Maybe give the pharmacy or your doctor a call and ask if you can take your zanax and if what you experienced was a side effect of the two together?

Hi Debbie;
Just thought I would let you know I have been on Methadone for the last year now for my RSD. I have taken it several times with Xanax. Normally I take Oxy, Methadone, Lyrica and Cymbalta - I feel like a pharmacy alot! I do have to admit it has helped my pain. The methadone has to be taken for awhile to build up in your system. I felt no side effects from it. But, it took me several months of my dr suggesting I take it before I started - mainly because of the stigma attached to it. It is such a big step to try to get pain relief. The first several days of taking it I did not feel good, but I think I was so aprehensive of taking it - I mentally made it harder than it was - I kept looking for bad side effects that would effect me even though there was none. Perhaps, call the pharmacy to see what they say about the Xanax. Then give yourself say a week to try it. I'm not sure if your dr prescribed it at nite - but maybe take it in the afternoon so it wont disturb your sleep. It has helped me with the pain - if you can do it - I suggest trying it. RSD is the pits - I hope you have a better nite!

Hi. My last PM doc suggested this for me but was concerned with some prior health issues that put me at a very high risk for complications. So I am going to get another opinion. He did say that it can be very helpful though for the right person with rsd.
Debbie try not to be so hard on yourself. You tried and not all meds are right for everyone. Can you talk to your doctor about what happened and your fears? I too wish I could be "normal" . It is hard battle but you are not alone though I know it can feel like that. Hope you feel better

Debbie,

What happened is in no way the result of you being a "failure." It just points out (to all of us!) that everyone reacts differently. This will be especially true with the handful of other drugs many of us are. I'm glad you gave it a try, though. This can be important information to the doctor for other, future, prescriptions. Be sure to let him/her know exactly what happened. Make notes as detailed as possible right away, before memory fades from the particulars.

This is also a reminder to everyone to make sure every doctor and pharmacist you deal with knows everything you take, even over-the-counter medications. Prescribing is a real tricky balancing act.

I am glad you are OK now! Good luck,

Mike

Based upon my experience, all should set aside any stigmas attached to the use of Methadone to take advantage of it's unique properties in the battle against neuropathic pain. As most know, opiods are not very effective for controlling the large amouts of pain associated with RSD and even when getting on very large doses, the pain management is usually only adequate at best for a limited period of time. Methadone is unique in that while it is a narcotic and provides pain relief, it also effects the NMDA receptor of the brain, currently believed to be one of the major receptors, thus enablers, of neuropathic pain. This is why KETAMINE is so popular for the treatment of RSD, 'cause it is a strong blocker of the NMDA receptor as a primary mechanism of action. So, for those who are looking at Ketamine but are worried about the stigma of Methadone, look towards this cheaper alternative that is more available and for which doctors understand more and are more open to the real uses. Methadone is one of the most studied drugs around and despite the current abuses making things difficult for patients (as usual) it remains a great weapon against pain.

I am just weaning off of methadone after trying it for several weeks with horrible results. It didnt work for me at all. I was on a moderate dose but my pain has been excruciating. I am going back to my fentanyl & then I will maybe try MS Contin eventually. My fentanyl was so high we were looking fr something different. I really wanted this to work because I wasnt as tired & the side effects were just less. But the pain coverage was horrible for me. I had heard such good things & was so excited for something better. I dont understand it.
Low pain wishes & hugs, Denny

Hi Denny, JUst wanted to see if you had tried Opana er to replace Fentnal?? It was like a miracle drug for me. I had level 8-9 pain that nothing was working on any more including Fentynal, I now take, ( yes high doses but its working)-40 mgs am and pm of Opana with oxycodone 30mg 4x a day for breakthrough Good luck,, cz

I was on Methadone for over 6 years. I was able to go off of it about 6 months ago but I do have to take it occasionally for the pelvic pain. I had to take it last night. I took 2 1/2 mgs. and when I saw it wasn't doing any good I took the other half after a couple of hours.

What I found with the pelvic pain it is different then the RSD pain in other areas. It just seems harder to calm down when it starts. It has calmed down though after about 3 hours so I am thankful for that.

Our goal was to get me off meds completely. My Dr. is semi retired and he wanted to get me doing better so if and when he does retire I will have time to find another Dr. if he doesn't get me one. I see a new Pelvic Pain Dr. next week and hope he will help with this part of my pain. I've seen 2 gyno's and the problem with them is that I have a diagnoses that neither believed in. It's another one of those that Drs. question such as they have Fibro and a few others.

Back to the subject. I loved the Methadone. I was able to stay at a half of a 5 mg. for almost all of the 6 years until the pelvic pain became worse and I had to up it to 5 but we have gotten the pelvic pain to where it's not everyday so that is a blessing but the flares keep me from taking other meds I need.

I do think it's one of the best meds out there for pain and it's the cheapest at around 40. so if people donot have insurance they might be able to afford it. More and more Drs. are using it for pain.

My side effects were very minimal. No one could tell I was on anything and I liked that. I didn't have to stay in bed as I had to before we found it and believe me, I tried everyone anyone here has tried.

I do believe one reason that it may bother some people is because they do start at too high of a dosage. I had one person tell me she was on 80mgs. I couldn't believe it but I could tell it.

As far as other meds, I tried Lyrica and Cymbalta and too many others to name which I couldn't take anyway but they were used with the Methadone for me.

Talk to your Dr. about it and maybe see if he thinks it's just a first reaction with it. If you aren't use to it then it will make you seem loopy at times. I notice that since I am not on it all of the time now.

I think it's safer then a lot of the other Narcotics they give. I heard on the news awhile back that there are more deaths with Vicoden and Ocycontin then others. I don't think people overtake them intentionally but when your pain level is through the roof, it's get it calmed down or give me a gun and one bullet feeling. I have that feeling at times with the pelvic pain and I remember how bad I was when I first started with the Fibro, RSD, IC and other issues.

Sorry this is so long and again, I think of you guys often but I am trying hard to get to a point to where I am doing better with my gastro issues as well as the pelvic pain.

I don't even spend too much time on the computer due to trying to get my weight back down and get my other issues calmed down.

Hope things start looking up for you Debbie.

Ada

Thanks for all of your responses- The worse part of the methadone for me was the knot in my upper stomach area. I get this pain with some other meds to- All of the SSRIs, I couldnt eat - just had to lie around with a heating pad. So I can not tolerate the Meth. He gave me more Vicodine which I take on a limited basis and Zanaflex- Will see what happens

Thanks again

Deb

CZ, I tried opana last year. My side effects were terrible. Not to be graphic but I could not go to the bathroom on it. I tried everything under the sun. I went 7 days & was so sick. Pain control wise it was equal to my fentanyl. I didn't really have a great deal of benefit from it. Thanks for the info though.
Denny