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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Methadone

SPC123

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 7, 2009
Messages
640
It seems my pain management doc is going to suggest methadone for long term chromic pain. Upsides? Downsides? How does compare mg to mg to Oxycodone? Thanks for he help.
 
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Check the opioid conversion chart to see how methadone compares to other opioids for strength.

It's very long-acting and has very good binding properties to receptor sites. A downside to this is that BT pain isn't as easily managed.
 
Despite its long half-life, you'll have to take it every 4 hours like any short half-life opioid. I always wondered why.
 
Really? That is strange indeed... will keep that in mind when making recommendations.
 
I think Methadone is awesome for pain but I guess it depends what kind of injury or problem we each have........some pain can be managed excellent with Methadone.
 
I think methadone could potentially be a really good option for pain management, but it depends on the patient and the pain, and all the ins and outs of both. It is a strong synthetic opioid agonist with a very long half-life and some NMDA-antagonistic properties (I think?). It is quite sedating, and will help with insomnia assosciated with pain. It is quite potent mg per mg, and will jack up your tolerance to other opioids. It isn't terribly euphoric by general opinion, but that is often reported by those who have had experience with IV heroin and are on methadone maintenance. Some say it is euphoric. I have never tried it, I don't know. It does seem to be a bit more dangerouss opioid esp. when combined with other CNS depressants like benzos. It takes a good while to reach full effect after dosing (sometimes several hours), which can lead to excessive and potentially dangerous re-dosing. If you have gone through other opioids with less success, it may be a good option. No harm in giving it a short trial, I suppose.
 
I am fine with giving i a try. I am just worried about addiction, tolerance and eventual discontinuation.
 
Withdrawals are worse than oxycodone because it's a long acting full agonist. They are much longer and more drawn out. And IMO it has less painkilling properties than oxycodone. You might end up UPPING your tolerance to get the same amoutn of pain releif.. thats my opinion though.

I would avoid the methadone personally.
 
Despite its long half-life, you'll have to take it every 4 hours like any short half-life opioid. I always wondered why.

Methadone has a half life of 24 hours. You can take your dose at once. I'm on Methadone Maintenance, I take 100mg a day and since I got on it my knee pain vanished. I don't need to redose every 4 hours.
 
I would avoid the methadone personally.

This.

As far as painkillers go methadone has to be one of the most addictive and withdrawl from using it will most likely not be smooth.
 
Methadone has length, but as others have said it's a full agonist and it stores in the fat tissue, organs, and bone marrow, therefore having remarkably rough wds. I've heard from people that methadone withdrawals make other opi wds look pale in comparison. I was told the wds last painstakingly long and the bones ache to the very core. Although, oxy wds are no walk in the park IME/IMO.

Buprenorphine can be used to treat chronic pain, have you our your doctor ever looked into or talked about subs? Bupe has very mild wds.
 
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