Are Doctors Beginning To Not Prescribe Methadone Anymore For Chronic Pain?
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I am 56 years old and am disabled due to a work-related injury therefore I am rich by no means! I have heard that they are considering taking methadone off the market due to too many overdose issues, plus people on it, get a prescription filled and sell it for profit making it even harder for folks like me who take my meds honestly as prescribed. If Methadone is removed from the market, what am I supposed to do? I already know I can not go off this stuff cold turkey and am scared. Does anyone know any doctors in the Warner Robins-Macon, GA area that prescribe Methadone ILLEGITIMATELY? I am not looking to sell meds, I just want to be sure I will not be in pain. I've been on Methadone since November 2008 and so far it works fine for me. I just neeed a backup plan just in case that does not involve a methadone clinic. Those clinics are no better than drug dens over charging for Methdaone and the one here in town never checks my vital statistics. They don't care... just want money. Any suggestions?

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Re: SoulSister (# 47)

SoulSister I’m under the St. Vincent’s umbrella just in AL & my pain doc prescribes me methadone although she only gives me 15MG a day & I’ve been a chronic pain patient since 1998 & was deemed permanently disabled in 2003 & I have been diagnosed with 60+ medical conditions. So them telling you it’s now corporate policy is horse hockey.

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Like you I am a severe chronic pain patient for almost 30 years after almost being killed in a motorcycle accident at age 20.. I’ve had at least 7 surgeries on my back, shattered shoulder/ metal rods inserted into my legs to put them back together. I had a very bad head injury (230 stitches and staples) to put my head back together again and I’ve suffered from severe migraines and headaches ever since. I live in severe pain 24 hours a day 7 days a week since I was 20 years old.

I just turned 52 a couple of months ago. I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t in do debilitating chronic pain on a daily basis. After many years of trying a multitude of different kinds of medications and new therapies as they were discovered over the years. I’ve participated in several “Drug Trials” for Purdue Pharmaceuticals and the only one that worked was OxyContin 80mg pills. The dosage I took was one 80mg pill when I woke up everyday and another 80mg pill roughly 12/13 hours later. Usually an hour or so before I went to bed. I was also given 5mg Immediate release Oxycondone tablets for “Break Through Pain” which wasn’t very often because after a couple of weeks the extended relief pills that I had begun taking one every 12/13 hours had apparently “built-up into my body” my doctor said that too me and she was right.

I took this combination of medications and physical therapy for a good 9 years before suddenly the whole world and our own government decided that “Schedule 2 Prescription Narcotic medications” are now suddenly horrible evil medications now because there's some people that began abusing said pain medications for all of the people like me who suffer severe awful incredible pain conditions that have made me even consider suicide because I felt that I can’t live in this incredible pain situation for the rest of my life.

These Abusers have made life a living hell for people like me. I had to move because of the pandemic to Solano County California.

I desperately need a doctor here that will write for my pain medications. I have loads of proof in my medical files that prove my condition is in fact real and exactly how bad I’m suffering daily.. if anyone knows of a doctor anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area tgst can help me please send me his name thank you for your time.

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You can go to the methadone clinic. See if there’s any clinics near you!

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My suggestion about methadone is if they are going to stop making it you need to slowly lower your dose slow and then get into a rebab to detox and figure out if subutex will help. Do not do it yourself or cold turkey this is one medication that you need help getting off and it will take 12-18 months for you to feel better I’m not just saying what I was told I’m saying what I know and it’s very difficult especially if you are a chronic pain sufferer.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

You can inquire about getting a pain pump implanted. They can tailor it to ur needs. I’ve had mine for many years. I even had it replaced after 7 years. I don’t worry about if I will run out early or if I lost or if someone steals ur meds. I only take one medication for any breakthrough pain I have. Best thing I ever did.

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Re: Cherry (# 40)

I cannot believe how many mgs. of methadone most people are on or were on. My doctor has had me on it for 5 yrs. He started out giving me 30 mgs. a day but knowing what I had heard from others and the terrible withdraws from it I never took that much, the most I have ever been on is 20 mgs. a day. My brother, who is no longer with us, was on 70 mgs. a day and he ended up having to go to jail for something and had to go cold turkey. I have heard and read many times that methadone withdraws are the worst imaginable among all the pain medications. My doctor just switched me because I told him the methadone does not help my pain and never has and of course I told him this years ago but he only at the time prescribed this and Hydrocodone. He now has me on Oxicodone 10 mg. ER. Well it works o.k. for the pain, still doesn't take it all away but this medication makes me urinate way too much and when I go hardly anything comes out from the chemical binders/glue that they now contain to keep the addict abusers from crushing them and shooting them up or snorting them, whatever they do. I worked for 25 yrs with severe pain because I refused to take pain medication until I could no longer work and the pain was too much. I have spondolethesis, stenosis, scoliosis, arthritis and a fracture so I pretty much stay in pain from my back, also have terrible muscle spasms that lock me up and cause terrible pain. Legs and hips constantly ache too. I don't want to be all drugged up to where I'm in a stupor and can no longer decipher what's what, but there are people out there who do take pain meds just to escape reality and try and stay high, these are the ones who have caused all of this mess for people who suffer with real pain issues.

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Re: Dylin (# 12)

Go see your primary Dr to get A referral to a pain management specialist good luck! when they change the law to 120 milligrams per day I was screwed I used to take 7 30 mg oxycodones a day and now I'm down to 4 a day. it helps with my pain a little but it doesn't take it away 75%I have a lot of physical problems doctor said he doesnt see me coming off of them. So I'm getting use to my life as it is

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I was on Methadone for 6 years. The withdrawal symptoms are worse than other opiates. I was very leery when a colleague prescribed Subutex and then Suboxone. Suboxone is the same as Subutex but Suboxone has an opioid blocker. You feel it immediately when taken. If taken with opiates in your system, it will throw you into instant withdrawal. If you switch over, you will be amazed how powerful it is. Very similar to Methadone. Knowing it has a blocker in it, you will not want to buy or take any opiates because you wont feel anything. Switching to Suboxone, i did a 180 in my life. You can take opiates the day before but you can't take any the 1st day you take Suboxone. I wish you the best! God Bless.

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I know each person is affected differently, but I've been dealing with Chronic Pain since '99 and in the first 3-4 years tried many pain meds. When put on Methadone it gave me my life back. Look at the conversion charts. Methadone is much stronger than Morphine. It also works on 2 receptors in the brain, all or nearly all others work on one. It also builds up in your system and has a much longer half life. Works well on my Pain and has greatly improved my Chronic Fatigue....

I have had the same Dr for 12 years and he calls me a Model Patient. Have never abused my Pain Contract in any way. Complied, never called early, no dirty drug panels etc..... We live in a small rural town in east central IN. He works under the umbrella of St. Vincent. A few months ago he informed me that St. Vincent would no longer allow their Dr's to Prescribe Methadone. He began weaning me and I just switched to Oxycontin 30 mg twice a day and kept my 10 mg of Vicodin for BT pain. I had been on 70 mg of Methadone. (had allowed him to drop my Methadone from 100 Mg's a day to 80, then 70 over last 3 years to stay off DEA radar).

My question is this, how can I find out if it is True that this is due to St. Vincent?? Or if maybe he has just become too overwhelmed with all the Strict Guidelines and Regulations in the past 2-3 years??? I would really like to Know, just for my own peace of mind, as well as how difficult would it be to find another Dr or Pain Clinic that would give me back my Methadone.... It has been a Nightmare this month with the switch. Even though I was down to 30 mg of Methadone when we made the switch. ANY Help would be Greatly Appreciated!!! Thank you.

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Post 18,

Folks disregard this post. Subs are NOT just like methadone. Granted it's a dated post but some who come across erroneous information can be misled into initiating a treatment that is not medically indicated for their condition. Please post carefully. Thank you all.

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Iknow all about the pain meds problem in AMERICA seach the net fof relief.

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Hello. Looking for doctor in Connecticut that will rx methadone for chronic pain. If anyone knows of a doctor please email me. {edited for privacy}

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Hi, I realize this is an old thread but if possible would u please send me the doctors number in new Castle in? I would greatly appreciate it!

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Dear Papillion, I was just reading your reply to a post that you made back in 2013. And I'm also currently looking for a doctor that will prescribe methadone without having to go to the overpriced methadone treatment centers and I also have a son that is in school that I have to take on a daily basis and at the clinic downtown here in Indiana the lines are often so long u cannot receive a dose in under a couple of hours and get back home in time to get my son to school I am a single parent so that's my only option. I am currently on prescription painkillers from a pain medicine clinic that I'm wanting to get off of but I still need something to help some with the pain and I think that trying methadone would be idealistic. If you still have that Physicians phone number would you please email that to me? Thank you so much in advance

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P450metabolizer. You are on point and one person who knows facts RE: MEDICATION FOR PAIN ISSUES. I don't believe in posting on this site b/c of the inaccurate information and ego, but I check it out occasionally. Thank you for the content of this post.

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Hi Scott, I'm 56 years old, live in Virginia and had a pain management Dr. that had me on Methadone pills at a total of 90 mg a day for my many non-surgical spine and shoulder issues for 15 years but my Dr. died. My PCP has helped me for all these years until the new Federal laws ruined my life. I've just "come out the other side" of the most horrible withdrawal imaginable! A Dr. Told me I would suffer withdrawal affects for 8 months but with the help of 30mg immediate release oxycodone and Xanax, I made it through in 3 months but I laid in my bed waiting for the cardiac arrest or stroke that should have happened according to the AMA. My PCP tells me I should go back to the OxyContin that I was on almost 20 years ago as most pain specialists are now trying to switch patients like me to long acting meds instead of immediate release. OxyContin 20 & 40mg worked great for me but now I face the almost impossible task of finding a pain specialist that will touch a patient who was on methadone in the past 12 months! Please let me know if you find any news that would help me. You just sound like an intelligent person knowledgeable about my issues.

{edited for privacy}

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I was having a hard time following the posters story. The one thing I do understand is Darvon was given to me the very first time I went to a methadone clinic. That was like 1979. The Darvon made me sick because I was given so many to take..The next time I went there for a 21 day taper I was given methadone. I am glad Darvon is off the market, but the bad news is Rouge pharmacies are still selling them..Bottom line....Darvon is dangerous because patients have to take too many, and people can develop horrible side effects.

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I spoke with a pain management doctor last week who told me that they are, in fact, trying to stop production of methadone. My ex is a stage 4 cancer patient, so they know he will probably never be off pain medication, but they told him he needs to start looking at other medication options. So, I'm guessing the doctor probably knows something.

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I don't understand. You have been on methadone since 2008 for chronic pain and you would rather get medadone illegally because clinics are nothing but "drug dens"? You must have been to one or are going to one because you said they don't check your vitals. I take offense at several of the things you said. First off you must be going to a horrible and maybe bordering on an illegal clinic. Methadone clinics are watched very closely by The DEA, the FDA and every other watchdog group there is. Illegal methadone comes from pain management clinics, not from methadone clinics. You are a chronic pain sufferer but that doesn't make you any better than me, a opiate addict. Whoever told you that methadone is going to be taken off the market has no idea what he/she is talking about. The only thing that changed is the stopped prescribing the 40 mg tablets, and that was years ago.. If you are so terrified to be cut off of your pain meds then suck it up and go to the methadone clinic. Most of the patients there started out just like you..Chronic pain. No one wakes up one day and says " I think I want to be an opiate addict. Get off of your high horse or go cold turkey.

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That's not correct. Methadone has been around since 1943, and the worse thing that could happen in the US is the removal of a drug treatment medication when opioid addiction is the worst, no.1 problem in this country today. Plus, Methadone Clinics are protected by FEDERAL LAW...and they won't remove it from pain management use either. I don't know WHERE this crap starts...SAD people with nothing else to do but stir up crap..I suppose...

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