Are Doctors Beginning To Not Prescribe Methadone Anymore For Chronic Pain? (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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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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41

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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47

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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48

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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5

Methadone is actually considered stronger than Oxycodone, so if you take a 60mg dosage of Methadone, the converters show that you'd need 150mgs of Oxycodone.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Oxycodone/­

Are there any other questions or comments?

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14

IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE EMAIL ADDRESS I CAN SEND THE PHONE # TO A OFFICE THAT WILL PRESCIBE METHADONE FOR CHRONIC PAIN. IT IS NEAR NEW CASTLE IN. I HAVE MOVE AND LIVEIN THE INDIANAPOLIS AREA AND I AM LOOKING FOR ANOTHER DR. THAT WILL PRESCIBE FOR CHRONIC PAIN. IF ANYONE HAS THAT INFO PLEASE EMAIL ME AT {edited for privacy}
THANKS SO MUCH

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15

Plz email with the clinic you used to see in New castle. I'm a pt at Thoroughcare over on Viking now. I'm having problems getting through when I see the NP-Owens-hardly can see dr Tilmans maybe your placw will be better. Pain is not fun ; (

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19

If anyone knows a dr in ga or tn area that prescribe methadone in at least 90mg please email me at {edited for privacy}. my dr can no longer prescribe my dosage in al

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20

Susan Uhrich Lafayette la

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21

Is there a doctor in MACON AND/OR WARNER ROBINS AREA --that will write me a prescriptipn for methodone instead of driving to the clinic EVERY DAY???'!!!

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23

I need to find a Dr. who will perscribe methodone for cronic pain. Corvallis, Oregon.

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24

Well i dont have any insurance or income -- annd i have spinal stenosis and believe i have other back issues!! my leg has gone completely numb and cudnt walk for a couple of days!! what dr in the Macon Ga area will help me with chronic pain management at a low cost-- doctor visit??!!! I neef help!!!

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27

I am looking for a doctor that prescribes methadone. I live in Louisiana and have muscular dystrophy and I only have medicaid does anyone know any doctors that would prescibe methadone

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28

I have been using opiates for 12 years - i'm 30 years old now. I messed up 2 discs in my spine on my dirtbike. Anyway ive tried suboxone on and off for 6 years it didn't work. Methadone is horrible detox because its so synthetic. However its the only drug that works for me and keeps me off opiates. I love methadone. Chris, Detroit, MI

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29

I'm impressed, You remembered Darvon was ALL RISK and NO BENEFIT. Hepatoxicity was the primary adverse reaction that killed rehab patients. One of my Anesthesiologist friends (DDS-cum-MD-cum-Anaesthesiologist and an expert of Pain Control) asked me to walk through a fancy Hamptons rehab. He had hard a few disturbing reports, mostly about their using Darvon (propoxyphene) 65mg Pulvules because the facility did not yet have a methadone license.I was fully licensed and had my PhD in Psychopharmacology. I def was under 30, though. WE had a DEA Agent with us just to ensure nothing would be hidden and, if necessary, a federal Court Order. I learned the Charge Nurse was only an LPN (no BSN); below the reasonable standard of care. Bill is great at scheming; I'm great at running a bluff. I've always looked about five or six years younger than my age anyway. I kept my ID in a jacket pocket and acted as if I were a client without every saying so. The rudeness of that charge nurse was literally unbelievable. She called me a lousy junkie and I said "Well, I'm not stupid enough to take mega-doses of Darvon-65. One of Bill's 18-y/o patients was due to be discharged that day and Bill, in lab coat with badges, etc., acted the innocent and said he wanted to continue Michael's tx. so could he see him. The same b**** said, he's in group and Bill said, You're a nurse, I'm an MD and a DDS. Get him! That didn't happen. He asked for a sheet of paper and wrote correct directions — but he was leaving 12 bottles of Vitamin B12 and a box of 100 1cc Insulin Syringes. The nurse took them to the kid;s empty room and allowed him to leave the pills in plain sight (and research). I mingled among the kids, said I was a teacher who got too high too often with my students and picked up a lot of gossip. It's amazing what difference a quality lab coat, my ID and "Joseph J P____, MD, PhD, Asst Chief - Psychiatry made it these clowns behavior. I had a Court Order allowing Bill and I to view ANY records. We were there for two days. What the staff didn't know is that I scoped out the "residence of the files and thanks to a great B&E kid, got into that room. I told him my sister was a Bureau Chief and Exec. DA and I was sure she could speak to his judge. His crimes weren't violent. I did have to tell him my Secret ID, bt he said, "I won't tell anybody if you write me for some Dilaudid." He was 15 and said, "Can't blame a kid for trying. I did review his case in his presence and found a problem with the orders for Zyprexa, Thorazine and Darvon. "What I can do is have these discontinued" "How?" "I OUTRANK THEM."

I read very quickly and picked out a dozen cases, Xeroxed the pertinent files an noted another 10 kids or so we might want to look into. I had checked with my sis and she said I hadn't obtained access under false pretenses and I could claim Privilege not just as a doc but, more powerfully, as a working journalist. I would be writing with a popular daily newspaper series and a more scholarly, detailed article for a Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal."

"And what is your rationale for prescribing Darvon in lieu of opiates?"

"Why don't you have a full-time Board-Certified Internist here full-time. Your Nurse Practitioner is incredibly talented. (A comment I never considered "a tell" was picked up by NP Carrie. All she asked in return for keeping my secret was my teaching her how to dose Coumadin." "You've been on Coumadin since 1995, You know how it;s done and if not you, your handsome buddy.")

We need that outsiders were freely admitted to weekly musical events — "The Junkie Jam". I went back to being scruffy and had my niece, a licensed cosmetologist, come in to work my hair and add blue, blonde, pink and red streaks. No big deal — another rich kid getting his manicure, razor cut, color, etc. and I had asked the son of a famous Mafiosi who came to me as a patient abusing drugs, but recovered just fine — if I could borrow his identity. He had been to this place and readily agreed. We actually stayed friends because he wanted to go to med school and were irresistibly attracted to each other. In never quite believe the "instant attraction" among sober people, but it happened and we've been happy together ever since. A true Sicilian (as am I), he remembered every action that could give him some advantage.

We interviewed the staff — ONE Master Social Worker; the Consulting MD was a Board-certified Internist, but I told him NOT to prescribe Serzone, an antidepressant, because of disturbing reports of liver toxicity and liver failure. I actually was ballsy enough to change those orders to PAXIL. Within the month the FDA pulled Sermon off the market for that very reason. Well, then,. you or you and the other guy (That's DR. BILL, DDS and MD) interview all these patients. I asked for Internet Access and was told, by the same Charge Nurse, that "our computers are not for the use of outsiders." I picked a trustworthy kid and asked him to get our top top-of-the-lined Mac laptops from my trunk. Bill then produced a Appellate Court Order to Compel — to compel the management of this rehab, to make any and all of their files available to us. The State Medical Board "invited" their MD and NP to meet with us. I told Carrie that she was not at risk. Her work was flawless — but she might be asked to corroborate overheard conversations or clinical conversations of which she had been involved.

We even found a counselor who told us he was going "back to school" in the fall. "Oh, finish your BA or MSW?" He laughed. "Not yet, bro. I'm starting SCCC in September as a freshman." There are so many minimal levels of credentialing designed for non-MD, non-graduate degree bearers, etc., that it sometimes confuses even me."

Eventually, like Watergate, this story came out and the State Commission of Health suspended told management it could either take suspensions while Bill and I restructure the place. We brought in a couple of competent colleagues and FULLYB LICENSED RESIDENTS. Bill held a methadone license himself. I applied and I obtained one myself. I fired the Consulting Shrink was abut about 95 and prescribed in cycles — Zyprexa, Ability, etc. I was a Board-certified shrink; I could diagnose, treat and prescribe, Bill was an excellent physician and I did remember some Internal Medicine. We got my hospital to "partner" with the rehab in providing Residents and Fellows. I promoted our NP to Chief of Medical Services and offered her a commensurate salary, Bill does a lot of therapy — always did — but he doesn't have the formal creds. I seemed to be seeing 16 patients daily for a while. Rather than work myself into illness, I called some of my Fellows and duly-licensed Residents AND abut 10 of my friends and colleagues. They came through for me an for Bill. Bill's buds helped with physicals, diagnostic orders and determining withdrawal protocols. The clients liked both Bill and me. After my "inmate impersonation," they thought I was awesome. "And you were a doc all the time! God Damn!" The State suspended its license suspension or revocation proceedings to give us time to establish a sustaining facility. Fees went up, but so did the quality of care.

This whole b**** of a year started when Bill's patient felt there was something wrong about giving Darvon for opiate withdrawal. (He was not himself an opiate abuser.) If I had any doubts, I learned through working with a real "doctor's doctor" to follow my gut, as I did years ago regardless my reporter's instincts.

Editor's note: We do not verify the credentials of our users and nothing stated in our forums is intended to be taken as medical advice.

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30

Brother the problem is oxycontin is very pricy. I'm also on methadone 60 mgs per day and im on for both pain and substance abuse so im praying to god they dont take me off my meds, i cant afford the other pain killers and ill end up abusing them in the long run anyhow. The older i get the wiser so maybe i wont IDK but what im always telling my wife and doctor we only live once, so why does our quality of life have to be crap. Because others abuse methadone and sell it. The stuff works very well for me. Good luck and happy holidays. Also does anyone know if my doctor is breaking the law for giving me methadone for abuse when he's just a PCP doctor?

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31

Do you have a dr in Louisiana I have a badly broken back degenerative disk disorder both knees operations my right 1 goes out to the right then the last time both femurs in the mental one.I will never walk again I am a musician must go back on stage.Two of my daughters were killed over the the 4/14/14 the baby then my oldest was killed 12/13/15

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32

hello i could use a dr in macon that prescrybes methadone. t have taken suboxone but its so expensive. they both work for me only i can take less methadone because it lasts longer & that is why i care not to go to clinic as they charge you everyday regardless

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33

i need a doctor in macon ga that will prescrybe methadone. i dont need it everyday like the dosin clinic charges you for. and suboxone is so expensive

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35

I'm in Alabama with the same problem. Can you please Help me? Shelby County, Al here...

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40

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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