Doctors Who Prescribe Methadone (Page 7)

I am addicted to strong pain meds and I am tired of having to come off of them, the withdrawal is awful. I went to a urgent care doc and was prescribed suboxone. I take anxiety meds too but he wants me to stop. I really need the anxiety meds but he wants me off them. How do I get him to change it from suboxone to methadone so I can take my anxiety meds?

REPLY

REPORT

Guy, we did everything and have now settled in with a pain clinic associated with a huge teaching hospital in NJ. It saves us driving 8 hours to Pa. The trip is only an hour one way and we are getting our meds. Doctors just won't prescribe those kind of meds out of their offices, but they will in a clinical setting. Go figure.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I guess it is strange, but I have been taking methadone for RSD for 10 years now. Since this big "war on drugs" (even for people who need the damn methadone). I have had to stop using it. The pain is beginning to stop me from my daily activities, like making breakfast, or doing laundry or EVERY OTHER F***ING thing that constitutes living. I haven't had any serious, withdrawal issues. First I cut down to half my daily dose, now I have used up my last prescription. My doctor has now prescribed some Oxy or other. It's half life creates the need to take it more often which I hate.

I also found out that it is not necessarily the DEA causing all the problem. My doc owns a pharmacy, and through speaking with the girls in the office and his PA, I have learned that any pharmacy interested in making a profit will not provide to anyone who doesn't have a one to six ratio which in 'pharmacy' lingo means that if you are not also buying other prescriptions (at least six), the pharmacy will not make a profit from you. It makes no business sense for them to sell to you who is covered by medicare (with whom they have contracted for an agreed upon amount to charge you). Bottom line, their margin of profit is too low. It has less to do with the DEA, than their own pockets. They are telling people they can't get the drug, but the fact is, if you have the money to pay for it, they have it. A covered patient pays between $1.50 - $13 per script, but if you have no insurance, they make upwards of $200.00 per script. Some of the pharmacists will tell you the truth. Three have explained this to me already. It's more the 'mom and pop' stores. The big houses ie. CVS, Walgreen etc.. just don't want the hassle. It all comes down to $$$$$, as usual. I know this information is useless, I am just trying to figure out how to create a solution.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@Mo, I suppose at times we are all told different things by different places while seeking relief from our pain. I feel that we can only go by the way we react to the meds that are prescribed for us. As long as we monitor ourselves and keep track of what we're taking and when, we should do okay. After all....it's our own doctors writing them for us.

I have noticed that most doctors do not judge you when your taking any type of anti-depressant and need pain medication too. Just seems to me that most anti-depressants are acceptable to physicians no matter what. But if your taking something like Valium, they make it seem like a crime. Well what on earth is a drug like Valium made for, if it isn't for relieving stress and anxiety that we can't control on our own? It's also being used as a muscle relaxer for those in pain. (I wasn't really aware of this until recently, when my S.O had surgery and was given it, along with his pain medication, to help his pain.) He was told he'd be given a muscle relaxer, but I wasn't aware the doctor meant Valium. Now realize too, that he was given both Valium and Vicodin; so why would a doctor prescribe them together if they are so dangerous to combine?

I just don't get it anymore. Sometimes I think taking medications is like watching your diet. Everything in moderation is acceptable. If this isn't true, then why do doctors do it ?
If I develop a need to take Valium or something like it, I would hope my doctor would not be afraid to prescribe it for me in addition to my pain medication.....as long as it's safe to take together, the way it is prescribed.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

@Sue...I'm so sorry they have made you stop taking the medication that helped you so well. I think it's a sin. Methadone works so very well as you already know. I do hope and pray that whatever they are allowing you to take now will help you be able to function like a human being as much as possible....even tho you may have to take it more often than the Methadone. Why don't they realize that Methadone is the safer drug to treat patients with ? I think so anyway.
If only you could find a place at a hospital near you that runs a pain management clinic. I really think this would be your best bet if possible. Private doctors are not liking to take patients who need medication of any kind if they are not doing procedures on them. I have learned this. And it's how I lost my last PMD. When your only answer is medication, then you have to find a doctor who is willing to follow his own judgement. But even the doctor I see at a hospital is not taking any new patients. It's become a nightmare trying to find a doctor who will treat you for pain. This scares me to death too. If he quits on me, I'll have nowhere else to go. And I can't travel for hours looking for another treating hospital. Like you...I know I could not stand it being without my medication. Been put thru that so I know already.
I don't understand how any doctor can take an oath and still refuse to treat a patient for pain. It's inhumane. I understand their fears of giving medications to the wrong people, but unfortunately, these drug abusers and sellers are getting smarter and smarter in fooling them to get there fixes. (Or their sales products) Pain doctors need to make sure they keep up with the medical forms and records needed for patients taking pain medications in order for them to feel more secure in prescribing them. Not cut people off.
Hopefully, a day will come soon when this abuse is controlled better and patients in pain will be able to once again find relief with the proper drugs from their doctors.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

@CUGE - Post #23 - Tue, Mar 26 '13, 8:36 AM. You say, and I hope you are still following this thread:

"Your question is a year old and I hope you received what you need by now. I did want to answer so that maybe someone with a similar problem will read it. I don't know of any Dr. who would prescribe xanex or valium or any benzo with methadone. Reason being it's dangerous, could stop breathing. The clinics are getting tough on patients who continually show for benzos in UA.".

I have been on diazepam (Valium) for 13 years. I began taking it in 2003 after my third lumbar surgery, an ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion), which ultimately 'failed' btw. I was seeing a PMDR in MD, where I happened to be living at the time. I'm not even going to list the amount of narcotics these people had me on at this point, it's ancient history. Except to say for a brief time I was given methadone (10mg x 4/day) for breakthrough. I actually didn't need it as I was taking such high doses of other meds, and it wasn't until I researched it I knew what it was. It was not common practice back then to prescribe Methadone for pain. That was a long time ago. In 2010 my Dr. lost his license to prescribe ANYTHING (as was his entire staff of CNP's who could also write these prescriptions lost their jobs). And I was forced on such short notice to go into a hospital to detox. It was my decision, facilitated by help and support from family members, however the place I chose, had I known how and who I would have been detoxed by I never would have gone. It is a very well respected hospital here in VA, but their freakin' detox unit is combined with their PSYCHIATRIC. Meaning, all doors locked, all my personal property (that a psych patient may attempt to hurt themselves with), which happened to be just about everything I brought except my clothes, were locked up. And to top it all off, my so-called 'detox' was supervised by those folks who I despise more than any other on the planet -- psychiatrists. And the STAFF! Don't even get me started. Ignorant psych techs, nurses treating those of us in for detox like leper's, drug addicts/alcoholics. Actually most detox patients WERE drug addicts and/or alcoholics. I was "opioid dependent", tho wasn't familiar with that term at the time either.

Pardon my language, but they f***ed me up so badly, and detoxed me so rapidly (actually I was not fully detoxed at discharge 13 days later) that I could have died. I had been taking prior to admittance 800mgs of Morphine, 8mgs of Dilaudid x 4/day, 10mgs Valium x 4/day and Ambien for sleep. I had been on this regimen (with a few changes over the period I was going there), for ten years! And never, EVER having taken any pain meds in my life, by the time I had my final lumbar surgery in 2004 (which consisted of complete reconstruction of my spine from L4-S1) AND permanently disabled, I thought for years what I was taking was 'normal'. Until I moved to Virginia in 2007, 60 miles away from this PMDR.

And yes, (this is for the all-knowing, self-righteous, sick in the head JO), I WAS traveling to another state to get my pain meds, as a LOT of pain patients have to do. Of which YOU Jo, in an accusatory comment, whined that I was "going out of state to get my meds." I don't forget this s*** from you, JO, and I have a whole list of untruths, dangerous and outright false information you've spewed on this forum alone! From the time I moved here from MD, every PMDR I went to here told me "to make sure the door didn't hit me in the ass on the way out". I was told THEY would lose their licenses if they prescribed the amount of meds I was taking. So for three more years I traveled the 120 mile RT from my home here to the MD doc. So F*** OFF with the pompous accusatory tone. And I'm not the only one you've done this to either and "U" know it!

OK, getting THAT out of my symptom, (I'm also documenting this as I have legal action pending against the 'facility' that almost killed me). On the day of discharge, I was so sick I could barely stand. I had lost 15 lbs in 13 days. Could not eat, drink, sleep, nothing. My body was starting to shut down and I knew it. Where I should have been given a really big dose of Methadone (tho didn't know it at the time), I was on a teeny weeny dose, along with Klonipan, and the dreaded Zoloft. On the 8th day they stopped the methadone altogether and just when I thought I couldn't get any sicker!

They kept putting off my discharge date which added unbelievable stress. Two days prior to discharge I begged the shrink who was ineptly treating me to PLEASE do some blood work because something is terribly wrong. I made him promise. Waited up all night (couldn't sleep) for the vampire lady to show up at 6:00am, and dammit to hell, they never did. Not only THAT I had requested to see a REAL MD, as I knew what was happening, that my body was beginning to shut down. This was denied me, so there's just ONE human rights violation right there.

So, they kicked my can to the curb on July 13, 2010. What a perfect day that was, because I 'woke up' and realized that I was smack dab in FULL BLOWN Valium withdrawal! It has a very long half life so could take about two weeks for w/d to even start.

And I thought things couldn't get any worse.

So the Valium w/d kicked in on discharge day and I started getting dry heaves so badly I thought I was going to upchuck my stomach. And HURT? Oh God. I was picked up, got home, and the first thing I did was call 911. Actually, I could have gone to the ER of the hospital I was just discharged from but was not thinking clearly. I was so sick I could barely TALK. The EMT's showed up, took my vitals and they were through the roof. I told them to take me to Reston Hospital which they did. I was there a week. I presented with severe dehydration, electrolytes totally out of whack, potassium, sodium, magnesium, you name it, everything one needs to survive I was severely lacking, which made me so weak I could barely stand. They HAD to put me back on the Valium or I would have started seizing and this alone could have killed me.

I laid in that hospital bed so sick I wished I would die I swear to God, and I still cry at that vivid memory after three years and two months.

To be continued.......

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

This is for Ms. Tweetie. I found your story to be very heart wrenching until you had to go and throw in the ever redundant story about JO. Don't you have anyone else to pick on, or perhaps a hobby you can take up. I'm sick of hearing it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

@Tessa, re you Post #126

I feel it very important to finish my story, I only made it about half way through the ordeal(s) I've had to face for the past three years, two months, and have been following this particular thread almost since the beginning. I'll finish it. You think what I've written so far is gut wrenching, wait until you see the rest. Will finish, or the next 'installment' will be soon.

No disrespect my dear Tessa, but I'm very sorry my "ever redundant story about JO" disturbs you. This is the second time I've been read the riot act from you insinuating I don't have anything better to do but "berate" JO. There are many reasons why she in particular is on my "radar" and "watch list". And I am not the only one who has called her on her $hit (for lack of a better word) on her giving downright unacceptable, untrue and improper information. She has stated that she takes 65mgs. of Methadone a day. While methadone is a strong narcotic, of which JO so naively stated she didn't believe it was, while full well knowing that it is (and being told it is and to "stop acting like she was ignorant of this fact", plus the ambiguities in her statements about the NUMEROUS doctors she's seen and narcotics taken leaves more than myself a little perplexed about her history. Of which she is very vague about with too, btw.

I remember when you first wrote here. Of course she responded, as she does every single person who has written to date. As a matter of fact (and I tried to get an accurate count) she has more than half the comments on this thread alone. You were urgently searching for a PMDR in NJ after you and your husband moved there.

Now just for the record, You, Jo and I are basically in the same age bracket, as much as I hate to admit it, in the 60 y/o age range. At first, from the way she wrote, I had assumed she was much younger. I think she is certainly old enough to defend herself, and am surprised she did not when I posted my first comments recently directed solely to her. She's a big girl, and certainly can dish it out so should be able to, as an adult address a response to me, but backs off when confronted, yet looks for validation, especially when someone like you defend her. Her actions on posting here, leave a lot to be desired. Simply stated, I have been following this particular discussion since the beginning in March. I recall back then JO posted a comment on November 25, 2012 - Post #7 And here it is:

"TO: Susan - Yes Susan, etc., etc., If U can find a good anesthesiologist who is willing to write U the script, do go to them fast !! U will get relief. IF U KNOW OF ANY IN CENTRAL N.J. PLEASE FORWARD WHO IT IS, SO I CAN GO TOO!! I HAVE BEEN ON A WILD GOOSE CHACE {sic} FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. BECAUSE OF THESE DEA FEARS, I HAVE LOST MY LAST 2 DOCTORS. CURRENTLY I AM WITHOUT MEDS AND SUFFERING LIKE HELL. I wish U all the luck & success in finding the right doctor to treat U. It will work !!"

Sadly, MONTHS later, you start posting, also looking for a PMDR in the NJ area not too far where JO goes. These forums are to help people find a decent doc they can get their pain meds from. JO outright beats around the bush and refuses to tell you (even in a private PM or email, or however this thing works), and you had to play pin the tail on the donkey to every hospital in whatever vicinity ya'll live in to find someone (which I'm pleased to hear you did btw), altho I do not know how much help she was in you getting the care you need.

As far as "Who Cares!" as you've written me before, that moniker happens to belong to my PhD friend who happens to be a psychotherapist by profession, and after reading and following the dialog HE posted to her the following:

Post #51
Whocares Says: Fri, Apr 05 '13, 1:55 PM

"@Jo You seem to be wanting to share your experiences with people and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Some people may find comfort or valuable information in what you post. Do not stop sharing, all Ms. Tweetie and I are saying is be careful what you post and make sure it is accurate so someone does not mix or experiment in the wrong way. Methadone is an extremely strong opiate and should be used with the utmost caution. Now your situation is not at all uncommon in the sense of opiates be tried and exhausted and then finding one(methadone in your case) that relieves your pain symptoms. This is usually done by one practitioner and that is why some would think you may be "doc shopping". The fact that you have been to multiple pain management doctors is alarming and would send off a red flag to most people in the industry. You are fortunate to be given such a strong narcotic for neuropathy because, most physicians will not go stronger than Tramadol for that condition. They prefer things like Syvella, Lyrica, and Cymbalta for neurapathy not narcotics especially methadone. Seldom will you find a pain management physician that is not an anesthesiologist as well. The pain management doctors are probably 70-80% anesthesiologist. The reality is that the only connection that Benzo's and Methadone have is for a drug addict that wants to "nod" they will mix the two and that can be very dangerous because, they both work on the central nervous system and depress breathing and heart rate. Now I am not sure what the issue is with being "right" or "wrong"...you do not have to be either when sharing your experience just be careful not to provide information that could effect the well being of others in a negative way. Peace to you and may your path be filled with light and hope always!!!!" AND, #2 to her is as follows (after he had read enough of her inconsistencies and untruths:

Post 65
Whocares Says: Sun, Apr 07 '13, 6:07 PM

@Jo Please try and get some sort of life... because you have none at this point. I feel sorry for you.Pathetic. I am a person that holds a Psychology Doctorate ...so I am sure I am more qualified then you to assess your state of mind. You suffer from low self-esteem and you have to qualify anything and everything you say before and after making a statement. This is a classic example of inferior complex at it's worse.You have a need to challenge anything a person might say to you or about you. You need to get with a professional and work through some of these issues. I truly think you have more psychological pain then physical. The narcotics are masking something very painful in you. You are in a permanent act of taciturnity and it is sad to read your posts."

I could give more examples, but you can find them yourself by doing a 'Control F' and insert WhoCares in the "Find" box and find more. I have maybe too much time on my hands, but I've read every post on this thread. If JO is giving you moral support, then that is fine. But, when she crosses that line and tells you how you should cut back on meds, or ANYTHING only a medical practitioner would know, run like hell in the other direction. I'm only trying to spare YOU for getting seriously wrong and possibly deadly advice from a woman who, other than sharing her own experiences (which are somewhat shady at best sometimes), really doesn't know what she's talking about in a professional medical sense. Just be careful, is all I ask. And there are others on here who would advise the same thing, as they already have. Next time, let JO explain herself. She doesn't need you or ANYBODY else here to feed her ego. Her writings are like that of a naive 20-something.. not a 60 year old woman.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

It is, quite simply, NOT LEGAL for a physician to prescribe methadone for addiction treatment/maintenance. They can only prescribe it for pain. For addiction treatment you must attend a licensed opioid treatment program (clinic) and the methadone is ordered by the doctor then dispensed by the clinic. That's very different then being prescribed by a doctor and filled at a pharmacy. DATA 2000 law governs Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex) and allows doctors with a DATA 2000 exemption to prescribe it... Not so with methadone. If a doctor PRESCRIBES methadone for anything other than pain he/she is risking censure by the DEA and losing his/her medical license. You must seek treatment from an opioid treatment program to get methadone for the maintenance treatment of opioid addiction. The federal regs are 42 CFR.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

FYI... received an email a week or so ago, (a couple actually) dated September 10 wherein the FDA is clamping down to reduce the numbers of people and/or addicts from obtaining high doses of narcotic medications. The title of the article is "Medscape Medical News
FDA Restricts Long-term Opioid Use to Combat Abuse (here's part of the text and the link on Medscape):

Medscape.com/viewarticle/810732?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=206996CJ

"Extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioid pain relievers are no longer indicated for merely moderate pain, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today as part of a sweeping move to stem the deadly misuse and abuse of the drugs."

"Previously, the labels for ER/LA opioid analgesics stated that they were indicated for "moderate to severe pain in patients requiring continuous, around-the-clock opioid treatment for an extended period of time." The labels now will state that the drugs are indicated "for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock opioid treatment and for which alternative treatments are inadequate." The new labeling emphasizes first considering potentially less addictive measures."

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Few days I'll be DEAD!!!! DEA has gone after my doctor. I have been on methadone for 25 years. In pain since 1970"s. I take a lot and I mean a lot. It HAS BEEN A WONDER DRUG FOR ME. I have stayed out of trouble. Now my goverment is going to KILL ME (DEMOCIDE). Why can our goverment KILL people and get away with it!? I'm a nobody and nobody cares if I die. Just like the JEWS. Pick people who are disliked . Too many people to take care of like me. GET RID OF THEM !! They have the power and money. Just like the cartel. With my methadone I can live a normal life. Without it I'M DEAD!!!!!!! WILL MY GOVERMENT GET AWAY WITH MY DEATH ? They could fix this before it happens but will they?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Does anyone know of Dr in Salinas can or any weree close to there that persribes methadone my sister has been on 30 mg for 2 yrs it helps her she has 3 different cancer and Parkinson's she had been in Fresno area but caregivers were abusing her e also has mental retardation please some one help I have never ever and to deal with all this and its very frustrating

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Doctors can prescribe methadone from their office for pain. If they prescribe it for addiction there are different guidelines. They can treat up to 30 patients and must adhere to federal guidelines and licensing. I have been in both situations. They can prescribe a month at a time. This has been a blessing not having to go in for daily dosing and jumping thru the hoops of clinic. Being treated on an individual basis makes a person feel human. There will always be people who abuse the systems. Good luck to all.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Ms. Tweetie, I believe at times you are losing sight about what this site is for. It has become so redundant the comments and the reposting of Jo's comments. This site was designed to help people which at one time was devoted to. I quit using it for a long time because of the petty comments. I only hope it can go back to helping where needed. Good luck to all!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Chad, this is an lol not being rude our criticizing but my old doc used to prescribe me methadone for my chronic pain in a pretty high dose (120 mgs a day) and xanax and klonopin every month. Do I get the $1000 if I tell you who he is & where his office is? Lol just saying, it does happen, I can prove it. I am currently with a different doc but I still get methadone for my chronic pain, MUCH smaller dose, Norco for break thru pain ( it's very well documented what medical issues I have, from 17 abdominal surgeries to scoliosis & degenerative disc disease in C1-C7 of my neck and a diseased liver) plus I get kolonpin for anxiety/ depression. :-) best of luck to ALL on this page looking for relief.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

@Pam... Post #133 - I'm done, my dear, with any and all comments about the person you mention. While I agree with you that this forum (and all others on MedsChat) are to help people in a 'self-help' kinda way, is to share information, experiences and provide support to others who may be going through the same thing(s) as many of us. I also believe that if people are giving outright false information that may hurt a naive individual they should be called out on it. I may have gone a little overboard with the number of posts but I will admit I don't regret posting any of them. Rest assured, I've shut up. But I'd do the same thing if someone else were providing false information, including the person in question you commented to me about, if their advice might hurt another individual.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Not true Chad; I've been prescribed (not a maintenance program but prescribed for pain) methadone and Xanax by the same doctor for over 6 years. No adverse side effects either.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Jo, to make a blanket statement like that for every doctor and everyone is ignorant. I have a caring, wonderful doctor, who takes MEDICAID of all things and prescribes me methadone for my pain and Xanax for my anxiety. Also, I can tell u from personal experience, one does not block the other. Keep to your posts telling people to talk to a doctor, because u are not one!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

John I'm so sorry for what ur having to deal with...I'm going through the same thing here with my doctor. I don't understand how, if these government officials have the credentials to investigate the issue like they should, they can cut someone off cold turkey like this. My husband/daughter's father committed suicide when going through withdrawal and I feel like I might be in the same boat soon. I'm so disgusted and just want to move out of the country at this point...if only I had $!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

To Tessa AND PAM... Re: Comment #137 From: Illustrated Grrl Says Sun, Nov 17 '13, 9:18 AM via mobile and I quote: "Jo, to make a blanket statement like that for every doctor and everyone is ignorant. I have a caring, wonderful doctor, who takes MEDICAID of all things and prescribes me methadone for my pain and Xanax for my anxiety. Also, I can tell u from personal experience, one does not block the other. Keep to your posts telling people to talk to a doctor, because u are not one!!!"

I rest my case ladies.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I agree with Pam, a few people have lost site as to what this forum is really about. Trying to help others in need. So Ms. Tweetie, please leave me out of your comments. Thank you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Moving to Houston, Tx and looking for a doctor who will prescribe methadone. I have been on Methadone for Intractable Pa...

17 REPLIES

My Dr. in Muskegon is no longer willing to have me as a patient i need to find a new dr. asap. ## i live in florence Ala...

13 REPLIES

I am a 31 yr.old mother of 3 wonderful girls! I am in the process of trying to find a doctor that prescribes methadone f...

9 REPLIES

Anyone know of private practice doc So. Florida prescribe methadone maintenance? Thanks, {edited for privacy} ## No, reg...

7 REPLIES

Hi, I have been on methadone for pain for several years. I hate going to the methadone clinic because I am uncomfortable...

7 REPLIES

I am a 31 yr.old mother of 3 wonderful girls! I am in the process of trying to find a doctor that prescribes methadone f...

5 REPLIES

My mom is 66. She's been on 20 MG of methadone for 3 yrs for degenerative disc disease, she's also been in a bad...

5 REPLIES

I am tired of going to the Comprehensive Pain Management office. I would like to have one Dr. That can prescribe my meth...

4 REPLIES

I go to a methadone clinic and I need a doctor in Indianapolis Indiana or Lebanon Indiana areas who prescribe methadone ...

3 REPLIES

somewhere close to columbus indiana husband has been taking for 8 years and family doc wont presribe cuz of new dea rule...

3 REPLIES