Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms When Switching From Methadone To Opana Er (Page 3) (Top voted first)

I am a 55 year old man, and I have been going to a Pain Management facility for lower back pain and now even chronic Osteoarthritic shoulder pain, and have been taking 60mg of Methadone every day (10mg tablets x 2 x 3 times a day -- morning, noon & night) for the past three years. Although I've been doing well on that regimen, perhaps out of more of a psychological concern over the known "qt" (heart) effects of the drug (rather than any "real" ones), I decided to ask my doctor if I could try Opana ER (20mg every 12 hours), which I had taken once before, for a short time, at another Pain Management facility, with great success. All I'm wondering are what the withdrawal effects might be (if any) of stopping the Methadone (60mg) on a Monday, and starting the Opana ER 40mg (in the two 20mg ER, 12 hour divided doses) the very next day on a Tuesday?

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Hi Glenn. I was switched from Methadone to Opana ER after moving to Florida. I was on 60 mg (20 mg 3x daily). I was switched to 20 mg Opana 2 times a day. I went thru severe withdrawal for about a month. The 5mg Percocet 2 times a day helped very little. After my dose was raised to 30mg Opana 2 times a day, I felt better. Doctors in Florida don’t want to prescribe Methadone due to the qt interval heart issue. I’ve been cleared for Methadone by my cardiologist but I still can’t find a doc to prescribe Methadone. Anyone reading this, if u know of a doctor in the West Palm Beach area and surrounding cities, who prescribes Methadone, please let me know. Good luck Glenn.

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Hello again Cats68 from Hickory, North Carolina! How are you doing? Wow! Was it nice to hear from you again! You have no idea how good it feels to speak to another human being, in my predicament! I say, 'my predicament,' not only because I now feel so bad, physically, but because I live alone and I miss companionship from another human being! Yet especially now, in my current condition, I wish I could just hold onto someone and know that they're there for me! Someone who understands what I'm going through! It's horrible, and I guess because I follow all the rules of this Pain Management facility, they trust me enough to leave all medications within my grasp; but that also means that I possess the power to return to what I know will make me feel 110%! I "could," technically, simply start taking the Methadone all over again, and be free of this agony, but what victory would there be in that? I simply would have "failed" for the second time, and I don't want to live with that! Perhaps a good example of my willpower is the fact that, by trusting God, in a year's time, I lost nearly 140 lbs! I started out at 371lbs. (even having completed my Pre-Op for Gastric Bypass surgery) and decided against it at the last minute! In the same way, I feel I can trust my Lord Jesus to get me through this too! I just wish I could talk to someone when I'm really feeling down or ready to give up! The reason I live alone is because I was married for almost 20 years; my ex-wife divorced me, and I had to find a place where the cost of living would be low! Yet I do enjoy the weather down here, too! Lately, it's been hot as Hell! Close to 90! That's good for my bones and joints, but because I also live alone, I find myself lonely as all Hell, as well! I'm alone and down here in North Carolina because my ex-wife divorced me a number of years ago, and I had to find a place where the cost of living was low! I doubt I could have done any better than where I am right now! At least I have a beautiful, healthy and intelligent (thank God) 11 year old daughter who loves me! Well, I'll end it here, (that's funny, it sounds like I'm going to commit suicide!). No. My dissertation, that is; but let me simply remind you, Cat68, that your communication with me is far more appreciated than you realize! {edited for privacy}. Peace! Glenn

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Dear Cats, yes, they "did" edit out my information, but it wasn't anything bad! I had simply sent you a Skype username, but in their estimation, it was just too personal! LOL! I was hoping to have an opportunity to speak to you on a slightly more personal basis. I sent them a message asking them to ask you if you wouldn't mind receiving a Skype username from me. I also asked them to please allow you to decide for yourself. Cats, I felt I had no choice, because although I haven't mentioned this to you, I really have been suffering enormously in the arena of Methadone withdrawal! Like you first mentioned to me, I've had some superficial flu-like symptoms, strong feelings of Central Nervous System agitation (as though someone were running a current up and down my spine) along with chills, insomnia and malaise! Not good! Plus, the Opana ER (20mg. every 12 hours) is just not handling my Osteoarthritic pain! So obviously I have to go back on the Methadone where, as my doctor once indicated, more than one pain receptor is "satisfied" (or "hit") by the drug! In other words, it does more good than harm (if there even is any, at all)! I just hope you're not disappointed with me, Cats, but if anyone could understand, you would! I pray a door will be opened by which we will one day be able to communicate with each other, in perhaps a more personal manner! Maybe by phone or Skype (if indeed, you would like to). Only time will tell! I just left two messages on my Pain Management's voicemail, but I always feel so insecure with them, as though, if I leave more than one message, they'll get disgusted with me and kick me out of the program! I don't know why that should happen? I haven't done anything wrong, but people are sometimes fickle! I shouldn't have to feel that way, but they're the vibes I get! Yet who else can I call if I have a problem? I'm "supposed" to call them! Hope to hear back from you soon, honey! Glenn

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This is not a Bible session to your Ex Girlfriend, Man!! I would hate to be sitting next to you at a family reunion! You just jabber on and on and on and on, I think you took a wrong right at Google, Nobody in this blog setting cares about you trying to get a women back, And Opana Er is Oxymorphone Extended Release , Its much more potent than methadone by far only there's something called Bio Availability , When you swallow tablet like I had to swallow all that corny apologizing and born again crap, (I'm Roman Catholic BTw so its not I'm atheist just wrong place for it) You only get 40% of the Opana into your bloodstream, So injectable or supository you would get 100% All drugs have a bio availability. Again this is not church or a dating service, "You can listen to two voices" Rol!!!! Yeah take that somewhere else and that was pathetic. Have a blessed Day:)

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