Methadone for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 3)

• CPM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 2, 2019

"Not sure why most of you taking this drug are having a problem getting it. I have nonremissive rheumatoid arthritis, and the doctors in this field do not appear to be bound by the restraints or hang-ups that others have. I hope that this gives you hope, as this is a great drug for pain that lasts a long time."

• Fis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 6, 2015

"I've been taking this medicine for almost 4 years and I have had some horrible experiences and side effects, almost all of them. But there is one that's not listed: my teeth, all of them are breaking off to the gum line. I wear a permanent bridge, and the teeth that the bridge is bonded to have broken off. Now I have one tooth holding on to a four-teeth bridge, and I have so much bone loss that all of my teeth are so loose that I could probably pull them out with my fingers. I don't see anything about this medicine in the list of side effects about it eating up the enamel and bone in your mouth. Does anyone know or have experienced the same problem, and if there is a class action lawsuit about methadone? Thank you."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 22, 2016

"I was discharged from the U.S. Army for medical reasons. Carrying 100 lbs plus of gear a day caused a disk in my thoracic spine to herniate. I was on oxycodone 30 mg for 4 years but hated the side effects. To stop taking the oxycodone and still manage pain, I take 55 mg of methadone daily in liquid form. Where I live, opiate addiction is at an all-time high, so doctors are very wary of prescribing any type of opiate. Methadone, however, is an opiate analgesic. I still take oxycodone for breakthrough pain, and that's why my methadone dose is relatively low. At higher doses, methadone can act as an opiate blocker, so narcotics are ineffective. If you're having trouble getting methadone, go to a local clinic! They aren't just for addicts."

• bro...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2015

"Best pain medication I have been on. Started because it was one of the cheapest and long-acting. The only major problem is that it destroyed my teeth. It does not make me feel high, just normal, it is, however, a very difficult medication to stop taking. I would not give up my methadone for any other treatment, especially suboxone."

• Dee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 7, 2020

"I was on methadone for 13 years for herniated discs and DDD. I took a low dose of 5 mg 2 times daily, and it made my life possible. Now it is impossible to get a prescription because doctors in WA state think the medicine is dangerous. I am in so much pain and cannot get any help. The new guidelines and DEA oversight make it impossible to get any help."

• Kit...
• February 4, 2013

"I have taken Roxicodone 15s and then 30s for years. Still in pain and fed up, I asked my doctor about Methadone. Now I take it along with Gabapentin, and I'm feeling better, it helps with the pain, and I can take care of my son, job, and other responsibilities. I'm so grateful I asked."

• aus...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 30, 2017

"I have been prescribed methadone on and off for about 18 years. I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, TMJ, and presently hammertoe and a bone spur on my foot. This medicine was first prescribed due to the inability to afford OxyContin. This medicine was first prescribed at a 40 mg dose. I found this medicine to work better than the previous medication. Years later, I went to another pain clinic, and they prescribed it at 20 mg. It has worked great for 3 years. It is time for an increase. The only thing I don't like is the stigma of being a medicine for drug addicts. I have chronic pain, I don't consider myself to be a drug addict."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2013

"This is the best medication that I've tried after nine years of enduring severe chronic pain in my back and neck due to a severe, almost fatal, car accident. It's also been very effective in treating my fibromyalgia pain, which began four years ago. My problem with all of the other pain analgesics is that the pain relief that I was able to get at higher doses didn't last more than a few hours, and they were far more expensive to get filled. With methadone, it's very efficient in the length of time it helps minimize my pain, and it costs $50 (monthly prescription) compared to the expensive narcotics I was given in the past that ran up to $800 for just one month's worth and were not effective in managing my pain issues."

• Hop...
• November 7, 2013

"Started taking methadone 2 1/2 weeks ago and have felt better these last 2 weeks than I have in over 10 years! Can function now without terrible pain, I have energy, I'm motivated to do things I haven't in a very long time. Thank God for this wonderful medication that has numerous advantages for someone like myself with many health problems who don't want to be on pain meds ever again. The stomach cramps and diarrhea from having my gallbladder removed are gone now too after 1 1/2 years of dealing with it. It seems like I'm also feeling better in the mental aspect of my life now too! I'm getting my life, family, and happiness back!! Only wished I would have started this years ago."

• Bar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 17, 2016

"After five years of methadone, I am now reducing the doses from three per day to only two per day of methadone 10 for chronic pain management. At my age, I am knowledgeable of the risk for increased memory loss due to the use of methadone and age, so I try to cut back on the risk of memory loss. It is necessary to reduce my dosage as I have indicated, but it brought me the experience of withdrawal issues, which were terrible. As I said, finally I am on two per day at 10 mg of methadone, and the effectiveness has been felt and now requires the use of Norco once or twice per day when needed."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2014

"Chronic arthritic pain caused me to choose a knee replacement at 51 years old. Sadly, the same leg gained an ankle that is bone on bone due to the gait caused by the bad knee joint. Methadone works best for me with 800 mg Ibuprofen. The worst experience with this medication is pharmacy staff. Until they got to know me, of course, they assumed I was an addict. Although, to be honest, most pain meds cause second-class citizen treatment from most medical staff, i.e., phlebotomists, front office staff at the doctor's office. I like that I can miss 10 or 20 mg of a 60 mg/daily dose & not be in unbearable pain or withdrawing from the methadone."

• try...
• October 21, 2014

"I have suffered from chronic back and neck pain since 2007 and have tried just about every pain medication on the market with little to no relief. Finally, my doctors tried methadone. It does not remove all pain but does provide enough relief so that I can function on a daily basis, there is no 'high' when taking this medication, and the need for dosage increases is much less frequent than with other pain medications. I did find that I had some weight gain, but with proper diet, that can be controlled. I also suffered from severe hot flashes, as a man, this was not expected and took a while before they figured out that the medications I was on dropped my testosterone level, but with injections, all that was corrected."

• MS ...
• March 8, 2013

"I have been on Methadone for over 10 years due to chronic pain from multiple sclerosis and severe scoliosis. This medication has allowed me to live a relatively normal life. After all this time, it still relieves my pain as well as it did in the beginning. Anyone who has not been helped by other medications, I would strongly encourage you to try Methadone. It has saved my life. You may have a little trouble with fatigue at first, but tough it out and it will pass."

• Ada...
• July 3, 2017

Methadone "I've been on 60 mg/day for the last 17 years after I developed multiple neuropathy issues in my extremities after chemotherapy treatment. I've tried everything else on the market that I can legally try. Methadone is the only thing that works and doesn't get me high as a kite or knock me out. I will warn anyone that this medication is very dangerous as far as CNS depression goes for the first two weeks of use. I was nodding off all over the place! The great thing is that this goes away after the first few weeks. After the initial period, I have noticed very few side effects. The ones that I have are the usual constipation that all narcotics produce. This medication will lower testosterone levels after long-term use. (Longer than a year.)"

• Nat...
• July 20, 2014

"Started methadone a week ago. Have been suffering with severe chronic pain after breaking my back three years ago. So far, this is the best medication for pain relief I have ever taken. I am hoping the sleepy (can't keep my eyes open) side effect goes away once I'm on it for a bit longer."

• Jon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2013

"Gallbladder surgery was either botched or had complications. Terrible chronic pain for 3 years now. No alcohol, smoking, caffeine, greasy foods, or medicines of ANY kind other than prescribed methadone 3 x 10 mg a day allows me to run my business and take care of my family. No side effects. Works amazingly long time with a very constant pain decrease effect. Also stops abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Other medications such as Vicodin and Darvocet did not work well at all for long-term pain. I thank my doctor, who tried methadone."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2015

"Degenerative disc disease - lower back and other age/arthritis related pain: Was on Vicodin (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) for 5 years, which helped some. Then on to Oxycodone for several months, which helped a little more but had side effects of nausea, stomach upset (acid reflux), difficulty thinking (euphoria), and quick tolerance and dependence. Now, after 3 full months of methadone, 10 mg tablet three times per day orally; my pain is well managed, no problems with thinking (no 'high'), no nausea, or stomach upset. Tolerance has been small. Methadone is a powerful opiate analgesic, and I did build up a strong dependency (WD's after a day or two of reduced (50%) dosing), but no interdose WD's with normal dosing. DANGER! OD will kill!"

• 51...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2016

"Methadone worked very well for my chronic pain, especially the strange gnawing pain I had all over. I was on 30 mg of oxycodone for 5 years (DDD L5-S1, fibro, neuropathy, neck fusion), but I couldn't come to terms with the stigma and knew something was seriously wrong with my body. I ended up doing my own research and found out I was suffering from gout throughout my body. My PM doctor worked with me to get me off methadone by prescribing me dilaudid ER. Even with that, I had hellish withdrawal symptoms! Took me a month and a half and was only on it for 2 and a half months. Great med for pain though. Just make sure you're in it for the long haul. Never felt those withdrawals, and I weaned off oxy 30s with less pain."

• MSp...
• March 27, 2017

"I have suffered the effects of MS for 9 years that cause constant head pain, back pain, nausea or vomiting, difficulties walking, and decreased activity and depression due to my symptoms. My pain doctor put me on methadone 7 years ago, and I felt the pain decrease for the first time in years. Now he has me on Burtran patches, which have awful side effects, and I want my life back. So, I'm going back to get the methadone back. Make sure your doctor gives you the smallest dose to start, then increase until it helps. If you get 10 mg right away, it can be fatal! Hope this helps anyone out there."

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2016

"I was recently admitted to a behavioral health center for clinical depression. I am addicted to prescription pain meds and was given small amounts (0.5 mgs twice a day) of methadone for seven days, and was released with enough for seven more days. Not only did I no longer crave my previous narcotic meds, my pain level was the lowest it was in years! I suffer from RA and degenerative arthritis in my back. I've tried several other treatments for my chronic pain, including epidurals and a Fentanyl pain pump that went horribly wrong when the catheter came out of my spine three times, causing an infection that ended with a hole in my back the size of a golf ball that required more surgery."

• sto...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 8, 2015

"Methadone is the only drug that handles my stenosis and osteoarthritis. I have been on it for 5 years. The doctor had me up to 200 mg/day at one point, which I admit was too much. However, lately, the doctors around here are terrified of the newer FDA reports and want nothing to do with it. My GP lowered me to 30 mg/day, and this is insufficient. He actually handed me off to a pain center that is 40 miles away, and I can't drive due to eye problems. This is very hard on my wife and her job. The pain center pushed Suboxone, but after much consideration and research, I decided against it. Suboxone apparently does nothing for the pain that is the root of the problem! I can usually be fine on 60 mg/day, but weather-related breakthrough pain requires more, maybe 3 or 4 days/month on average. My doctors won't allow me to live my life. Anyone have any suggestions?"

• TMT...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 27, 2018

"Methadone has been helping me with my chronic back pain for over six years. This is one of only two medicines I find that help me. I was unemployed for over a year, and this medicine not only helps control my back pain, but it is also affordable. This is one of the cheapest cost medicines I have ever had. Yet, doctors don't want to let me keep using it. They cannot advise me or give me any alternatives that help with my back pain, but they are trying to wean me off of it. Now my back is hurting me more, and they want me to stop taking the only thing that helps me. Why should I take a cheap pain medicine that works when we can take more expensive meds and go through costly testing? I have nothing but good to say about methadone for pain, yet I am told that because of all the world's addiction and dying from overdoses, it will no longer be allowed for me to take. Sad, because after six years of pain management, I will be back where I started with chronic back pain."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2020

Methadone "I was born with Marfan syndrome, which is very rare and affects bones and joints. I have scoliosis. A hospital in Lexington, KY, advised I get a metal rod put in my back to keep my spine from worsening as I got older. This was at 13 years old, my spine had almost a 40-degree curvature. Pain never stopped, and as I got older, not only my back but also my knees, feet, and ankles caused constant pain. It just got worse. I have used every pain medication made, but Methadone, 10 to 1, is the best pain medicine out there. It literally has helped me so, so much."

• che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2014

"I started taking methadone for degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, herniated and ruptured disks, and Crohn's disease when other pain medicines stopped working for me. It worked great for me from the start. It is around-the-clock relief as long as you find the right dosage. I'm starting to not get the same relief I was and think it's time for a dose change or a possible breakthrough pain medicine that needs to be added. I also take Neurontin to help my nerve pain."

• jen...
• June 25, 2013

"I began taking methadone almost four years ago when I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I was addicted to opiate pain meds prescribed to me for my Crohn's disease. I continued methadone treatment for two years when I thought I could be okay and no longer need it. After about seven months and becoming very sick from my Crohn's, I decided to go back on methadone. Since then, I have not had any problems at all that have been associated with my Crohn's. I think until I actually realized that methadone was the one medication that was keeping my Crohn's under control, I had been on almost every medication prescribed for inflammatory bowel disease. I never felt good on any of them, and the side effects are horrible from most of them. Methadone has saved my life."