Methadone for Pain User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2010

"I have always been very sensitive to medications and found after surgeries that the only one tolerated was Dilaudid. Years of back pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines were treated with ibuprofen and acetaminophen. I found I had cancer, and the Dilaudid stopped working as soon as it started working, so my doctor suggested I try methadone. I was surprised because I thought that was for heroin addicts. I had no idea it was a pain reliever. Now I can go 7 hours between doses, and I don't feel nausea or high from it. I now realize that people who use illegal drugs to relieve chronic pain should reconsider how methadone could save their lives."

• CBe...
• August 25, 2010

"I have had RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) now for 8 years. After being diagnosed with RSD, I was given methadone. It gave me my life back without making me feel 'buzzed.' I also haven't had to increase my dosage over the years. You don't develop tolerances with this like you would with the other narcotics. For those who need it - it does the job."

• Met...
• July 31, 2016

"Been a methadone nurse for 10+ years and have seen the good and bad. The good is it has helped a number of people with pain. And those who use it for pain tend to use it like their other prescribed meds. The bad comes mostly from those who use it for substance abuse treatment. Methadone is NOT a treatment of substance abuse, but a tool to aid in the treatment of substance abuse. It does not cure withdrawal, it stops withdrawal symptoms when at a therapeutic level. You will experience withdrawal symptoms when methadone is tapered or discontinued. Those using methadone for substance abuse tend to treat methadone in similar ways as a street drug. I have seen people lick the inside and outside of the cup when dosing. And camp out in front of the clinic."

• SFS...
• December 13, 2010

"I started taking 20 mgs 2x daily for chronic back pain associated with degenerative disc disease and bulging disc disease, and it has worked wonders for my pain. It has even taken away my anxiety and depression disorder. I would definitely recommend it to someone who really needs it."

• Its...
• June 11, 2009

"I broke my neck after a fall from a bridge in 2000. After many failed surgeries, an ANS spinal implant that didn't work, pain medications were my only option. Like many of you, I was prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, MS Contin, fentanyl, in varying orders and dosages, and then methadone. While all of the previously named medications have their pros and cons, I did experience one side effect with methadone that I haven't seen listed or heard of anyone experiencing before. After 2 or 3 days on the medication, I started having very vivid and disturbing nightmares. While I understand this may be a 'wonder drug' for many of you, there are some of us out there that disagree."

• MOO...
• April 5, 2011

"After a career in the mining industry (coal underground and sand surface mines), I have 4 herniated lumbar discs, curvature of the spine, fused at C5 to C6, and spondylosis. I was taking 120 mg of Vicodin per day. This was slowly destroying my liver. My doctors switched me to methadone. I have better, more fruitful days because I can once again hold a train of thought and keep on course all day long at work. Being virtually pain-free without feeling awkward and having poor coordination has let me lose weight, look better, and feel better. It has helped my relations with my wife, and we almost never argue now. I just find that I can cope better with life and problems instead of going home and hiding out until I felt better."

• tam...
• March 8, 2011

Methadone "Methadone is a very good pain reliever. I use it for nerve pain and tenosynovitis and haven't found anything better. Unfortunately, I changed from a doctor to a clinic, and my new practitioner lowered my dose by 20 mg per day, which put me back to not using my hands very much."

• Kai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 12, 2017

"So I have CP and a terribly blown back. I was in wrenching pain right now. I take 110 of methadone. I also take Valium, Soma, Lyrica (switched from Neurontin) and partake in medical marijuana (highly concentrated CBD oil 4 daily and vape for the THC). I have to say methadone is a godsend. For those who don’t know, it binds to the NMDA receptors and is also an SNRI. You can skip a day's worth of it and feel no withdrawal because of its long half-life. With the methadone, my doctor titrated me. We started at 20 and slowly went to 90, where I hovered for a number of years. It was recently that we boosted the extra 20. Methadone has saved my crippled, painful life. It has low potential for abuse, but be warned it can take up to 2 hours to feel effects."

• T_2...
• April 23, 2010

"I spent 3 years of my life on Oxy's. I was stealing money from banks to keep my habit up. It cost me 2 years in prison, and I still wanted more, so I started using heroin. Suboxone is a short fix. I stayed clean 6 months and went back for more. Methadone has saved mine and my family's life. So if you are committed to it, it will work!"

• msi...
• August 13, 2009

"I used to be on 800 mg of morphine instant release. Withdrawal was immediate (4-8 hours) if I ran out or missed my doses, usually, it was the latter. As it was easy to increase the dose without major side effects, I was always taking more rather than less and having to lie to my doctor about why I was always early. Finally, I went to detox three times and then started methadone. My highest dose was 120 mg, now 105 mg, which works well for my pain."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

"I started out on Darvocet many years ago for my knee pain and ended up on Percocets. That was a horrible place to be after years of use, and it would take so many more than prescribed to work. Since I started taking methadone, I haven't felt this good in the last 25 years of dealing with this pain and pain medicine. I take what I am prescribed, and even though I still am a bit uncomfortable, my quality of life is so much better!"

• red...
• November 10, 2009

"Methadone/Methadose has been a lifesaver for me, also. It's affordable for us that have no health insurance of any kind. It does allow me to work part-time again. I can do what I need to around the house again. It's not all-inclusive in taking away pain, but does work pretty well, especially for the chronic pain I have and apparently will have for the rest of my life, as no ortho MD considers me a candidate for the surgery I need to repair my shoulder/rotator cuff (a 'reverse total shoulder repair') since I have osteopenia; even though I am on Fosamax to stop its progression."

• Anonymous
• June 1, 2009

"I was just put on methadone less than a week ago for severe pain related to a recent, failed back surgery. I have degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. I need to have fusion surgery, but am not ready for surgery again just yet. The methadone has been great. I can sit with very little or no pain at all. I still use Percocet as needed for breakthrough pain. The methadone is allowing me to push the surgery off a few more months, so I'm not bedridden all summer. I can still function at work and be there for my kids without being doped up. Definitely recommend it."

• zax...
• May 19, 2008

"This little white pill gave me some of my normal life back after knee surgery had affected nerves in my foot. Pain was 24/7 and was not going away. Pain management put me on methadone for the pain, and I am now leading as near a normal life as one can."

• che...
• November 12, 2008

"I have been on everything in the last 4 years for feet problems. I was up to being able to chew up 2 x 80 mg of oxy at 1 time with little pain relief, so I got the doctor to switch me to methadone, and it works well. Still have some breakthrough pain but can deal with it."

• Alm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2022

"After numerous broken bones, also neck and back, severe pain daily. Went to pain management years ago, have been on the train ride of pain relievers. Got an offer from my current doctor to try methadone 10 mg 3 times a day along with a 2 mg Dilaudid 3 times a day. Wow."

• Ida...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 16, 2023

"This is by far the best treatment for my neuropathy. But, because of the 'opioid crisis', my dosage has been dropped to such a low level that it is barely effective. It is so frustrating to know I could live a normal life if just adequately prescribed. Instead, I hardly have a life at all."

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2009

"I have lupus, RA, two other types of arthritis, nerve pain, back problems, and many other health problems. I'm only 30. I tried many pain medicines, Dilaudid is the only thing that I can take without horrible side effects and poor quality of life. There is no 12-hour form of Dilaudid, one is being made but not yet released. The pain doctor wanted me to try a 12-hour pain medicine. I tried Opana, within 20 minutes, I felt horrible, and it lasted hours. The next try was Methadone. I just took my first (and LAST!) dose 11 hours ago, at the 4th hour, severe, horrible side effects of this drug hit me: chest pain, dizziness, nausea, slow heart rate, hallucinations, nervousness, and fidgetiness. I'm still very ill from it! I take a very low dose of Xanax for tremors, possible interaction, but not a good drug for pain for some!"

• les...
• March 8, 2009

"I was on Roxicodone 30 270 and Lortab 10 200 for severe low back and neck pain. I asked my doctor to take me off the Lortabs and give me methadone for the breakthrough pain. I now take Roxicodone and methadone for the breakthrough pain and am almost pain-free."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2011

"Methadone was wonderful to relieve pain after my laminectomy. Then its effectiveness decreased rapidly, and I do not want to increase the dose because, in a few months, I will have to increase it again. Besides its great decrease in effectiveness, constipation has been awful, resulting in a small umbilical hernia from straining. The heating pad has been the best."

• BAD...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 29, 2017

Methadone "Retired, age 46, on medical disability, stage 3 heart condition. After several years of not working, I had issues with back pain. I asked my M.D. for help, I received OxyContin, very costly at $1400 for 30 day's dosage with time. So cost would become an issue, but the problem with OxyContin is that it affects all phases of your life in a negative way. I decided to go to a Pain Management Clinic. There I found hordes of people there, long waiting times (4 to 5 hrs), and people who could barely walk. I did receive methadone, and it worked well. My issue now is that I want to reduce dosage in conjunction with medical marijuana and a TENS unit. They say I can't (Ohio dispensaries not set-up until 2018). By the way, it's not the same Pain Management Clinic."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2025

"My pain doctor switched me to methadone after I'd been on another long-acting opioid for years. I don't really care what I take as long as it's effective in treating my chronic pain. Methadone isn't quite as effective as the other opioid, but the price difference is significant, so I'm fine with that part of the change. He reduced my dosage, but methadone isn't a 1:1 conversion, so it's equivalent to what I was prescribed before. What I am a bit concerned about is that I was diagnosed with hypertension 2 years ago. I was prescribed an anti-hypertensive medication that I take daily. I also take my blood pressure readings regularly. Since starting methadone, my blood pressure has been insane! It's gotten as low as 71/41 and as high as 151/100. It's all over the place throughout the day. There haven't been any other changes, so it has to be the methadone."

• Con...
• February 24, 2009

"I started taking methadone for back pain last month. I had been taking morphine for the 10 months prior, and after dwindling funds and no insurance, decided to go through the withdrawals from the morphine on my own. After about 2 weeks of hell and the pain, I went back to my doctor. She decided that methadone was a better, less expensive alternative. She was wrong. Methadone has placed me extremely on edge, and the pain in my back is barely touched. I would not recommend this medicine for pain."

• Boo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2020

"So I just read where methadone is only administered in a clinic setting. I wonder why my aunt gets a prescription for it and takes it for pain? She's been abusing RX drugs for a very long time, and she does use them to get high. I am astonished by how many people are on it for opiate misuse disorder and say they're sober, because you absolutely are not sober while on this drug."

• Jud...
• December 11, 2007

"I am taking methadone for my chronic back pain, and it has really helped me to be able to do everyday tasks without it, I would be in bed all the time."