Due to losing my medical coverage, I'm switching from Fentanyl patches
to Methadone.
Me: 36 year old Male, major chronic back pain, along with multiple
schlerosis for the last 12 years. And to tell the truth, if I had to
get rid of one or the other, it would be the back pain, but then
again, as there is no conclusive proof in an MRI about what causes the
pain in my back, it could very well be the MS that causes/helps
promote my back pain.
Since October of 2006, I have been taking Fentanyl, 100 mcg/hr
Duragesic patches once every 2 days. In April, it was upped to 125
mcg/hr. For the year prior, I worked up to 3 80mg oxycontins per day,
and didn't like the ups and downs of oxys or thinking about when I
need to take the next pill.
Without insurance, it's obviously too expensive to use patches, or
oxycontins for that matter (in comparison to the price of Methadone,
which I just checked that a month supply for 80mg/day at my pharmacy
is $59 out of pocket).
I am going from using 125 mcg/hr directly to a Methadone prescription
tomorrow, after seeing my doctor. Due to money, I am not able to
taper or gradually switch from one to another. From what I've read,
this sounds like it will be tolerable, and I am not working right now
either, so a bad first week or so is fine. I've heard it would be
much worse switching from Methadone to Fentanyl...
Anyways, I have to scratch and claw (but I'm usually successfull) to
establish my dosing, but since I've never taken Methadone, I have to
go with conversion charts. Most of these charts seem to indicate that
someone that takes
125 mcg/hr Fentanyl patches converts to
80 mg Methadone / day.
Does this sound correct? Any input would be appreciated. My doctor
is more apt to start at lower dosages and make me wine about it. What
would be the lowest that my doctor should dare recommend I start at?
All of the people on here who read this, I appreciate all of your
opinions and read constantly the information on these newsgroups.
Much more informative than most doctors, esp. at Pain Clinics.
Also, with Fentanyl, the side effects have been very annoying; I sweat
profusely from the patches, and have been on Clonidine, a high blood
pressure medicine that as a side effect stops the sweating. (never
had any blood pressure issues btw) From using that, with the Fentanyl,
my body temperature hovers around 96 - 95 degrees, and I go through
hot flashes of intense sweating to freezing / chills all the time.
Major annoying that effects everything I do. Also, having to schedule
showers more often around patch changes is really annoying as well.
Are they any annoying side effects with Methadone? Before Fentanyl
patches, I was taking 3 80mg Oxycontins a day for about a year. Does
Methadone give an initial 'buzz' in the morning after taking it? Just
wondering. (or should I take it at night before bedtime?) I'm excited
about being able to take showers anytime I want and not always
freezing. Excited that I be able to go back to work.
Thanks for reading, God Bless you all,
Dave
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