methadone in cancer patients

In 2004 close to 4000 people died from methadone. In 2005 Methadone was implicated in over 4700 deaths. That does not include auto accidents caused by those driving under the influence of methadone. Ask your doctor about alternatives ~ There are many other effective pain relievers on the market, do not just accept Methadone because it's cheaper...cheap is not always better ~ For addiction consider Suboxone, Buprenorphine, inpatient treatment, or detoxification...

my brother is on his death bed dying from cancer and we are wondering if he can be detoxing from his dose of methadone after eight years of been off drugs , he is getting high doses of morphine now but still he is very aggiatate and no one is telling us whats going on

Is there a website to find a good endo that specializes in thyroid cancers? I need to get this under control as being pregnant has got me worried even more.

Is it just perhaps because older patients do not participate in forums such as this OR should doctors re evaluate their criteria for "age onset" of Ovarian Cancer ?? Maybe they should take more seriously those who come in with symptoms suggestive of Ovarian Cancer regardless of the age.. Which we've said all along but........ Just a ponder ....

------- At a time when many other cancers in this country are decreasing, or the number of deaths are decreasing, death due to liver cancer has risen by 40 to 50 percent in the last two decades," said DiBiscegli. What's the cause of the increase?

Does anyone know where I can find articles that are concrete in using methadone for chronic pain? I'm on 110mg's of liquid methadone and have to go to the clinic twice a week because I have 5 take home days. But I don't want to have to go there anymore to get the medicine. - At first,I went there because I was taking percocet for my FM pain and kept having to take more and more to get the relief I needed.

methadone has alot of side effects and is very hard to detox from..but so is 650 mg of oxy....it would be a better choice/methadone/ in my opinion over that high of a dose of oxy....it would even be a better choice to find alternative pain relief and perhaps let narcotics go..not sure of ur pain problem nor ur quality of life without narcotics...for most life is better without narcotics/ unless u r terminal..then it is not an issue if life is ending soon due to cancer etc...

Especially once he is down to the end of it. I have first hand experience with methadone and have been off it for 2 yrs. In my journals I have a very good article written by a dr about methadone and w/d...he was also an addict for 18 yrs. There is alot of helpful info in it and things he can do to help some. Methadone is a very very hard drug to detox off, but it can be done with alot of determination and fight. The valium is not going to help very much..maybe just a tiny bit.

It sounds as if your clinic does not test for hepatitis virus on intake. Recent studies have shown that 78% of methadone patients, after using for 6 months, will be antibody positive for hepatitis C. Even if you did not share the actual needle and syringe, the virus may be transmitted through sharing water and/or cotton. Please get tested. And find out if your clinic is part of the vaccine study that SAMHSA is doing. They offer hep A & B vaccine to patients, for free.

Hell thats why we all ended up on methadone in the first place. Whether it was pain treatment or opiate abuse or herion we all ended up there cause we had a problem and couldn't control it. No more withdrawal's, no more pain, no more depression or fatigue and most importantly, no more cravings or withdrawals. This addiction, this need to feel better, the cravings are only suppressed well on methadone. They do not in any way cure your addiction.

Wow I really feel for you. I don't understand methadone, I have read about how it stays in your system a long time but 72 hours sounded like the magic number for starting sub. I would think you should start feeling better soon. Have you tried to call your doctor and let him/her know what has happened? They may have more insite as to how long you can expect the precipitated withdrdawal to last or anything you can do to help it.

I believe the main cause is the methadone. in 2005 I did a marathon in my wheelchair also the same year I entered a bench press contest and was able to bench double my body weight now I hardly even get out of bed. My quality of life has decreased immensely. mastodon is the hardest drug to come off of. I've stopped taking oxycotin, Percocet and other pain meds. But methadone is a drug I wish I never was prescribed.

Methadone is a safe drug for people with liver disease We work directly with methadone patients and have never seen a problem with methadone exacerbating the disease or interfering with treatment drugs. Diana Sylvestre, MD, from OASIS Methadone Clinic in Oakland, CA has done many studies with her patients.

When methadone is taken under medical supervision, long-term maintenance causes no adverse effects to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, blood, brain, or other vital body organs. Methadone produces no serious side effects, although some patients experience minor symptoms such as constipation, water retention, drowsiness, skin rash, excessive sweating, and changes in libido. Once methadone dosage is adjusted and stabilized or tolerance increases, these symptoms usually subside.

We actually treat the highest levels of Methadone in the country with the Waismann Method in our hospital in So. California. It is the most humane and quickest way I know to get through methadone withdrawal. With that said, there is some discomfort because your system needs to transition and find its base line.

Welcome to the forum. Many people have had hepatitis C for 20 plus years. Hepatitis C is a slow moving deasease. What is important is the current condition of your liver. Have you had a biopsy? Sugar in your blood can be as simple as you eat to much sugar. So taking medication with sugar syrup is one way sugar would get in your blood. I'm sorry you were dropped from the trial. There are other options besides trials and you should get yourself a plan to get treated.

Methadone in general is NOT a great idea. If you are a full blown heroin addict or someone that shoots up Oxy's or someone with terminal cancer then fine, but for someone taking pills its not the best route if you really want to end up clean on the other side. Read through the posts here. Many will tell you starting on Methadone was the worst thing they ever did.

Anyone know of a pain clinic in Birmingham, Al that uses methadone for chronic pain control? I would so appreciate any help.

boater, it's not the DEA that good pain doctors are worried about. In the past 10 years we've seen heart problems in some people who use methadone. So far these problems, which include death, are not well understood, but there is a correlation with methadone. I too had good results with methadone, and sometimes would like to return -- I was treated for 12 years, and rotated to other opiates 4 years ago. Personally, I'm going to wait until we get more information. Best wishes.

Methadone in cancer patients

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