Hey guys,
Lately I've seen alot of threads posted about methadone, and I want to shed my own personal light on this, considering I've taken it before for prolonged periods of time.
I actually made the connection between RLS and methadone by myself, I was given it for a severe toothache (since nothing else was seeming to work) and I was rather impressed with what it did for me. The onset was about 45 minutes, but it kept my RLS at bay for at least 3 days, and I was in heaven, and I really did not experience any adverse side effects.
Now, one thing though, the efficiency of the drug DID DECREASE over time, to the point where it only worked for about 24 hours (hey, it's still relief), however after stopping methadone for about a month or so, the efficiency of the drug went back up.
I'm not saying this will happen to everyone, as we all well know, everyone is quite a bit different. I would recommend for anyone starting up on methadone, when you first get the prescription, cut the first pill you take in half if you can, and just take that to see if it is effective, wait about an hour to see if your symptoms decrease, and if they haven't, take the other half. Also, try and only take one every other day or so. If you can't, well, do what you have to do.
The only effects I noticed when I took it, were a slight, but not uncomfortable, light-headed feeling. This did not interfere with my daily life. HOWEVER, I do not recommend taking more than 1 pill at a time, I forgot one day if I had taken one already, and I took a second, it made me nauseated, and I was forced to lay down for a while.
Anyways, I hope this helps at least some people out who are scared about this drug or want more information on how it works.
Shedding some light on Methadone.
-
Andreas
methadone
I was taking it in pill form for a number of years but at up to then 12 meth pills twice a day plus other med pills etc it was better to go to a liquid form! (went up to this amount after codine etc and years of other meds) Found it didn't hurt the insides of the stomach the same either.
In my country of New Zealand the drug is VERY restricted so you really follow only what the Doctor has given you e.g they will only give you two week amount and you therefore stick to that amount.Blood tests are done often to make sure your body is converting it ok as well but thats up to the Doctor really.
I found I went off food and were ill/vomit at times but that was the pill form mainly.Any light headed feeling lasts for me now only for 20 minutes and its NO high fun thing either! Still as the last message says it does work for a while for most of the time (in my case anyway) and has worked the best so far.
The Doctors only put the worse case people on this as its used unlawfully by drug users etc and sought after by them.
Andreas.
In my country of New Zealand the drug is VERY restricted so you really follow only what the Doctor has given you e.g they will only give you two week amount and you therefore stick to that amount.Blood tests are done often to make sure your body is converting it ok as well but thats up to the Doctor really.
I found I went off food and were ill/vomit at times but that was the pill form mainly.Any light headed feeling lasts for me now only for 20 minutes and its NO high fun thing either! Still as the last message says it does work for a while for most of the time (in my case anyway) and has worked the best so far.
The Doctors only put the worse case people on this as its used unlawfully by drug users etc and sought after by them.
Andreas.
Kathy and Andreas--
I'm not currently on medications for RLS, and because of high chemical sensitivity, I'm hoping to postpone that as long as possible.
But I really wanted to mention how much I appreciate you two sharing your experiences with this (admittedly controversial) medication. I think that it's a benefit to all of us to have more information about the options available... and with medications that have a "shady reputation" or negative connotations like methodone, it's even more important to really understand what it might or might not be able to do for RLS.
I know that you and others here have been treated unfairly when you've needed medications like this, and that must feel like adding insult to injury when you're only looking for relief from this illlness that's trying to ruin your life.
THANK YOU for taking the time and putting yourselves "out there" to share this with all of us.
And take care-- Sara
I'm not currently on medications for RLS, and because of high chemical sensitivity, I'm hoping to postpone that as long as possible.
But I really wanted to mention how much I appreciate you two sharing your experiences with this (admittedly controversial) medication. I think that it's a benefit to all of us to have more information about the options available... and with medications that have a "shady reputation" or negative connotations like methodone, it's even more important to really understand what it might or might not be able to do for RLS.
I know that you and others here have been treated unfairly when you've needed medications like this, and that must feel like adding insult to injury when you're only looking for relief from this illlness that's trying to ruin your life.
THANK YOU for taking the time and putting yourselves "out there" to share this with all of us.
And take care-- Sara
-
Andreas
Methadone
Thanks for your kind words Sara, I hate going to pick up my medication and having others in the chemist over hear you and think you have a drug problem, over here (New Zealand) people getting off drugs go to a chemist to take a small cup of methadone to help wean them off the harder stuff.Houses are broken into for people who want to inject the stuff as well.Because of the stigma I said no to the drug for close to a year until relenting.I hope I can leave it behind one day soon.Still as we all know there are others way worse off, I feel for those who either don't go to get treatment or have Doctors who don't under stand the need for relief.I had one specialist who though intense exercise was the answer, forgetting I was already as fit as a fiddle anyway from climbing ladders and scaffold all day! I read on this site how lots of exercise etc can make things worse unless its to try to settle things down at night.
Sure glad I found this site Guys!
Karl-Andreas
Sure glad I found this site Guys!
Karl-Andreas
Karl-Andreas--
It's the same with methadone here. My husband is a fireman and emergency medical technician, and he reacted quite negatively when I first mentioned methadone to him as a med used for RLS.
There are stigmas to other drugs that other people are using on this forum, too. But if it's a matter of salvaging SOME sort of quality of life from a REAL debilitating condition like those members have, I think that doctors NEED to give whatever relief they can.
But it's a shame to have people look askance at you when you have a legitimate need for these medications.
Take care!
Sara
It's the same with methadone here. My husband is a fireman and emergency medical technician, and he reacted quite negatively when I first mentioned methadone to him as a med used for RLS.
There are stigmas to other drugs that other people are using on this forum, too. But if it's a matter of salvaging SOME sort of quality of life from a REAL debilitating condition like those members have, I think that doctors NEED to give whatever relief they can.
But it's a shame to have people look askance at you when you have a legitimate need for these medications.
Take care!
Sara
Stigmas
Hi to you both, Miss Sara, Andreas, and Karl........
I understand perfectly. THE STIGMA OF MEDICATION.....Not only from doctors, friends and family, but the pharmacy.
Now, mind you I'm not on Methadone, but I might as well be an IV drug user to some in my life. It's seriously messed up.
I'm using a 1/2 of Percodan and a sleep aid for my treatment of 24/7/41 yrs. of RLS. I did the right thing for the first couple of years, tried the DA's (mirapex) and all the ohter stuff they want to put us on, but I got worse.
I couldnt take the pain any longer and by accident quit the Mirapex. I did turn to percodan by way of 1/4 to 1/2 tab nightly, before my symptoms hit.
I was so thrilled it worked. I had hope for a real life for the first time in 8-9 yrs.. Until last Sept. I honestly did not believe that I would live til I was 45. I very rarely said it out loud, but it was my truth.
Now, I have this hope and some well deserved healing rest, my body is healing. But I do know those looks and comments that can fly out of nowhere about my choice (and my doc's) of medication. I mean, I don't look sick and I certainly don't look like I should need that type of medication. I Must have a problem. uuuuuuggggghhhhh
It's all apart of my reason to RLS a real face with the Quality of Life statements. Very few outside our circle understand what our lives are like. Pain management is an issue that is new for many in the medical community and the world we live in. I wanted to show people that we're not all OLD people that look ill, but RLS effects us in a huge way.
Even people like our Sara, no medications, sleeps well most of the time, if she can outrun the RLS to bed. There is no minor RLS, it all sucks.
Fact is Andreas, you are a real face of RLS, as I am and the others here. The world needs to know we here and we're doing what we can to overcome RLS and live life.
I'm with ya, it's hard to chin up those looks and comments all the time. I use them as a chance to educate people most of the time. Then too, there are times I just am embarrassed. Better embarrassed, than in pain and sleepless........right?
Thank you both for sharing your experiences. You've surely helped many already.
hugs to ya'll.
p.s. Karl and Andreas your welcome to write me a Quality of Life statement, I'd love to have it, info at the link below. You can print it publically or email it to me.
http://rls.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=536
I understand perfectly. THE STIGMA OF MEDICATION.....Not only from doctors, friends and family, but the pharmacy.
Now, mind you I'm not on Methadone, but I might as well be an IV drug user to some in my life. It's seriously messed up.
I'm using a 1/2 of Percodan and a sleep aid for my treatment of 24/7/41 yrs. of RLS. I did the right thing for the first couple of years, tried the DA's (mirapex) and all the ohter stuff they want to put us on, but I got worse.
I couldnt take the pain any longer and by accident quit the Mirapex. I did turn to percodan by way of 1/4 to 1/2 tab nightly, before my symptoms hit.
I was so thrilled it worked. I had hope for a real life for the first time in 8-9 yrs.. Until last Sept. I honestly did not believe that I would live til I was 45. I very rarely said it out loud, but it was my truth.
Now, I have this hope and some well deserved healing rest, my body is healing. But I do know those looks and comments that can fly out of nowhere about my choice (and my doc's) of medication. I mean, I don't look sick and I certainly don't look like I should need that type of medication. I Must have a problem. uuuuuuggggghhhhh
It's all apart of my reason to RLS a real face with the Quality of Life statements. Very few outside our circle understand what our lives are like. Pain management is an issue that is new for many in the medical community and the world we live in. I wanted to show people that we're not all OLD people that look ill, but RLS effects us in a huge way.
Even people like our Sara, no medications, sleeps well most of the time, if she can outrun the RLS to bed. There is no minor RLS, it all sucks.
Fact is Andreas, you are a real face of RLS, as I am and the others here. The world needs to know we here and we're doing what we can to overcome RLS and live life.
I'm with ya, it's hard to chin up those looks and comments all the time. I use them as a chance to educate people most of the time. Then too, there are times I just am embarrassed. Better embarrassed, than in pain and sleepless........right?
Thank you both for sharing your experiences. You've surely helped many already.
hugs to ya'll.
p.s. Karl and Andreas your welcome to write me a Quality of Life statement, I'd love to have it, info at the link below. You can print it publically or email it to me.
http://rls.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=536