Just prescribed Methadone for chronic pain. Don’t know what to expect?

Question by someoneoutthereishere: Just prescribed Methadone for chronic pain. Don’t know what to expect?
I have a chronic pain condition caused by an autoimmune disease and the pain has been getting pretty bad lately. I originally was on Darvocet for about 2 years, then started Vicodin about 6 months ago, then Norco [for less tylenol per dose] about 2 months ago. The pain is still pretty bad and was today prescribed Methadone [5-15mg, every 4 hours as needed].

I looked it up, and it seems like the primary use for this med is for heroin withdrawal, yikes! That sounds scary. My Dr. also said that I can still use the Norco as needed if it still hurts along with the Methadone.

So my question is, is this a normal pain med prescribed for chronic pain conditions? What type of effects can I expect? The pharmacist said 5mg was a very low dose. So I guess I’ll start with it and see. Pain relief wise, how does it compare with norco/vicodin/hydrocodone? Is it stronger, or just longer acting, or…..? Thanks for any info you can offer about this stuff.
One other question about this medicine is, it seems that it may “block” the effects of other opiates. Which I think may also be the reason it’s used for opiate-addicts…?
If this is true, then I would guess that it would block and essentially null out the effect of the Norco/hydrocodone…..so why would my dr. say to keep taking it as well? Methadone sounds like a strange medicine, unless I’m reading its details wrong?

Best answer:

Answer by h_carlin
okay this was used on me for chronic neckpain and after a week of taking it and then going off of it, I landed up having withdrawls from it. They were horrible!!! Wonder how people live on this daily..It lasted 24 hours.
My husband was given this after elbow replacement surgery and it worked for him, and he was okay after it. Made him a tad irritable..but after 2 weeks of being on it and then off he handled it well.
Perhaps it has something to do with the weight not sure. I prefer vicodin but only the real vicodin not the generic of hydrocodone, which is usually the first to be given. That does nothing for me..and Norco did not touch me either. ultram was better in that area…
Everyone is different though, bodies all handle it different. Hope they find something to help you out. Good luck

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