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Can Methadone Cause Muscle Spasms?
Question: dear dr., i am paralyzed, 42 year old male. I am leaving the VA for pain mgt. and going to outside dr. I broke 25 bones in my accident, and have many pinched nerves going down my back and leg. my right hip hurts so bad that I cant sit on it and cant even lay flat on it because of the nerve pain. I have been bed ridden for 3 years. my dr. wants to take me off 25mg fentanyl patchesx48hrs and hydrocodone 10 4xday, and put me on methadone. I have read where methadone can build up in your fatty tissue and you not even know it until it stops you breathing. so I am more that worried about it, and I want to know is the a way to keep a check on the amount of methadone in your system. Does methadone help you with severe nerve pain and does it make your muscle spasms worse. my muscle spasms are horrible. that's do to the amount of pain i'm in. so far after all my research im leading toward no. that really upsets me because I was hoping for some kind medicine that would help me.\thank you and God bless XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Methadone painkiller properties and other drugs to help you
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. It is really terrible that you are in so much pain.
I will try to help by giving answers to your questions one by one.
1) Methadone can be measured by taking your blood sample after 24 hours of drug ingestion. Usually uppermost toxic level is 700ng/ml. At or above this level, it can cause severe brain slowing, gradually decrease in breathing and finally stops it. So you can ask nearby laboratory or your doctor to get serum methadone level testing.
By measuring its level for upto 5 days, you will get an idea of your blood methadone level. If it is reaching near 700ng/ml, reduce its dose under supervision of doctor.
2)Methadone is a very strong pain reliever. It helps in relieving any kind of pain except spasmodic pain like intestinal. It does not increase spasm of skeletal muscle or your limb muscles. However, it can increase spasm of intestinal muscle and can cause constipation. So do not worry about your limb muscle spasm.
3) As you are suffering from severe muscle spasm pain along with neuropathic pain, you can ask your doctor for
: Spasticity reliving drugs like Baclofen, Tizanidine, Dantrolene. It will relieve some spasm.
: Some surgical procedure to relieve pain like
Spinal cord stimulation - Here an electrode is placed near spinal cord by surgery. Its
current inhibits pain fibres and gives relief.
Opioid intrathecal implant - It is morphine filled container which is surgically placed near the pain causing drugs and it releases small amount of drug continuously to relieve pain
Still no relief, then more aggressive procedures like
Dorsal rhizotomy
Thalamic implant etc may be attempted. You must consult pain specialist for the best option for you.
Hope it will help you. If still any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Methadone painkiller properties and other drugs to help you
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, thanks for asking from HCM.
I can understand your concern. It is really terrible that you are in so much pain.
I will try to help by giving answers to your questions one by one.
1) Methadone can be measured by taking your blood sample after 24 hours of drug ingestion. Usually uppermost toxic level is 700ng/ml. At or above this level, it can cause severe brain slowing, gradually decrease in breathing and finally stops it. So you can ask nearby laboratory or your doctor to get serum methadone level testing.
By measuring its level for upto 5 days, you will get an idea of your blood methadone level. If it is reaching near 700ng/ml, reduce its dose under supervision of doctor.
2)Methadone is a very strong pain reliever. It helps in relieving any kind of pain except spasmodic pain like intestinal. It does not increase spasm of skeletal muscle or your limb muscles. However, it can increase spasm of intestinal muscle and can cause constipation. So do not worry about your limb muscle spasm.
3) As you are suffering from severe muscle spasm pain along with neuropathic pain, you can ask your doctor for
: Spasticity reliving drugs like Baclofen, Tizanidine, Dantrolene. It will relieve some spasm.
: Some surgical procedure to relieve pain like
Spinal cord stimulation - Here an electrode is placed near spinal cord by surgery. Its
current inhibits pain fibres and gives relief.
Opioid intrathecal implant - It is morphine filled container which is surgically placed near the pain causing drugs and it releases small amount of drug continuously to relieve pain
Still no relief, then more aggressive procedures like
Dorsal rhizotomy
Thalamic implant etc may be attempted. You must consult pain specialist for the best option for you.
Hope it will help you. If still any doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Dear Dr. Bishnoi,
Thank you very much for thorough answer! One last question. To the best of your knowledge methadone will work better with the extreme nerve pains. I was a U.S. Army Ranger for 3 1/2 years before I caught shrapnel in left arm. My butt hurts like it did right after I tied my tourniquet. Not bragging, just explaining the pain. The pain in the area has also been slowly increasing, along with the area along my butt and leg. I had a doctor that put me on 50mg fentanyl every 2 days and 6 Norco 10mg. It worked well but was drugged up. I still want to enjoy hunting, shooting bows and guns. I also enjoy reloading my own ammo. Obviously, I need to be sharp to do my hobbies. Thanx Doc. & God Bless
Thank you very much for thorough answer! One last question. To the best of your knowledge methadone will work better with the extreme nerve pains. I was a U.S. Army Ranger for 3 1/2 years before I caught shrapnel in left arm. My butt hurts like it did right after I tied my tourniquet. Not bragging, just explaining the pain. The pain in the area has also been slowly increasing, along with the area along my butt and leg. I had a doctor that put me on 50mg fentanyl every 2 days and 6 Norco 10mg. It worked well but was drugged up. I still want to enjoy hunting, shooting bows and guns. I also enjoy reloading my own ammo. Obviously, I need to be sharp to do my hobbies. Thanx Doc. & God Bless
Brief Answer:
Pain reliever effect if methadone
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
Thank you very much for the appreciation. Methadone, fentanyl and 6 Norco are very very potent drug against neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, scar pain, injury pain.
The only problem is side effects of these medication. So you can take them as long as you do not develop side effects. No need to change medication if you have relief. And after relief, you can follow your hobbies.
Hope you got my point. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Pain reliever effect if methadone
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX, welcome back.
Thank you very much for the appreciation. Methadone, fentanyl and 6 Norco are very very potent drug against neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, scar pain, injury pain.
The only problem is side effects of these medication. So you can take them as long as you do not develop side effects. No need to change medication if you have relief. And after relief, you can follow your hobbies.
Hope you got my point. If still in doubt, do let me know.
Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dear doctor, we had a miscommunication. my new doctor just wants to put me on only methadone(no Norco no fentanyl). 1 1/2 years ago I had a doctor that put me on the 50 mg fent. and 6 Norco. As I explained since that time my pain has gotten a lot more severe. SO, IF YOU WILL ANSWER THIS ONE LAST ONE I SHOULDN'T BOTHER YOU AGAIN. TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE DOES METHADONE WORK WELL ON THE WORST OF NERVE PAINS. VERY SORRY TO BOTHER YOU AGAIN AND I IN NO WAY HOLD YOU TO YOUR WORD IT DOESNT WORK. IF THAT WAS THE CASE YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET IN LINE.
GOD BLESS! XXXXXXX
GOD BLESS! XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Methadone efficiency in pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX welcome back.
No need to say sorry. I understand your concern and pain.
Now that you are only on Methadone, my advise does not change. Methadone is a very potent analgesic and it works very well on nerve pain. In a study conducted on chronic neuropathic pain patients, 65-70% patients had significant relief in pain.
As in your case, the pain is very severe and you are not getting much relief. You can ask your doctor to start new medication (like amitriptyline or gabapentine) or look for other options which I have mentioned.
Hope you got my point. If you still have any doubt, please feel free to ask. I would like to help you as much as possible.
Thanks. Take care
Methadone efficiency in pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX welcome back.
No need to say sorry. I understand your concern and pain.
Now that you are only on Methadone, my advise does not change. Methadone is a very potent analgesic and it works very well on nerve pain. In a study conducted on chronic neuropathic pain patients, 65-70% patients had significant relief in pain.
As in your case, the pain is very severe and you are not getting much relief. You can ask your doctor to start new medication (like amitriptyline or gabapentine) or look for other options which I have mentioned.
Hope you got my point. If you still have any doubt, please feel free to ask. I would like to help you as much as possible.
Thanks. Take care
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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