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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Legal And Safe To Take Methadone Daily?

A friend of mine is on 100mg of methadone daily he is also on 5 OxyContin 80mg daily from two different doc's he does 2 urine samples a week so both doc's know about it. is it legal and safe he is 58 years old i fear for his health his dad died at 61 heart attack his mom died before 60 i don't know how she past. his family doc is weaning him of the OxyContin he' not happy no he's pissed in my opinion his family doc. should have started weaning him of the oxy's when he started methadone' is that not why we go on methadone to get off the pain pills when i started on methadone i was on 9 60mg tab's of ms contin three tabs three times a day that'hes doings a heavy dose' when i started methadone i was weaned off in a few months know problem. is what doing legal or not
Mon, 31 Aug 2015
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Psychiatrist, Child 's  Response
IT IS NEITHER LEGAL (IN MOST COUNTRIES) NOR SAFE TO TAKE METHADONE ON DAILY BASIS.

METHADONE CAN BE USED AS A MAINTENANCE OR AS A SUBSTITUTION THERAPY FOR A SHORT TERM TO WEAN OFF PATIENTS WHO ARE USING INJECTABLE OR HIGH POTENCY OPIOIDS LIKE MORPHINE OR HEROIN. BUT METHADONE ITSELF IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE IN NATURE. THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK OF THE PATIENTS GETTING ADDICTED AND BECOMING PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT ON METHADONE. HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR WEANING OFF METHADONE-
1. TRY REDUCING THE DOSE BY 25% EVERY 2-3 WEEKS
2. WATCH OUT FOR WITHDRAWAL-IF WITHDRAWAL OCCURS U MAY NEED TO GO EVEN MORE SLOWLY
3.FIRST WEAN HIM OFF ONE DRUG THEN TRY WEANING HIM OFF THE 2ND DRUG. DO NOT TRY WEANING HIM OFF BOTH DRUGS AT THE SAME TIME.

DR SMRITHI

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Is It Legal And Safe To Take Methadone Daily?

IT IS NEITHER LEGAL (IN MOST COUNTRIES) NOR SAFE TO TAKE METHADONE ON DAILY BASIS. METHADONE CAN BE USED AS A MAINTENANCE OR AS A SUBSTITUTION THERAPY FOR A SHORT TERM TO WEAN OFF PATIENTS WHO ARE USING INJECTABLE OR HIGH POTENCY OPIOIDS LIKE MORPHINE OR HEROIN. BUT METHADONE ITSELF IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE IN NATURE. THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK OF THE PATIENTS GETTING ADDICTED AND BECOMING PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT ON METHADONE. HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR WEANING OFF METHADONE- 1. TRY REDUCING THE DOSE BY 25% EVERY 2-3 WEEKS 2. WATCH OUT FOR WITHDRAWAL-IF WITHDRAWAL OCCURS U MAY NEED TO GO EVEN MORE SLOWLY 3.FIRST WEAN HIM OFF ONE DRUG THEN TRY WEANING HIM OFF THE 2ND DRUG. DO NOT TRY WEANING HIM OFF BOTH DRUGS AT THE SAME TIME. DR SMRITHI