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Suggest Treatment For COPD And Shortness Of Breath
Question: I am suffering from shortness of breath from copd. I have been released from baylor ER twice in the last 3 weeks. CANT GET IN TO PRIMARY CARE OR ANYWHERE AT va sYSTOMS BROKE. i AM TRYING TO TAPER OFF mETHADONE THAT va PUT ME ON 13 YEARS AGO FOR PAIN BECAUSE ITS MAKING MY BREATHING WORSE LATELY.also terrable withdrawels now from cigarettes. I have been on polyethylene glycol for a long time but Im afraid to take it because I saw all the drug interactions online. and I have 3 or four. what can I do constant flatulance and constipation. Bad. have tried diet change and suppositorys
Brief answer.....take more water,high Fiber diet and little exercises
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and feel sorry for the state you are in.
I will answer your queries one by one.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid and highly addictive.
Although it is being given to you for relieving your pain but it in fact is worsening your COPD because it causes respiratory depression and also causing constipation and flatulence.
It is a very tedious and long process to withdraw from methadone and it has to be done very slowly and ideally it should be done under the guidance of doctor.
The best is to withdraw the drug 10% every 3 weeks.Although it would take time but you can come out of it gradually.
As far as your constipation is concerned,there are 4 ways to deal with it.
High Fiber diet,exercises,plenty of water and laxatives.
If you take high Fiber diet including XXXXXXX prunes,apricots etc,try to do some exercises like walking and take plenty of hot water,then your dependence on PEG would reduce and ultimately you can safely reduce its dosage or alternatively can use lactulose.
In nut shell...
Gradual reduction of methadone along with high Fiber diet,slight exercises and plenty of oral hot water should help in your constipation and flatulence and this should help you in reducing the dose of PEG.
I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and feel sorry for the state you are in.
I will answer your queries one by one.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid and highly addictive.
Although it is being given to you for relieving your pain but it in fact is worsening your COPD because it causes respiratory depression and also causing constipation and flatulence.
It is a very tedious and long process to withdraw from methadone and it has to be done very slowly and ideally it should be done under the guidance of doctor.
The best is to withdraw the drug 10% every 3 weeks.Although it would take time but you can come out of it gradually.
As far as your constipation is concerned,there are 4 ways to deal with it.
High Fiber diet,exercises,plenty of water and laxatives.
If you take high Fiber diet including XXXXXXX prunes,apricots etc,try to do some exercises like walking and take plenty of hot water,then your dependence on PEG would reduce and ultimately you can safely reduce its dosage or alternatively can use lactulose.
In nut shell...
Gradual reduction of methadone along with high Fiber diet,slight exercises and plenty of oral hot water should help in your constipation and flatulence and this should help you in reducing the dose of PEG.
I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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