Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr methadone

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

i posted a while ago about mum, while shes had this nasty cough and about a month (give or take) she was put on methadone for it, it has helped the cough no end and she now has a repeat script for it. A week after starting it i put her on NONONONO tea aggresive dose 3onz 3 times a day and she was saying her stomach was cramping, sweating so much it looked like she had just showered and not dried, so now she is on 1onz twice a day in a glass of water (thinking it was the tea) anyway ive just looked up side affects of methadone and blow me down if they aint nausea, stomach pain and sweating, should i tell mum to only take the meth when really really needed or get her to the docs along with me so i can have a word (mum wont like me going because i wont take the crap off them) i really want her on the tea

ps she has allso stopped taking the n-tense and graviola thinking it was too much for her body to cope with Crying or Very sad

im taking the tea for diff reasons and have had no affects at all and i cant find any side affects of it on the net
this whole cancer thing is really getting me down now
shes due a scan in august so fingers crossed

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1386

Mandy,

Talk to the doctors and get the dose lowered or the medication changed. Some people have extreme reactions to certain meds. I'm surprised they aren't just using morphine, but maybe someone who has a clue about pain meds will stop by and help.

Good luck on getting this problem under control.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

i spoke to mum yesterday and gave her a print off on side affects, shes not happy and is going to docs and see if she can have something else for the cough so i guess we will wait and see but she was happy to know it wasnt the tea making her ill
isnt morphine for pain? she only has a cough thats not clearing, maybe im wrong

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1386

Hi,

Why in the world would they be giving her methadone for a cough? Well, I just looked it up and apparently it is an antitussive. Huh, you learn something new every day.

Here is some info that will at least give you an idea of alternatives for cough. My husband just used Mucinex, which thins the mucus and makes it easier to expell.

Good luck!

PBJ

Antitussive

Methadone linctus, which is about one-third the concentration of the liquid methadone used for opioid maintenance, is used where available and approved for such use as a cough syrup for violent coughing. Narcotic cough suppressants are very useful against dry, unproductive coughing, especially that which persists after an illness has otherwise resolved and/or is a manifestation of recurring bronchitis, causes pain in the chest, and/or prevents the patient from sleeping. These drugs work directly on the coughing centre in the brain, and several branches of the opioid family contain effective cough suppressants.

Natural and semi-synthetic opiates with antitussive effects include codeine, ethylmorphine (also known as dionine or codethyline), dihydrocodeine, benzylmorphine, laudanum, dihydroisocodeine, nicocodeine, nicodicodeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, acetyldihydrocodeine, thebacon, diamorphine (heroin), acetylmorphone, noscapine and pholcodine and others. Amongst other synthetics are dimemorfan and dextromethorphan in the morphinan group, tipepidine of the thiambuetenes, and other drugs of the open-chain (methadone) type with antitussive efficacy include levomethadone, normethadone, and levopropoxyphene.
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

brainman · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:32 am Post subject: Re: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr methadone

Methadone did replace codeine in a lot of prescription cough medicines. As PBJ said, a lot of opiates have antitussive properties. I am very sorry about your mothers cancer. How is she doing? Still taking the Methadone?
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

koikkeril · Super Moderator Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 334

[quote="pbj11"]Hi,

Why in the world would they be giving her methadone for a cough? Well, Huh, you learn something new every day.

Hello, sorry I am late joining in but as my knowledge of methadone is limited I waited to see the response of others as I was surprised to read your mum was on methadone........I knew that the prescription was widely used for getting off bad habits and that I had never heard of it being used for coughs.
Anyhow we certainly do learn new things every day.

Has there now been a change of medication and how is your mum doing? Its stressful enough fighting the the cancer let alone you finding yourself worried over the meds!
Morphine is for pain and it works well for most, I am surprised they have not tried this?
I hope you can update us on the situation and let us know if all has settled down on your mum. God Bless, Koik
_________________
Husband diagnosed with stage 1V NSCLC Febuary 2007.....Lost his battle August 27th 2008 but lives on in my heart.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1386

Hi all,

I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one who made the methadone/heroin connection! Actually, they are moving away from that as people become addicted the the darn methadone and it doesn't solve the addiction problem. Unfortunately, another topic that I have first-hand experience with from a family member. (I know -- I'm a laugh riot over here! Rolling Eyes

)

From what I read, it seems that morphine is a step-up from methadone, but that still doesn't make sense in my brain. Apparently these types of drugs work on the brain center that controls a cough. Who would have thunk it?

Mandy -- please let us know how this discussion with the doctor goes. I'd sure like to see your Mom feeling better and this is a real chance to share new information with other board members for future reference, if you would be so kind. A persistent cough is not a pleasant thing to have.

Good luck,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

dano · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr methadone

Hello Mandy;
Because Coughing was the reason for the doctors to keep looking and find out that I had lung cancer. However that did not in it
self stop the cough. A blood clot in my leg (DVT) and a trip to the hospital found that I had clots in my lungs, Taking Lovenox twice a day kept the clots from forming and thinned the blood so they would go away. This took only a couple days to stop my cough which I had for over 6 months. Cancer causes blood clots in some patients, but the doctors don't go there it seems with out a major clot appearing somewhere else. The Hospital used a CT to find them in my chest, I don't know why they were not seen in the CT by my Pulmonologist before I was diagnosed. So I take it they can't see it easily.
I just hate to see her cough and suffer just to find out after she has a DVT that it was clot related. I'm not diagnosing her by any means, but the question can be asked, and there is no harm in another CT to check.
The Best to you and your Mom Mandy, we will be here for you.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
54 year old male in Hawaii
Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV
with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08
Currently on chemo treatments every 3 weeks
with Alimta
and taking Lovenox for blood clots
Now back to work full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

mum seen doc today and he has taken her off the methadone and gave her some other meds for the cough but she is only to take it when needed, she couldnt remember the name of it but i will find out, shes laying off the tea, graviola and n-tense for couple day to clear her stomach and hopefully rid the constipation caused by the meth
shes due CT scan august hopefully its good news
ill keep you posted

koikkeril · Super Moderator Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 334

My Goodness Mandy
Glad she is off the Methadone!
I hope she sails through with a problem less scan...
Its time for some good news, so hope you can give us some soon...
You will remain in my thoughts and prayers
God Bless..Koik
_________________
Husband diagnosed with stage 1V NSCLC Febuary 2007.....Lost his battle August 27th 2008 but lives on in my heart.

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

mum still gets pains after drinking the tea, could it still be the methadone in her system or is she going to be the only person to react to the tea
she has an x-ray on wednesday to find out whats happening to tumor, i would likee to go but school holidays and too many kids Crying or Very sad

hopefully its shrunk a lil, i cant sleep thinking about it
ill let you know news as i hear it

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

mums now in diamorphine for cough, had x-ray yesterday and should be phoned results later today
fingers crossed

kenneth scotland · Regular Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 36

Fingers crossed here too, Mandy. Hoping for the best for you both. Take care, regards, Kenny

koikkeril · Super Moderator Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 334

[quote="mandy"]mum still gets pains after drinking the tea, could it still be the methadone in her system or is she going to be the only person to react to the tea
she has an x-ray on Wednesday to find out whats happening to tumor, i would like to go but school holidays and too many kids Crying or Very sad

hopefully its shrunk a lil, i cant sleep thinking about it
ill let you know news as i hear it[/quote]

Hi Mandy
I hope your mums xray shines some light on some better news for you...
I know how you feel about not sleeping, its so stressful... but we are all here for you, so just tune in anytime you need to vent it all out..

Perhaps a holiday from the tea would give you an idea as to wheather there is a reaction which is triggering off the pain...but also the methadone is an addicted drug which I believe could give muscle and joint pain as my husband suffered tremendous pain weening off some of his past medicines..... Rolling Eyes

It would be advised to talk with your mums doctors, they would have first hand information for your questions regarding this pain your mum is suffering.
I hope you update us soon with the results of the xray and I will be praying along side others that all goes well..
God Bless...Koik
_________________
Husband diagnosed with stage 1V NSCLC Febuary 2007.....Lost his battle August 27th 2008 but lives on in my heart.

mandy · Regular Joined: 03 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

mum just called with results
its grown quite a bit
i feel totally numb Crying or Very sad

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