Hi there all, can you help me a bit about this? as you can see, I would really want to talk more and get your input about what it is the main difference between the Methadone and Hydrocodone. I guess I should begin with by telling that I have used both of these medications for my back pain problems and I really have to say that IMO Methadone is doing a far much better job for me, however I really do not like the fact that there are people thinking that methadone is strictly for those people who are coming of heroin. I am not going off heroin. I only try to get a bit of relief out of it from my back pain problems. so well, why people think that methadone is for heroin junkies? Once again, I am not. but why they use it? and what it is the main difference between them? isn’t hydrocodone used by heroin junkies as well or only methadone? Of course I do know that hydrocodone is also used for pains and I do know that they are quite similar because of this reason (pain relievers) and because their ending names are both with “-done”. but what are the exact differences? Thank you very much in advance for any of your help. I would appreciate any of your insight!
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Differences between Methadone and Hydrocodone
- Thread starter Toliman
- Start date
Hello there. exactly as you, I also prefer to take Methadone rather than Hydrocodone for pain (tho, I do know there are people with different preferences). I have taken both of them and I like Methadone more because I am finding that when I am using Hydrocodone, it is helping the pain, however it is giving me way too much of euphoria, this is, IMO the main difference between them. one is giving less euphoria (methadone) than the other one. it gives pretty much the same as oxycontin. That’s why I think that it is easier to get hooked up on Hydrocodone than Methadone. Another difference, as you have seen, is that methadone is more effective in terms of pain relieving (though I think that since people are difference, this might be different as well) and it is much less likely to lead to abuse in my opinion. I’m not sure if that’s true but that’s my opinion. maybe it is different in people, but I am quite sure that still the odds are bigger to get hooked up on hydro.
Also, methadone it is not being usually prescribed due to the fact of the stigma that you referred to.
I have seen that there are more and more pain management specialists (doctors) who are treating their chronic patients with methadone rather than hydrocodone lately and I am thinking that this is because of the reason addressed in the previous post. Well, one of difference is that methadone’s pain killing effectiveness is much longer lasting compared to a short acting opioid like for example hydrocodone with an additional effect of, exactly as you’ve people noticed, less euphoria and this is why is making this drug a less opportunity for abuse which is a greater choice for people and a better alternative for doctors to prescribe to patients. Some other difference is that compared to some other strong narcotics like for example to OxyContin, Methadone it is also dirt cheap as a generic, at least much cheaper than those ones. there’s also another reason why the pain management specialists (doctors) are somehow more comfortable to prescribe it rather than Hydroconde or OxyContin and it is that it is having a less valuable demand profile when it is being diverted to the street value sale (but this is pretty much the same reason because it has an less euphoric effect; the greater euphoric – the greater the street value).
I do know that there are some people who have heard some extremely terrible and horrible stories about quitting methadone, however, I personally, have not seen absolutely any big or so “dramatic” difference between when you are stopping methadone and going into withdrawal symptoms compared to when you are stopping hydrocodone and getting into withdrawal symptoms assuming that both of them are being taken in typical pain management dosages only (like for example in Methadone’s case it would be approximately 10 mg taken 3 times per day which is 30 mg a day). I am mentioning this because if you would stop it at the 100 mg or even more of daily use doses that it is being used in some methadone clinics then this is going to be a completely different situation, of course. But let’s not forget that hydrocodone or oxycontin also can be taken in some extremely big dosages in clinic trials and they are much more likely to be taken in dosages that exceed the recommended daily dosage due to their strong euphoric effects and hence, the withdrawals are, of course, much worse.
So well, lately, in the pursuit of the relief from some intractable and chronic pain then I personally would not be too worried about any “stigma” that you might perceive.
However, I think that there are also reasons why doctors are being pretty hesitant to prescribe methadone over hydrocodone either and it is due to the fact that methadone is having a delayed onset of effectiveness which means that there is an pretty increased risk of overdose. I mean, I know that there are people who took one pill, they were not feeling any immediate relief and being desperate for it they were thinking that one pill isn’t enough and they took another one, then keep taking more and more thinking that it is not enough until they overdose.
Oh yeah, that’s very true I also have heard that such situations did happened and I do know that it might happen either, especially if people are taking pain killing medicine without learning about them. however the flip side is that there are some people who are developing a tolerance to oxy and wind up taking more which is leading to the same cycle over and over again. so well, then they are eventually ending up using more and more every day. mostly, this is what is leading to the abuse, to addiction, to over medication, as well as withdrawal problems in the end too.
I just think that both of them are having their place for treatments and care should be taken when they are using them as not to get yourself in a bad place with either one of them. people should know that the danger is there with either one of them and I think that people here are making a mistake creating the illusion that methadone is “safer” than hydrocodone. They are both dangerous as long as you are not properly using them and they are both quite safe as long as you use them exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Personally I would go with the hydrocodone but I do know that each to their own so I am just talking about what I think that would be better for me and what’s my opinion about this. well, I might as well be wrong about this, but from as much as I am aware about these drugs, I know that hydrocodone is containing some kind of APAP so you are not going to be able to abuse from it and plus to that, I think that people are not going to freak out when and if they are going to see that you are taking that drug at work or maybe in the bathroom cabinet at home or whatever. you’re not going to be looked at as an junkie… but once again… this is my opinion and somebody else might have other opinions. Whatever the case, I wish you good luck.
So… it is being used in methadone clinics for “harm reduction” treatment for all of the exact same reasons that I have noticed in the past. It is a long lasting effect medication, has less euphoria effects, is cheaper and so on. and regarding for the fact of using your medicine in bathroom medicine or taking it at work, well I really do not see how this is going to necessarily be a problem at all. why would it be one? just lock it up at home (which needs to be done anyway) and just use a bathroom stall at work in case you are being afraid of somebody else reading your prescription label and freaking out because of this. although it pretty much seems very unlikely… why would you use something that does not work for you over something that does work only because other people would look differently at you?
Plus, if comparing the statistics of health issues from possible hydrocodone abuse and methadone abuse that are made in a pain management context then, indeed, methadone would likely be safer. And I am not trying to make an illusion that it is a “safe” drug, because it definitely is not a safe drug if it’s not used as it should be, however as I said, and I can tell it once again – it is indeed safer than hydrocodone meaning that while they are both dangerous – hydrocodone is even more dangerous.
So please don’t get me wrong, I think and I know that the previous warning about the potential accidental overdose are very valid! Methadone is, doubtless, one of those drugs that really MUST be taken as it is prescribed and the doctors that I know who are prescribing it are going some great lengths to emphasize this danger. I just want to say that I would go with methadone instead of hydrocodone because it is less dangerous.
It is true what has been said up there by other people on the fact that Methadone is having a much less potential abuse since it is having less euphoria effectiveness and it is also true the fact that Methadone is lasting much longer as its half life is about 24 to 36 hours after being used (though, it is also true that it has an delayed onset of effectiveness) compared to the hydro that it is only about 3 to 4 hours (but with immediate onset). Somebody correct me if I am wrong on these statements but that’s what I have learned about these drugs. And yeah, I also think that both methadone and hydrocodone are dangerous, however methadone is less dangerous. I also think that we’ve got to use them only as directed and try the best not to combine benzos, alcohol and nothing else that they might have interactions with. I know that methadone is being also used in terminal patients as well as old people who will most likely never need to withdraw from it. all of this is what I’ve heard and learned about these 2 drugs (and what hasn’t been mentioned here).
So well, indeed, as it has been mentioned above, the main difference between these 2 medications it is that one of them is only a short acting in terms of effects narcotic for the mild to medium pain while the other one is a very long acting medication for the chronic pain patients or for those patients who are going to a clinic in order to get “clean” from the street drugs (which is why, often associate it to a drug that is being used by junkies, which is not true, it just has 2 different uses).
For as long as the usage in pain clinics…those ones that are in my area are giving prescriptions for Methadone as your long acting narcotic with oxys or morphine ir for breakthrough pain. Neither one of the clinics that I have went to has ever scripted hydrocodone for breakthrough pain and to be honest I really have no idea as to why it is like that. I can tell you guys that right now I am taking 40 mgs of methadone per day and I am doing it for approximately a year or so. It is obvious that drugs are working differently for each individual, however for me, this one, is working so much more better than any of the other long acting pain medications and what I also like is that I’ve never have had a sense of withdrawal either. I mean, when I have been on some other long acting medications there would also be several hours every single day that I have been in withdrawals until it has finally been the time to take the medicine once again and as soon as I took it the withdrawals were disappearing. But later, when the effects weaned off, I again went into withdrawals. I’ve got to say that I really hated this due to the fact that it would make you waste your breakthrough pain medicine while trying to get through that period and it is very hard to deal with it. I also can mention here that I have been on the exact same medicines for approximately one year now and I have had absolutely no problems at all, that’s even though my breakthrough pain medicines have been a little bit increased due to the fact that I have originally started off with a very very low dose which was ineffective or not enough effective, slowly by steadily my doctor and I worked our way up to the dosage I am currently on (as I said, 40 mgs) and since then I am very good and I’m on this dosage.
Although I know that it is counter indicated in the Methadone patients use, I also am using Klonopin every day as well. I do guess that my doctor really trusts me to not abuse my medicine but I do know that there’s a big risk and I do know that I won’t abuse them. So I guess he has seen it in me. and I guess it is also because I have never called him and told him that “I ran out earlier” or whatever even though I did have had one scare where I really did come up a little bit short and I have had to use another medicine in order to make it up. I didn’t wanted to call him saying that because I knew what this is going to lead to, that is why I tried to resolve that problem myself. however, 2 months later my doc has increased my klonopins dosage to 2 mg per day from only 1 mg per day and since them I am having absolutely no problems at all and I am all fine.
But I say this: chronic pain patients have absolutely no reasons to be scared of Methadone and they really shouldn’t be. just be calm, it is all right and there’s nothing you need to be scared, embarrassed or whatever. as long as you are having a legitimate reason to take it (pain) and as long as you are taking it as you should and never get out of your doctor’s words then I assure you that you are going to have no problems at all (but your doctor can assure you in it either) and also since there are a lot of pain clinics that are scripting it now the drug stores do not think very much of it. In fact, I can confess to you saying that I am getting even more dirty and “mad” looks when I am getting my klonopins (for my klonopins) than I am getting when I take the methadone. But then… I am getting 4 fills of klonopins whereas my methadone is having to be scripted every single month and the drug stores are acting strange about this thing for an unknown reason to me. I also do know that they have even called my doctor about this and asked him what’s up with this and if I’m not doing anything illicit. But to be honest I really do not care as long as I do know that I am not doing anything in this matter and I also know that this is what my doctor has told me to do. in fact, my doctor does know what it is like and he’s by my said, he has told me that I can go an change the stores in case they are giving me any more problems and I am against that or if I don’t like it. in fact, he told me that if I will, I can go doing it right now. he’s a really good man that does know his stuff and he really tries to help his patients. And as I said, he trusts me either, but he does it for reasons.
I am sorry if I am going off topic, no bad intentions. But in the end you cannot really compared methadone with hydrocodone because, although quite similar, they are very different. Because one it is long acting while the other one is short acting and this does make a big difference. One of them is always given only exclusively for acute pains and the other one would never be given if you are having acute pains and that’s a difference as well that should be taken in consideration. I think that there are some people who may use methadone as their long acting medication and also may take hydrocodone as their breakthrough medication, however, this is only (probably and most likely) a matter of fact until the 2 are going to meet. Hope this would help somehow.
Hey there, Eva123 is definitely right about the done being a really good thing for pain and the only other also good thing about done it is the half life which is helping to keep your level within a certain range and that is why there are no ups and down or no good and bad hours, you’re feeling quite the same for the entire period of time you’re using them.
However, even having this said, I personally would really not recommend done for anybody out there unless they are being terminal, quite old or they are simply only a junkie who is really not able to keep needles out of their arms for a while and living in the gutter. That’s one of the reasons why it is being considered to be a junkies medications also. IMO one of the biggest mistakes out there is for somebody who is not really needing it to take it due to the fact that it is really going to change their lives for, definitely, worse, so you just take a medication that you really do not need and ruining your life. and I do know what I am saying because this sh*t is getting into your bone marrow and it stays there for a reaaaaaaaaaally long time even after you quit using it. it can take you some months in order to get over the withdrawals and that is why most of people are never getting off. Most of the people who have been on it for a good while for the medication to deeply set in their system, unfortunately, they don’t get through it. in fact, I know that the treatment centers may even refuse to try and to detox you if you are on a really high enough dosage for quite a long enough time. that’s because if you’ve been on a SUCH a high dose for a REALLY long time then there’s nothing that they can do because you’re seriously hooked up on them.
I do know that there are some of people who have claimed that perhaps, done was/ is safer than the hydro but I want to warn you and tell you to do yourself a really big favor and to very carefully research that stuff before you are going to put it in your mouth and get it into your system. As soon as you do it, you might not even realize, but it might change your life a lot! seriously, you do know that it is a really bad thing or it is like a life sentence or something in this matter when the treatment centers are saying that they are not able to detox you or to help you in case you are on the done for a long time on a high dosage. I’m serious about this, no intentions to scare you but if this does scare you then this might save you.. but I just only want to warn you.
Also, one last note, Eva123, I have to confess that I am really shocked by the fact that your Pm is only uses done alone, isn’t he worried about you? although this is mostly only my assumptions I still can say that I am quite sure that they are doing such a thing because of a lower abuse potential and diversion potential due to the fact there’s a low street value. I can say that if I would be you, then I would beg to get on the fent patch… imo is a lot much better. and safer. I do not even think that you could switch over to opana or to morphine extended release without the severe discomfort and that’s’ even at the 40s. in fact, I would say that 40s it is the threshold for being screwed up. but I think that is the level treatment centers that tend to say no or may even be 20. Heck, in fact, I think that you are going to need to be on the suboxones for such a long time and on such a high dosage in order to get over the done that you are going to get stuck with the subs instead. There is almost no way out, as I have already mentioned and I honestly tell you that there’s nothing that you should be playing around with. you can taper patches pretty easy (or at least, much more easier) in case you are getting the ones without gel and cut them. but anyway, I do know that everybody chooses what he/she likes in the end and this post would, most likely, not change anybody’s mind, but that’s sad because this might save some of you. I do know that there are people who do regret that they have ever taken done. best of luck to each one of you and hope you’ll never end up as those people did.
Oh yeah, you can really tell the difference between the methadone and hydrocodone. I do know that methadone needs to be tested separately in a test due to the fact that it is not going to show up on the 5 panel test. Hydrocodone, on the other hand, it is a real opiate and it is going to show up as an opiate on a test. That’s because methadone it is only a synthetic opiate and that’s why it is I a class all of its own. This is why methadone and hydrocodone, although they work as opiates and work for killing pain, are working differently in the end. that’s because methadone is tricking the brain into thinking that it is still having heroin or opiates in the body, it is working the same in the brain. That’s because it is “synthetic” and I guess this is why it is so much more hard to get off it when trying to do so. So to answer your question I know that they would have to test separately for methadone. I’ve got to say that they are 2 totally different drug classes, they are, of course, different.
Just remember that good information, it is in fact, good medicine, so the more information you gather the better medicine you get. Life is a continuous learning class that never ends. best wishes. Hope you’ve got the answers that you’ve wanted among all these comments.
</p><p> </p><p>Oh well, PMs may be doing this with those patients who really seem to be increasing in the dosages way too often according to a regular protocol or who are having a questionable UA and really need to be changed to something that is not going to be used up to quickly every single month.</p><p> </p><p>For example, there’s my PM doctor who has told me that 15 or 5 3 times per day it is the way to go and it is quite easy to stop if you really want to do so. I did have weaned myself almost off from the fent patch and I have let him talk me into the done at a quite low dosage as being a pretty alternative for me. however, it turned out to be a really very big mistake that I’ve done as I really hated with all my heart, mind and body those unbearable and annoying side effects I’ve got from it and that is why I am really thankful to God that I have stopped to take it after approximately 2 months or so. It is getting out of the body extremely extremely hard and long time. never had or heard of anything getting out of the body for such a long time… that’s because I was still able to feel that stuff leaving my body for some weeks after I have stopped to take only 15 mgs per day even with the fentanyl patches, dillauded as well as percocet taken as it is needed. Wouldn’t recommend it. I imagine how hard it is getting out of a body from a person who used a lot much bigger dosage than I did (because I do know that people take it in much bigger doses, as I only have seen here – somebody takes it in 40 mgs a day) and for a longer period of time – that must be a nightmare… and the worst is that it seems that there’s nothing that you can do to ease those symptoms that’s because they are always getting out of the body and they seem to get out from the deepest roots of you… from such a root that nothing else reaches it and that’s why nothing else can help. I do not want to say that nothing is completely useless, something might help you a bit, but it helps only A BIT and you have to take that something that helps you only a bit for a long time… all of that in the time the withdrawals are indeed VERY bad!</p>Staub said:</p><p>However, I think that there are also reasons why doctors are being pretty hesitant to prescribe methadone over hydrocodone either and it is due to the fact that methadone is having a delayed onset of effectiveness which means that there is an pretty increased risk of overdose. I mean, I know that there are people who took one pill, they were not feeling any immediate relief and being desperate for it they were thinking that one pill isn’t enough and they took another one, then keep taking more and more thinking that it is not enough until they overdose.</p><p>
</p><p>So well, the views that are being expressed in this post are, in fact, bang on the money, or at least that’s in my opinion. and especially if talking about this part: “However, even having this said, I personally would really not recommend done for anybody out there unless they are being terminal, quite old or they are simply only a junkie who is really not able to keep needles out of their arms for a while and living in the gutter. That’s one of the reasons why it is being considered to be a junkies medications also. IMO one of the biggest mistakes out there is for somebody who is not really needing it to take it due to the fact that it is really going to change their lives for, definitely, worse, so you just take a medication that you really do not need and ruining your life."</p><p> </p><p>I’ve got to mention here that I have suffered with cluster migraines (as well as a panic disorder too) since I have had a cerebral hemorrhage in 2010. Unfortunately and sadly for me, this has meant that I have had to fight and battle with different opiates in order to fight off the pain and get rid of it. I am not able to take any anti inflammatory medications due to the fact that I have an ulcer and also I am not being able to take any standard migraine drugs as well due to the fact that, in my personal case, they are increasing the risk of a stroke either. so I am basically left with very little options to choose from. after using hydromorphone (dilaudid) for those migraines, I have ended up becoming an opiate dependent person which was quite expectable, isn’t it?</p><p> </p><p>I have to say here that I am very stubborn and I really really hated only the thought of being dependent, I was trying to get rid of this thing, so well, reluctantly, my doctor soon later has switched me to the methadone. Oh well… I have lasted 2 awfully and hell on earth days while I have been on it. people indeed are very different, or at least the way our bodies react to substances, I do know that it is horse for courses, however personally for me it was really feeling like I have been consuming a really highly poisonous substance. In fact I can tell you guys that I was pretty much excited about the prospect of using it at some times (and yes, I do know..), however in first 5 or 6 hours after using my very first dosage of it, everything has been clear to me… that’s because everything has turned very and very ugly indeed for me. starting with running (in fact, it was mostly similar to crawling) to the toilet and vomiting every single hour has been indeed only the beginning of it, while I’ve been thinking that it cannot get even worse… oh I was wrong. I was literally not able to eat absolutely anything at all without feeling sick. I’ve been feeling bad all around and anything that I was doing was making me feel bad. Every move of mine was with consequences. I was not able to stand up and I was not even able to move my head without getting some incredibly disconcerting whirlies, as I said… every move of mine had consequences. but even without moving I wasn’t feeling fine at all… I’ve been also suffering from some really severe sweats, uncontrollable shakes that at a point of time become completely unmanageable and annoying. I have been keeping telling myself in the back of my head that it is all going to wear off as soon as I a m going to get used to it. or at least that was the way I was hoping it would happen. That was the way I was wishing that it would happen but it didn’t… that’s because after I have taken my second dose it all turned back and it seemed to be even worse than the first time.. was it worse than the first time or not I am not sure, what I am sure about is that it has been very and very bad generally. I’ve also been using a relatively small dosage (only 20 mg per day), so I doubt that it was a matter of dosage. In fact… I guess that only god knows what it would have been feeling like if I would have been taking a higher dose than 20 mg… presuming a 40 mg. it pretty much seems that my body simply cannot tolerate this thing at any given dosage… taking a 40 mg dosage… I doubt that I would have made through it.</p><p> </p><p>But thankfully, after I have discontinued taking the Methadone and after switching between a couple of some other medications, we have found out that the high dose of dihydrocodeine does work for me very well. however, unfortunately just lately my intake of the DHC has very rapidly escalated, that is why I am not really sure where I am going to go from here now. I do know that there has also been a couple of quite successful trials here in UK that has been focused on stabilizing people on DHC (at some much higher doses than those being used therapeutically) instead of methadone when is coming off street the heroin.</p><p> </p><p>I’ve had to change between several different opiates since I have had my illness and so I did have used quite a good number of different medications and that is why I can safely tell you guys that Methadone has been by far the most troublesome and the worst drug, but you’ve just got to remember that this is for me alone. What I am trying to say is that I do reluctantly accept that it really may work for some people out there at managing pain, however I personally would question those prescribing doctors the motives for putting a person on such a drug when there are, in fact, so many more safer drugs with some lower side effects profiles! I’ve honestly gotta say that in case there is a person who is in a real severe pain then putting them on the methadone may not make them feel any better at all. I just think that it may take that offending pain away, howevere there is a really very big risk that it is going to replace the pain with a miasmic, however in the end it is a different set of equally terrible issues. That’s a horrible drug for some people, like me… and I doubt that it is the very best option for any people as there must be something else, an alternative.</p><table style="width: 394px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><colgroup><col width="394" /></colgroup><tbody><tr><td class="xl65" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 296pt;" width="394" height="20"> </td></tr></tbody></table>WHISTER0 said:</p><p>Hey there, Eva123 is definitely right about the done being a really good thing for pain and the only other also good thing about done it is the half life which is helping to keep your level within a certain range and that is why there are no ups and down or no good and bad hours, you’re feeling quite the same for the entire period of time you’re using them.</p><p> </p><p>However, even having this said, I personally would really not recommend done for anybody out there unless they are being terminal, quite old or they are simply only a junkie who is really not able to keep needles out of their arms for a while and living in the gutter. That’s one of the reasons why it is being considered to be a junkies medications also. IMO one of the biggest mistakes out there is for somebody who is not really needing it to take it due to the fact that it is really going to change their lives for, definitely, worse, so you just take a medication that you really do not need and ruining your life. and I do know what I am saying because this sh*t is getting into your bone marrow and it stays there for a reaaaaaaaaaally long time even after you quit using it. it can take you some months in order to get over the withdrawals and that is why most of people are never getting off. Most of the people who have been on it for a good while for the medication to deeply set in their system, unfortunately, they don’t get through it. in fact, I know that the treatment centers may even refuse to try and to detox you if you are on a really high enough dosage for quite a long enough time. that’s because if you’ve been on a SUCH a high dose for a REALLY long time then there’s nothing that they can do because you’re seriously hooked up on them.</p><p> </p><p>I do know that there are some of people who have claimed that perhaps, done was/ is safer than the hydro but I want to warn you and tell you to do yourself a really big favor and to very carefully research that stuff before you are going to put it in your mouth and get it into your system. As soon as you do it, you might not even realize, but it might change your life a lot! seriously, you do know that it is a really bad thing or it is like a life sentence or something in this matter when the treatment centers are saying that they are not able to detox you or to help you in case you are on the done for a long time on a high dosage. I’m serious about this, no intentions to scare you but if this does scare you then this might save you.. but I just only want to warn you.</p><p> </p><p>Also, one last note, Eva123, I have to confess that I am really shocked by the fact that your Pm is only uses done alone, isn’t he worried about you? although this is mostly only my assumptions I still can say that I am quite sure that they are doing such a thing because of a lower abuse potential and diversion potential due to the fact there’s a low street value. I can say that if I would be you, then I would beg to get on the fent patch… imo is a lot much better. and safer. I do not even think that you could switch over to opana or to morphine extended release without the severe discomfort and that’s’ even at the 40s. in fact, I would say that 40s it is the threshold for being screwed up. but I think that is the level treatment centers that tend to say no or may even be 20. Heck, in fact, I think that you are going to need to be on the suboxones for such a long time and on such a high dosage in order to get over the done that you are going to get stuck with the subs instead. There is almost no way out, as I have already mentioned and I honestly tell you that there’s nothing that you should be playing around with. you can taper patches pretty easy (or at least, much more easier) in case you are getting the ones without gel and cut them. but anyway, I do know that everybody chooses what he/she likes in the end and this post would, most likely, not change anybody’s mind, but that’s sad because this might save some of you. I do know that there are people who do regret that they have ever taken done. best of luck to each one of you and hope you’ll never end up as those people did.</p><p>
SamuelStumpyoyo
New member
Hey there Garfalo, I really have to respectfully disagree with you on the statement that methadone can be the very best option for ANY persons out there. in fact, for some of them, it really can be. plus, I really do not think that methadone is having absolutely any much worse side effects than the other pain killing medicines. the fact that you have not experienced side effects from other drugs it doesn’t make them safe and it doesn’t mean that other people won’t have them. It simply just happened that you have had an idiosyncratic reaction to that medication and nothing more. personally I’ve got to say that I have taken some for kicks for approximately a week or so and I’ve got to say that I really found it to be quite pleasant. Indeed, maybe it was not truly euphoric or something in this matter, however I really liked it mostly due to the fact that it really made both my anxiety and my depression to go away and I was feeling much more better with it. and with minor to no side effects from it at all. it is just the way your body reacted on it. but for some other people it might work the totally different way and make those people feel so much more better with no side effects while they might not have such good reactions while on other drugs. Why wouldn’t this be their very best medication? for each person their own. But yeah, I do agree with the fact that this is not a long term solution for psych issues, this is, in fact, quite logical and obvious. Just wanna say that a person has to give it a try him/herself in order to judge how a specific drug works for him/her.
</p><p> </p><p>I’ve got to say that I totally do agree with the fact that good information really can help you with good medicine and the more information the better IMO.</p><p> </p><p>However, as much as I know, usually neither hydrocodone nor methadone are going to show up being positive on a 5 panel UA test since neither one of them are, in fact, natural opiates, however rather semi and fully synthetic “opioids” for hydrocodone and methadone respectively. So well, since methadone it is simply another narcotic drug, it is only filling opiate receptors in a quite similar way to other narcotic as well. however, as I already have mentioned this earlier in my post (and as somebody else mentioned it either), it is a much longer acting in terms of effect medication and it is causing some less euphoria and therefore it has a less potential for being abused and from this we get that it is a less valuable on street market.</p>McBrien said:</p><p>Oh yeah, you can really tell the difference between the methadone and hydrocodone. I do know that methadone needs to be tested separately in a test due to the fact that it is not going to show up on the 5 panel test. Hydrocodone, on the other hand, it is a real opiate and it is going to show up as an opiate on a test. That’s because methadone it is only a synthetic opiate and that’s why it is I a class all of its own. This is why methadone and hydrocodone, although they work as opiates and work for killing pain, are working differently in the end. that’s because methadone is tricking the brain into thinking that it is still having heroin or opiates in the body, it is working the same in the brain. That’s because it is “synthetic” and I guess this is why it is so much more hard to get off it when trying to do so. So to answer your question I know that they would have to test separately for methadone. I’ve got to say that they are 2 totally different drug classes, they are, of course, different.</p><p> </p><p>Just remember that good information, it is in fact, good medicine, so the more information you gather the better medicine you get. Life is a continuous learning class that never ends. best wishes. Hope you’ve got the answers that you’ve wanted among all these comments.</p><p>
so well, in response to the OP as to what it is the main difference between methadone and hydrocodone?
I know that hydrocodone it is more of an “organic” opiate, it is being derived from thebaine or codeine and both of them occurring naturally in the poppy. It is known that hydrocodone it is one of the milder opioids, it is quite often being prescribed to those patients that are having no tolerance and it is sometimes being prescribed in order to help with a cough. So well, to make it shorter – it is not that strong of an opiate and this is why you are less likely to overdose while using it than when using other even more potent opiates. Sadly but hydrocodone it is only available, from as much as I know, in combination with either Tylenol or ibuprofen or maybe some other type of non narcotic pain killer drug. this is made in order to avoid and prevent potential of abuse, however in case you are in a genuine severe pain then you may find yourself unable to take enough of it in order to control your pain without also ingesting a potentially fatal amount of the acetaminophen as well. however, since it is a milder opiate narcotic medication, the withdrawals from the hydrocodone are relatively mild (but they are really milder when compared to the withdrawals from other opioids that are stronger) and this means that in case you are using it for a while and then you are suddenly stopping using it then you are not going to have such a hard time of discontinuing to use it (or at least not so hard as when stopping a stronger opiate pain killer medication).
However, on another hand we have methadone which is a fully synthetic (fully synthetic means that it is fully made in a laboratory) opioid. It is still acting on the opiate receptors, however chemically it is quite different from others… it is, in fact, very different from morphine for example. Methadone is known to be one of the more potent opioids that you can find on the market though there are some even more potent. Like for example fentanyl. And even though it is not so strong and potent as fentanyl is, it is still very easy for a person to accidentally overdose on the methadone and especially when not listening to the doctor’s advice and take more than he prescribed. Unlike hydrocodone, methadone it is not being combined with any other pain killing substances so when you are using a methadone pill then you are just swallowing methadone alone (only except for the binders and the fillers in the pill). if talking about a reasonably small dosage then it is usually giving a pain relief for most of the people out there which is why many people do prefer it.
However, the point is that the methadone withdrawals are extremely extremely terrible, they are indeed really horrible, so bad that they are considered to be some of the worst withdrawals of any opiates out there and it is considered to be far worse than those that are being caused by heroin. Moreover, i am going to tell you 3 main reasons why methadone it is being given to those people who want to quit using heroin and how it helps doing so:
The first one is that methadone is really cheap. So since it is cheap the clinics are able to afford it to practice in the inner cities and they are still able to make a substantial money profit out of it. plus, it is also much more affordable for the heroin addicts as well (most of which are broke, or at least more often) and it is a cheaper alternative to the suboxone. So a cheap thing that can help you get off your addiction is a good thing for most people out there.
The second reason is that high doses of this substance methadone is kind of “blocking” other opiates. What I am trying to say is that when there is somebody who is ingesting a reasonably high dosage of methadone, the methadone is binding very strongly to the opiate receptors, is binding so strong that it reaches the point where some other opiates are being unable to reach, hence they are being ineffective. All if this only means that in case there is a heroin addict who is taking methadone and after that he shoots up (takes his heroin) somehow then he is not going to be able to feel his heroin and therefore it is going to simply be a pure waste of a bag as well as his money. methadone, shortly, makes you not to feel anything from using any other opioids.
And finally the third and the last reason is that methadone is having a relatively long half life. having this said, one dose is going to keep a heroin addicted person “unsick” for quite a good time and it is not going to allow him to take a heroin dose (since, returning to the previous point – it is useless). Therefore, all they have to do is to only dose one time per day and that’s it. this is why is believed that taking it once a day you’re going to be kept away from using heroin.
All of the above sounds quite good, if not taking in consideration methadone’s side effects which are also very bad and the fact that you can end up hooked on it as well providing, as I said, even worse withdrawals effects. so having all of the above said, methadone can help you get off heroin, but you’ve got to do it very carefully otherwise you risk ending up in even bigger problems with even worse withdrawal effects.
Oh yeah, I do agree with the post about methadone and I generally do agree with anybody who said that methadone’s withdrawals are not a funny thing to get through and that it is one of the hardest thing that you can ever do. I do know it because I have kicked an 60 mg per day of methadone habit cold turkey and doing so nearly killed me so I wouldn’t suggest anybody on such a dosage doing it otherwise I’m sure that you are going to regret pretty much the same as I did. This stuff is liquid death and you’ve got to be extremely careful with it. definitely nothing “mild”. The only real purpose for methadone clinics it is so the cops to know where you are going to be every single day at a certain time a day. hydro it is easy to come by CIII which it is not such a big deal with the DEA. And also, in case you need to kick temgesic is easy to purchase at rxiop 99.00 buys you a 2 week supply you are not going to get sick in case you are slowly weaning yourself off the temgesic. But whoever it is now on methadone and especially if you’re on a high dose of it then I’m really really sorry for you guys.
Hey there guys, I have also been on a methadone maintenance program for nearly one year now and I am currently using 40 mg per day. but, I can tell you something.. methadone, as you already know (I guess) is having an extremely long half life and this is why doctors are prescribing it for pain, however, it is also (I guess you already know it too) very and very cheap as well.
I have been an real addict, been addicted to opiates and then later I have decided that I should go to the methadone clinic and I’ve got to say that I am really really glad that I did. That’s because by doing so it has saved my life, it has saved my marriage and so on, however this is beside the point. It is like a bonus or something like a gift. the point that I am currently trying to make is that the methadone lasts a really long time and dosing can be really fluctuated quite easily in order to get you to the right dose, in the time hydrocodone is not able to do so. Besides, the hydrocodone it is also being prescribed in dosages of 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg as much as I know while methadone is coming in a starting dosage of 10 mg but then it goes in 20 mg and 40 mg (wafers) as well. but I’ve got to say that I do believe that the side effects are quite the same as any other opiate substance has.
But once again, I do refer back to the half life because this is so important. it is having a really one which makes it last a very long time, makes it stay in the user’s body for a long time. I am only using it one time per day and that’s enough. However I take a high dose, my do is very and very high, so high that it can actually block another opiates from taking their effect in my body, as another poster from above mentioned this. indeed, it is true that methadone withdrawal effects are very and very bad, horrible and terrible and whatever else they have been called, however, pretty much like any other opiate, it is only a decision that you are making, and it is indeed a really scary one when you want and decide to stop taking it. just remember that your doctor is going to help you get through that very hard period and you would also need support from others too. you’ve just got to be prepared of it.
But even so, methadone is still not that bad due to the fact that methadone has been researched extensively for more than 30 years now and it has been showed that it has no detrimental effects on your body at all (I mean, no liver failure, no kidney damages etc.). while hydrocodone that people claim to be safer etc. is containing Tylenol and it is really damaging to the liver if taken over time.
But anyway, by saying this I do not want to change anybody’s mind or whatever. These are only my thoughts and opinions, from a person who has some experience with methadone. Plus, there’s also something else that imo needs to be taken in consideration and it is as with any other medicine – there is indeed difference in brands that you use. I am taking the orange roxane 40 mg wafers. 3.5 of them every morning at 6 AM and I am good to go 24 hours later until the next morning. but I know that other brands may not last so long or be so effective. Besides, in case you do need any more help or you need some recommendations then you can feel free to ask it here or to pm me. always happy to help other people.
Plus, I’ve seen people saying something about fentanyl so I can’t end this up without saying that methadone it is nothing like fentanyl at all. researching on fentanyl you will see that it is being given to cancer patients and to people that are now simply waiting for their death. It is a loooooot much more stronger and potent than heroin is and it is having an extremely short half life. that stuff is even more dangerous than you think that it is, that’s it is being prescribed in MICROGRAMS! To be honest, I personally would do a really big and careful research before I am going to make a decision to try it out. I would talk to my doctor about it a lot before this! it seems that there is misinformation galore on the internet!
So well, as much as I have been told about this, I was explained that approximately 30 mg of hydrocodone which is going to be about 3 pills of 10 mg of hydrocodone it is pretty much working the same as 5 mg of methadone. Having this said, we can say that methadone it is approximately 6 times more potent than hydrocodone (as a pain killing effect). However, I am not able to confirm this though to say for sure either is this true or it is not and that is why I am not going to take my word for it, but I just wanted to say what I have been told about this and how I understood it. I know it because I’ve also been considering getting it because of my pain problems and while I’ve searched for it I have seen that medication on those medications like meds express, however I would not want to order only due to the fact that it seems to be too insecure for me to get them and that’s because the only form of payment that they are using it is cash on delivery. I don’t know, maybe I’m just too paranoid but I don’t want to get scammed again… I’ve been ripped off that way in the past with fastmeds so….
Methadone it is indeed a very strong medication, very and very strong one! I can even say that it is much stronger than that even. However, one big problem it is that methadone does to produce some really strong euphoria and it is also taking it a really long time in order to kick in and to hit the effects compared to the hydrocodone that it is kicking in all at once at approximately the hour mark or so and that is why people are quite often confusing the strength of the drug with the rush of the euphoria gotten from those drugs.
Also we should take in consideration that methadone it is lasting 12 to approximately 24 hours in the time the hydro it is getting out of the system much rapidly. Personally for me I would say that an about 15 mg dosage of methadone it is quite the same (equi potent) to approximately using 150 to even 200 mg of hydro per day. but again, that’s for me. maybe for somebody else there’s a thinner difference. but whatever the case, I still know that people do tend to start using waaay to much of methadone since they are beginning with using approximately 40 mg of the methadone and IMO this is craziness.. this is insane. There’s no doctor who should allow this because in my opinion this is a death sentence and I’m quite sure that people can even overdose from 40 mg of methadone and especially if they are unfamiliar with opioids. 40 mg should be avoided and not even talking about those who take even more than 40 mg (oh yeah, I did have heard about people using such dosages). personally, I’ve used 15 mgs of it and it has truly covered me when I have been on a 50 mcg of fentanyl patch with oxy for break through pain. But I do know why people do such a big mistake (and it is often a fatal mistake). Methadone it is taking a while after firstly using it, it takes a couple of days until it does work, it takes a few days until it is really building up in your system and is going to work. That is why, people tend to take dosages such as 40 mgs or even more of it because they don’t experience pain relief. Don’t do it and start off with only 5 mgs of it. I’ve started with 15 mgs because as I said, I’ve been on 50 mcg of fentanyl patch with oxy!! But you’ve got to be patient and take a normal dosage and remember that 15 mgs of done is plenty! I would say that it is too much for 99% of people!
I then have stopped using done due to the fact that 15 mgs per day has still been strong enough for me to numb me out and to make me feel apathetic to the entire world. This means that with my entire previous pain killing medications uses, 15 mgs of done was too much. ok maybe other people are reacting differently on it but I still think that 15 mgs of done is a lot! it has numbed everything in me! I do want to numb the pain, of course, however I still do want to participate in life and generally have a life, that is why I have stopped the done after approximately 2 or maybe 3 months later. I couldn’t live anymore a normal life under the effects I’ve had on it.