Methadone Drug Addiction .com

I am concerned that a basic urine drug test for employment will find that I have Methadone in my system, which I take for back pain. If I disclose I take it, will I need to provide any proof of the prescription, or is it against the law for them to dig into my medical records. I am afraid if they find out I have a bad back I won't get the job, even though I am capable. Do the drug tests look for Methadone? Am I safe as long as I list it as a current medication I am taking?

If you are honest about use of the drug for pain related use, there is a high probability that it will merely be included to be discluded from the results. However, methadone is a highly addictive controlled substance and may not be as casually treated as an antibiotic may be. As for your reason for worrying about the prescription, the pharmacist should have it. They may ask for the name of the pharmacy that fills the prescription. Another thing to consider is that it is a criminal offense on the federal level to take prescription drugs prescribed for someone else. There may be have mitigating circumstances such as a 'fear of doctors' or 'inability to pay for doctor's services' that caused your lack of substantiating documents to attest to your need for having Methadone in your system. Pain in and of itself is a powerful motivator to do something that would ordinarily not be done (from an ethical standpoint). If it is intense enough to require pain medication that is as strong as methadone, you could be doing additional damage to the muscles and underlying tissues to continue to stress your back. Pain is a signal to something being 'wrong'. Listen to it. It is trying to 'tell you something'. Back pain can be very serious and should be examined for potential paralytic problems. You could really hurt yourself more by taking the drug and continuing to work than it you try to endure the pain and stop when you are unable to stand the pressure. See if you can find a physician to diagnose and prescribe a therapy treatment or obtain a prescription prior to the test date. Even if the prescription is not the same, it is much better to say that I obtained some and took them until I could go to see the doctor...than to say, I am avoiding doctors and taking someone else's relief remedy. The person for whom it is prescribed probably actually needs it, too.

Further, from a legal perspective, employers often have employees sign a legal waiver that enables them to access certain types of medical information. Your physician may also ask for you to sign a medical information waiver form to feel protected from a breech of patient-doctor confidentiality trust. It is better for me not to be concerned about it because any unauthorized use or circulation of it could be a matter of legal consequence. If in doubt of the confidentiality of your physician related documents, seek an attorney's advice prior to testing. It could prevent your arrest for illegal drug use. There confidentiality goes 'beyond the grave'. They cannot talk about you to anyone unless you are intending to commit a haenous offense against mankind (killing) AND they took you at your word.

See a doctor, soon. Hope you get to feeling better. I used to take Doan's pills as if they were after lunch mints due to the amount of strain in one of my positions held before I had acquired skills and proficiencies through training programs to enable me to do less strenuous 'work'.

2006-06-13 18:32:51 by happythefrog

Many people know that methadone is used to treat heroin addiction, but did you also know that it's a very effective medication for the ...

I asked a question bout my sister, and would up getting a lot of responses from people who work with heroin addicts. So, please read everything first. My sister got sciatica with her first child, so bad that she gets "stuck" when she lies flat on her back and every way she moves causes really horrible nerve spasms. She wound up on methadone (doc was eventually investigated by govt for prescription fraud!) and desperately wanted off, but found out the hard way that she can't just stop. So she began to detox from 60 mgs, then got accidentally pregnant at 35 mgs. Decided rather than just abort to continue, with an OB-GYN's approval, to continue detox (2mgs per week). So far, so good, down to 16 mgs. But she's nervous if her baby will have any harm from this, most docs say things should be okay, but it's a drug! Also, her sciatica is getting bad again, and she gets "stuck" now in positions that used to be okay. Has anyone detoxed and had baby? How can back be helped w/o narcotics?

Her doctor should NOT have prescribed her Methadone as a painkiller for her back. Methadone is extremely addictive, as you can tell from her withdrawls, and that is why even herion addicts are being prescribed a new, not as addictive, medication known as Suboxone (still addictive, but not nearly as much as Methadone).
Your sister will have to continue lowering her dosage of Methadone or it could cause serious health problems if she just completely stopped taking it.
Studies have shown that if a woman is pregnant and taking Methadone then the medication is quickly metabolized into the body and is out just as fast as it is in so the baby is most likely not getting much of the medicine if any.
She needs to just continue with the lowering her dosage and she and the baby should be fine.
Definitely have her find another doctor though because the doctor was wrong to prescribe Methadone for her back.
The only safe medication she can take for her back is Tylenol, unless another doctor prescribes her something else that is safe while pregnant.

2007-11-27 10:45:14 by bullymommy25

I was under the impression that Methadone was created to help drug addicts get off drugs like oxycotton and that it is not in any way a pain pill. My uncle said his doctor wants him to go to a Meth clinic for his back pain. I am wondering if he is telling the truth. Any help will be appreciated!

Methadone is a schedule 2 narcotic, like morphine or demerol. Although it is more commonly used for treating abusers of narcotics, it can also be used for severe pain. I have had patients in the past who received methadone for treating pain and not as part of a post-detox maintenance program. It is quite probable that your uncle is indeed telling the truth.

2006-04-20 09:50:08 by NewUser

I have been on methadone for spinal stenosis and DDD for about a month now. I am on a total of 55 mg per day and have vicodin (10/500's) for breakthrough pain. So far I have not had to use the vicodin but my doc said I could use it when I needed to. I feel like I am on a high dose of methadone and even though I got the go ahead I am worried about taking the vicodin along with it (I also take Soma as needed). I have having a bad day with my back and feel like I could really benefit from taking a vicodin. I took 2 Somas about 3 hours ago and it didnt help (I am allowed to take 1-2 up to 3 times per day as needed of the Soma). Is anyone on a dose of methadone similar to mine and taken vicodin or other pain meds for breakthrough? How did it make you feel? I dont want to feel to sedated or too out of it. And I dont want to worry about taking too much meds. Advice would be great! And btw...I do have a call into my doc office but they have yet to call me back.

Thanks in advance!

It is not at all uncommon for pain management specialists to prescribe methadone, in addition to the vicodin (hydrocodone) for breakthrough pain. As long as you don't exceed the dosage prescribed, you should be fine taking the vicodin, too, if you're still in pain.

With the dosage of methadone you're on, you should not feel too sedated by the vicodin.

If you feel you are taking too high a dose of methadone, try cutting your dosage back a bit tomorrow. Does your prescription say "as needed"? Try to get by on less methadone, perhaps reducing by only 5 or 10 milligrams. Try to get by on just enough methadone to control your pain, supplementing with the vicodin for breakthru pain.

2007-10-12 13:31:59 by Taylor

I am on methadone for chronic lower back pain. I had surgery in 98 and now may need another. Is there anyway to avoid surgery, and still take LESS MEDS?
I don't want to go through another surgery, but I can't stand the pain, and the meds seem to help less & less. I refused a higher dose recently because I am worried about addiction and the effects of taking too much medication. If I take more, It will be less effective AFTER surgery!
Anyone have a similar problem, and how did you handle it?

Hi, I might be able to help,. I take methadone for a serious chronic pain in my legs following multiple surgeries. I started on a very high dose, and was basically useless for the first week, then I gradually lessened the dose, until I found a level that kept me comfortable, there is no cure for this just management. I am lucky I have fabulous support from a pain clinic. Methadone on its own is good but its much better when combined with other drugs like Neurontin/Gabapentin
depending on what the pain is from and so on. I take both these plus a anti depressant drug although I am not depressed, its the mixture that makes it work. Paracetamol on its own is like taking a smarties, but combined with these can work.
If you have surgery that's a different pain, and you will be treated separately for that. that's the sort of pain that improves with time.I recently had my hip replaced, and continued on my pain meds along with the post surgical pain relief. I hope this helps some what chronic pain is very difficult top treat and most doctors get fed up with it as they themselves can't help, hence you need a pain clinic., where they specialize in all sorts of pain.
good luck

2007-11-02 14:56:09 by Tonia M