Posted by Elizabeth on November 21, 2001, at 19:25:39
In reply to Re: Methadone for depression. » shelliR, posted by JahL on November 20, 2001, at 17:36:47
> I'll do more than slip it into the conversation...I'm at the stage where I'm not bothered about offending the sensibilities of pdocs.
Hey, you're in the UK, aren't you? So you can get Temgesic? I'm sure I've mentioned before that US doctors are reluctant to prescribe injectable drugs to outpatients (especially psychiatric outpatients, regardless of whether there's any history of drug abuse).
> If you make enough noise the NHS is obliged to continue treating you. However it is often the case that pdocs will tell you (or at least me) "there is nothing further I can do for you", at which point you get referred back to yr regular pdoc (again). Back to square one-stylee.
That's so irritating! You know that what they mean is, "There's nothing further that I'm *willing* to do for you."
> Yeah me too. I would refuse to go to hospital on grounds of principle (it's been offered a few times). NHS='One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' whilst the private clinics seem to farm institutionalised types unable to function in the real world. Sad but true. I'm sure they're [the clinics] a haven for some tho'.
I'm not sure I get what you mean about the private hospitals. Can you rephrase/elaborate?
> Those that would criticise you have the luxury of not going thru what you are.
Isn't that true all too often?
> I don't have to read any text books with you around :-)
Thanks, I think! < g >
> I have a Q if you don't mind.
Of course I don't mind!
> I know it's all guess work but *what would you consider to be a therapeutic dose of Methadone for an opioid-naive individual*?
I don't know much about methadone -- it's used sometimes for pain, but far more for opioid dependence, and the latter always requires shockingly big doses. I happen to know an opioid-naive guy who tried 10 mg (orally) a while back and says he was "better than well" for a full day. (He was also puking his guts out.) The recommended dose for pain, according to the PDR, is 2.5-10 mg every 3-4 hours, so I was surprised that it lasted so long for him. On the other hand, when addicts are treated with it, they usually need only one dose a day. Confusing.
> I tried around 5ml a few times recently.
How many mg/mL?
> Interesting. A bit dreamy in a not unpleasant kinda way. Good sleep. Bad constipation :-(
Sleep? Opioids (not just bupe) keep me awake! The constipation is an unavoidable and heinous problem. Some people also say that methadone makes them sweat a lot. I think that the best opioid, in terms of ease of use and minimal side effects, is Duragesic, the transdermal fentanyl patch (although wearing a patch for three days, which is how long it's supposed to last, sounds like it could get pretty grody).
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:84007
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011113/msgs/84869.html