HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Peripheral Neuropathies In Both Legs And Arms. Will Methadone Help?

and now peripheral neuropathiies in both legs and feet and hands and arms. I have been a chronic pain patient for about 4 years now. I live in rural SW Montana, I am 57 years old, so I have had these things since 2002. I am on a lot of pain meds and the GP that I have been seeing is trying to taper me off these meds. They are the only things that help me though. What do you think about me going on methadone?
Tue, 11 Mar 2014
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Methadone is effective drug for pain of peripheral neuropathies but the greatest drawback of this medicine is that it can lead to addiction and tolerance. Tolerance means the efficacy of the drug will diminish gradually when it is used for a long period. There are other drugs such as Amitriptyline , carbamazipine, Gabapentin may be also effective and they can be tried as a substitute for methadone. Further potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin have been also successfully used in peripheral neuropathies. A number of cases of over dose of methadone have also been reported.So these risks of methadone should be kept in mind if you are going to continue methadone therapy.
I find this answer helpful

 1 user finds this helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer

Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Methadone


Loading Online Doctors....
Peripheral Neuropathies In Both Legs And Arms. Will Methadone Help?

Methadone is effective drug for pain of peripheral neuropathies but the greatest drawback of this medicine is that it can lead to addiction and tolerance. Tolerance means the efficacy of the drug will diminish gradually when it is used for a long period. There are other drugs such as Amitriptyline , carbamazipine, Gabapentin may be also effective and they can be tried as a substitute for methadone. Further potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin have been also successfully used in peripheral neuropathies. A number of cases of over dose of methadone have also been reported.So these risks of methadone should be kept in mind if you are going to continue methadone therapy.