My understanding is that yes, methadone is a considerably stronger, but I don't have any personal experience with it, so if everyone contradicts me you can just ignore me. :)

I am on Methadone, and yes it is more powerful than Oxycodone, plus it is a real long term medication since when you stop using it, the medication collects in your fatty deposits for about 7 days after you stop taking it.

I am currently weening of Methadone because my Doctor wants to try an intrathecal pain pump. The reason that I can not be on Methadone, is because it is a completely different opiod, and its composition is also different and the pump will be filled with Morphine and Prialt. With that said, Methadone was very good to me, and it controlled my pain almost 75%. Take care, and if you have more questions about Methadone, send me a PM.

Hugs,

With adjustments to dose, opiate equivalency can be accomplished.

Thanks you guys for replying; it's good to hear that I might be able to get something to help my pain. I have to take a trip cross country later this week, and I'm cringing and sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

CC, of course equivalent strengths can be reached between two drugs. I guess what I'm asking is, " which drug provides better pain relief when taking an amount on which I'm still able to function somewhat?"I'm sure if I took 20 percocets, my pain would be controlled, but I'd also be in a coma or dead.

Good question...percocet is oxycodone plus tylenol..20 would be liver toxic by virtue of the tylenol, not the oxycodone. So, in answer to your question, opiate equipotency is not brand or type specific.

CC, for the sake of comparison, let's pretend the tylenol isn't a factor. If we're just comparing a pure oxycodone HCl tablet (let's say a tablet that contains 7.5mg) and a tablet of methadone in an amount that is commonly prescribed for a first-time user of it (no idea what amount this would be), which would provide the greater pain relief? My goal is to have my pain controlled but not be drooling on the conference table (although feeling "very sleepy" or "drunk" would be fine. Gosh, I am just so desperate for something to allow me to do the stuff I need to do.

I was switched to methadone about 6 weeks ago. Prior to that I was on 10 mg. norco 3 x a day and I was not getting any relief at all. The methadone is by far a much more potent narcotic and much more effective at helping with pain. It took about 3 days before I started noticing a big difference in my level of pain. I am on 5 mg. 2 x per day. Doctor allows me 5 mg. 3 x per day but so far 2 x per day is effective. It did make me very drowsy for the first couple of weeks but that is getting much better now. I would recommend it from my experience so far.

I am on 2.5 mg aday of methadone... It keeps me out of the er :) Every time weather changed i use have go to er.. Now i am able stay out er... It works so good for me. their is not maxs does on the med eather really... So it can be adjusted alot for frist week i took 2.5 mg every 3 days then swiched to every other day then to every day last month...

Only thing u want to keep med name hush hush except all your drs need know... No freinds need to know though as their will be judging. As methadone at same time is used get people off herion and acholic.
You have to stay away from bendryl and couple meds and stuff so if you chose to do it ask pharmist every time you even get over counter med its safe it methadone.

Thanks, ShyLady, that is all very good to know.

Ugh--I've called the doctor's office two days in a row about asking if he could prescribe this, and I've gotten no response. He sees 30 patients a day (over 600 per month), and he obviously can't manage that amount. I'm certainly not a frequent caller, either (unless you count the calls made due to his forgetting to sign all of my prescriptions last time). Jeeeeeeeeeeeeez!!!

Their is no way.. He will just call this in... This will have to be a ofice vist apointment... Their is alot more to talk about... This med is not just like other pain meds... To protect their ofice their will be alot talking.. Plus this med can not be called in,

It might hurt you that you even called and asked for this med over the phone... Here you see you pain dr every 30 days or no medcen.

Every time i go to my pain dr he tells me more and more about this med... As they have to keep u informed about this medcation.

My pain management doctor does not make that big of a deal of it. I see him every other month and the month I don't go in he mails me a prescription. I just have to call and let him know I will be needing it filled. Methadone has been used as a drug to get heroin addicts off heroin for years but has begun being used heavily for pain management in the last few years after it was found to be very effective in treating pain.

Maybe its because i am still new methadone... My dr though spends 40 mins about with each paient to... I know thats longer then most pain drs do...

My pain dr always telling more imfo and awsering any qustions. I kinda like though how they make people see them once month to get pricribion as i would not want that mailed... As one chance that get in wrong hands...
I rather have it in my own hands... Theirs reason they cant call them in... Atleast here they dont call any narcotis they give u skript.

The equivalent doses can be found in charts that nicely describe this....like here: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/25039849/Opioid-Conversion-Chart

I wonder if there is a chart showing the equivalent doses of methadone vs. oxycodone. Well, I did get an appointment, so I guess I will soon find out. Hope it works better than this lame-ass oxycodone :-)