Can methadone be taken with Dilaudid?

Answer 1

The short answer is that, if you are under medical supervision, preferably in a hospital setting where you are being monitored, dilaudid (hydromorphone) can be taken for breakthrough pain when methadone is used as the primary analgesic (pain killer) for severe pain.

Methadone is a tricky drug to prescribe and finding the safe dosage that provides pain relief involves starting at a low dose and gradually increasing it until the patient gets relief, while monitoring the patient's vital signs and watching for the many possible side effects. The technical term for this is titration, and it is best done in a hospital setting, especially since patients in severe pain usually have other medical conditions that add to these risks.

Both dilaudid (hydromorphone) and methadone are opioid narcotics, but methodone is a more long-acting drug while hydromorphone is a more short-acting drug. Both are used for treating severe pain, but due to its short-acting nature, hydromorphone is more suited to treating breakthrough pain that occurs despite treatment with another drug.

The problem with taking hydromorphone with another opioid narcotic like methadone is that they can have a combined effect that can depress respiration to the point where medical intervention may be needed to prevent death. In a hospital setting where you can be monitored and where life support and other measures can be taken in an emergency, this is less of a concern. Outside a hospital setting, it is difficult and risky to determine the safe dosage for methadone for specific patients.

One of the difficulties in using methadone is that its effects on respiration can last long after it has stopped providing pain relief. This presents problems for the very patients that it is likely to be prescribed for - those with severe chronic pain. Taking another dose of methadone, or another opioid narcotic such as hydromorphone, when the first dose of methadone is wearing off, adds to the risk that, at some point, you may stop breathing.

A physician who specializes in pain management is best qualified to prescribe a course of treatment for severe pain, which may or may not include the use of multiple drugs. Self-prescribing narcotics, or experimenting with the dosage, can be very dangerous.

Answer 2

Tough choice. Dilaudid is pretty short acting, though very potent. Then again, so is methadone, but it last longer. The trade off for me was that methadone made me feel like a 'zombie' most of the time, but it worked much better than the Dilaudid does. You may want to discuss Kaidien (extended release morphine) with your doctor as an inbetween.

Answer 3

Morphine is a natural product made from opium. Methadone Hydrochloride is an opioid (a synthetic opiate) that was originally synthesised by German pharmaceutical companies during the Second World War. Your question of "Better" indicates a personally preferred effect. Morphine produces waves of euphoria that make a person feel warm and content (but nausea is also a common side effect.) and tends cause a state much like intoxication in higher doses.

Methadone also creates a form of euphoria but not so much a "drunk" state as morphine, its chemical reaction to the Mu receptors and neurotransmitters are slightly different than that of morphine so while a state of elation and "all is well" exist I (this is from personal experience and NOT from an authorized or controlled medical field study) don't believe one succumbs to a state of easy confusion as that of morphines advanced states but rather feels downright "chipper" and happy nonetheless.

As far as pain relief I believe morphine does a quicker and "deeper" job of "masking" the nerve messages to the brain, but Methadone has a more lasting effect and can also have a lasting effect on a patients mental state as there has been some discussion as to methadone role in serotonin re uptake (a chemical that regulates moods in the brain). I think each of these drugs has a certain area of pain relief that they do better than the other,also I believe the make up of each persons brain is different so we all react to different substances differently.

Opioid drugs, such as morphine or Methadone depress the respiratory centre's response to hypercarbia in the brain, so besides the intoxication and euphoria the breathing slows and less blood get to the brain. Both Morphine and methadone will "put you on the nod" that's your body telling you you have had too much drug. Usually when a person OD's on opiates its because that their brain has become so sedated that they can no longer breath on their own and need help to so or they will die.

Some people swear Morphine gives them the best relief while others say Methadone is a better choice because it not only cures the pain but lifts the depression that goes with it ( I am still taking Methadone myself until I find my life situation better or at least good enough that i can handle the withdrawl symptoms .... the worst being the crushing depression that goes along with quiting Methadones regulating of my brains chemistry for over two years now). Hopefully you have a good Dr that listens to your needs for quality of life- instead of thinking about whats best for his career, though Dr's are put in quite a bad spot sometimes, trying to juggle quality of life verses malpratice and having the Fed look over his shoulder for writing scripts....

If you are just joy riding and "chasing the Dragon" please be wary! - I feel life is full of experiences and if you are wise and lucky enough to live & learn, love & lose- without losing your freedom to continue down other paths, then you may just grow old and wise enough to impart your wisdom on others. Please, Do NOT BECOME A SLAVE to SUBSTANCE- I wish you the most luck as this... Its a little habit that has a way of destroying lives, friendships, and families. But hopefully you can find the beauty of a love for yourself and for a life not enslaved to a substance that has no love or pity to give back what all that you can and WILL lose if you are not careful. Always be honest to one person...YOURSELF.

Answer 4

depeneds yes but u must watch ur breathing they both slow it down and can to death