Methadone vs Oxycodone
 

I just kicked a 7 month oxycodone habit and am feeling so much better. My life is changing in ways I could have only dreamed of a few months ago.

My question is concerning my now ex-girlfriend. She had the same problem with oxycodone that I did and instead of going to medical detox like me she has been weening herself off of the drug with the assistance of her doctor.

This is the scenario. As of last week she was taking one 30mg oxycodone every 4 hours. I just got off the phone with her and she says that she has switched over to methadone. Now she is taking two 10mg methadone every 4 hours and thinks that she has cut down her consumption by 10mg. I was furious when I heard this because I was under the impression that methadone has a much greater half life than oxycodone. After a long discussion I still had not convinced her that she had actually increased her dosage and not decreased.

After doing alittle research I found out the half lifes of the two medications.
Oxycodone = 3-4.5 hrs Methadone = 24-36 hrs. I am not quite sure how half lifes work but it seems to me that the ammount of drugs in her system has increased tremendously.

My question is this. Did she actually increase her dosage and therefore increase her bodies opiate tolerance? If so how much is the equivalent of 120mg methadone per day to 180mg of oxycodone per day? Can anyone explain this in more detail to me?:c004::c004:

If anyone could settle this with actual medical data it would be much appreciated. Thanks for reading and your replies.

Hi wormzer

If I was you I'd be addressing your concerns and questions, through your gf, to your gf's Dr.

D

Wormzer. Most of us probably won't be able to answer the half-life questions here. I'd consider taking this question to justanswer.com (thats assuming you don't have access to her doctor) they have board certified MDs, Nurses, etc that can answer that question much easier than any of us. It has helped me in the past with certain questions.

Hope this helps.

thanks so much everyone for the response. I will check the website out zandre, thanks again.

BIG INCREASE for sure :D

Was she prescribed to the oxycodone in the first place for a non addiction related issue? If not I don't know what kind of doc prescribes oxycodone for opiate addiction...

Oh yea and to answer the main question...I'm not doc but i got some experience..the methadone to me is 3 times stronger then the oxy. If she is really trying to get clean she is setting herself way back!

^^ But then again she should have been on methadone or suboxone for opiate addiction in the first place. Just not in that high of a dose. Is she acting ****** up cause she should be!!! WHAT KIND OF DOC IS THIS THAT IMMEDIATE SWITCHES SOMEONE ONTO 120 mgs of methadone a day...this cannot be true!

Methadone Is on a whole other level then Oxy. Big increase for sure. Methadone unlike other opiates (oxycodone) actually store in the liver and does have a much much longer duration of effect then oxycodone and for me produces a much more intense euphoria. I kind of think of Methadone as H without the rush? Im sure not everyone would agree with that. But yeah, from a user stand point and not a doctor stand point. Id def say big increase. If it wasnt an increase she would want her oxy back....

Surveys show that most doctors have less then 8 hours of addiction training and to be honest unless they have taken opiates they really wont have any idea of its effects and strength. I honestly not surprised to hear a doctor doing that. I have a good friend who got started out on 60 mg OC's after back surgery. Had he not had a tolerance before hand, his body would have not been able to handle that. Sometimes doctors advice isnt always the best in regards to addiction and drug abuse.

Zory I think you hit the nail right on the head with that response. Until you've actually been on the meds, it's hard to really understand what it feels like once your body has become depended on them. The doctors dish this crap out with no remorse as to what how your body will become depended apon them, or how hard it is to stop. Hence the reason a lot of people end up with a "problem".

I'm not a doctor, so this is completely subjective, but that sounds like a pretty big increase to me.

Back when I used, 30 mg of oxy would get me high, but 10 mg of 'done would get me utterly wasted and 20 mg of 'done would floor me. Definitely time for a second opinion IMHO.

And be damned careful with that stuff. I had a friend die from O/D methadone + alcohol, it happened extremely quickly. We thought she was asleep but in fact she had stopped breathing.

My personal experience is that suboxone is a way better treatment option than 'done if your oxy levels are low enough.

Best of luck to you!