Methadone and other analgesics

[USAddictionCounselor]

A person who is maintained an adequate dose of Methadone (usually 60-150mg but may be as much as 200mg and up) receives NO analgesic effect from the methadone. Because these patients are already opioid tolerant they frequently require a higher dose of short acting opiods than a non-opioid maintained person.

The risk of a methadone maintained person relapsing is higher if there pain goes untreated than it does if treated with short acting opiates. If a methadone maintained person is denied adequate pain releif they can resort to buying illicit drugs off the street to treat thier pain which is a greater concern than a properly prescribed pain medication "setting off" their illicit drug use.

[manics]

http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/meth412.pdf

May provide the relevant answers!