Methadone for Restless Leg Syndrome

[hfleming]

Thanks everyone for your replies -- these were the next steps I was going to follow:

STEP 1: Prior to registration with NHS
-Schedule and meet with pain consultant (one has already agreed to take me on)
-Have pain consultant issue prescriptions as needed and fill directly with the pharmacy via private prescription. This would be done via private prescription until NHS has completed.

STEP 2: Register with NHS
-Get an NHS number

STEP 3: Get a NHS GP

STEP 4: Schedule & meet with NHS GP, get the NHS GP to refer me to the Pain Clinic at St Mary’s Hospital (via NHS) and to the specialist who I'd seen earlier in step 1.

I'm told that getting set up on NHS takes a month or two. Once NHS is set, hopefully they will cover the meds and such. I'm also registered now on Bupa, but as I read thru the materials, they appear to not cover treatment for chronic ongoing conditions.

Regarding the steps, do those sound like the right ones?
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TO NIKOLAI - The meds I take are Methadone for the pain, and Lyrica for the restlessness. Both get very severe and manifest in my right leg and arm. I've tried pretty much every treatment for RLS, including acupuncture and medicinal teas, and the only thing that has brought any release is the combo above. The methadone also helps with my Barrett's Esophagus (which when it acts up is like a knife in my chest). The RLS also manifested itself in the day, previously it was only at night. So the methadone has helped managed the pain throughout the day.

[johnep]

Lyrica (pregabalin) was brought out when patent on Gabapentin (Neurontin) expired.
Any real proof that it is any better to justify cost?
I believe Baclofen also used.
Very interesting thread.
johnep

[Nik]

A lot of meds used are unlicensed, such as TCA's, gabapentin, etc. Diazepam is also used probably because of its muscle relaxant properties. Not sure how many GP's would resort to methadone if the RLS is painful, they'd probably go for a weak opioid first.

[bobbin]

Thanks everyone for your replies -- these were the next steps I was going to follow:

STEP 1: Prior to registration with NHS
-Schedule and meet with pain consultant (one has already agreed to take me on)
-Have pain consultant issue prescriptions as needed and fill directly with the pharmacy via private prescription. This would be done via private prescription until NHS has completed.

STEP 2: Register with NHS
-Get an NHS number

STEP 3: Get a NHS GP

STEP 4: Schedule & meet with NHS GP, get the NHS GP to refer me to the Pain Clinic at St Mary’s Hospital (via NHS) and to the specialist who I'd seen earlier in step 1.

I'm told that getting set up on NHS takes a month or two. Once NHS is set, hopefully they will cover the meds and such. I'm also registered now on Bupa, but as I read thru the materials, they appear to not cover treatment for chronic ongoing conditions.

Regarding the steps, do those sound like the right ones?
--------------------------------------------------------------------

TO NIKOLAI - The meds I take are Methadone for the pain, and Lyrica for the restlessness. Both get very severe and manifest in my right leg and arm. I've tried pretty much every treatment for RLS, including acupuncture and medicinal teas, and the only thing that has brought any release is the combo above. The methadone also helps with my Barrett's Esophagus (which when it acts up is like a knife in my chest). The RLS also manifested itself in the day, previously it was only at night. So the methadone has helped managed the pain throughout the day.

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

Before you take the methadone script to a pharmacy, I would ask the consultant to contact the pharmacy that you plan to use. Private scripts for methadone are extremely rare and the pharmacy may refuse to dispense without speaking to the prescriber. Given that consultants are usually impossible to get hold of, it would be much better if the doctor contacted the pharmacy in advance. It is also important to bear in mind that private prescriptions for controlled drugs such as methadone must now be written on one of the new FP10PCD prescriptions forms. It is well worth checking that this is correct before you leave the doctor's office.

[lingons]

HI,

methadone improperly will increase your risk of serious side effects or death. Even if you have used other narcotic medications, you may still have serious side effects from methadone. Follow all dosing instructions carefully. Methadone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Methadone should never be given to another person,,,


Thank you....

[johnep]

Methadone commonly used in US for pain relief because it is cheap.
johnep

[bobbin]

HI,

methadone improperly will increase your risk of serious side effects or death. Even if you have used other narcotic medications, you may still have serious side effects from methadone. Follow all dosing instructions carefully. Methadone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Methadone should never be given to another person,,,


Thank you....

I would assume that hfleming is already aware of the risks of methadone.

[DavidS]

I would assume that hfleming is already aware of the risks of methadone.

I'm sure you're right there.

still, you never know who else might read this: for every poster there are about a hundred lurkers. Its like leaving a magazine in a cafe posting on here.

Anyway, its nice to have someone from drug rehab on here, to give that side of the story.

[bobbin]

I'm sure you're right there.

still, you never know who else might read this: for every poster there are about a hundred lurkers. Its like leaving a magazine in a cafe posting on here.

Anyway, its nice to have someone from drug rehab on here, to give that side of the story.

Good point D.