Have You Ever Lost a Loved-One to Methadone?
Question by Pamela O: Have you ever lost a loved-one to methadone?
My son died on Easter Sunday, April 8,2007 to an overdose after going to a clinic for less than one week for pain, not heroin and he was23. His doseage was increased after 3 days. Please reconsider if you are not a heroine addict.
Best answer:
Answer by A F
Pamela my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry to hear what happened to myour son. My husband was nearly another Methadone fatality and I know of at least 2 more. In December 2003 his pain specialist changed him from the pain med he had been on for spinal injury due to being hit by cement truck to Methadone. I was horrified bec I knew of it only as something for addicts. But he had confidence in his dr. However since his pain was not as bad as sometimes he took only a partial dose that night. Within just over an hr he felt “awful”. Not having been warned of the bad effects we thought he was having a low blood sugar reaction necause he was shaking and dizzy.
The next AM he was up alert and in the bathroom when I left to pick up some donations for the Community Christmas Dinner our ministry does. I came home 2 1/2 to 3 hrs later to find him across the bed, unconscious, unable to be roused even w/ cold water and shaking and bearly breathing. By God’s grace he was on his side head across his arm which maintained an airway and prevented aspiration. The 911 folks of course hearing he was newly on mathadone decided he was an addict. His blood sugar was then in high 400’s (drastic for him). They would not give Insulin but allowed me to. Moving him to ambulence they either lost hos airway or he just couldn’t keep breathing. By then a first responder who knew him from other things came and insisited they put him down right then and bag him. In the ambulance he went into total cardiac arrest. He arrived at hosp clinically dead but mechanically maintained. He was revived however there was a lot of neurological and brain damage. He could not remember how to form thoughts into words, had no idea what eating was all about. He had the physical ability to produce words or repeat them but not the thoughts to express. He had the ability to move fork to mouth but no real idea why or how much. Dressing was similar. He had many incidents of breathing stopping. His blood glucose control is still not where it was and he is especially at risk for low blood sugar. He is not yet where he was before this happened but is making progress. I am very grateful for what of him is still here but o I miss him.
A friend’s daughter who was treated by another dr for severe back pain had a very similar reaction and was in ICU and is not yet (over 2 yrs) recovered from the damage.
Chronic severe pain is horrible but I agree with you completely that anyone who is put on Methadone should strongly discuss the known dangers and other alternatives with their doctor and if need be with another dr before taking it. Pain management dosages of Methadone seem to be based on tolerance levels ppl would have to it coming off heroin or similar drugs whether street or prescribed and ppl on most pain meds even morphine do not necessarily have these same tolerance levels. The simple fact is Methadone can kill even in less than the prescribed dosage. Sudden withdrawl from other pain meds can also kill. If a person is absolutely determined or convinced by their dr to use Methadone they should at least ask for inpatient hospitalization and cardiac and respetory monitoring during the transition and failing that if they feel they absolutely must take it should not be alone and the person with them should know side effects to look for. Whoever is with them should have relief so someone is awake and watchful. I am not sure how long this would be needed but my gut feeling is at least 3 days.
Thank you for sharing your experience and your grief. Perhaps it will save another life today. God bless you.
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