Methadone

Concern continues to grow regarding the prescribing of Methadone in Cardiovascular patients who suffer from chronic pain. Methadone, a synthetic opiate, is used to relieve several types of ongoing pain, especially for discomforts related to ongoing heart problems.

Patients regularly taking Methadone have been most commonly reported to experience:

Heart Arrhythmia
Heart Attack
Severe Valve Damage
Cardio-toxicity

Those taking Methadone are also at risk for unpredictable allergic reactions, as well as sudden death. Methadone can be found under many brand names such as Diskets, Dolophine, and Methadose. It is similar to Morphine as it is considered a narcotic pain reliever, additionally it can be highly addictive to users.

Additional Methadone side effects that patients have experienced:

Slowed breathing (even after the drug as worn off)
Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if immediately stopped taking
Cannot be combined with alcohol, can be fatal
Hallucinations and confusion
Elevated heart rate
Lightheadedness or faintness

Methadone also comes with various contraindications, that is those drugs that it cannot be combined with, such as Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, Calan, Covera, Isoptin, and Verelan.

The greatest concern among Methadone users is the risk for unforeseen deadly side effects. Though a history of previous problems with narcotic pain relievers may be a precursor to projecting possible injuries, unfortunately those without a problematic history are still at great risk.

Pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to the medical professionals and patients they provide their products to that they are safe and reliable for use. Responsibility must been taken where error has been made, this error has unfortunately ended and put in danger several innocent live.

If you or a loved one has suffered the devastating effects of Methadone use please contact our firm today. You and your family are entitled to the financial restitution you deserve. Do not hesitate, statute of limitations poses time constraints on litigation limits. Life is too precious, take the first step toward closure by contacting our firm today. Your burdens are our business.

Comments on This Topic:

There are 34 comments related to:
Defective Drugs: News, Statistics and Legal Guide

Lisa Bossmansays: 2011-12-20 07:21:37

I am 34 years old and have been dealing with chronic pain since I was 27 and in a car accident that ruptured a disc and damaged nerves. I had a discectomy in 2002 which only helped about a year then my issues got worse. I had no health insurance and pain management doctors put me on methadone 3 years ago. 1 year ago I changed pAin clinics due to cost and they continued me on methadone 30 mg a day so not a huge dose. The last 6 months I started to have episodes of irregular heartbeat and addressed this with the pain doctors, they didn't want to change my methadone and put me on Nucenta 50 mg #20 fir the month for breakthrough pain after the methadone started to not help my pain. This last month my heart issues got much worse and my primary became concerned, on Friday the 2nd I was put on a 24 hour heart monitor and I became very concerned about the effects of methadone on my heart and went to the pain clinic 2 weeks early and asked to speak with the doctor. I was seeing whatever doctor was there as my doctor i saw was fired or something like that three months earlier. He came into the room and it was a doctor who had only saw me once before and didn't know my history very well. This doctor was a complete jerk and became mad at me for coming on early thinking I was just out to get xtra meds early that month. He promptly told me I was shit out of luck for my pain management now as they did not want to treat me any more, I was a dirty pill chaser who was "a problem patient " for wanting to change my meds. I became very upset starred crying and began to have extreme chest pain and short of breath..as I gasped for air ( wearing a heart monitor this whole time) a nurse asked if I was ok and I responded " not really! " this annoyed the doctor and he told me just get out " just LEAVE!!" as I was just acting this way to make them feel bad and give me meds. I was given enough meds to cut down and stop over a three week period. I stumbled out of the office almost passing out and went to my truck where I sat 15 min trying to breath and clasping my chest in horrible pain. It felt as though I was having a heart attack. Long story short I was admired to hospital an hour later with a stress induced cardiac myopathy, currently my heart is only working at 25% and I am on two heart meds. I basically had a heart attack. I am seeing a different pain doctor on wednesday and at this time still taking methadone as it is all I have for pain to manage. I hope to get a different med on Wednesday as I feel the methadone has played a huge part in my heart problem. At 35 to have a heart working at 25% is not normal not to mention this all started after being on methadone for 3 years. And I also have bad teeth I had not thought it was methadone related but medication related as dry mouth has let to my issues. Methadone should only be taken with a doctors supervision and regular EKGs to check the heart!! Trust me.

PATRICIAsays: 2011-12-16 06:23:21

Ive been on and off of methadone for years for a herion addiction.last time i got up to 150mg, i decided to detox cold turkey it like to have killed me. i stayed off methadone for a few years after that i went right back to herion so this time ive been on it for about 2 months im on 70mg i tried to keep my dose low but with my drug habit it is almost impossible. today i am online because recently i have had chronic pain in my left arm chest and heart i did not know the effects of methadone on your heart until i read this, now i need to go to a good doctor and have my heart tested to see if its been damaged i have never had heart problems intil now, i still think that methadone is such a good drug instesd of sticking a needle in my arm everyday but now i dont know what to do im so afraid of a heart attack. so my question is do i stay on the methdone or go through the horrible detox?

Bonniesays: 2011-07-04 09:03:35

I've been on Methadone 10mg, 4 times a day, for 5 years for back pain. I had back surgery in 2007 but continue to have pain. I believe Methadone is a wonderful medication! It beats being addicted to Oxycontin, which I was for 10 years!!! Thanks!

Jason Jaysays: 2011-06-29 04:43:13

I have been on methadone for a year now an im only on 55 mg. an its as high as I would want to go cuz any higher dose will not do any different.Methadone makes you tired an most people that say it rots their teeth is because they probably are not brushing them adequately.The whole reason I even looked this up is because im getting swets an wild dreams.Allot of state officials & people look down on people using methadone to combat opiate addiction.It has saved my life.My friend I was with decided not to come with me to the program an has died. I am still alive because a Baltimore probation officer recommended I go to a program to avoid jail. The guy that was in trouble with me like I said no longer has this chance.Methadone is only supposed to be taken to allow your brain time to start producing serotonin & dopamine again to break physical addiction. Its also a pain reliever but I wouldn't recommend using methadone for pain because I hear that once it sets into your bones you'll never be able to stop.Anyway I just basically wanted to add that the person who made the comment about it rotting out their teeth is wrong.9 times out of ten its because the person has not brushed their teeth.. I have been on opiates for ten years an have not even one cavity. Thanks

Sharonsays: 2011-05-15 09:34:20

I have been taking methadone for cronic pain in my lower left limb due to amputation. My doc just did some exam that showed abnoralities. On Thurs., I have to go for ultrasound on heart. Then I need to follow up with cardiologist. I have never had a problem with my heart. I have been taking mehtadone for six years.

brian hutchersonsays: 2011-05-11 21:39:39

I was on methadone for two years , I am now 22 years old and for the last year my teeth have been rotting and breaking away,I'm getting another tooth removed tommorow .Dentist wants 8000 to repair the damage caused my methadone.

Ricksays: 2011-04-12 22:56:51

I was also given methadone for pain releif for low back pain. I was on methadone for about 3 years and was very sick and haunted the emergency room because of problems of feeling like I was going to pass out and was always sent home with the impression that there was nothing wrong with me, I had 3 attacks in one day about 6 hours apart and the third one happened the same day but it was already to late because my heart had stopped an luckily my son in law came home and found me and gave me CPR and breathed for me until the ambulance came, I woke up about 2 days later on a ventilator with a desease called torsades depointees due to the methadone and had to have a permanent defibrillator put in my chest and this has severely change my way of life now. I was 48 when this happened.

Amandasays: 2011-04-04 17:52:41

My mother recently passed away from what we believe to be a heart attack. She was prescribed the medication by a doctor that was not monitoring her treatment.

michelle pheaginsays: 2011-03-29 09:23:24

im am currently taking methodone doses frome the clinic i thiught that this was really going to be somthing good for me to help stop opiats, but after reading all these posts im am scared of what it will do to my body... Please comment of any advice you or someone you know might have... thanks

lindseysays: 2011-02-19 19:32:24

A girl I know just died from methadone. 22 yrs old HEART ATTACK!

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