ST602662%BROWNVM.BITNET@mvs.oac.ucla.edu (02/08/91)
Hello, I have a friend who is on methadone maintenance, and had a recent visit to the hospital. He woke up one morning with severe back pain, most likely unrelated to his HIV+ status. He claimed that the hospital had difficulty finding a pain-killer which would operate in conjunction with the methadone, as this drug is made to block off access to the receptors that opiates usually bind to. I believe they ended up simply increasing the methadone dosage. In case there's a next time, or another friend down the road, does anyone out there know of a painkiller which works independently of methadone? Also, if I need correction on how methadone works... Be Well, Bill Jesdale
bob@ozdaltx.UUCP (Bob Culmer) (02/10/91)
In article <1991Feb9.135416.28350@cs.ucla.edu>, ST602662%BROWNVM.BITNET@mvs.oac.ucla.edu writes: > > I have a friend who is on methadone maintenance, > He claimed that the hospital had difficulty finding a pain-killer > which would operate in conjunction with the methadone, as this drug > is made to block off access to the receptors that opiates usually > bind to. > I believe they ended up simply increasing the methadone dosage. > In case there's a next time, or another friend down the road, does > anyone out there know of a painkiller which works independently of > methadone? Also, if I need correction on how methadone works... The description above about the operation of methadone and opiates is essentially correct. All opiate like analgesics (pain "killers") operate in the brain by blocking the reception of the "pain message" (if you will permit a rather simplified layman's view). [I'm working on memory from my pharmacology class a couple years ago] Unfortunately, the opiate-like analgesics are the best and most predictable in their effect. Ordinary aspirin and ibuprofen, as in Advil etc. (but not acetamenophen as in Tylenol) do work by a different mechanism - basically stopping the release of a substance at an "injury" site that cause the original pain messages to be sent to the brain. Hence the advertising claim that "Advil works where it hurts" The down side as anyone who has taken these medications knows, they are not 100% effective, because not all pains originate in that way. Perhaps someone with more recent knowledge can fill in more about your question - but from what I recall, there may not be much better alternatives than what was done, especially if the pain will not respond to something like aspirin or ibuprofen. -- Bob Culmer - Dallas | Auntie Em - Somewhere over the rainbow | Hate you. Hate Kansas. Taking the dog. ...in the Land of OZ | - Dorothy {mic,void,egsner}!ozdaltx!bob