Methadone for pain control. Still a bad idea.

Pain medications are classified based on how the function in the body and their chemical pathways. One family of pain medication is called the ‘opioids.’ These drugs are popular because they have three major therapeutic effects:

Decrease perception
Decreased pain response
Increased pain tolerance

Opioids also come in different varieties. There are natural (morphine, codeine) , semi-synthetic (hydrocodone, oxycodone), and fully synthetic (methadone, tramadol). Each classification has risks and benefits.

A study published this week by the Center for Disease Control reiterates the dangers of using Methadone for pain control.

The CDC tracked the opioid related overdoses and deaths for 13 states over an 11 year period. After compiling the values, the CDC determined that methadone, accounted for 39.8% of the drug related deaths even though it only accounted for 4.5%-18.5% of the prescriptions. That is a startling figure. Methadone was implicated in over 1/3 of the deaths even though it is uncommonly prescribed.

When you have pain, you have a few options. It’s not a bad idea to use them in this sequence.

Cowboy up
Chiropractor
OTC Medication
Prescription Medication

Some things are simply too dangerous to try. Choose the safer route, choose chiropractic

The dangers and side-effects of the medication are real. Before a person takes an opioid medication (like Lortab), they have to understand the real risks. Unfortunately, people in pain have clouded judgement. We all know someone who got addicted to pain medication. They didn’t start with the goal of being an addict, but the drugs slowly took over. It’s tragic and avoidable. Cowboy up, then see your chiropractor. I have never heard of anyone cashing in their children’s college money in order to feed a chiropractic habit.

Dr. Andrew White
Chiropractic Physician St George UT.

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