Lyrica and methadone interaction?

[victoria1667]

I was just prescribed Lyrica for fibromyalgia pain and take 100mgs of methadone daily for pain as well. Hopefully i can come off the methadone soon. My question is, has anyone heard of lyrica causing withdrawal symptoms when taken w/methadone? I was given Tramadol(Ultram) w/ methadone and thought I was going to die with the interaction it caused!!! Please help, Thanks

[CarolMtsh]

If you use methadone to treat opiate dependence , it is best to come off opiates first and titrate  them to a methadone dose, methadone is a potent opiate mixing it with other opiate puts one at high risk of respiratory depression, it also a good practice to reduce or to stop other drugs that has CNS depressant effect , e.g benzodiazepines,  alcohol ( yes alcohol) , pregabalins and also to be cautious of those that causes sedative effects like most antipsychotics, sleeping tabs e.g zopiclone, zolpiderm etc, lastly check out methadone interactions with other drugs , e.g citalopram , quetiapine etc with methadone may cause prolonged QTc which is dangerous and may be fatal. Ensure you do regular ECGs if you are on these drugs and also on high doses of methadone, I hope this helps, I’m writing from my phone and the words are tiny

[CarolMtsh]

methadone is a full agonist, tramadol is a partial antagonist, it competes with opiates at the receptors,  it is best not to take both. It exerts its analgesic effect through inhibition of serotonin and norepinephrine uptake with the central nervous system, so if you were on tramadol for more than 6 months better to tapper it down slowly and eventually stop, either increase methadone dose or use a non-opiate analgesia. NB: be cautious of mixing opioids

[mombojombo]

Wow, that's technical.  Good information.  Do doctors manage their patients based on this?  What kind of regimen works best in your opinion (I know everyone is different)?

[Alltherawrs]

If somebody is on methadone and takes tramadol, it sends them into immediate and sometimes deadly withdrawls.

[Tuckamore]

This very old thread is about Tramadol and Lyrica. I almost didn't see your comment - and doubt others will see it at all.

If you wish to make a comment to be seen on the web when searched - and to be seen by our members please start your own thread. Click on "Ask a Question" it's simple to do.

As for your comment, there are variables and this subject needs much more than a one-liner.  It's complex.

Regards,
~Tuck

[pegasus14]

I was on 40 mg of OxyContin 4 times a day and breakthrough oxy IR just as often
I thought with the birth of grandchildren I did not want to have these drugs around so decided to accept the lyrics a dr offered
It worked beautifully in suppressing my need for OxyContin and kept the pain at bay wonderfully...but I got horrible sweats, my entire body swelled, a bigger shoe size , swollen ankles, my face swelled up My hands swelled had to have my wedding and engagement ring cut off my finger and years later, it is still hard to shed the weight
Changed something in me
Very distressing and the weight gain would not stop
Time to get off this drug?.dr did not believe I had all these symptoms.... few years later I still have outbreaks of horrible sweats and the weight gain continues but now I have been diagnosed with lymphoma.  Coincidence...I think not

[Tuckamore]

Hello Pegasus.

Please excuse my very tardy response. This old threads - such as the one you tacked your question on to - often go unanswered as they are not seen as active.

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you are having with Lyrica. I take it too. It's a very effective medication for many in reducing pain. I think there is still much to learn about it's side effects.

Weight gain often comes with Lyrica use - along with swelling of extremities. I have experienced both - and take Lyrica very sparingly.

I believe that time will prove opiates are safer (when used as prescribed) that most of these new wonder drugs.

How are you doing today? I encourage you to begin a "New Question" for any and all further comments. It'll have higher visibility which will bring more responses.

Warm Regards,
~Tuck

[MethRX]

I agree with this statement. There are no known severe interactions with methadone and Tramodol. I dont understand why you would be withdrwing...could it have been a seperate reaction to the Tramadol? It is highly unlikely . I am sorry you are in so much pain. Methadone isnt effective for treating much with the exception of pain associated with cancer OR the treatment of opiate addiction.

[cellie]

please excuse my ignorance, but i dont understand what you meant about someone dying from use of methadone with tramadol? do these medicines cause an antagonist response and there for place the patient in withdrawal?       The pharmacist that dispensed the tramadol wshould have placed a warning label on the tramadol telling the patient what medications are dangerous to take with the prescription.         The one thing that i can say for certain is that this is not an isolated incident and too bad that pharmacy didnt take the time to talk with you.
I had a similar incident- for about 3 years i was being given two B/P meds and these two meds prescribed together actually make your pressure rise, to the extent that i suffered a heart attack and tests showed the years of taking those two medicines caused a left ventrical enlargement.
but what exactly does tramadol do to a person who is taking methadone?  in what way is it dangerous?  



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

[raerae0027]

You can take Lyrica with Methadone and be fine BUT you should not take the Lyrica within 4 hrs after the Methadone because of resp distress.

[loandbehold]

A recent lawsuit has been filed for the death of a high school coach who died with interactions with tramadol & methadone.
Suit was for some millions against Walgreens because of the pharmacist who gave him the medications and didn't warn them.