I am writing to you on behalf of the victims and those yet to be victims of methadone. I have come together with many other families throughout the United States who have lost loved ones to methadone.

We want to know if it would be possible to start a class action lawsuit against the makers of methadone. The dosage instructions on the package state a lethal dose and there are no warnings against the deadly interactions of methadone with other medications. Please read some of the stories and research. Almost every day I have another family contact me because their loved on has died. The numbers of deaths of growing daily; please read about it and you will see how bad this is getting. This medication is killing more people then the Iraqi War.

Current statistics show that nearly 4000 people a year die from methadone. These deaths are mostly happening to pain management patients and new patients starting MMT within the first 10 days of taking initial dose. Most of these deaths are related to methadone prescribed with other medications that react as additives with methadone. Diversion of methadone is a serious problem because it lands this most deadly drug on streets. Statistics also state that methadone is contributing to more deaths nationwide then heroine and cocaine.

The other families and I have created a petition that will be forwarded to the FDA to implore them to Stop Methadone Deaths. Please see the petition and you can read the numerous stories of lives this drug has taken. I have also compiled a research paper with all relevant statistics and information that you will find on the petition site. Below I have recount “my story” about how methadone forever changed me.


Sincerely,

Melissa Zuppardi


http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/472711451


On June 24th 2006 I lost my fiancé (Ron) to this deadly drug prescribed by a physician with a combination of other medications that acted as additives to the Methadone. He had knee surgery and became addicted to the percocet he was prescribed. He checked himself into Greenleaf in Valdosta, GA for detoxification. Upon entering the facility he was drug tested and did not come up positive for opiates (he had stopped taking the percocet 4 days before entering the facility). On the fourth day in detox he died sometime between 2am and 1pm in the afternoon (he was never checked on in all of those hours). The night before he died he was complaining of migraines and vomiting, apparently the staff thought he was still experiencing withdrawals and was not concerned about these symptoms. The symptoms of methadone toxicity mimic withdrawal symptoms physicians and staff must be very cognizant of the complex properties and metabolization of methadone. There were many errors made in my fiancé’s death including the fact that he was given numerous amounts of additive medications such as benzodiazepines. He had only been taking percocet for about 4 months and according to the DSM IV he wouldn’t be an appropriate candidate methadone maintenance treatment.

It doesn't matter specific reasons for taking methadone but what does matter is that this medication is deadly and physicians need to more prudent in prescribing it as well as monitoring their patients while beginning treatment of any kind using Methadone. I'm not sure if Ron was given methadone for the sole purpose for detoxification from opiates or if it was a combination of pain relief associated with numerous surgeries and opiate addiction. Methadone is difficult to properly dose no matter what reason it's being used for and primarily relies on the patient’s indications of how they feel (assumedly they are being monitored). There are ways to make the administration of methadone safer, it's just a matter of putting the focus on this drug and the deadly consequences when administered incorrectly or not monitored.

Many people are dying unnecessarily at the hands of the physicians they turn to for help. Methadone deaths are rising throughout the country. Ron was 32 years old and has 2 children from a previous marriage that now do not have a father.

You may want to contact an attorney to see if there is the possibility of a class action suit. You can locate an attorney through the attorney locator on Lawinfo's home page at http://www.lawinfo.com/. Most do offer free consultations.

yes, call Phylis Lile-King in North Carolina or Gene Brooks in South Carolina for a methadone class action lawsuit or to discuss whether there is a negligence case for how your loved one died. Frank

IF this post is not appropriate for this forum, please let me know. IF it is, then let me ask those who read this the following:

Does anyone have any knowledge of any web sites, legal actions, studies, et cetera, concerning Methadone as a "Defective Product?"

Does anyone have any information they would like to share, aside from death/near death, which relates to any medical accidents, illnesses and/or injuries, that are believed to be associated with Methadone use?

I have over 20 years experiences, working in pre-hospital, Emergency Medicine and am researching the possibility of a Class Action suit for the mmanufacturer(s) of Methadose and/or Methadone. Any posts would be appreciated.

I have been on methadone for seven years. My doctor prescibed it to me, sometimes at doses as high as 180mg a day. I am currently only on 20mg.

In the past year, my hair started falling out, I was exhausted all the time, was gaining weight and my eye doctor noticed I had quite a bit of cholesterol on my retina. (I think it is my retina...when he did the eye exam and shined the light into my eye, and looked through a lense to see the back of my eye, he said I had cholesterol buildup.) When I discussed the cholesterol issue with my doctor, he basically told me the eye doctor was a quack; which in fact, he is a very reputable physician.

The fatigue and hair loss continued. I started reading up on the internet about it, and found out that long term methadone use can cause hypothyroidism in women. At my next doctor visit, I asked him if my symptoms could be a result of low thyroid hormone levels. He ordered bloodwork...sure enough, my T3 levels are very low. (hence the elevated cholesterol levels...they are somehow connected)

I feel cheated. I was never told about these side effects, and wonder what kind of impact they will have on my helath in the future. My doctor has never mentioned to me that methadone can cause these effects in women, even after I got my bloodwork results. He just put my on a synthroid-like medication.

Have you browsed through the information in LawInfo's Free Legal Resource Center to learn more about your issue yet? See: http://www.lawinfo.com/consumer.html. You can certainly try to speak to a lawyer to determine what legal options may be available. In the meantime, you may be able to learn more on your own. Search the "Free Legal Resources" tab, or browse the Consumer Resources. Good luck.

I never knew anything about the thyroid problems from Methadone but now that I have read the post here I am sure that is why I am NOW on thyroid medication. Never had any kinds of problems with my thyroid in the past. I am disable and was sent to a pain management clinic after having two neck surgeries done and nothing help with my burning sensation and that is when the doctors send you to a clinic. I was put on methadone and after being on it for one month I began having a severe reaction. After the meds were in my system I began having problems with my legs hurting and swealling I had problems before with joint pain so at first I figured that was the problem. One night after coming home from my in-laws I laid down on my bed and it was unbelieveable how bad my legs had swollen and the skin looked as if it were going to burst open. My husband called our nurse hotline and she urged him to take me to the ER imediately. I was put on iv for several hours in order to flush the metadone from my system. that was very scary and now me having the thyroid problems I am certain it is a result from the methadone. I surely dont have the tragic events from people losing a loved one from this medicine but after reading some of the post here it should definately be taken off the market.

I think that when a person isn't aware of all the drug side effects it can in danger their lives and health. Not all people have the same symptoms and they just let it go because they think you have an isolated incident. I am not certain if I have any kind of case but I know that my life will never be the same again. I have alot of meds that I have to take and my thyroid is so bad that my doctor became upset when she thought I hadn't taken them. She said that I would have to remain on thyroid medication for the rest of my life. I am very upset to see some of the post here and how this one medication has effected peoples lives.

Methadone has MANY side effects. I took Methadone as a pain reliever. I have severe pain issues and was having troubles with other medications they tried me on. I only took the Methadone for around 6 months. I also started to have hair loss and other side effects. After I changed to a different medication those stopped. What I didn't know and wish I had is that 3 months after I quit taking Methadone I started having problems with my teeth. Unknown to me but known to my doctor, the manufacturer and dentists, Methadone causes a rapid decay of your teeth. Nothing can stop it. I have 3 teeth left on top and 6 on the bottom. I have severe abcesses in my mouth due to infection, have had heart problems due to the infection, including a heart attack in which I stopped breathing and had no pulse...3 times. My insurance won't pay to pull the rest of my teeth, I don't have lots of money so can't pay and it's all because I took Methadone. I never had problems with my teeth before and my dentist told me that what I have is even called "Meth mouth". I need help because Methadone is DANGEROUS and no one is being held responsible. Any help would be appreciated. For those of you who take or have taken Methadone....go to the dentist and get checked out!! Even after you stop the side effects continue and continue......

I was on meth for 3 yrs for chronic pain. I gained 75 lbs in yr 1, had swollen feet body full of fluid craved sweets, night sweats, pulse was always at 120 (should be at 70) my doctor did care. My teeth are in bad shape I didn't know that was from meth. I didn't have a cycle for three yrs. My body was shutting down my bowels didn't work without help. I've been off for 2.5 months I've lost 30 lbs, my cycle started again, my bowels work on there own. My body is working again get off methadone it ain't worth it. it is a death sentence. I'm only 40yrs old...i also switched Dr.s