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Methadone clinic appropriate?
by MellyR, Apr 23, 2003 12:00AM
I have been addicted to Norco for the past two years. I have tried to quit countless times on my own, both cold turkey and tapering. It's clear to me I can't quit alone. I am planning on counseling or NA meetings, but am considering a methadone clinic to taper me down. I called a clinic in my area, and they did say they treat painkillers addiction, not just heroin addiction. Currently, I take about 20-23 Norco (hydrocodone 10/325) a day. My question is: Will I be completely out of place at the clinic? Does my situation warrant methadone treatment? I have horrible withdrawls when I've tried to quit on my own. Also, there may be times I would have to take my toddler with me. The clinic said that is fine, clients do occasionally bring their kids, but I do not feel at all comfortable bringing my child there. Hopefully I won't ever have to, but I would hate to start the program but then have to stop due to no babysitter. Would anyone with experience in a methadone clinic let me know 1. how they'd feel about bringing their kid with them and 2. what's it like in general? Is there usually a big long wait to get your dose? Is it an uncomfortable situation? Any information would be appreciated.
i think methadone is appropriate for anyone who is seriously addicted to narcotics and doesn't see anyway to get off of them. and from what you have said you know how difficult the withdrawls would be... but they will be easier to go through than methadone withdrawl a year or two from now...
i work next door to a methadone clinic here in the atlanta area... i see as many business type looking people going in for their daily dose as i see druggie looking folks... they come in, get their dose, go off to work and that's it... it is all confidential except for me who occasionally sees them going in and coming out... it is of interest to me b/c i was on methadone and it was the hardest thing to come off of ever...
as far as bringing your child with you, oh well, you may very well have to do that but you probably bring him with you wherever you go to get all the pills you have to take daily, right?
good luck to you and you do what seems right for you to do... i really wish you the best girl!
amber
I'm only going to answer the question "does your situation warrant methadone treatment?"
As you have only been on hydro for 2 years, and although you are at 20-23/ day, it is not a "ridiculous" amount. I came off of a 20+/day percocet habit of many years, and although i haven't done the methadone thing, i would venture to say(from some of my very good friends here), that you could potentially be trading a monkey for a gorilla. In your previous attempts, have you used anything like clonidine to help reduce the withdrawals.
I would definately steer you towards the procedures used in the Thomas Recipe(with a benzo for the first few days of detox), or clonidine, or Buprenorphine(if available to you); or pretty much anything but methadone.
One of the forum members here used meth. to come off a OC(oxycontin)habit; but ONLY for about 5 days, and was very happy with the results. Seems many of the treatment programs with meth(to detox from pain pills) is dragged out too long, and you end up stuck with a MUCH
bigger problem than what you started with.
Take Care
Having said that, and the fact that clonidine and Bup are prescribed, makes it a lit'l difficult to tell you where to get one of these medications. I was going to suggest searching for an addiction doc. in your area; but it sounds like you've done that....with limited results.
I've copied a post from another forum member, regarding Buprenorphine..........and hopefully he can shed some light on your situation:
C31 SarpyJesse
(21-Apr-03) curtisman12 Heya Curtisman!
I'm currently putting together a site that deals specifically with Buprenorphine [Suboxone] use for Detox, Maintenance, and also Buprenex as a pain med for those who cannot (or CHOOSE not to) take Morphine or Oxycontin. If you wish to get on the mailing list, please send me an E-mail at: ***@****
For anyone else here that is interested in the new exclusively Buprenorphine board, you may e-mail me at: ***@****
I'm looking forward to getting a handful of people posting their experiences with this recently-approved med so we may help others who are trying to make a choice for maintenance, detoxing, or pain management.
Thanks Everyone!
Jesse
I'm not sure what else to tell you, except reiterating that i sure would avoid Meth. if at all possible!!
percs
http://www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/
I am on a low dose of meth (from 20 percocet/day habit). I have neen on it for 3 weeks now at 25mg. I also have 2 small children. I am luck in that I can dose at the pharmacy at the top of my street (I'm in Canada)....even so I will only take my smallest with me since he is only 1.5yrs old. If worse came to worse, I would take my daughter in (she's 3) but questions would be asked and I prefer not to involve her if at all possible. My clinic requires me to see a doctor 1X/week. I schedule this day when the kids are at daycare...which is 3 days/week.
I was on Meth 8yrs ago and dosed in SanFrancisco CA. I had to dose at the clinic which was very seedy- I did not have kids at the time though. Not all clinics are like that so you would have to see for yourself . As long as the environment is clean and safe, I think its fine to take your kids...you are seeing a doctor and receiving medicine (lying to them is not necessary). From my experience, it has never been a big long line up but that depends on the time you go-as soon as it opens, there is often a line up. Perhaps waiting 30min-1hour after it has opened is the best idea in order to avoid any lines.
Does your situation warrent it?...only you can be the judge of that.
Good luck. Robyn.
Believe me... if possible, avoid a long term stay in Hotel Methadone. The cost per night is so high, it'll bankrupt your soul.
Regarding your concern over not telling your doc, if you can't trust him/her, then why stay with him? Find someone you are comfortable with and say something. With the fallout over all the prescribed pills doctors doled out over the last couple decades, you won't be unique. The Pope is probably crushin' an oxy NOW.
There is help. You just gotta ask. Afterall, it's your life not theirs.
If you look a few posts up you will see a link for info on Bup. They also have a Dr. finder for your area possibly.
I know you that you don't want to talk to reg Dr. I feel the same way. I jsut don't want it in my medical records. BC/BS turned me down for insurance becuase I was taking Celexa. Even though they make it so they now have to offer everyone ins, they make it so expensive that you can afford to purchase it. I had seriously considered going to a Dr under an alias and just paying cash! LOL Is this what life has come to?
AS for the kiddos, look for a "Mother's Day Out" at a local church. They ususally have them scheduled for atleast one day a week and they are very reasonable. then you can schudle whatever appts around that schedule. Also, didn't you say your were married? Couldn't every once in awhile your husband take a few hours off work and watch the kids? They are his too!
Good Luck and we are waiting to hear what they said at your Psych appt.