HELP! I need to get my life back!

I am a wife & mother of 2.  I have been addicted to opiates for 8 years.  I want to get off of the methadone but dont want to take the suboxone the Dr.s are offering.  Does anyone know any Dr's in the Colorado or near area that will prescribe the buprenorphine with OUT the naltroxone?  I am a stay at home mom that can not afford to have severe withdraw symptoms and is looking for a way out of this HELL.  Thanks so much!

Jessica

[patsgeadogs]

Why don't you want to take the Suboxone?  The difference between Suboxone and Subutex is minimal.  Suboxone just has an added ingredient that is virtually insignificant unless you are an IV drug user.  Otherwise, the two are very much the same in treating W/D systems and helping to block other opiates.  Also, the Suboxone is cheaper.

patsgeadogs

[jessica555]

I was told by the Dr. that I had to stop taking the methadone for a full 48 hrs. before I can take the suboxone.  He said if I didnt do it that way I would get very sick off of it because of the naltroxone.  I am so SCARED to go into withdraws.   I can not go 10 min after waking up without taking my methadone.  I dont know how I can go 2 days.  Any other options?  Thanks!

[lurker]

You don't have to wait 48 hours to take the Suboxone. You just have to be in mild withdrawal, which may take longer with methadone than other narcotics.  See if you can find another doc for a second opinion.  I wasn't on methadone, but I was 36 hours without narcotics before sub and I felt like hell but it was well worth it to get off the narcotics.  I feel like the Suboxone saved my life.  Do you have help at home.  Perhaps you could stop the methadone on a Friday and start suboxone on Monday?

[FLaddict]

It is NOT the naloxone that causes precipitated withdrawals. THis can happen with either med Suboxone or Subutex. It is the action that buprenorphine has on the receptors that causes it IF you take it too soon or have not tapered down enough first.
To make the switch from meth to sub you must be tapered down to 20mgs for a few weeks. Then you must wait at LEAST 48 hours to start either form of Sub. Some people have to wait even longer. There is a member here than waited 5 full days and still was put into precipitated withdrawals.
Can the doctor switch you over to something shorter acting first for 2 weeks so you can make the switch easier?  I have heard of many people's docs switching them from meth to oxy's then to Sub after the meth is out of their system.
There is a FAQ about Suboxone and Subutex in my journal for further research.

[kyjobr]

there's a member on here named wait2long that switched from meth to sub.  She's got great info on it.  I would recommend contacting her.  Good luck!  Please don't let the couple days scare you off.  Think about the rest of your life!!!!  How good it will feel to not wake up thinking about the pills.  You can leave the house and not freak out if you left your meds at home.  Is there a reason you want to switch?  

[GA Guy]

Like FLaddict said..you're misinformed if you think the naloxone is the culprit for the precipitated withdrawals. It's the bup itself that does it. So trying Subutex instead of Suboxone will make no difference in the matter of how long you have to be in wd's. Take her advice, switch to any other shorter acting opiate such as Oxy or Hydro first..then switch to Sub.

[jessica555]

Thanks so much for your input!  I am down to 15mg of methadone and have an appointment w/the buprenorphine Dr on Tues.  I thought of entering a clinic here that will detox me with benzos FRI, SAT, SUN & MON.  then I thought of going straight to get the SUB.  I have heard though that benzos are a very weak substance for people on methadone and dont work that well for the w/d pain.  But at least I would have 24 hr nurse care.....be away from my family while I am in hell (so I dont have to bring them down too) and possibly be a tad more comfortable than if I had been home.  ALSO, I went to a place in MIAMI for a detox.  This place is only for detox and it was wonderful!  They gave me a cocktail mix of hydrocodone, librium, and a few others every 4 hours and titrated it every 4 hours for 7 days...then the last 3 days I was put on the buprenorphine.  Now why didnt theyvmake me go at least 2 days w/o anything before I took the waxy dissolving tablet under my tongue.  I dont understand why they could do it that way but no one else will.   It was the ABSOLUTE best detox I had ever been thru.  My problem was I didnt follow thru with rehab (some counseling) and relapsed.....SO SAD!  Anyways, thanks for everyone who is reading this and all your support during this very trying time for me and my family.  Take care, Jessica

[FLaddict]

They didn't have to wait 2 days when you were in detox because they gave you hydro for 7 days then switched you. that is a shorter acting med and you don't have to wait more than 12 hours to switch.

[jessica555]

So couldnt they put me on hydrocodone for a week instead of the methadone?  That way I dont have to wait 2-5 days before taking the suboxone.......It sounds much more appealing than going thru hell.  Will any Drs do this?

[FLaddict]

Some will, I mentioned it my post to you last night in this thread, read above.  There are some Sub docs that will switch you to shorter acting meds for a week and then switch you to Sub. ITs worth asking about.

[jessica555]

Thank you so much for your help.  I really do appreciate all input given.  I will try to find a Dr. that will prescribe a short acting narc for a week, but I am sure that wont be easy to do.  A) Drs are so hesitant in the first place to prescribe anything in that class and.....B) I am scared of having pills in my possession since that is how I got to this hellhole in the first place.  Maybe I could have my husband control the dosing but I hate to put him in that predicament.  You all know the lying and manipulating we will do to just get more of our drug of choice.  Gosh, I hate this hell I made for myself.  I just feel like it will NEVER end!  I am so sick of being sick!  Thanks to all who have given me some direction and all the kind words.

[wait2long]

if you can find a doctor to prescribe shorter acting opiods before your switch to the sub...do it if you can...i was on 20 mgs of methadone for 10 months...waited 5 days after my last meth dose before i took my first dose of sub...i was still sent into precipitated withdrawals...i am not trying to scare you...everyone is different..but just be aware that it could happen...and then it was another 4 or 5 days before i got any relief from the sub...then almost 5 weeks until i got the FULL effect of the sub...i wasnt sick for those 5 weeks...but i wasnt as well as i should have been, the dysphoria was severe as was the anxiety for those 5 weeks...but its because (regardless of your dose) it still takes 30+ days for the methadone to be gone from your system..
but i can now say that i am glad i stuck it out...it was worth the wait...and like i said before...your induction could be totally different than mine, and the best advice i can give would be to wait as long as you can while in WD's from the methadone, try to stand being sick as long as you can if you dont go to the shorter acting opiods...if you have any questions please dont be afraid to ask...my e-mail is in my profile if you would like to speak privately...  good luck hun....

[jessica555]

Thanks so much for your reply.  I am so scared!  I can not get myself to go 2 hrs in withdrawl (withdrawal), I know for a fact that I cant go 2 days.  I just dont know what to do.  I really do want to get off of the methadone, but I cant get myself to go into withdrawl (withdrawal).  I feel like this may never end!  I just hope that I can find a Dr. that will prescribe a short acting opiate.  If not I just think I am going to keep dropping my methadone dose until I get to 1-3 mg.  then skip every other day until I just dont need it anymore.  I dunno.......this is one of the hardest things I have had to do ever!  Thnks for being there!

[wait2long]

from what i have been told...tapering off methadone can be worse than going without for 2-5 days.  i am sure that you can do this...methadone has such a long halflife that i bet you wont even START to feel sick until the end of day 3....methadone stays in your system for such a  that i find it impossible to think your sick after just 2 hours...  

[wait2long]

oops...dont know what happened ...i wasnt ready to post that yet,,,you keep saying "i cant"  before you have even tried it...when i stopped my methadone, i was NOT sick AT ALL until the end of the 3rd day it started...i went grocery shopping on my 2nd night without the methadone... you are expecting withdrawals to start the minute you stop the meth...it doesnt work like that...methadone stays in your system for too long...you will be fine for the first 2 days, i betcha!?  

and this wont end until you ready for it to end...you have to make the step...no one can do this for you...sub is your way out of this, unless your ready for cold turkey for 30+ days...dont take this wrong or as harsh,,i just dont know of any other way to say it...but from what i have read from your posts...i dont think your ready to give up the meth...you have to want this...and if you want this..then you should be willing to do what it takes...a little discomfort for a few days is nothing compared to what you have already been through...plus there are options out there to ease any withdrawal symptoms you may have if you decide to go the sub route,,,

[jessica555]

Yes, I am scared to quit the methadone.  It has been my best "Friend" for over 4 years now.  I know when I tried to quit a couple years ago, it was much easier.  I could go for 3 days w/o it and not feel any w/d symptoms and now unfortunately that has all changed.  I think the longer you are on it that does not happen anymore.  If I take my last sip of my dose around 7 pm. I am feeling sick by 5-6am the next day.  I have to go w/o it sometimes when I run out. I get a weeks take home and sometimes I take too much, like last week and ran out a day before I could refill and that was HELL.  I wish I would not have gotten it refilled at that point but y'know how it goes.  I just found this support system the other day so maybe that will help some.  It sure seems to help a lot of addicts.  Thanks so much for replying.

[wait2long]

have you made any decisions yet?  i am not trying to PUSH you into this, you asked about it and i am just simply trying to provide you with what i know...the more informed one is the better...  do you have a doc that will prescribe short acting opiods for a couple of weeks? if so then do it..dont prolong it if this is what you have decided to do...

[jessica555]

No, I cant find a Dr that will prescribe short acting opiates for 1-2 wks before the suboxone.  Do you know of any?  I will travel & have insurance.  I really need to do this!  As of right now, my plan is to go down to 13mg. tomorrow then the next week go to 8mg then the next week 3mg. then go down 1 each week after til I am at 1mg then maybe go cold turkey or get on the suboxone which I think will be better after reading from others posts that if you are on methadone it can take up to 30+days to get better.  Thanks for your support....much appreciated!  Jessica

[wait2long]

it can take 30+ days to feel better off methadone whether you take the sub or cold turkey and some have said a taper is worse?, but the sub route is 100 times less severe then cold turkey...yes i do know a doctor that will prescribe short acting opiods before a methadone transition to sub and she has openings and shes AWESOME, she has been treating me free of charge (so far) because i have no insurance........why not just have any doctor prescribe you short acting opiods for "pain" then go the suboxone route...just suggestions hun...

[jessica555]

I have tried asking a couple Drs for short-acting opiates for7-10days and did not prevail.  I am sure they think i am just a drug seeking addict.  I am trying to get down under 10mg of methadone and then get on the suboxone.  I heard it was much easier to transition w/less w/d's if you are lower on your dose of methadone.  In 2 weeks I should be ready to start the suboxone treatment.  Thanks for your help.