Methadone Question

[KristenV]

I've been addicted to methadone for 9 years. I've gotten it from another girl but she is moving to another state and I am about to be cut off. I am taking 30mgs. per day and I don't really get a high anymore. I'm afraid that my bf,mom and work will find out when I get sick. What can I do? I am TERRIFIED!!

[worried878]

one last thought....u need to focus on what u need to do right now...and let the future fall into place...take it day by day....make ur plan and stick with it...u r not on a high dose of methadone and u will come out of this just fine..mentally u need to stay as positive as u can...because the mental aspect of this is what will get u...KNOW THAT U CAN DO THIS!   never think u cant....it is all upstairs and dont doubt urself...move forward and play it by ear...day by day by day...put all the advantages u can in ur corner..seek aftercare, make a plan, post and pray...u will be fine..i feel it in my bones

[worried878]

right now u need to take care of u...like oxy said...work is so important, this i know...when i quit my doc..practically ct i took 4 days off...i returned but there were many ups and downs...at one point i just decided i did not care anymore..my main problem was lack of energy and my job requires mental and physical alertness...i worried as some days i would have to go home early..i called in more than usualy...but u know getting myself clean was more important than any job..i love my job but i had to love myself too...i made it...job intact...and u can too

[OnOxyfor10yrs]

Kristen, what you could do if you need time off from work and they deny this to you is.....well this is shady but take a fall in work and pretend you hurt your back. This should give you a week or two off from work if you can fake it well. I was on oxys for 10 years and on other opiates 4 years prior to that and let me tell you that after the first hour on the sub I felt completely better. After taking the full dose that I needed I felt totally normal. I am returning to work tommorow after a family leave and feel confident that I can worknormal. Iam on 24 mg a day and now I am tapering down to 16mg starting today. I have been on it for a month, Goodluck hon


L

[KristenV]

Sorry for last post- after going back and reading  TysonReds response they are prescribed together so he already answered my question!

[KristenV]

I wonder if suboxone and clonidine are prescribed together to get off methadone?

[KristenV]

Thanks Mustang01 for the info. I am so scared of losing my job and telling my mom. I am 43 yrs old but I still hate to hurt and shame her. I live next door and spend lots of time with her.
Penelope- I want to ask you more questions- I'll send a message. Thanks for your info as well.

[Mustang01]

For the past year I have been on Avinza 60 mg  QD and Oxy 15 mg 6 tabs QD and would take up to 10 a day at times of the Oxy, before that I was on Vicodin 10/500 every day since 2003 for a MVA I was in, right now Iam taking just the Avinza and 1- 15 mg Oxy a day, when I would try to decrease my dose of Oxy I would feel the W/D but, I am taking Clonidine this weekend for the first time along with my Xanax and Ambian and I do not feel any W/D, this is my 3rd day.  to think that I was on 6-10 Oxy a day down to 1 a day is great and no W/D symptoms since using the Clonidine, It is for high blood pressure but is being used for W/D symptoms in clinics and pescribed by PCP. Go to your Dr. and ask for the Clonidine. Iam using it as Iam tapering and it is working wonders, a little tired but that is passing today...I feel great today!

[Penelope14]

Kristen, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck in getting off methadone, it's not as easy as other opiates to detox from, but it's done everyday by many people & at different mgs. I know the fear of trying to hold your job while detoxing, I have first hand experience of this, as I detoxed from methadone 5 1/2 months ago with the mindset that I could return to work after taking off 2 weeks, I really thought this would be plenty of time to recover, well I found out it wasn't, even after two weeks off of methadone I was still dealing with anxiety, sweats, chills, and no sleep, Im not trying to be negative nor scare you, I only want you to know what you may be up against, as this is a lengthy detox. Whatever path you decide to go down be positive, having a good attitude is the best advise I can give you. Take Care Penelope         P.S The typical time frame to recover from a methadone detox is around 4 weeks, this is a huge turning point for most.

[KristenV]

Thanks- that's what I was wondering- (if I had to miss work?)

[worried878]

there is a good possibillity that u could use sub and not miss any work at all...if u stay at the 21 day limit and follow a schedule...it is like any narcotic tho..if u can not follow a taper u will be hooked..most insurances do not cover sub...check with urs and  privacy makes it to where ur work place will not find out if ur insurance does indeed cover sub....u can do sub long term as well if u need too...i am not an advocate of sub and think u should try every avenue possible before using sub to quit...but i do understand having to work

[TysonRed]

I take xanax xr 2mg daily, clonidine 3 times a day, and Im trying to just use melatonin to help me sleep. Now everyone reacts different to suboxone, but Ive found it to be somewhat similar to methadone, not really in how it feels, but just that you have the energy and are not sick. Now to say suboxone is dangerous, that is somewhat correct, but make no mistake methadone is just as dangerous, and last time I checked methadone related deaths far out weighed those of suboxone. Neither one is something you want to be addicted to, but the fact remains, suboxone is an alternative to using methadone, just as quitting cold turkey, or tapering your dose is an alternative. Just because on person likes methadone but doesnt like suboxone doesnt make one more dangerous than the other. There is more potential for abuse with methadone that is for sure, when taking a dose below 80mgs you can still get high from using other opiates, while with suboxone that is not the case. Suboxone can be abused to a point, but the ceiling effect is 32mgs, and really most of the bad experiences you will hear is that from some who have been started on too high of a dose, or used it as a maintenance drug,and not purely as a tool to be used for recovery. Dont think your gonna get on suboxone and stay on it for a long time, that is for methadone. Just a closing note, methadone related deaths are at an all time high, now most of those deaths involve mixing with benzos or other sedatives that are also CNS depressants, but the fact remains methadone is causing more deaths than it ever has before. Im not advocating suboxone as a cure all just as a tool in the path to sobriety. Wish all of you the best of luck, and congrats to all to have overcome their own demons, but we are all unique, what works for one may not work for the other,so please be open minded when it comes to peoples choices. There is no blanket statement that can be said to be a cure, and of course if your strong enough to get through something without any treatment then so be it, but please be understanding to those who may not have the power within themselves to overcome their struggles, there's no harm in asking for help. All the best,and any questions you have, Id be more than happy to try and answer them when your ready.

[mtgoat911]

suboxone is dangerous
i kicked a 10 yr 200mg a day methadone habit
suboxone was not needed
infact sub. made me very sick for the short time i tried it
if you want to get clean please send me a message here at medhelp
with so many people needing help for this issue
it is important to know first
if the person wants to get clean

[godezzofchaos]

Kristen..e-mail me at ***@**** OR instant message me

[KristenV]

Thanks for your info about the half life

[godezzofchaos]

They actually offer Suboxene at my methadone clinic and from what I was told you can start it once you are down to 40mg a day. That is another alternative, you can check with your area methadone clinic for information, they may be able to point you in the right direction. I also wanted to tell you that methadone has a 1/2 life, so do as the previous poster suggested and CONSERVE. If you 1/2 dose one day then full the next you will be okay. The toughest part is the mind games it plays with you, you ARE NOT DYING if you miss one day. See if you could maybe purchase some extra to get you through or if your "friend" knows anyone to help you. Don't wait until the last minute Kristen, get on this right away...it will make things ALOT easier on you!

[KristenV]

I'm getting off the computer now - I'll check back later. Thanks to everyone - I don't feel all alone now and that means SO MUCH!

[KristenV]

I've also heard that taking Suboxone too soon will push you into horrible withdrawals .Any thoughts on this? How do you deal with PAWS? Also, did you have trouble sleeping and restless leg syndrome?

[KristenV]

Thanks so very much! Your comments are helping me a great deal! TysonRed, I am encouraged to hear that you felt fine on Sub! Did your Dr. give you something to make you sleep?

[TysonRed]

Yes, tuesday get on phone and try to get into a sub doc sometime this coming week. Try to make whatever methadone you can get last as long as possible, seriously start to conserve until you can get in for an appt. Once you do, and have not taken methadone for 36-48hrs you can start sub. You will feel fine while on sub, fully capable of going to work in my opinion, although its different from methadone, for me it gives me the energy methadone did to get my things done. Start to conserve right now, tomorrow you should try to take less than normal, start stocking up whatever you can just in case you cant find a sub doctor right off the bat. Good luck, and remember were here for you, and Im sure your family will be to when you get this off your chest. I know the shame and embarassment involved but its essential for those around you to be aware and supportive in getting you the help you need.

[godezzofchaos]

Well girl, I think the burden of this secret is probably your biggest obstacle. No one wants to disappoint our loved ones, but our love ones would NEVER want us to suffer alone either.  Have faith in your bf and your mom, they don't love you because you are without flaws, the love you in spite of them. If your bf turns his back on you when you need him most, my advice would be you don't need him at all!  Hang in there girl. Where do you live (what state).

[KristenV]

My addiction started when I was in a car wreck and took a Darvocet for the first time. Suddenly, I felt happy and confident like I'd never felt before. I then switched to Ultram from a dr. for my period troubles. Later on, a friend told me of a friend who had methadone and now here I am today.

[godezzofchaos]

That is a very low dose-you should have no problem switching to Suboxene and may not have any down time. Get on the phone TUESDAY! You may even try your primary care doctor, We all have our crosses to bear!

[KristenV]

I live in Hickory,NC

[KristenV]

I take 30 mg. around 7:30 am every morning