Methadone Taper

My son is on metadone and takes 70mg 4 times a week.  He requested that he start a taper down and requested they drop dosage to 60 mg.  He was told that they would only approve a 5mg decrease and then told him that they wanted him to go to 65mg seven days a week.  I do not understand this? How is this a taper when they actually increase the amount he is taking.  I hate this clinic and I hate this drug.  Can someone explain this to me?

[steveo30]

let them do there job .methadone has to be tapered slowly.if he wants to be off of this and the clinic will help him they have their methods I GUESS. i hear what you are saying though,but as long as it's a taper a slow taper which sounds like thats what they are trying to do go with it.the important thing is him getting off of this terrible med.

[TysonRed]

Usually methadone is taken once daily when its used for replacement therapy, but it makes no sense to go from a 280mg/weekly dose to 455mg/weekly dose. Alot of the times the clinics that Ive seen and heard of really dont have the persons best interest in mind. Is there another clinic he could go to? Maybe try and find a doctor/addiction specialist that is willing to help. Whatever happens there is absolutely no reason to accept there recommendations to up the dose. All that will do is get him even more addicted and dependent upon methadone. Maybe you or your son could talk with the people in charge, or who ever governs how they operate. Is it possible that maybe your not getting the exact truth, I mean I know I lied many times about my use. So in the end there is no explanation for the increase when someone is asking to taper down. I wish you all the best, methadone was my demon for many years so I know what it ends up doing to peoples lives. Best of luck to you and your son, take care!

[kim715]

I'm really confused myself.I was on methadone for over a year.I also went to a clinic.I have never heard of anyone going only 4 times a week unless they were getting take homes,but they were still dosing 7 days a week.Going from 280 mgs a week up to 455 mgs a week is insane. I will only speak from personal experience with the clinic I went to,and there it was all about the money.If he is wanting to taper off of it then the trick to that is to do a long slow taper and stabilize on the lower dose for a few days before you drop again,in order to minimize w/ds.I can understand them only wanting him to drop 5 mgs instead of 10,but the part where they want him to start taking 455 mgs a week when he was originally on 280,that I don't understand at all.In no way does that sound right to me.Hopefully someone else will come along that will know more then me.I'm curious to know the answer myself.Hang in there.I will keep you and your son in my prayers.All the best...Kim

[TysonRed]

Methadone does not necessarily have to be tapered off, there is many people that have quit cold turkey. Tapering is the more comfortable way for most, but not always the easiest. Dont just assume because someone works at a clinic or has some credentials that their opinion is always right. Do not let them do their job because their not doing it correctly what so ever. Ridiculous!

[kim715]

TysonRed is absolutely right.They are in NO WAY doing their job correctly.Talk to someone at that clinic,make sure you are getting the correct information.If they confirm they want to up his dosage 175 mgs a week,get him out of there.
He's also correct in telling you that you don't have to taper off methadone.If your son has no underlying medical problems,he could go cold turkey.Many of us here have.I went c/t off of 25 mgs but many have gone c/t off of much higher doses.It's not easy,but it can be done.Sometimes tapering is harder for some,it was for me.I thought,for me,it was just prolonging the agony.Please keep us posted.....Kim

[keikimahina]

That does sound strange to go from a total of 280mg to 455mg. Clinics have to follow state standards and that just doesnt sound right to me. The clinic in my area, when decreasing a dose, can decrease it by as much as 5mg every 7 days. In my state, you must dose every day of the week, so I am unfamiliar with a 4day dosing schedule.
At any rate, be sure your sons detox from methadone is as slow as........well as slow as they will allow it to be.
FYI: a patient I know was on MMT(methadone maintenence therapy) for 14years. (yes-really)Almost two years ago, he started his detox from methadone and he chose to decrease his dose(of 95mg a day) by only 4mg a month. Unfortunately he was involved in a car accident over the summer,so his taper down schedule was put on hold for a few weeks, but by June of this year, he will be Methadone free! He has experienced very minimal withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms-which were only in the first few months of detoxing anyway.
OK- so it took him over 2 years to detox, but that was HIS choice and it worked perfectly for him.
Im guessing you get my "detox s l o w" point. One last thing- Im still a little uncomfortable with the 175mg increase your son will essentially be receiveing-you may want to speak with a supervisor at that clinic....just a suggestion.

as for those who think methadone is "a terrible med"--I am truly sorry that your personal experience with the medication led you to form those negative feelings.
Methadone saved my life.

[upsetmom42]

I thank you for answering.  I am trying to read and to study and learn all that I can

[steveo30]

alot of good comments,i didn't read your post correctly yesterday,now i see whats happening.something dosen't make sense.i have had an addiction problem with methadone last year before going to rehab,i always got it from the streets so i never was in a clinic.here this guy goes in wanting to taper and they boost him,and the 4 day thing i cant understand.i truely think that these doctors that are dishing out these meds should have to go through withdrawal once so that they can see what it's like,it would probably save lives