Methadone is helping me I think??

[smsmlj4me]

Hi all I started off with Norco May 2009 for Kidney Stones.....Well like most of us I loved the feeling it gave me and I steadily increased my dose to keep that feeling. Well I got up to using 10 norco every 6-8 hours. 10! That is horrible! Well I didn't want to take them anymore when I realized how stupid I was for letting myself get to that high of a dosage!
Well I never wanted to admit to my doctor that I was an addict so I went to him and told him I was sick of taking Norco and want to stop so could he give me something to help wean me off......he gave me Methadone!
As soon as I started taking Methadone I liked the feeling it gave me and started falling back in the same pattern. I was taking 2 10mg Meth every 8 hours. Well after about 3 weeks in taking Meth I realized once again I have to stop this!!! I did start a taper I guess you can call it that. I started taking 1 every 8 hours. Then a week later I am now down to taking 1 every 10-12 hours. Today I will go down to 5mg every 8 hours.
I actually have not had bad WD symptoms yet. I feel the Meth are really helping me. I feel pretty good!!
What are your thoughts?? Am I avoiding the inevitable??? I have only been using Meth now for about 6 weeks.
Sorry for babbling.

[justneedtotalk]

Ok.....Sorry, I ended up getting busy last night.  I am going to cut and paste the regiment that I followed.  At the end of this post I am also going to cut and paste a website that I found to be priceless.  The person who wrote this article is a doctor that soely treats methadone patients.  Do not get scared when reading it, you are in a completely different situation than most of his patients.  Believe it or not the only real practicle application for methadone prescription is for heroin addicts.  Anything else is overkill.....If you follow this regiment it will shorten your detox time in half and also make it to where you can function and still maintain for your family.  After the initial physical detox period is where the regiment of multivitamins are the most important so keep taking them.  Your brain will take some time to heal and you will experience PAW's....Post Accute Withdrawal syndrome.....This is no big deal but you might want to google it and do some research.  I am going into it currently but the multivitamins will definitely help with this process.  Your brain is going to take some time to get back to normal and most people relapse during PAW's because they forget how bad detox was and they are not quite back to normal.  You will have a shorter period than most because you have not been on opiates long......I personally recommend that you go out and buy the supplements on this post and then start immediately.....If you can get them today then I would start your cold turkey tomorrow.  Do not worry, this will not kill you nor will it cause any serious physical damage......I am here to walk you through the process so do not feel like you are alone!

Supplements: Some need less and some more…remember the efficacy of all nutrition and supplement use is ultimately guided by your genetics…and we are all different to some degree…This is the value of seeing a good Naturopathic physician in the state you are in…The fact is that very few Medical Doctors know anything about nutrition…70%-75% of the standard medical schools in this country have absolutely no nutritional classes what-so-ever…in the other 25 %--nutrition is often a 14-20 hour block of education and this is commonly an elective…Naturopathic physicians that are educated in a medical school environment are taught nutrition extensively with the associated biochemistry.  I use the following with all types of drug and alcohol recovery:



Multivitamin with a strong mineral component: in gel caps only…an excellent quality multivitamin is absolutely necessary…remember that vitamins and minerals are cofactors/coenzymes for repair, healing, and normal function of the body…most times I have patients double up on multivitamins for the first 3-4 weeks

Mineral complex: see above

Fish oils, or flax seed oil.: necessary for repair and proper function of cellular membranes…anti-inflammatory…these need to be mixed omega 3, omega 6, omega 9 oils—4000 to 6000 mg per day in split doses…although some can be purchased as liguids and mixed with your smoothies.

If you don’t do the drinks…get proteins as free amino acids…double up

L-Glutamine 500mg caps…at least 2000-3000 mg per day…split the dose so that your doing it at least twice per day…helps heal the gut and the building block for GABA…the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter…helps slow things down…Do not take GABA as a supplement…GABA is make in the brain…when out side the brain the molecule is to large to cross the blood brain barrier…the building block for GABA is L-Glutamine or Glutamic acid…these building blocks readily cross the blood brain barrier.

Valarian Root 450 mg: Botanical that reduces anxiety and helps one to sleep…Kava, Jamaican Dog Wood, Lemon Balm, Avena are all nervine botanicals which can be used together or by self…I find the doses for each individual varies but typically 1000 to 1500 mg every 4 hours.

Melatonin…dosages vary…this is a hormone released from the pinal gland in the human body at night time for sleep…this is essential for those coming off opioids…in my experience as little as 1 mg to 30 mg has been effective…do what you have  to do…I’ve had addicts coming off $100.00 a day habits sleep 4 hours the first night…start low and add 3-5 mg every half-hour till sleep…research on healthy volunteers using up to 100 mg of melatonin in a single dose shows little side effects…Melatonin is also known as a very strong antioxidant with 1000 times the potency as Vit E…Take only at night when you would be going to bed at the regular time…the room must be dark…that’s the way this hormone is released in the natural state…

Full Spectrum antioxidants: relieves inflammation and helps normalize inflammatory pathways and reduces damaging molecules (free radicals) present in the system while detoxing

Vitamin C: 2000-3000 mg per day divided doses…

Reduced L-Glutathione 300mg per day: Helps liver detox metabolites of methadone…Detoxing agents can be found in many products…most in combinations…

Adrenal Support: Research has shown that methadone, and drug use in general, has profound effects on the adrenal glands. In fact, research shows that there is a profound negative effect by methadone on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This is why those that withdraw from methadone have protracted fatigue and problems with anxiety and insomnia. I often use freeze dried adrenal extracts in treatment with fairly good results. You’ll find these products listed under names such as Adrenal Plus, or Adrenplus…the starting dose is around 1000 mg per day in split doses.

Milk Thistle with alpha-Lipoic Acid is one combination that I use extensively---for liver repair and detoxification…1200 to 1500 mg of milk thistle and 400 mg of lipoic acid per day in split doses

This is the basics. There is absolutely no way to eliminate all the problems associated with withdrawal from methadone...one must have a supportive environment and often with daily visits from a compassionate health care provider…This will not kill you…it will be a miserable event…what kills most is the movement back to street drugs to ward off the side effects of withdrawal. If fact, cold turkey deaths coming off opioids and methadone are rare and usually associated with other health problems, or overdosing on prescription medications…withdrawal from methadone is much less of a risk than total withdrawal from alcohol. I wish you all luck on this endeavor…My compassion and empathy goes out to you…Ultimately, I know that you can do this…after all…it has to be done.



http://www.dpeg.org/methadone_withdrawal.html

God Bless!!!!!

[smsmlj4me]

Thank you so much!!!!

[justneedtotalk]

No problem.....I am only two weeks ahead of you in my own detox but I have been through this so many times that I have kind of perfected the process.....Ok....Keep taking your methadone for the next couple of days.  Try to stay around 5-10mg per day though.  Do not be tempted to have a "last hurrah" and take more.  The more that you have in your system the longer this is going to take!  Like I said earlier though, start taking a strong wide range multivitamin now....You can even double up on them morning and night.  Tonight I will send you a regimented plan for the other suppliments.  Believe it or not your bowels LOVE opiates!  You are actually not absorbing nutrience normally when taking opiates even if you eat well and take a multi-vitamin currently.  You probably have already experienced some constipation from the Norco use and this is part of the reason why your body does not absorb nutrience.  You are hurting your body when taking opiates for long periods of time due to this fact.  The only reason why I am recommending staying on the methadone for now is so that you can still have the energy to go to the store and get what you need.  Please do not be scared of this process....You have a lot of things going for you with the short term use and as long as you have the personal resolve to quit you will be just fine!  I had to do all of this on my own without telling my wife or family....so I too needed to do this quickly and discretely.  Opiates are one of the most addictive drugs out there today and many people do not realize the dangers of taking them long term.  You are one of the lucky ones that realize that this is not the long term solution to pain managment early.  Many people follow their doctors advice and their reoccuring symptoms are actually symptoms that are caused by the opiates and not their real physical problems.....Anyways, I will get you that information tonight and we can talk more about what to expect.....Keep your head up and don't worry....This will not be as bad as some of the people let on.....God Bless!

[smsmlj4me]

Justneedtotalk that would be great! !!! I need something strict to follow!!! I am a stay at home mom thankfully. I wont have to deal with work. Thank you so much for your help!!! Anything is appreciated!!!

[justneedtotalk]

Well....6 weeks is not long luckily!  Yes, cold turkey is the only way.  I tried many times to try and taper but I would always find an excuse to take more.  Being a mother of 6 is going to be tough.  Are you a stay at home mom?  You have already tapered down enough....you need to jump from there.  You will feel fine the first day or so and once your body runs out of its stored supply the withdrawals will start.  I have done hundreds of hours of research in regards to methadone and opiate withdrawal programs and home remedies.....Try this, it will help and should be able to get you through and still function.  I was able to work and take care of my daughter without having to take time off.  First, start drinking lots of water, cranberrie juice, and anything that is a diaretic.  The faster you can get the methadone out of your system the faster the withdrawals will go away.  Next, get yourself a potent multi-vitamin high in the metals....You will need to get some fish oil pills or liquids high in omega 3-6.  You will need some glucosimine and some amino acid suppliments.  You will also need to get some cold medicine high in dextro....Start taking the multi-vitamins and suppliments immediately.  Melatonin will help with the sleep issues.  You will also need som immodium and you will know what I am talking about later!!!!  You just need to stay away from red meat, eat a lot of lean protein like chicken, tuna fish, and a protien shake will works well.  You can take a lot of hot baths which will help with the withdrawals and give you some piece.  I think that you will not have as bad of withdrawals because of the short time you were on the methadone and with the help of these suppliments it will make it go a lot faster for you.....You can do this and still be able to function for your family.  It is going to be tough but if you do not do it now you will regret it later!  I can help you with dosage of the multi-vitamins and suppliments and write you a regiment that you can follow.  It is important that you talk to people through this process because if this is your first time detoxing it will be kind of scary not knowing what to expect.  I am an old veteran to this process and am willing to help!

[smsmlj4me]

I have been taking Methadone for 6 weeks.  You don't think a taper will work for me??? I absolutely do not want to take narcotics anymore!!!! I am a mother of 6 and just don't think I could go CT....if I have been on the Meth for such a short time do u think my WD's won't be as bad if I do go CT???

[justneedtotalk]

Well.....I cannot say this with enough conviction......Going from Norco's to Methadone is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do.  Within the following I hope that I scare the crap out of you.  I did the exact same thing you did.....started off with Norco's at even a higher dosage than you were taking and then lost my subscription from my doctor.  I found a friend that had a seemingly endless supply of Methadone.  I worked my way up to a 25-30mg/day habit and then my friend lost his connection.  I had a few of the Norco's left and tried to do a quick taper from there.  Methadone is one of the most addictive substances that mankind has ever invented.  To compare Norco's to Methadone is like comparing a fire cracker to a nucleur bomb.  I do not know how long you have been taking the Methadone but please do your self a favor and get off of them as soon as physically possible.  The only true way to get off of any of these is the quick taper and then cold turkey.  You haven't experience a lot of withdrawal pain yet because methadone is built up and stored in your liver which your body uses when normal supply is diminished.  If you have only been on methadone for a short while your withdrawals will not be as bad.  Do not get me wrong......they are going to be bad but you can get through it!  If you do not stop now it gets worse and worse.  You are better off staying on the Norco's and going through the short week of withdrawals then you are staying on methadone.  The crappy thing about methadone is either you will have to take it for the rest of your life or eventually come off and the longer you wait the worse it is going to be.  I cannot believe a doctor would prescribe methadone for a Norco habbit!!!  Just google methadone withdrawal or look for some methadone posts on this site and see what you have to look forward too.....I have been off Norco's and the methadone for about two weeks now and am still feeling the affects.....It is horrible coming off of methadone and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.  Methadone detox lasts anywhere from 3-9 weeks.  The worst is usually over within 2 weeks but it takes forever to get back to normal.  The first two weeks seem like a year, it will probably take all of your will to make it through.  Tell your doctor about your plans to quit first so you are not tempted to renew your prescription.  You can do this man and if you make it, please make it a point to warn people about Methadone!  It can kill you if you do not take it correctly or if you mix it with alcohol or other drugs.  I know of two people whom which has died off of methadone.  Doctors do not have a good grasp of its affects on certain people and non-pain management doctors do not have enough experience with heavy duty pain drugs.....Sorry for the long post but I cannot stress enough to get off the methadone as soon as possible.....go back on the norco's if you have to but there is no such thing as long term pain management with narcotic pain relievers....Your body WILL adjust and WILL crave more!......Good luck and god bless!

[chronicmistake]

I think you should be honest with your doctor.  you need a support system.  you are not a criminal!  I went to my doctor and told him I was addicted and I think it was a good lesson for him as a doctor.  He has me on a taper schedule off of Norco.  I was taking 10 a day and this week down to 2 a day.  The problem with sub and meth is you have to WD from those meds too.  Maybe try a local NA  meeting?  Good luck. :)