Methadone maintenance?

[Hobbitz]

Hello all, This is my first post.  Have been reading for several months and you guys have a good thing going.  Great people here.  I have a love for opiates, When I would do oxycontin the situation would get even more hellish. Have been clean, with just a few valium, for 2 weeks. Am taking Neurotin which really does help with withdrawals but mentally I'm craving. Saw the county mental health department's psychiatrist and he was really pushing methadone maintenance. I know there's a lot of controversy over this and I'd like some input please. I don't know if the cravings and depression will lead back into using. The high-risk behavior is what scares me. Sometimes I feel that I have no control over it, It just finds it's way back to the comfort zone. He even mentionned that I should be careful because at the clinic a lot of dealing goes on in the parking lot, so there is a temptation right there. "Hey man, got any oxys, I'll trade ya my meth"
So neurontin and today started wellbutrin, anyone been on that one?" Been tired and lazy for a while. When does my natural energy come back?' I know I was getting into a heavy abuse period but damn it was ruining me. Didn't ever think that I wouldn't be able to function and the depression I feel now is a lot worse than it was while I wasn't using. Price you pay I guess for the joy ride. Joy doesn't last long and then you're on a ride to hell and you have to have it in the morning otherwise you can't start your day and are depleted of energy.
Can't write anymore~over the limit, 1600 words??~~
                                   ~Hobs

[Gina]

Welcome to the Forum! It seems a lot of people read it for a little while before posting. That may be a good idea since you probably have an idea of who you can relate too. Although I am on methadone maintanence for abusing pain pills only (meaning no heroin or benzos) you do not give enough information about yourself to be able to assess your situation. What led up to you seeing the county psychiatrist? How long have you been using/abusing? Have you gotten into any legal trouble due to drugs? How about your family situation? I am not trying to sound like some nibshit, but the truth is Methadone maintanence is a big step and should thought through thoroughly. Many people see this as a last resort when everything else fails (inpatient detox and rehab units, counseling, AA and NA). You are still expected to attend NA/AA while on this program. My counselor told me to make the methadone PART of the treatment. It's so easy to get comfortable on this stuff that you feel "normal" and since you don't feel the need to use drugs either physically or mentally you start thinking that you don't need AA/NA anymore. This feeling of "normalcy" comes when you reach your stabilizing dose. They usually start you out at 20mgs and go up 5mgs per day until you reach 55 or 60mgs. After that if you need to go up (a lot of people do!) you fill out a increase request slip. You go up by 5mgs evertime you do this until you reach your comfort zone. "Blocking" dose is where you are unable to feel any opiate you may try to take. When you realize you cannot feel anything you eventually stop trying. Besides you usually feel good enough at this point to not have any cravings. I hope this helps you. Be careful and make sure this is something YOU want to do. Good Luck!!!!!

[slimtime]

I do feel for the position your in right now.That was a time in my where I thought I would spend forever in trying to get out.I put of methadone maintainance 3 times from being put on waiting lists only to lose the money I had saved to blow on my habit.Monday will be 2 years to the day that I entered into MMT..My only complaint is I didn't do it sooner.I have not touched a bag of dope since my first dose.I loved oxie's and beer and I'm happy to say that meth helped me quit drinking also.I don't want to push anything or any way of life on you but IMHO methadone is the only reason I'm alive.I have Hep C and cirrhosis so now I have the strength and willpower to work on those problems when before I never cared.It's a decision only you can make and I honesly believe when addiction rules your life it's the only way......Good luck(and this is my first time writing here too so I guess we are both rookies)..peace....Yankee Fan

[TimG115]

Hi All, I have been on methadone for over 41/2 years.It has literally saved my life.I went from starting out on Lorcets to doing heroin and everything in between.I was also a very heavy drinker.Since starting on methadone I have been clean of ANY other opiate and have also quit drinking completely.I went back to college and got my paralegal degree and am now as happy as ever.I no longer have to worry from day to day where I would get my next fix or pill.IMHO I think it could really help you with your problem.Only you know if you are ready to quit the Lorcets. I will definately keep you in my prayers. I am in a methadone organization called ARM.It stands for Advocates for Recovery through Medication.If you have any questions about methadone you can e-mail me at ***@**** and I will try to answer them for you.Hope this helped and best of luck.
                             God Bless & Peace Out..Tim G ARMGA

[Shreddi]

I have been on opiates off and on for about 25+ years.  Rehabed and then found my way into a supply of prescription meds.  Lots of Dilaudid, etc. etc.  Bottles of methadone and before I could wean off of 80 mg a day my supplier was gone.  I went cold turkey with help of Dr. and meds like clonidine, atavan, vistoral, etc.  after 2 months of no meds I still felt weird.  Almost like nerve damage.  Withdrawing off the methadone was far worste than anything ever.  Anyway.  I relapsed back on heroin because the depression and anxiety was so severe.  I had a Dr. wean me off slowely using a Norco solution.  Well I got down to about 3 - 4 norco a day and hit major depression.  I guess my question is this?  Considering the half life and how difficult it is to get off of methadone.  Would I be better staying at the 3-4 Norcos a day longer and wean off of that slower?  I Never want to get on methadone again.  I feel it would be going backward at this point.  Unless of course I found myself increasing the Norco's in an abusive way.  I am at "the wall" at 3-4 of them.  I do not take more and if possible take less.  Being their half life being a lot shorter and for the purpose of getting off all together as soon as possible wouldnt it be easier to regulate than the long term effects of methadone?  The Dr. who has me on the norco wean is one of the best in the country, I researched him thorouly.  He does use methadone when needed but says its more for a permanent solution to pain for people who will be on it the rest of there lifes.  If there is anyone out there that is no longer on methadone? how long did it take to get off and how slow did they decrease? and after you got off completely did you feel completly back to normal?  My freind did it and is always depressed.  Kinda scares me.  Thats why Id like to hear from someone who got off methadone completely and what your experience was to feel completly normal again.  Also can withdrawing from methadone too quickly cause damage to nervs.  Any advice on antidepressants for this stuff?  Thanks very much.

[Witchywoman]

Hi Shreddi, and welcome to the forum!

You might want to try 5 HTP for the depression. It is an amino acid, and is the direct precursor to serotonin. A lot of us on this board have had great results with it. You can get it in a health food store.  Start with 50mgs twice a day, and if that gives you results, stay there. If not, you can safely work up to 100mgs 3 times a day, but best to stay at the lowest dose that works (according to Dr. Ray Sahalian, who wrote a book on it).

keep us posted on how you are doing.

love,
WW

[Shreddi]

Thanks very much,  I will try it (again).  I have some here in the cabinet and hope its not expired.  I did try it last time I went thru this but maybe not enough.  Im gonna find it now and will let ya know.  Thanks again I appreciate it.

[redhook34]

Hobbitz What up! I know how you feel and the people in this forum are extremely helpfull.After a debilitating motorcycle accident I became an opiate abuser starting with Vics 7.5/750 taking 10-20 a day when that know longer worked. My doc put me on Oxy's 40mg time-released tabs, but I would just crush them and either snort or mainline. This had to stop before  it destroyed everyone and everything in my life. I checked into Rapid Opiate Detox in Seattle,Wa in which they put you under general anesthesia for about 4-6 hours administering  naltrexone which is an opiate antagonist that clings to the receptop sites in your brain. After I woke up it felt a little hairy because of the residual effects, but for the most part it completely detoxifies your body of all opiates.The doc sent me home with some meds to combat the very mild symptoms I might experience like chlonodine for anxiety along with diazepam,anti-diahherial med's  and so on.The bottom line is this it works trust me before I went in I was taking 20-30 of the 40MG of Oxcycontin chasing that down with about 50 vic's 5/500. I don't believe that MMT is the answer because you are just substituting one opiate for another that by the way is even harder to detox from than pills.If you have any questions about this please email me at s.***@**** I know what you are going through the hellish life with opiates sucks big time, but there is help out there for you.

[dreamseekerj]

I've been on Oxycotin for about 3 years now, and it seems like I'm getting more and more strung out everyday, and I want to go to the methodone program, but what I was wanting to know is, is it harder to get off methodone than other drugs, even though it does help fight the addiction?  
If anyone can give me any information e mail me please.
***@****

[Jase]

Hi all, I'm Jase, and I have been to hell and back.  Right now I am eight days clean of methodone.  Each day I hope I feel better but so far -- no go!  I can't even put into words how I have been up and down.  I started off with pot.  Then morphene became my drug of choice.  I got valium on the streets and wrecked my car one night.  That certainly didn't slow me down.  Of course my parents didn't understand any of it.  I finally convinced them I needed to be at the methodone clinic -- through talking with friends who were there.  I have been trying to come off for a year.  I was as high as 120 mgs. and went down to 15.  Then I had such a desire to come off I just stopped, cold turkey.  I have prescribed valium to help me come off but psychologically this is the most depressing, scary part of my trip to hell yet.  I get dizzy, perspire my body weight each day and have a headache to beat all!!  Without the clinic I probably wouldn't be here today.  The counselors help you -- most of them have been there and can relate where family members just think I'm a junky and I can put it down whenever I decide.  If there is anyone out there who has beat methodone I just wonder how long I'm going to feel this bad or if I will ever feel "good" again.  I'm glad I found this site and we can share the pain.  Even after the methodone I will have to beat the valium. I want to be able to feel like getting up in the morning and go on with my life.  Thanks for listening.  Jase.

[skipper]

jase:
welcome to the forum. you will have more luck interacting if you post at the top! It's real easy to get overlooked when you post
in the "basement." hope to hear more from you soon!

[Wizard]

Kip, here you are my friend! I was wondering how you were doing. I should have looked in the basement! LOL We've been in a few of them, you and I, haven't we? :-) I figured you were fairing well as I saw IR posting here and there and if something was up, I figured she would have said something. So, how be you Bro? If you get a chance send me an update. Till then, you are in my thoughts and prayers and I'm taking good care of that "Shoulder Angel" Thanks,
Power & Magick 2 U,
Wiz

[T. Kemp (b00ty_m4n)]

Sweating is their anything u can do bout the sweating?

[Calzy]

You posted on a six year old post and will get over looked. Why dont you ask this on a new post so everyone online will see it and help with your question.

[Mom651]

My son is struggling with depression and wants to switch from using suboxon to Methodone. He was deeply into drugs for at least 3 yrs. and doesn't feel like even getting up in the mornings. He says he has been staying solely on the Suboxon for a month, but he's 21 years old and is miserable.
I have not the knowledge or experience to direct him. But it seems to me there must be a better way. Any advice is welcomed....

                       Mom

[toxictome]

Welcome to the forum...Start a new question...this is an old post and you may not get many responses.
I have no experience w/ methadone or suboxon but i have heard NO to the meth..it is horrible....
REPOST your QUESTION!!!

[mr.lucky66]

Methadone is a harm reduction or therapy of last resort. Know one thing, once you get on you may not be able to get off. I have been through the ringer with it. Methadone, there's no future in it!

[lucyred68]

hun, you've been clean for two weeks.  that is super.  i did methadone for pain control and it stole my personality.  i had no feelings. i lost two years of my life, litterally.  i have very little memory of them.  depression is a normal part of wd's. it took me 31 days to quit wd symptoms from a low dose of methadone, then another 60 days to start feeling any energy.  it is the most difficult of all to get off of.  the stuff even rotted out my teeth.  the wellbutrin may be causing some of the lethargy.  that is one of the side effects.  there are better antidepressants out there.   good luck, hun, but i would deffinately think hard before doing methadone.  unless you want to be stuck on it for life.

[Savas]

If you've got two weeks off of oxy's...I'd avoid Methadone. It's VERY addictive, far worse than  oxy or heroin. The withdrawals can last for weeks with PAWS lasting years. It also doesn't really help with cravings (this is a myth). It also doesn't block other opaite use (another myth).

So...the problem is are you craving just because you miss getting high or is this a PAWS reaction? (It can be both, unfortunately). PAWS can last for months and there are ways to treat for it. But it's sometimes the hardest part of getting clean (the long time period can be debilitating).

I'd consider Amino Acid replacement therapy. The wellbutrin I'm leery of because i understand it's just as addictive in it's own way. I wouldn't take it for more than a few weeks/month or two if it was me.

Your other option is LDN. After a month if your still suffering severe depression and lethargy, this could help jumpstart your neurochemistry and give it the "WAKE UP!" message it needs.

[mr.lucky66]

Methadone, there's no future in it. Some say, it saved my life but what kind of life do you have at 100 plus mg.? constipated, sweating and sedated. all the best

[Savas]

The only thing methadone is good for is if you're life is so out of control that you've lost/are losing EVERYTHING. Given the choice of being a homeless junkie or going on methadone, I'd choose methadone.

[duckandcover]

I agree that this is true for some people but not all.  Methadone saved my wife's life.  Literally.  She has a very real and inoperable pain.  240 mg/day of oxy was no longer working so she was scoring more.  Probably up to 400-500 mg / day.  Seizures. Breakdown. Hospital stay te works..  she even Detoxed in a state facility but her pain came back with a vengeance.  She was either on methadone or (eventually) dead.  The crazy and amazing  part for me is that she's really close to being the woman I once knew and her pain is under control.

If you can get off everything and be pain free then I agree. DO IT.  If you truly have no choice then (in my experience) methadone is a MUCH lesser evil than the oxy's and hydor's.

2 cents..

[worried878]

Everyone has a different reason for using...My son worked at a meth clinic for several years..i recently talked in depth with him about it...At his clinic,,,he said he saw very few get off of it successfully...now that is just there...and many people have no desire to ever get off and lead productive lives..also many people still used anyway and would get kicked off the program as they tested them constantly for other drugs

[worried878]

oh...they do not offer sub at the clinics in this state... the doctor he worked with was seriously considering and fighting for the use of this drug for those who wanted to be free of methadone...but was not made part of a state clinic program when he left...here you must find a sub doc licensed to give the med...but then there is sub detox.....

[mr.lucky66]

All dope is Dope, Methadone, oxy, heroin, etc. There are only slight differences but the end result is usually the same. Narcotics can really help one cope with pain but when taken just to function they take on a different personality. Methadone for addiction is different than methadone for pain. It may work well for both but after a few years on methadone, it can turn on you like it did to me and get ugly. "methadone, there's no future in it" . all the best

[Savas]

It sounds like NYState. I tend to have a biased view on methadone because I'm in NYC. They use the clinic system and there are ALOT of them. Multiple drug use by patients is the norm. It's obvious they aren't even trying to help patients, just make a buck off them.

[worried878]

I think sub is not approved yet for most state clinics...very expensive....Maybe the system will get better...I do not think there is much sympathy for addicts...viewed as self inflicted instead of a disease like it is

[mrpat]

I was on oxycotin and percocet ffor b/t pain,got switched to methadone.Only have to take the methadone 4x's a day,compared to taking oxy and percs allday.Plus for some reason I do not feel stoned all the time like I used to.That and now I can actually function during the day so I feel like I have some type of normal life again.I have been on the methadone for three months now.

[mr.lucky66]

So you get the methadone from a doc or pain clinic? Thant's much better than a meth clinic with Ali Babba and the 40 thieves. It helps some people with chronic pain better than opiates. all the best

[mrpat]

Yes I get from my pain management doctor.Hearing from both You and Savas's posts it does sound alot like the maintenance programs are nothing but a money grabbing free for all for those type of programs.Even here in Mo. I have talked to people that are in methadone programs for maintenance and they charge these people 13.00 dollars a day for their medications,and then they never want to get them off of it.I feel for any one that has to deal with that type of B.S.