Methadone treatment for addiction

[Louise5414]

How do u get wearned off methodone?  My daughter was taking suboxone but was asked to go to a meth clinic because she continued to use herion spastically.  I just would like to learn about meth. I know very little about meth only suboxone. How long do people have to be treated before getting off of it. If she users heroin while in treatmentbarebher chances of overdosing high? If anyone knows a good website to read about methadone clinic treatment please let me know. Thank you

[gnarly_1]

hi after being a methadone junkie for 6 1/2 yrs and induing an awful withdrawal from it I could never recommend it with a clean concuss however there are eceptons to the rule ....if your an iv drug user it is better then that....my experence tells me she ant threw chacing the high if she was sub will work for her I agree with the above posters you got to want to get clean but knowing what I know about narcotics she is better off with sub that and a program like NA will help here recovery without a program she will most likely stay on the same path she is been on ...your support will be huge aloon has helped my wife understand my addiction I recamed it highly for you just google it you will find one close to home stick around write your self a new post go to the top of the page where it says post a question where here to help good luck and my God bless you....Gnarly

[Louise5414]

Thank you for your response it is helpful.

[Louise5414]

She has been inpatient 3 times in 7 years and out patient as well on and off.  I'd like her to be in a long term facility or halfway house program but the cost is killing us right now.  She was inpatient until late October for 45 days which ended up costing us well over 40 thousand that wasn't covered by insurance and our insurance won't cover anymore inpatient.  If insurance would treat this as a sickness it would help so many people.  I know she needs to want to be clean and I'm not sure she does.  She said to me the other day " mom don't you think i want to be like every other kid my age but it just isn't that easy" The sad part is - I haven't given up hope but I'm preparing myself for the worst.  Her 21st birthday is next month. :(

[Louise5414]

Thank you for your responses it helps a great deal

[Herrick25]

I work at a Detox and treatment center where the doctor is excellent with regard to all types of detox including Methadone.  The previous posts were correct when they say that she must want to stop because when she gets detoxed there is much work to be done to stay clean. You can call me anytime at 8183593646 if you have questions.

[weaver71]

It seems like she is chasing the rush. Methadone will not work any better than subs, but it will get her higher. The main difference between heroin high and methadone high is methadone has no rush. It enters the blood slow and builds up in your system. I have overdosed on methadone, as it is a pain med now, and you can buy it on the street now. If she is using heroin on subs, I would stay away from methadone. Suboxone and methadone are both opiates and very addictive. Neither of them is a blocker, but they are stronger opiates than heroin, so heroin has little effect, as it cannot compete with buprenorphine. Using heroin on methadone could easily lead to respiratory arrest. I would suggest an inpatient detox and strong aftercare program. Subs, or buprenorphine is now being sold as a pain killer in a transdermal patch of 5mcg, 10 mcg, and 20mcg per hr. It is beginning to be sold in the street like methadone. Because of her history, I would not try to use drugs to get clean. Good luck, keep us posted.

[worried878]

agree with aboove.  Suboxone is a opiate blocker...so the recptors for narcotics are slap full...the heroin would have nowhere to "land" to be absorbed for her to even get high..so kinda waste of time to use another narcotic while on a saturating dose of sub...and a saturating dose is not a whole lot...sub is a sticky drug to say the least with a long wd.

Methadone is not a blocker.  Clinics are subsidized in counties and cities to provide this drug for folks who abuse drugs...they pay for it as a rule  $70 a week or more depending....sub is expensive as well....more so as a rule  but both r cheaper than buying a DOC off the streets.  A person can still use, unfortunatealy while on methadone, but stringent drug testing at the clinic makes this tough.  benzos are dangerous when taking methadone, but it is not a opiate blocker like sub.

Boith drugs have a long half life so a long wd period, both drugs are narcotics...sub being the stronger of the two drugs mg for mg.  Methadone is approved for pain relief in the US, sub is not.  

Main thing is she gets clean...neither drug is a miracle worker so if someone tells u so, dont listen.  No one or no drug can make a person clean, only that person can make themselves whole again

Good luck and wishing u all the best

[Gtowngirl]

Iam currently taking methadone and hopefully I can help with my experience. First of all Methadone will not "fix" her. She has to want to stop using heroin for anything to work. What I have come to learn is methadone will fill the brain receptors and when she is at a steady dose she should stop feeling the cravings from wanting to use. When u said she was taking suboxin she was still using heroin. I don't know much about suboxin but I think it is also an "opiate blocker" so her continuing to use heroin is a RED FLAG. Methadone works as a similair opiate to heroin and when she is on a "steady" dose usually between 70-90mgs. It should start to stop her cravings for using any other opiate. What u also need to understand to when she gets to the higher doses of meth. That. In order for her to get high from heroin usually they have to double or triple there usual dose of heroin witch can cause her to OD. OD is possible so aftercare is SO IMPORTANT. I WOULD SUGGEST IN-HOUSE REHAB FOR 30_90 DAYS. At minimum- Drug counceling and NA meetings ( na meetings closed and women only is best, so she can't find new connects or some people who are there for the wrong intentions, like being court ordered and being in womens closed meeting will give her the right support she needs) to learn coping skills to live life without drugs. Some people feel that being on methadone is still not "clean" but everyone has diff. situations and if the meth. Treatment will help her to not feel sick and let her consintrate on her recovery then methadone can help her. BUT SHE HAS TO WANT TO STOP USING HEROIN FOR ANYTHING TO WORK. Methadone has helped me from stopping my old addiction behaviors and I have a great desire to live a life without drugs. And I have read that their is a greater chance of relapse if we do not stay on methadone a full year and then we can slowly taper down till we are free from the methadone. Some will disagree with the time of a year being on MMT, that is what I read on a methadone site. You can google methadone and find a lot of info sites that can give u doctors and patients info and stories. Do as much research u can to support your daughter in a heathy way. I have to thank you from being a daughter of an alcoholic and a recovering addict myself for wanting to support and help and love your daughter through this hell called addiction. I have had to do this on my own. And my mom died from this disease when she was only 61. I still need my mommy and have to count on only myself and gods love to give me the strength EVERYDAY to fight this disease and break the cycle for my children. So ANGELS BE WITH YOU, AND THANK U FOR BEING A SUPPORTIVE MOTHER. You are welcome to ask me anything and u can go to my profile and leave a private message "Pm" to ask or say anyting u might need help or support for. And also ALON-Meetings could help yourself as well. Good luck and love from~ gtowngirl  ~

[toothfairie]

hi and welcome!!  i don't have any experience with methadone personally but i know some here do....just please be patient because the weekends are kinda slow and it's the holidays....just wanted to lend my support and wanted you to know this is a great sight for info!  please keep reading and watching for the posts....someone will come along soon with some help for you....good luck with it all!  hope all turns out well  :)