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Oxycontin addiction methadone to detox

My husband is currently in a detox/rehab facility for oxycontin abuse.  My question is, that they are using Methadone to detox him, supposedly to "save" him from going thru the withdrawl symptoms.  But, from everything I'm reading the methadone is just as hard to get off of, and some people end up on it for years...........

Should they be using Methadone to detox him, and will he have to continue taking the Methadone once he is home?
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Avatar universal
Your thinking is correct in the fact that Methadone is just as strong and potent a Narcotic as Oxycontin / Oxycodone.  And will definately require weaning off of just as any Narcotic would.  You can not just Stop Taking once you have become Physically Dependant.

BUT...

One thing that you need to realize with Methadone,  is that there is ALOT LESS  (I can not stress this enough)  ALOT LESS  Potential for Abuse.  Coming from someone who can go thru 150 Tablets of 15mg Oxycodone in 4 1/2 Days.   The Methadone will take care of any Pain that the Patient is being originally treated for as well as any Withdrawl symptoms that would occur upon stoping any Narcotic like Oxycodone, At the same time giving MUCH LESS Up-Side for Abuse.  For Instance  When I Run out of Oxycodone  (Taking 30 to 50 15mg tablets a day)  I can get by the first day without by taking 3 to 4 10mg Methadone (2 in Morning & 2 at Night)  then immediately wean down to 2 a day (in just a day or two) and further down to 1 a day (1/2 in Morning & 1/2 at Night) in just a couple days further.  

You will Not feel the best and will have very little energy and may spend alot of time tired or in bed feeling a bit sick.  BUT you will NOT have the Bad Withdrawl Symptoms of Restlesness, Yawning, Watering Eyes, Muscle Aches, Tossing & Turning & Not being able to Sleep.  It will take very little Will Power to Wean Yourself down on the Methadone  (due to the decreased Potential for Abuse and Very Little Upside for Taking More and More as well as it keeping you from experiencing Full On Withdrawl).

Once you are on a Low Dose of the Methadone,  It will allow you to Function on a Daily Basis without Withdrawl Symptoms and also still treating what Pain you have from the Original Reason behind taking the Narcotic Pain Reliever in the First Place.  You will be able to continually lower your dose until you are able to completely get off of the Narcotic All Together.  Or,  even Continue with the Ultra Low Dose of Methadone on a Stable Regiment very Easily with Little to No UpSide for Abusing it.

I personally have found that the Higher Doses of Methadone I take,  The Worst I Feel.  It gives me more of a Drugged Out Feeling with NO Energy but is not the kind of Feeling that someone would Like.  Much Differently than the Oxycodone where it actually Gives you Energy and Makes you Feel like your On Top of the World. (Which is Why it is So Easy to Abuse and Keep Taking MORE & MORE)...

Plus,  another thing your Husband will find -  Is that once OFF the Ultra High Doses of Oxycodone  and  weaned onto the Methadone.  His Testosterone Level will Dramatically Increase,  ultimately giving him more Energy and the Ability to Tolerate lower doses of the Narcotics in general.

I have found that there are ALOT of Side Effects from the Ultra High Doses of Oxycodone that are Not normally spoken about.   I have actually come to believe that it is the ultimate reason for me developing Type 2 Diabetes.  Oxycodone is known to impair Pancreatic Function.   Plus,  I have started getting Severe Dry Eye to the point that my Lens & Cornea dry out so bad at Night that I wake up with the Feeling of a Foreign Body in my Eyes.  Eye Drops do not help and it effects my vision dramatically on top of having Alot of Pain involved with it.   It has Lowered my Testosterone Level to a Non-Existent Level  but I notice that even just on the First day running out and weaning onto the Methadone - That I have a woody for almost a Full 2 Days just from my Testosterone Levels coming back so quickly.

So   Take it from someone who should give up the Oxycodone All Together (Like Your Husband) and simply Stay on the Methadone to wean down all together.  It is a Godsend for its ability to allow a person to Function on a Daily Basis without the Up Side for Abuse.  Keep in mind that there is Still "Potential" for Abuse.  But ALOT Less UP SIDE to Taking More and More and More of the Drug.  Allowing someone to keep from Abusing the Narcotics (Even Someone who would normally have Very Low Will Power when it comes to the Oxycontin / Oxycodone).

Hope this helps.
It is from someone who knows FIRST HAND about This from over 16 years of Experience.
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Avatar universal
I was in a pissy mood this morning so my post reflected that.  There are methadone clinics that are very tight these days and really help a lot of people.  It's also cheap (unlike luxury rehab clinics).  $105 bucks a week, which is cheaper than pills, and you CANNOT do pills while on it.  

Your life is in danger from opiates.  It destroys your soul, and whether you know it or not...you're an *******.  You don't see how you treat other people until you're off.  You don't want to be that person.  You want to be that little kid who started kindergarten that had their whole life in front of them.  You can be that kid again.

Start over.  Allow yourself to.  This sickness is nothing to be ashamed off.  You just screwed up a bit.  You didn't start a war.  You didn't kidnap children.  You hurt yourself.  Now stop.

You CAN do it.  I know you can.  I did.  You can, too.
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1441780 tn?1284225437
ok so i have been takin anywhere from 100mg to 200mg of percocet or oxycotin for a lil over two years..yesturday i started weaning took 19 percocet 512s and today so far i have taken 6 ....my husband has alot of the same views you do ...he is clean  always has been ( he has great will power)...others have said  methadone is great...and i have taken some before and it made me feel the same way and i liked them alot too./...so i dont wanna take them or anything else...but this chemical change in my brain i hear about scares the crap out of me....eerrr
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Avatar universal
Don't listen to anyone telling you that a group chit chat program can keep you off of opiates.  Methadone works because you CANNOT take the opiate without killing yourself.  It forces you to quit the opiate which is harder on your body than the original drugs.  It shrinks the opiate receptor back to its normal size and allows you to be normal again.  Yes your body will become used to methadone, but the doctors know that and slowly take you down in dose size so you don't feel the drop.  Opiates change your brain so you need chemical help unfortunately to stay off.

Thirteen years off the hard stuff (yes, heroin) and I didn't do it by going to group.  I went twice where I got to hear everyone reminisce about how great drugs were but how they also destroyed your life and all I could hear was: wow, didn't H feel good...  It does not help to hyperfocus your life on the negative (which is being a drug addict) and hang out with other addicts (some of which still have drugs on them).  The 5 year recidivism for AA and NA and Narconon is incredible because what it does is allow you to get off and stay off at first, but then forget how damaging it was just in time for some newbie to describe a high and have you piling back.

Here is my advice for anyone suffering:
1. Go to a DOCTOR and get on methadone to SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE
2. DO NOT HANG OUT WITH DRUG ADDICTS AGAIN--NOT FORMER OR CURRENT. Get a whole new class of friends and if you need someone to talk to--forget about group, invest in a therapist.
3. Get a hobby that involves being physically fit.
4. Throw out all your old movies and albums you listened to or watched when on drugs (this should probably be step 2).  Your brain has a weird associative memory.  To this day there are songs I will hear that will make me want to do drugs.
5. Fall in love.  You're an addict.  Screw what AA tells you.  Bring something positive and selfless into your life.  Fall in love with your dog, a hobby, a person...anything positive that you can obsess on.
6. Forgive yourself.  Society puts stigmas on certain behavior.  You are no worse a person than diabetics who still sneak cupcakes, or heart patients who eat french fries, or smokers, etc.  You didn't hurt anyone but yourself.  Forget what they say and put it into perspective.  If you don't forgive yourself, you will hate yourself and eventually go back on drugs.
7. Laugh.

Take care all.
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Avatar universal
Hello,

I am a typical college student, maybe not so -A+ perfect GPA- it happens to a lot  of us; for many different reasons. I came across this site and found it reassuring to hang in there. I am detoxing at home over the weekend WITHOUT any meds-it's all in the mind.  Although the body does react when not in contact with the opediod- it gets better. For me, my family and my future- at least no long tainted in the process. To ALL-hang stong. A healthier future is the right way.

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Avatar universal
my son is 18 and using oxsycontin ( maby spelled wrong )  and other pills it is so scary my brother died from overdose heorin , why is all this **** around,  i hate it  , u cant control it  help  me  hanna
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Avatar universal
This drug kills left and right im afraid i might be dead before i can fix that however here is the true facts im addicted to oxycontin at a dose most people would never think of. I do not take methadone or saboxone or any of that.  Methadone is the worst one out of all of them.  Ive been addicted to this drug for 5 years and in the process i managed to get control of the addiction but still get high.  At this point i would do anything to be the old jim that everyone loved however im afraid it wont happen.  DO NOT EVERY CHOSE METHADONE FOR GETTING OFF OXY IT WILL KILL YOU FASTER AND IS WAY MORE ADDICTING APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES HARDER TO GET OFF THEN OXY.  Im saying all of this because i know someone out there is listening and i need help  every time i try to take it easy i get to manic and suicidal If there was a miracle for me to be normal again i would take it. ive wrecked almost everything close to me and i only got 1 friend left that is stickin with me and hes a true friend however he hates seeing me like this i fall asleep on chairs couches or even at a restaurant and im tired of everyone looking at me thinking what the **** is wrong with this dude.  Its too late for me but not for the country these drugs need to be stopped from begin made so many lives have been destroyed from oxycontin including my own.  IM REALLY TIRED AND DONT HAVE MUCH LEFT IN ME I LIVE IN COLORADO AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD HERE ME CRY AND BEG GOD TO GET ME THROUGH THIS.  THERE IS JUST NOONE LET THIS BE A LESSON TO THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED OR ABOUT TO START TAKING THIS DRUG IT ONLY TAKES 1 TIME THATS ALL IT TOOK FOR ME.  IF ANYONE OUT THERE CARES ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO SAY PLEASE PRAY FOR ME I HAVE MY FAITH YET ITS NOT SO STRONG  I CANT LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE IM GETTING CLOSE TO THE END.
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Avatar universal
hey, thanks. This is the first one I came across. It looked pretty outdated.Thanks again!
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182493 tn?1348052915
This thread is 4 years old. It will get overlooked by current members due to the age of the original post. if you need support or help please repost in a new question or in a post the was created today so that yours does not get lost in the mix.. the site moves fast..

Welcome..
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Avatar universal
after taking 80mg oxy 3 times a day for 5 years now, i want to be free of this addiction. for several reasons i need to be discreet and find a way to do this at home and without missing time from work.i have been a day without them before i could get more, and it nearly killed me going through withdrawls. does anyone have any remedies, i do have hook ups for other meds if needed. please if you know of anything that can help me conquer this demon.  thanks
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Avatar universal
Yes, Doll--this is a toughie.....You don't say how long you've been together, but it really doesn't matter: an addict will makes his choices according  to his drug sense, not his heart sense.....Most therapists would tell you to put your recovery FIRST, at whatever price.  I'm not sure I could do that so I certainly am not going to preach it to you. But you must consider it, I think.....Otherwise the result is your partner's life going down the tubes, and yours in the aftermath.  Drug addiction only gets worse, as you already know by prophesizing the progression of a few oxys taken right to the crushing and snorting phase...It most assuredly will NOT have a good outcome. And you are correct in sensing that he isn't at all serious about any recovery. I'm afraid you're on your own, here, babe.  Do you love him?  Does he love you?  Would he consider rehab since his at-home attempts don't seem to be succeeding?  If the answers to these questions are "yes", then we would hope he would be more inclined to listen to your pleas and do what's best for both of you.
   Well, I said a big bunch of  nothing and brought to no closer to a solution than before.....:-) TRY to save yourself.  You can't do it for him.  Much love--Peazy
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the response. There is no reason he cant stay on the meth. I told him it was probably the best thing for him. Better on his liver and no euphoric feeling that leaves him wanting more. I already know as well as he does that if he got a bottle of oxys from his doc he would go from "swallowing 2@20 mgs per day" as he promises "for legitamate pain"  to crushing and snorting 4 80s a day. And there will always be one of his "friends" around to get them from. He's prescribed 280 10mg meth per month. She (his doc)lets him pick what he wants. Gotta hate docs like that. She offered the meth and I told him to grab it so we could detox.(very bad idea)Ive accepted the price and am paying it everyday. So legitly hes supposed to take 3 3 time daily.90mgs per day. You should have seen the pharmacists eyes.That should be enough to fix his aching back(which by the way he hardly ever remembers to complain about)Its almost like he wants to go back. I already know I cant stop him.Every individual must want it for themselves. I feel like hes warming me up for it,like he wants me to say "oh sure bring some oxys home,its ok" He assures me that its my choice and he'll do whatever I want but I know it has to be his choice or he'll do whatever he wants sooner or later anyway. So I tell him it's up to him, but that I dont know if I can stay if he goes down the oxy road. Is that fair? Whats worse is I feel Ive lost my partner and that Im now on my journey for sobriety alone. Tough one huh?
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Avatar universal
Gee--You can't ask anything simple, can you??!! LOL  First of all , please don't apologize for "taking up space" or saying too much. Your concerns are legitimate and difficult and we need to try and help you.
   Personally, if I was clean and had to live w/ someone taking my DOC (even if it WAS legitimate) I wouldn' t  be clean very long. I just KNOW ME.  Yet, have you the right to  voice your fears in view of the fact that he is in pain and NEEDS something--and always WILL?  (I think those are your questions). It seems to me the obvious solution would be to provide him w/ pain relief that doesn't enter your realm of temptation--if at all possible.  Is there any particular reason he can't stay on the methadone?  Then he would have relief and you woudn't be put on shaky ground.  Tell me more about why he's switching to the percs/ oxy or whatever..... Peazy
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Avatar universal
Eventhough Ive only started posting since June1st I think most everyone knows my bag.Explaining my personal journey on every post helps me but takes up space for people who need to post as much as I do so Ill save the room. My b/friend and I have been weening down methadone to 15 mgs for mos. He has legit pain but initially made a personal decision to deal w/ the pain to get off the drugs. Lately as in the past week or two has been bringing up the fact that he does have legit pain in his back and may need drugs.Kinda feels like hes warming me up for a slap in the face.He has 3 slip discs that cannot be operated on. I believe he is one of the few that would be a candidate for permanent methadone use. I could stay my path and let him stay on the meth if he has legit pain. Watching him take methadone  wouldnt be that hard because I hate the drug. I  only use it for maintenance and have a solid and so far successful plan to be off it totally. But now hes talking about oxycotin or percoset for his pain(his drs would easily give it to him)Can a drug addict that is trying to stay her path to recovery live with a man that takes the exact drugs that almost ruined our lives. I kinda feel like hes bailing on coming clean which leaves me very alone since we started our journey together. I very seriously doubt I could watch him use and continue to be clean but who am I to tell him what he can take for his pain. Do I have the right?Any advice would be much appreciated. I used more room than I intended I apologize. Take care
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Avatar universal
I need the attention of all my Ho's. You know who you are . I am giving each of you until Monday morning at 10 am central time to check in and give me my cut! LOL
OK got that, do I need to get my crayons out here?

Another thing, I see where MrGoatstar is on vacation. Well Mr Goat I am sorry for trashing your website, I was wrong and I won't let it happen again.! Peace! No more anger management seesions here for BillyBob, thanks you sweet people. Big hug'ums............  BIG MAC DADDY
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Avatar universal
Hey watch it Peazy! Oh course you are ALL right! Women are smarter and Yes peazy I put the toilet seat back down when Im through. LOL  Now Lisabet and Jerri,  next! cat gotcha tounges?
IMR'O'TF!  "BIG" MAC DADDY!
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Avatar universal
Oh BTW, I am a Lesbian! I thought you should know that!
                   Bill
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Avatar universal
You just don't know what it does to an old man to have real women around. Man I ain't got no reason to pout! (bottom lip quevered) And you two need to talk to peazy before youz twoz guyz go any farther. I am trouble, I mean I am the guy yo momma warned you about when you were a youngun! LOL
Musicians make bad Husbands but great Lovers! Oh that was soooo good! Wanna see my tool (OK stop it , I meant my Bass!) 'women'!
disgusting!...................Bmac JK LOL
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Avatar universal
We're listening "SWEET CHEEKS"!!!!  Jerri
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Avatar universal
Don't pout baby!!!!  Peazy, Jerri and I will take good care of ya, along with all the other "babes" on the board that's vying for your attention!!!  (do you "really" always put the toilet seat down?  Now I'm REALLY impressed!)...smile  Have a great weekend, Billy.  Love, Lisabet
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Avatar universal
What you do w/ the toilet seat is just not on my list of priorities, Doll.........LOL    Believe me, I WILL clue these chicks in w/ all KINDS of caveat emptors.....
  Now, as for YOU ( grabbing you by your ear and pulling you after me....)YOU come w/ me:  we need to get a couple thangs STRAIGHT!!    LOL    Peazy Mae

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Avatar universal
Hey--I ain't 'splainin' ****......LOL      It's survival of the fittest....:-)   (Of course you know we have to humor him--otherwise he tends to pout..> WINK)
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Avatar universal
Ok - Billy, don't get a swelled head, now...just cause you got all the gals fighting over you...smile.  As you say, there's enough of you to go around....Have a great weekend, Big Mac. Glad to see you posting again (and keeping all the ladies happy...)...smile.  Love, Lisabet
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Avatar universal
I see how it is!!Now that you got all the women hanging on ya you call yourself Big Mac!!Is that short for Big Mac Daddy????Glad to hear your doing great!!!  Jerri
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