coming off of methadone after 7 yrs

[ready2bfree49]

I have been going to a clinic for coming up on 7 yrs. I have decreased my dose from 90 mgs a day to 40 a day now but, here's the problem....the clinic I go to is 100.00 a wk. I have been laid off and am not going to be able to afford it anymore . All this place cares about is the money. They are going to start involuntary withdrawal next wed. which means they will take me down 10 mgs a day and then kick me out....I have checked into several options but, I am VERY worried about the detox. I will probably try to buy some off the street until I can get down to 20mgs a day and I have found a medical Detox place that will take you but, you have to be on 20 mgs a day for a week....From 90 mgs to 40mgs I have not really been able to tell I have come off of anything but from what I hear 30mgs & down is where you really notice it. I have been trying to prepare I am on wellbutrin ( antidepressant 300mgs daily) and buspar ( 10mgs 4 x a day) Does anyone that has been through this have any suggestions???? I am scared to death because I know what bad detox is like...I was addicted to oxycontin that's what led me to the clinic to begin with. I feel as if I have signed a deal with the devil with the methadone....This is also the first time I have been to this site :)

[ready2bfree49]

Believe me, I have already tried all avenues to get money.....I owe the clinic as of next week 400.00. The only reason they haven't done anything yet is because I am telling them I am waiting on my unemployment ck. (which is true) but, it is only 275.00 a week. I really believe everything happens the way it's suppose to so, I'm going to go with the flow and make the best of it. It's been a long time since I've bought anything but I think  40 MG wafer is about 30.00$ and I figure if I can get 3 of those...I can take 20mgs for 6 days I can then go into the med. detox that I have found ( you have to be on 20mgs for a wk before they will take you) 75 percent of this is probably in my head...7 years is a long time to take something everyday alot of it is the act of taking something with me. the med. detox that I have found is free for those without Ins. :) There is a VERY long wait list but from what I've been told from someone that has been there is that once you get to where they want you to be you can start calling every morning and get in within a couple of days ( most people on wait list don't show up I guess??)
anyways, thank you for responding...I have never been on any of group like this....I need all the help/advice/support I can get. I am really scared...It's been so long since I have been sober , I don't even know what it is to be sober......the clinic I go to is privately owned there are only a handful of them in Tenn. and I think they all are owned by same people.....It's all about the money......:(

[ready2bfree49]

Thank you :) I need all the help, advice, support, suggestions etc. that I can get....I will listen to them all :)

[ready2bfree49]

I have found a medical detox facility that will take me in at 20 mgs. I am waiting on a call back from them now because my original plan was to decrease my dose down to 20mgs at the clinic and then go into rehab but.....now that's all messed up......I just don't want to quit CT on 40/30mgs so, I guess I'll buy some and take 20mgs a day for a week....I don't know what else to do??? but, I have seen the vitamin comment on here alot and I am going to get those ( calcium, magnesium and zinc ) those with wellbutrin and buspar surely to god that will at least help.......thank you for responding

[gnarly_1]

HI God I hate to here stuff like this especially since a dose of methadone cost 32 cents to give out and there hell bent on pushing you out the door as fast as they can10mg a day is going to feel like a truck hiting you.....If I where you I would swallow some pride and see if someone can lone you some money to at least get off a bit slower even if it just for a few extra weeks right now I know a quick fix for 6 bucks that will cut your withdrawals in 1/2 go up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin calcium/magnesium/zinc start taking 4 in the morning and 4 at dinner time in a few days this will really cut back on your withdrawals I did a lot of research when I was coming off it and found that to be the most helpful what there going to do wont hurt hurt you although you will be in physical pain the whole time I have had to walk this road with a few peoplethe post withdrawal will be the same expect a few mo of recovery time I hope you find work and can make this all go away but if you dont post and post often we all want to see you make it its not as harsh as going off heroin but last a lot longer hang in there good luck and God bless......Gnarly........btw check with human services in your city there are free clinics out there if you meet the criteria for them  

[snakejones]

Hi there---Wow, that's some cold treatment from that clinic. The half-life of methadone is 15 to 60 hours--that's the only good part. you will have a couple of days' head start to check around on getting some help. As I'm sure you know, methadone wd is more prolonged than other opiates, so you've got to get a little help. So glad you're down to 40 mg. I don't know about the resources in your town for folks w/o funds. Maybe the methadone clinics would have a resource suggestion you could follow up on? I hate it that you feel you may have to get some any way you can. This is really putting you in an unfair position. If you do feel that way, can you do a quick count in your headabout how much $$ it'd cost to get some on the street and see how close it comes to the $100 per week mark that you are currently paying? Are there friends or family you could borrow a little money from? Is there anything you can sell quickly on Craigslist or eBay to get you an additional couple of weeks at the clinic so you can taper in a safer manner than 10mg. per day? Ideally, the most you should go down is 5mg per week. I'm racking my brain here trying to help figure out something. And if worst comes to worst, you can go to the ER, but I don't think the docs give methadone there. You need to drop 20mg to get into the other clinic, and that's a good thing. Do try to see if you can possibly stay an extra 2-3 weeks and have them bump you down by 5 per week. Write back soon and often and let us all know what's going on. I am praying for a good ending to this crisis!

[sandstone27]

Hi and welcome to Medhelp!

I'm so sorry about the predicament you're in.  I wish I had an answer for you but I'm not familiar with methadone.  We have a few residence experts here who ARE and I will send one of them a message to get back to you.

Please hold tight, someone with experience in this area will be along soon.

Take care,

Sandy