When to start withdrawal from methadone before suboxone?

[funcaddict]

My induction day to suboxone is Friday, Dec.2 . I am currently taking 20mg methadone per day. I had originally planned to take my last 20mg methadone dose on Mon. Nov.28 at 7am. My doctor never gave me a distinct answer
on how long to go without methadone. He just said the longer I go without the easier my induction will go. Any opinions on how long I should go cold turkey?

[crazin]

Here is a link to the NAABT website with info regarding switching from methadone to suboxone. Be sure to check out the link for the COWS worksheet. The worksheet will help you gauge your symptoms and figure out when you're ready. You need to wait until you are in mild to moderate withdrawal, and since everyone is different, there is no way to say exactly how long it will take. The worksheet says the minimum is 36 hours, but that it may take up to 96 hours. Good luck.

http://www.naabt.org/faq_answers.cfm?ID=35

[BabyLove21982]

***Im using my phone to text/type all this **** so Im sorry its know like 5 pieces...Jesus. All i wanted was to warn about the people who are not only new to this but also maybe misinformed about just how different these are. Ok...i wasn't feeling well awhile after taking my regular 120mg dose of methadone...for some reason i still felt ill. Knowing Im in a methadone maintenance program: which is used to treat the symptoms and cravings of addiction .... I must have somehow blanked out when they explained just how different yet similar methadone and suboxone (which is also used as a maintenance program for absence of opiates: ex.. Oxycontin,vicodin,Lortab,opana... Opiates in general. Even Heroin.)  really are. So knowing that both medications have the same end result....i took a half of a suboxone the same day i dosed with methadone in the am.  ***Methadone is a long lasting fast acting opiate pain reliver that has properties which help lessen symptoms and cravings of addiction/Suboxone is another opiate pain reliver used to treat addiction in long term patients. Only Suboxone also has naloxene which is an opiate blocker..which is a little more efficient due to the fact if you take Suboxone...while addicted to any opiate..and that opiate hasn't had the full term needed  . The naloxene actually was designed so that if it ever came into contact with another opiate in ones body...it would bind to the opiate receptors in the brain and forcefully kick the *feel good* compound out of the.body.   Which in lamemans terms means: If you take Suboxone while methadone or any other opiate is in your body...the Suboxone will kick you and your belongings out by making you physically sick to your stomach and forcing *bad* out. I went from feeling a little weird and ill straight to completely sick to my stomach ...heads pounding...body aching and physically exhausted and mentally not prepared or physically vacant and emotionally lost. It isn't safe or smart to combine methadone and Suboxone or Suboxone and any opiate together ...ever!   Usually i would kinda explain the risks precautions and warnings but thres no time..    ***Simple explanation: Methodone/Suboxone  : Same end result... Should never for any reason...be given together!!! Yuckie

[BabyLove21982]

*** Im so sorry Im posting so many things and rambling on and on without rhyme or reason. I was trying to get to the moral of my story. The reasoning behind her doing what she was is waiting so very patiently for us to let her do.   Ok so...I didn't how..but maybe

[BabyLove21982]

But also never even came close to caring about or actually earnings the clean time and bragging rights that you now have.   Now...back to the entire purpose of this letter.      Somehow make sure you have given the methadone more than enough time to clear your system and regain what very work ethic and real life individually set goals that others before her envisioned and completed.   I had went to dose...like i do everyday and she made sure we could relax without kids and actually enjoy others and not just herself.

[BabyLove21982]

It sounds like a reasonable amount of time... In all honesty...i wouldnt make a date for sure..not something that can't be changed. Your not going to know for sure yourself until the day of. Just thinking about the methadone to suboxone transfer brings up a very bad memory of my transfer. I didn't know as much about maintenance drugs as i know now. I wish i knew then what i know now. I would never have this sick feeling in my stomach at the thought of my experience. I wouldn't wish it ln my worst enemy. Ok so i had been addicted for atleast 4years at the time. I started the methadone maintenance program. I didn't know much about methadone at the time. All i knew for sure is it was medicine to help you kick your medicine addiction. Seemed silly and lame to me at the time...After dosing daily for atleast 2weeks ...my methadone dose was at 120 milligrams daily...since they explained to me i could up my dose atleast 5mgs-usually 10mgs every day until i felt both comfortable and no longer dope sick...i being the addict that i am..took full advantage of the unlimited opiates that were being offered ( I actually  did something horrible .... I lied,manipulated and used a program designed to help ones with my same disease and trick people and a doctor into supplying and supporting the same disease i was thought to be there to get straight. I was taking full advantage of the methadone clinic...and saving a ton of $$$ on my weekly drug habit. All i had to do was pay them the very reasonable fee of $80/month instead of the atleast $80 daily habit i was paying each and every day. Everything was working out in my favor (or so i thought) back out here...i was getting high off the methadone instead of stopping the daily increase as soon as it hit a dose i was comfortable with and that held me the whole 24 hours it was intended to do. I kept the increase of methadone so by the time in question i was not only maintaining my drug habit with only methadone as promises but also...honestly...i was paying next to nothing...to be nodding and feeling great. Totally defeating the purpose of the methadone maintenance program and forget my actual genuine previous desire and need to quit. You knew it was my methadone and you also knew and contributed to not only my relapse...but also the stealing, ruining and disrupting of myself..my overall health and the health and sobriety of everyone involved.    Something happened that i swear was so thought out and not a simple 2weeks...but people had years after their clean date instead of days weeks or months. Such hard work and desire only to be ruined and mocked by Someone who not only Didnt want or care about anyone and their hard work and discipline

[gnarly_1]

this is a tuff question but your best bet is to talk to the doctor thats going to be puting you on the sub each doctor is different we have had members do it with as little as 24hrs and others say to go 36 to 48hr just depends a lot on what your serum level is like how long you been at 20mg how long you been on methadone .....the stuff slowly builds up in your system so someone thats been on it a yr is not going to have to wait as long as someone thats been on it for 5yrs see what I mean theirs a lot of variables ....ASK YOUR DOCTOR
...........Gnarly