first day on methadone detox...wish me luck!

[wolvey]

Hello all! This is my first time on any detox program, and I need all the support I can get! I have read through a few discussions on here and all of you have lead me to get help! Thank you all! I have been addicted to heroin, oxy contin, delaudids, roxy contin for 6 years now. Hope fully I can stay drug free after today!

[Penelope14]

Going onto methadone is your choice, I feel methadone should only be given to people who have tried every other way and means of getting clean and who's lives are in serious jepordy, this also goes for sub to. To many people want to take methadone in order to prevent withdrawals, which I can understand as no one wants to feel sick, but the down side of withdrawal prevention is the fact that you havent gotton down to the real issue, your addiction is still their, only now it is covered up by a bandaid, so do make sure while your on methadone that you recieve aftercare, I recommend NA or AA. I have been on oxys, vicodin, percocet and at the end of my addicton I was on a high dose of methadone for 6 years, and 6 months ago I tapered off methadone, once the methadone bandaid was taken off I realized that I never really got clean at all, I still had all the issues that many addicts have, this is when I started to go to meetings & got down to the real issue, my addiction. I wish the best for you. Penelope

[godezzofchaos]

Well that is good news, at least it seems CA understands that higher doses of methadone are needed to stabilize patients. After 140mg TN requires permission form the state, which many approve for (myself included) because in order for you to stabilize you HAVE to feel better and quit cravng..or it won't work!  I am proof of that. I have stayed on the exact same dose for 8 years..never increasing at all. Once you reach the level where you feel "NORMAL" from morning til night then you can begin to rebuild your life.  But you do have to increase in stages. Once you get to about 80 let your body adjust to that and see if that will hold you.  Like I said, it doesn't work if you never get stabilized, this is when people begin mixing other drugs with it...if it is truly working you will not craze AT ALL.  

I do want to warn you tho..methadone is great tool to get you started, but the only thing it does not do is help with the MENTAL aspect of being an addict, that is still there, so once you are stronger I strongly advise you to seek out the roots to your addiction and begin to conquer those demons one day at a time too. It has taken me many years to be able to be ready to begin my detox..do not let anyone decide for you..stay strong!  Getting take-homes will help ALOT.  I am fortunate as I only need to attend my clinic once every 28 days and the rest are take-homes...it was a long road to get to this point, I went everyday for a long time.  

You hang in there kiddo...you can do this. PLEASE BE CAREFUL DRIVING!  In the begining methadone makes many NOD and this happens ALOT when driving, so be responsible and if you know this is a problem for you have someone else drive ya!  K..gotta run to the office..will be thinking of you and wishing you the best!!

[wolvey]

Okay I found out that CA regulations does permit temporary increases in dosages. A maximum of 180mg a day. Patients are also allowed to take home a 2 day supply of dosage after a successful two month dosing period. YAY! I am goin in tomorrow and letting the doctor know that I am still craving bad and w.d.ing bad too. I am gonna see if he can prescribe me 50 mg atleast so it can hold me for day and night. Today I  felt okay but started normal nausea shaking sickness by 5 this afternoon. I know i need to have the methadone metabolize first but I just want to be safe so I don't crave so hard I end up hooking up! We will see tomorrow.

[wolvey]

YAY! Thanks again! Knowledge is power! I am totally gonna do that...i can't sleep anyways! I will keep in touch and you WILL see me do this! Yipee!

[godezzofchaos]

O u are so sweet, but I'm nothing special..just been there. Here's the thing though...I don't know about CA, but in most states clinics follow the guidelines mandated for their state. In other words, changing clinics might not be the issue if the state of CA only allows very low doses. Does that make sense?  For example, I know the state of RI only allows very LOW doses, while NY has some patients walking around 300mg.  While you are up tonight maybe you could google it and try to find out what the regs are in your state...knowledge is POWER!  Go in there knowing what you are talking about might help convince a reluctant doctor to see you are really wanting this to work!  There are many out there that don't fully understand methadone treatment and the benefits it can provide..so arn yourself!  I'm happy for you, and I'm happy that drugs like methadone exsist to help some of us take the FIRST STEP!  Methadone is only the first step to the rest of your life, my clinic has always stressed that the ultimate goal is to live without ANYTHING, but they know that it is an indiviualized process.  I sure hope CA is up to speed in the treatment of methadone patients. Let me know!  Keep in touch, I want to see you do this!!

[wolvey]

Thank you soooo much. I live in Los Angeles CA.
I think its just this clinic that I happened to go to first because it was the only closest clinic that I could get to in order to dose on time. It's called BAART clinic and the doctor there is real reluctant to give you higher doses. Maybe if I plea to him that my cravings and w.d.'s are still bad he might higher the dose. But I am sure the AEGIS clinic that I am going to on Tuesday will have the plan that you speak and have been on. I want to thank you again for your words and care. I feel so much more confident about this detox. After hearing your struggle I can def. get through this! You are so strong and been through alot! My heart goes out to you! And For the first time in my life I know what it feels like to WANT TO QUIT. I will def. take up your offer on messaging you whenever I need help! You and so many other people have been so kind and wise. I will not get through this without you guys! You guys are like my new family now! And if you need to vent about anything I am a good listener! Its the least I can do! Take care and wish me luck for tonight! Love you all! Thanks Godezzofchaos!