advice on methadone/ultram

[daelia]

I started taking lortab approximately 8  years ago and when I realized I was addicted I ended up in at a methadone clinic where I really feel my addiction took hold.  At the time I was taking about 4 lortab a day.  I went to the clinic for about 2 years and managed to get my Dr to prescribe the pills in stead for pain and have been taking them since.  I am in the process of trying to get off of them.  My Dr lowered the numbers of pills I receive from 60 to 45 and prescribed Ultram.  I haven't really started to take the ultram.  I am taking about 1 or 2 10 mg pills of Methadone a day and can't skip even one day without feeling terrible.  I want off of them and decided to look on the web just to see whats available.  I am seeing a lot of cold turkey stories and I guess I just never wanted to face that.  I know I will be sick and have no energy.  Should I try and switch to the Ultram?  I have a Drs appointment next week and he most likely will continue me on 45 pills but may be ready to take me down to 30.  I am really trying to cut them back but I am wondering if I am giving myself enough time or too much time...any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I am 50 years old and I exercise regularly and am in pretty good health.  I just want my life back without pills.  I do have minor back issues but nothing that requires methadone. Thanks.

[daelia]

Thanks Penelope!  It's nice to know someone who understands.  It is the worst drug available I have to believe.  I was once up to 60 when I went to the clinic and now I am down to 10 or 20 a day.  I don't feel great so I know that it's starting to wear thin and my body probably wants more.  I am hoping to get to taking a half of the pills eventually and then from there go cold turkey.  It doesn't sound like Ultram is the way to go so I guess it's going to be tough for some time.  I think it is just going to take determination to get through the rough spots.  I have heard of people going all the way to zero on the clinic and doing well that way.  But I have heard other stories that they still felt bad after 6 months!  I can't believe it.  But it did take several years to get here so what should I expect?  Anyway, love this site and I am so glad I found it....good luck to you as well.

[Penelope14]

I also am on methadone, and I must add that Im doing a very slow taper, Ive gone from 90mgs to 33 and I,ve done it so slow that I cant even notice the difference between 90 or 33. Last week I went to see a addiction specialist, who is not on the side of methadone nor against it, but she claims the slower the easier, and I also spoke with a patient in the waiting room who went from 100mgs of methadone to 0, she has been off of it for 3 months and claims that she also did it slow and easy and claims to have not felt great, but she never once got as ill as she did from heroin withdrawls, so that was a inspiration to me, and I to shall do it, and you can do, but its all about taking care of your body and doing it very slow, methadone is a horrible drug, and if I knew 5 years ago what I know today, I would have ran as fast as the wind to get away from methadone, this is only my personal opinion on methadone, if others want to think its a great wonderful life saving drug, then so be it! But I just wanted to put out their that getting off isnt easy but it can be done, slow and steady. Good Luck

[daelia]

Thanks for you input.  It looks like there is a lot of information here to read and decide what would work best.  Well I have at least tapered down to like I said one or two pills per day and just wonder if I should stop taking them altogether.  I think at this point I will wait until after the holidays to do that since life is way to busy at this time of year.  I look forward to reading and learnig what may or may not work for me.  But I am ready to do this so I can live pill free and be NORMAL, haha, whatever that might be...thanks for your reponse...

[IBKleen]

I read stories like this and I think it's a shame. Why the doctors prescribe something like Methadone for what you described is beyond me. You were only on 4 lortab a day and he put you on Methadone? ARRGGHHH....

Methadone is difficult to detox from, as I am sure you already know. The cold turkey can be quite painful and it is always suggested that you wean down to the lowest dose possible before getting off of it. I do even know if your doctor is the one to talk about this at this point.

To be honest, I don't think the Ultram is going to work for you right now---not with that amount of Methadone in your system.

I understand that you want your life back, and I don't blame you. I am sure you didn't expect this. All I can say is talk to the doc and see if he is willing to work with on a taper schedule to get you to a safe level to get off.

Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Take care.