methadone withdrawal

[ralphie]

how long? i was put on the meth clinic after being clean from heroine for 4 years, i was doing great although in retrospect i should have had counciling,i was injured at work and was using vicodin and percocets and so on well i had a tolerence of course a high one as the pain persisted i used more and more up to 20 a day so iwas talked into going on meth. maitainance, i started at 35 mgs and went up to 100 mgs   i could and should have stayed at 35mgs. well after 1 yr i wanted out, it changed me (the methadone)my personality and my motivation, so i started detox 6 months ago at 5mgs a week and stopped at 18 mgs the whole time still not being myself. well a month ago i said to my counceler im going away out of state for a wedding, i need to finish this, so i went down to 9 and then had to walk off i figured a week and a half ill be o.k to travel ,ha ha    its been close to 2 weeks since last dose and im sicker than ever before i stayed home while my family went to new york,i couldnt go, i cant sleep, still, not even doze,my legs are killing me its like the worst of the heroine withdrawal but it doesnt stop, what can i do? how long before it even starts to subside? im crying like a baby at night what will make it easier? HELP!!!!

[OxyDout]

if you have awful pain in your thighs like most of us do, I found out that if you buy womens nylons, knee high nylons it reduces the pain in the thighs......... i know its kind of weird, but anyway it works.  Start drinking tons of water, take a multi vitamin along with L-tyrosine.  You should also take 5HTP at night...............

[alexandra_r]

I have a LOT of sympathy for your situation.  I have gone through methadone withdrawal and it was absolutely the worst kick I have ever had in my life.  I also was addicted to heroin at one point and methadone withdrawal makes heroin withdrawal look like a walk in the park.  I was on 80 mg of methadone for over a year and, like you, it changed my personality and I just hated the whole deal of having to go and wait in line to drink juice to feel "normal" (and I never felt "normal" on methadone, not high, but just like the walking dead).

This is my experience with methadone withdrawal: I was acutely sick for about 2 - 3 weeks (terrible aches, runs, skin crawling, puking, insomnia, shaking and sweating).  This was relentless--if I had been where I could have gotten some dope, I doubt I continued with the cold turkey, but I was in the country with no drugs for miles and miles.  After this acute phase, I felt like **** for about 6 months, however, there was gradual improvement.  I started being able to sleep more and more, felt a little less achy and sick, but it was very gradual.

Methadone is a very hard kick--often, when they put you on maintenance, they figure you aren't ever going to get off it.  They never tell you how hard the kick is when they talk you into going on it.

The good news is:  I have been clean from heroin/methadone for over ten years and have never felt any desire to use those drugs again.  Seriously.  My ass got kicked so hard that I don't have euphoric recall about those days.  I just remember the horrible reality of coming back down to earth and the hard ******* fall it took.

Good luck, get the recipe (it's posted everywhere on this site)--I think this will help you.  Honestly, if I were you, I would try to get something to help you out for the next week or two.  Something mild like codeine 3's--these aren't going to make you feel great, but it might help you through the worst of the kick and help you stay off that evil drug (sorry folks, I know some people have good experiences with methadone, but it was EVIL!!!!).  

Keep posting and let us know how you are.  I'll send a couple up for you--I hope your suffering ends soon.

[ralphie]

THANKS, I HAVE THOSE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS AND I HAVE USED 2 OR 3 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW DAYS BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE AND DRAG IT ON LONGER?   THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT...

[ralphie]

HEY BY THE WAY WHAT IS L.TYROSINE? OR WHATEVER THAT WAS YOU MENTIONED AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH ITS MY CALF'S THAT ARE KILLING ME AND TAKING SOMETHING TO TAPER WONT PROLONG THE AGONY LIKE BLOCKING IT FROM COMING OUT SAY IF I USE FOR A WEEK IS THAT ONE MORE WEEK OF PAIN IN THE END?

[ralphie]

DID YOU WALK OFF OF 80 MGS? IM JUST HOPING SINCE I WAS DOWN TO 18 AND STAYED AT 18 FOR A WHILE THAT MAYBE ILL KIK A LITTLE FASTER ??? RIGHT???

[alexandra_r]

I don't know what you have used in the last few days, but I would stay completely away from methadone if I were you (and you want to stop).  I would suggest going to a doctor if you can and telling him your situation and asking him to put you on a tapering schedule.  I don't know if you have the willpower to taper on your own, but you might ask a friend or family member to help you out here.  I used to go to the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic in San Francisco during my old junkie days and the meds they used to give out for kicking both heroin and methadone were as follows:

Weeks 1 and 2:

6 Darvon N per day
6 Librium (or another benzodiazapine will work)
Stomach Pills (but immodium is now available OTC and will work just fine).
3 dalmane (for sleeping at night)
A good multiple vitamin
B-Complex
Week 3:
5 Darvon N the first 4 days, then 3 the last 3
5 librium the first 4 days, then 3 the last
Stomach pills as needed
2 Dalmane
A good multiple vitamin
B-Complex

Week 4
2 Darvon N the first 5 days, then 1 the last 2 days
2 librium the first 5 days, then 1 the last 2 days
stomach pills (you shouldn't really need them too much at this point
1 dalmane
vitamin and B-complex

The Darvon N are longer acting, which is why they used them at the clinic (they are longer acting and milder than codeine 3).  You won't feel anything from them, but it will make your situation a little more bearable.  The librium or other benzo (valium, xanax) really helps with the skin crawls and anxiety.  I believe they used librium again here, because it is longer acting than a lot of the newer benzos.
The dalmane (also a benzo, but a sleeping pill variety) is enormously helpful in helping you sleep.

Again, good luck--try to stay away from anything really hard, because that will prolong the kick.  The above regimen is not an answer for the long haul, but it is an easier taper and was used by the Clinic for years.  I think they use another variety today-- that includes the Clonidine Patch.

Let us know how you are doing.

[alexandra_r]

Yes, I walked away at 80 mgs and I don't recommend it.  It was a situation that couldn't be avoided at the time.  I did do the Haight Ashbury kick and it helped but it was still hell . . .

[ralphie]

SORRY FOR MISS SPELLING YOUR NAME , I VE BEEN USING XANAX AT NIGHT AND I HAVE USED A FEW BAGS OF DOPE UP THE NOSE ,I WAS ALSO GIVIN A 40 MG METH TAB FROM A FRIEND AND I HAVENT TOUCHED IT   AND AFTER TALKING TO YOU I WONT   THANKS

[Devodownunder]

Hi everybody im new in here. Id just like to say that i have great admiration for everyone in this forum. I was going to go on the meth, thank god i didnt. And i didnt because i read this forum, and i also had help from friends who told me from their own experiance, it is hell to come off. I have detoxed rapidly from 600mg of codeine abuse over 4yrs, to nothing. That was ****. But meth No Way.

[ralphie]

hey bro, i know what you meen,my post on the methadone yesterday was my 1st also and the treatment is the worse thing you can do especialy for an addiction to percs,vic's,codein ect ect   even heroine  it is just so entrapping and with some moral support and determination you can get off a pill addiction ive spoke to a friend who was a heroine addict for 5 years lost everything and then did 2 years in prison mind you this was a middle class young man not stealing what i call a functioning junky  thats myself also  but he never went on meth, but even after getting back his family something was missing so he went to na  and he is doing great he is not a religious person but he told me "dude no matter how long your clean go and try the na meetings he says he has found an understanding and a peace he has never known before and now there is nothing missing   good luck and stay away from the meth...peace...

[Devodownunder]

Hi, how are you doing today? it is 8am over here, and i am having a battle. The battle for me is psycological cravings, I have this thought every day that i wake up. I NEED SOME CODIENE!
but it goes away after a while, and i also think of what i lost and almost lost when i was using, that helps. I am with you man, hang in there, and think of life ahead WITHOUT DRUGS. and by the way i am a dudet not a dude. Git any ideas about the psycological gravings? peace.
Deborah

[ralphie]

hey girl sorry about that dudett!! the pscych thing for me is that i know i feel like **** and i wanna die it hurts so bad  now this is the psych part you know how to fix it and feel better you and i may actually feel as bad (physicaly) as people who are actually dying! my mother said to me yesterday when she came by to see me that i look like my step dad and he is going through chemo for lung cancer thats when i stop feeling sorry for myself because it will end  but another psycological thing that beats your head in is that we know how easy it would be to fix it and feel better jjust use right? we have to have the strength girl this is my second day on this site and its going to get me ,you and all of us better i wish i knew about this place before i went on the meth peace girl and  good luck chin up and if you want e.mail me  at     t.***@****

[Devodownunder]

Ralpie we might think we are the only ones suffering this ****, but man there is always someome alot worse off than we are. Head up high, proud monitor out, and lets go dude. Deb

[koalabear]

Hi all,
Haven't posted in awhile...been through a lot lately.

I've been on methadone for 3 weeks now after a miserable attempt at kicking Duragesic.  I failed miserably!

I don't like this methadone at all.  It has changed me, too.  I am way too lazy!  I have had anxiety like crazy!

Just wondering, what everyone thinks of me being put back on Lortab 7.5 (which was the first med I took before the Duragesic) and weaning off that instead of weaning from the methadone?

My Doc is going to prescribe this tomorrow, but just wanted some opinions.  Even though I've only been on it for 3 weeks, do you think my body has become adjusted to it, and will have w/ds going on to the Lortab?

I would appreciate everyone's opinion.

It's good to see everyone again, it's not fun being on medication for me anymore.  I just want off this ****, once and for all.

Thanks,
Koala

[Devodownunder]

God grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Peace.

[memikey]

I saw your post about the "Darvon N" taper schedule, but this confused me a bit, so I wanted to make sure the right information is being posted in this thread.  Basically, I used a similar but much shorter and less complex Darvon self-detox from Vicodin, and it was quite a bit of help.  But I wanted to make sure that the Darvon N you are talking about isn't anything to do with Nx or Naloxone-containing, because that will make your withdrawls even worse.  I know Talwin comes in this compound (as Talwin Nx), but I also think Darvon does too.  Anyway, I wanted to clarify that.

[ralphie]

hey bro what is this thing you are saying is in the darvon? that can make it worse, its been 14 days since my last methadonedose but after 10 days i used some opiates to take a break from the pain and now im going to start detoxing probably tonight and sit it out this time in a nutshell i ****** up and got weak, i know i shouldnt have used but damn it was painful and relentless ,i dont have the disapline to use a taper program on my own but my spouse will be back in town mmonday   she is a nurse and she can and will give me the meds as needed i just have to convince her that it is a good thing to use the opiates to help rather than just cold turkey ill let her read some of these post when she gets home   peace

[alexandra_r]

It was over ten years ago that I detoxed at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, but they gave us oval pills (tan) that said Darvon N-100 on them.  They have no naltrexone at all in them.  The Clinic did put people on naltrexone but only a week after all opiates were out of their system because in those days (before doctor supervised rapid detox) it would put you in the emergency room.  Darvon N's are just longer acting darvon, I think (but I'm not positive).

[alexandra_r]

I just called the Clinic and they told me that Darvon N has NO naltrexon that will screw you up, so don't worry.

[ralphie]

thanks alot everyone ill talk to you later on  peace

[memikey]

Just glad eveyone cleared up that naloxone thing.  Nasty stuff unless you're overdosing.

Speaking of which, I hear Ultram can have a similar effect, but in a reverse scenario ... if you first take some Ultram to "hold you over" until a real dose of opiates, then later that day score and take your opiate, the Ultram binds so completely with the opiate receptors that it almost cancels out any effects of the real thing.

Now on the flip side, the other day I had begun a makeshift self-detox from Vicodin by using Ultram as a substite, and I was amazed at how I practically didn't have any of those painful aches when if I hadn't taken anything I would have been seriously hurting.  However, after reading some of the posts here about the (hidden) evils of Ultram's almost methadone-like withdrawls after even just ten days, I decided to scrub the whole plan and try another angle ... soon, hopefully.  I'm so tired of playing the doctor game.  Man!

I live really close to Tijuana, Mexico, anybody know of an easy place/way to score down there (legally, of course, and other than via the internet)?

--memikey

[Lucy and Ricky]

I am going to start thae 21 day methadone detox from oxycontin and norco this week. I know alot of people have negetive things to say about meth, but it always seems to be people who are on the maintenance. I have not heard from anyone on the forum who has done the 21 day detox, but friends I have here at home have had success with this program.Can you guys give me some advice on how the meth will make me feel and what you know about the 21 day system? I would appreciate it greatly. Unfortunatly, I have tried EVERYTHING else (cold turkey, ultram, other wd meds), nothing has worked and this is my last resort.

[koalabear]

I am not sure what the 21-day w/d program is.  

All I know is that methadone will tie you over longer than opiates will.  I am trying desperately to get off the methadone by weaning back to Lortab.  I have had some adverse reactions from the methadone, that the majority of people on it don't get. I've been on it for 3 weeks, and haven't felt good the whole time.

I took one dose of the Lortab yesterday, and ate a full meal.  I haven't been able to eat at all since being put on meth.  Slowly, I will be put back on the Lortab over 12 days and then wean off completely.

I've been reading horror stories about coming off meth that I don't want any part of.  W/ds scare the **** out of me!  Wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!

I think for some people, methadone is the answer, especially if you are trying to come off of something else.  I just wouldn't stay on it too long, if you can help it.

Koala

[Lucy and Ricky]

The 21 day program works like this: They start me on a dose the first couple of days that works for me to be comfortable. Then they take the dose down every couple of days until I am down to nothing. The whole idea behind it is that if you have never been on methadone, the 21 day detox puts you on the meth for such a short time, and you go down in dose every few days, that it limits the possibility of me getting hooked (mentally and physicaly).Also, for pill use it is supposed to be like tapering, but a much more effective method since I dont control the dose. I was told the success rate for 1st time 21 day detoxers was 81%, and I plan to go to meetings as well for the REAL hard part, which is staying clean! Wish me luck!I'll let you guys know if  this really works.

[ralphie]

the 21 day plan wasnt an option at the clinic i was at here in fl. but it sounds like a viable plan , my plan was to be on the meth for a month tops but the councelers and all the biggies there talked me out of it and i was there for a year and a half and now im in a bad way after thearapudicly going down to 18 than to 9 than walked (got kiked off ,ran out of my 700 bucks a week ) and now im on my own so just be careful man its a rough kik    good luck

[koalabear]

I can actually see how that would work with someone who has never taken it before.  It does help tremendously with the cravings.  It ties you over for a long time.

I wish you all the luck.  Let us know how you make out!

Koala

[fishman59]

I was offered the 30 day methadone plan  about 2 weeks ago,said I would have to research it, when I got home after alot of reading I discovered that methadone takes 4 to 6 weeks to w/d, whereas codeine takes 7 to 10 days for the worst part of both drugs!!! It just didnt make any sense to go off 1 opiate and onto another that was even harder to kick! My codeine habit has been going on for 25 years at about 600mgs. per day, prior to 8 years ago it was about 1200mgs. day(that was for about 16 years). methadone-no way...thats just my opinion.

[alexandra_r]

The real danger with methadone (if you ask me and I have a lot of experience with it) is that it becomes an easy solution once the 21 day w/d doesn't work out a few times.  That's exactly how I got put on methadone maintenance--because I kept going to the clinic to do their detox and finally they talked me into going on the maintenance.  

If you can successfully do the detox, go for it--but nearly everyone I ever knew who used methadone to detox (at least more than 1 time) eventually got put on maintenance.  The kick is a nasty, evil experience and one that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Good luck--my big mistake with methadone was doing a detox 3 times in about 6 months--too many times and it just was too convenient to go on the juice permanently.  Thank God that nightmare is over.

[ralphie]

good morning girl,  hoe are you today?  im a little dope sick today, i went out last night for a while (1st time in weeks) but i had to use to get out. my lady will be home tonight and she knows im still sick, and im going to only use to taper now, no heroine just the pills, (if i can find some more) ive got about 10  500 percs  i took the last couple vics this morning iwas suprised that they took the edge off as much as they did, when i was on the methadone and missed a day or 2 the pills were worthless, but you were right, the h was to strong to use ill probably realy feel it tommorow. ive gotta get moving and clean up the house today its been like a dungeoun in here ,curtains closed and all let me get to it while i can. no matter how bad i feel ill be meeting her at the airport tonight it felt bad enough i couldnt drop her off.   have a good day and as always thanks....  bye    ralphie

[tb5]

I have suffered through years of migraines that would not respond to any of the new fancy drugs, or any of the old plain drugs either.  Some of the drugs were highly toxic; others made my hair fall out.  I felt like that guy in the movie "PI" with god talking right into my head, streaks of lightning, like my eyes were bleeding.  I would get a three-day monster and go to the hospital to get shot full of dilaudid.  My employers dealt with my health problems by firing me.  I ended up on low doses of methadone, with was a pretty good solution, except for one thing:  it didn't wipe out all of the migraines, so I'd have to take a little extra some times, and I'd run out at the end of the month; I was now hooked on methadone.  Compared to some stories here, mine isn't very exciting. But it's my story, and the thing about pain is that whatever you've got is the worst ever. Period.

I was on five mg twice a day when I quit, cold turkey, a week ago.  Of course, I've been depressed since I lost my job, and I don't have much to look forward to when I'm over this.  I was wondering why my legs were hurting so much, but it's reassuring in a way to hear that it happens to other people.  I wish I was hooked up with an accupuncturist, because I'm sure that would help.  No one can tell me how long this will take.  I've been smoking a lot of pot, which is making things suck less.  I have plenty of klonipin (relative of valium), and I picked up some of the recommended vitamins and stuff.  I'm going easy on the doses because my stomach gets burned easily.  If it weren't for the pot, the klonipin, and the spouse, I'd have checked myself into the hospital days ago when things were worse.

For some reason, the Kid Rock CD's are helping to.  Must be the line about 'all the heroes in the methadone clinics.'

[LissaB]

Hi I was on Methadone for about 5 years on 75mgs during this last
year I got down to 3mgs.  I decided enough and walked off.  I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it.  It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last.  Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it.  I have children to take care of and can not be non functional.  I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher.  My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone.  My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired.  I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs.  Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks.  My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.

[LissaB]

Hi I was on Methadone for about 5 years on 75mgs during this last
year I got down to 3mgs.  I decided enough and walked off.  I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it.  It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last.  Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it.  I have children to take care of and can not be non functional.  I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher.  My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone.  My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired.  I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs.  Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks.  My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.

[LissaB]

Hi I was on Methadone for about 5 years on 75mgs during this last
year I got down to 3mgs.  I decided enough and walked off.  I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it.  It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last.  Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it.  I have children to take care of and can not be non functional.  I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher.  My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone.  My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired.  I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs.  Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks.  My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.

[LissaB]

Hi I was on Methadone for about 5 years on 75mgs during this last
year I got down to 3mgs.  I decided enough and walked off.  I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it.  It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last.  Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it.  I have children to take care of and can not be non functional.  I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher.  My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone.  My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired.  I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs.  Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster?

[LissaB]

HI is there any of you who might know how long this withdrawal will last.  I walked off metadone at 3mgs I took over a year to get from 75 to 3.  I was suprised to still feel sick after a week.
Any suggestions for feeling better quicker?

[SPARKOID]

Hi Lisa -- I have been on Methadone for 3 years. This past April, I got Hepatitis and was hospitalzed for 10 days. During this time and not to my knowlege,the doctor tapered me down from 85mg(methadone)to 20mgs. My doctor did this in 10 days. I had  tapered down to 12.5 in August. I  started to feel anxious and had some trouble sleeping. I had to go back up to 25mg. I am at this dose as of today. I want to start tapering down again. My counsler advised me to taper2.5 mgs every 3 weeks until I am off.  Please, stay in touch and let me know how your doing. I am so scared from hearing all of these horror stories about coming off Methadone. I wish you all the luck in the world. Hang in there.    Sparky, Atlanta Ga.

[MethMan]

Hi Everyone.  GEEZ!  I happened into a GREAT place.
I am in the same boat as all of you are.
I've tapered off of Methadone that I've been taking for a back injury about 10 years ago.  I was on 40mg for the last 3 of those years.  Before that, it was only 15mg.
Today is day four for me and I feel REALLY bad. (What did I expect? :)  )
Anyway, if someone can tell me what to expect, how long it will be before I can do more that walk 20 feet and collapse, when I will regain my strength, I would be forever in your debt.
I am in the fight for the long haul and have said that since I started my taper.  But, I have to admit.  I did not know it was going to be this bad.  I have NO energy and I feel like I am loosing hope, strength and the will to fight on.
Even if the news is bad, I would sure appreciate someone telling me what I can expect and how long (if ever) I will feel OK.  I'm going to start taking multi-vitamins and the doctor said to get on a B complex too. THEN, he added that I need an anti-oxidant too.  I'll do it, but will it speed up the process?  Will I EVER get my brain working right again.  I'm worried that I really messed it up good and it's not going to come back.
Thanks for reading this.  When I was in the treatment facility, I met some of the best people I have ever met.  Talk about an eye opener!  Anyway, God Bless each and every one of you.  I will pray for ALL of you people tonight.
MethMan

[uk_detox]

Hi all. This is my 1st post here. I've been on methadone for nearly two years, and used opiates for twelve years before that (codeine > heroin > street meth). Went on to prescription meth at 45ml, eventually choosing to detox slowly, dropping 1ml a week. I finally got there today, my first day in 14 years without opiates. I am suprised to find myself feeling as strung out as I do. If I'd known I would have reduced the last ml over another 4 weeks or so. However, reading the posts here I guess I'm not so suprised after all. Sure do feel a lot better about it though.
Thanks people.

[Patrice]

I just wanted to leet you all know that clinics do NOT give out methadone anymore....What is given is methadose......In the old days, it would take a person 6 months to kick, but with the new dose, the time frame is 45 days......To the person who quit at 1mg, and you still feel horrible, I would suggest that you give the 1mg a try for a few weeks.....I promise that my ex who got off at 1mg a week, had no horrible WD's....He didnt sleep for awhile, but that was it...

[LarryP]

Hi guys,

I'm a 26 year old man who has been on meth for 2 years and was forcefully tapered using klonzapan.  I was on 60mg, and was tapered 10mg a week.  Now that it's over, i don't even remember the last 24 months and i have very little short term memory.  It was a clinic in Miami called the South Side Comprehensive Pain Center.  Great program, but they will take you off ALL narcs.  Narcotics for chronic pain sufferers isn't right anyway.  Narcs are great for broken bones, or something that will heal, but for us chronic people we'll just get addicted and continually increase dosage.  In my opinion, pain management is a joke.  Seeing an Anesthesiologist is asking to be sedated.  We need ways to overcome the pain, not hide it.  I found when i was on methadone i was a walking zombie.  I only realized the strongest of stimuli, and that was pain.  So i got more and more depressed (pain actually alters brain chemicals), and I started considering suicide.  All i'm saying is that methadone requires a plan to get off including exercise, mental therapy, and great willpower to just be sick of this style of "living".  If anyone wants the number for this clinic, email me.  Oh, and has anyone else forgotten the entire time they were on this drug after "quitting"?

Good luck to all,
Larry