wondering about methadone

[lilacs4me]

I was wondering if I could get a general response as to whether or not you think the Methadone clinic will accept me for treatment. I have no doubts that my usage qualifies me, i have been popping percs "like candy" for about 2 yrs and its destroying every aspect of my life.  What I have to wonder about is my medical situation, if Methadone clinica in general would think that I am too high a risk for overdose or interactions with my prescription meds.
I currently see a psychiatrist, (have for about 6 years)  she prescribes me:
300mg wellbutrin (approx 3 yrs)
75mg seroquel (approx 3 yrs)
50mg lamotrigine (approx 6 months)
1mg lorazepam (approx 3 yrs)
I heard that they do urine testing for street drugs..opiates and benzos.  Will I be forced to quite my lorazepam that i use to get to sleep at night BEFORE I am allowed methadone? ALl i take is my 1mg at night, I dont abuse it....but my opiate addiction is out of control, thats what needs to be dealt with....i couldnt possibly suffer through benzo withdrawals prior to quitting my percs. Is there a drug interaction here? or are they only concerned about ABUSE of benzos, and people who DONT have prescriptions for it???
The other concern is that I had gastric bypass surgery approx 2 years ago...could I be turned down because of possible malabsorption issues with doses? Or is there complications involving where methadone is broken down? (eg stomach...liver)  
I realize that every clinic is different and they may differ in their regulations...but if I could just get a GENERAL idea if I will be for sure turned away or if addicts  similar to my circumstances have been given methadone before I would really appreciate it!!!  I want to quit so bad, and I want to be accepted at the clinic.
Thank you so much for any insight you can give me.

[lilacs4me]

ok. my search is complete. there is no Subutex...Suboxone...buprenorphine..etc in ontario canada!!  It for sure has not been approved here yet. the methadone clinic that i went to this afternoon to check out and obtain info...told me that they are waiting patiently for approval so that they can offer patients there the choice of more than just methadone as well.
I did let the clinic do an intake...blood work..urine test....ECG....and they booked me to see the Doc, for october 5th. That gives me about 2 weeks to decide FOR SURE, i decided to book it and can always cancel if i change my mind.  They gave me a whole bunch of reading material, and told me about some of the rules. apparently the starting dose there is 20mg.
I also have an appointment to attend an Addiction Support group followed by  a one on one session  with an Addictions Counsellor this coming wednesday, so i am doing my best to listen to various sources of info.  This support group and counsellor apparently is not pro-methadone or against it....she talks about inpatient detoxes...inpatient rehabs....rapid detox...tapering meds under medical supervision..narcotics anonymous  groups..cold turkey ins and outs...all available outpatient programs...methadone....u name it..what ever u can get here in ontario she is going to explain it at this 3 hour group thing.

[dessss]

PS
Methadone = devil

[dessss]

PLEASE DONT GO ON METHADONE!!!!
I Cannot stress this enough! Free or not it's way worse to try to kick the Meth than ANY other drug...
In Canada they sell 222's they would help you taper if that was an option for you. They're over the counter and cheap. I'm not saying switch to them I'm just sayin try anything you can before Methadone.. Subox is sooooo expensive but still cheaper than buying off the street.

[Calzy]

lilacs~So many ppl here are just concerned for your health and with all the suffering ppl went through w/ M'done between side effects and than tapering and quiting, you can understand why your getting a strong answer back to avoid M'done. BUT ------ your in a rock and a hard place now and you have the desire to quit taking the pers, so thats the big step right now and you do need to act on that feeling while it's strong. If you have tried the other detox methods and failed or continue to fail than it's great your not giving up and looking for something else. I would be as concerned as you are about the interactions of yours meds and M'done and the clinic or pharmacy can tell you that. I had a good counselor at my M'done clinic that was telling me to stay on a low dose (30-40mg) and use it only to detox off I but didnt listen and shot up to 200 mg in acouple of mos and right after that i decided to taping down and quit, and from start to finish was 6 mos being on M'done. I am mad at myself for taking that long to get off and should have started after care sooner. After care was my short and long term goals with meetings, AA-NA, counseling, diet, exercise etc.(not very good at any), all the things we should be doing anyway. I am trying to become drug free of everything including the psych meds as well, i have been taking so much for so long i really dont know what works and just want to stop all meds which i have for over a month now and if and when i try something again, it should give me a better understanding how that med works for me and i'll go from there. Please keep posting, it really helps to talk about these issues.

[lilacs4me]

all the websites keep telling me that this drug is not approved in canada!

[FLaddict]

I will help you look when I get home from work today.. I will be home at 5pm est time.. There has to be a way.. Look up pain management places and see if they know of anywhere.. also methodone clinics may be offering it so call them too just to see if someone can point you in the right direction.. Oh and also addiction specialists...

[lilacs4me]

"Subutex and Suboxone were recently approved in canada.. it may take some searcing to find a doc but it was approved so I would start calling around"

I have been making calls and doing internet searches and have found NOTHING. I seriously want to look into this treatment if it is indeed available in canada....but wow...info on clinics or doctors or availability of the medication itself here in ontario is non-exsistant!!  I dont think Health Canada wants people to know about this alternative to methadone!  
If anyone finds me anything let me know.....because I am willing to take your advice and use this to help me rather than methadone...IF i cant get it...if not...well...i am still honestly thinking about that clinic. Thanks everyone!!

[itsaloveHATEthing]

Please, please, please. Stay away from the methadone. It's like the kiss of death. SOOOOOOOOOOO much harder to come off of than anything else.Everybody saying it is the worst is right. I was on it for two years and its hell to get off....much longer w/d period, like by at least 4X. Don't know much about alternatives, but others do, please follow any path other than the methadone. If you have questions specifically about it, I will be happy to answer.

Good luck!

[FLaddict]

Subutex and Suboxone were recently approved in canada.. it may take some searcing to find a doc but it was approved so I would start calling around...
I am afraid that if you get on methodone it will be very very much more addictive than what you are doing right now... Why would you wanna take something that is gonna make your addiction worse?? Its much stronger than percs.. Usually you want to switch to something not as strong to get off.. I have seen too many people come here struggling to get off meth who were in your shoes at one time and they all regretted their decisions.. Please do not be one of those people

[No name22]

I understand you want you'e life back, but dont' have the time to physically heal and do you're everyday things, but I hear meth is worste than heroine....Look up subutex it's just about the same as suboxone, but maybe it is approved there not sure...Also have you ever thought about tappering which would be graduallly redusing you're pills each day...You should really talk to you're dr about it and maybe see if you can get clonidine to help.

[lilacs4me]

I thank you so much for your responses. And I would LOVE to try that drug Suboxone. Problem being that I am in Canada, and I am told it has not yet been approved here as a drug that can be prescribed, therefore not in the country yet.  This limits my options. I am going to keep investigating my options, methadone still being one of them, if they accept me. I am going to the clinic tommorrow i think...just to see if I would even be allowed Methadone. Then i can make my decision, I know its highly addictive and hard as hell to get off of. But the thing is, i can carry on with a normal life with my kids, my job, my husband etc...(with the exception of having to go get a dose every a.m. till i get to take it home)  This drug would help me out financially BIG TIME, cause its FREE....and only a small amount of prescribed percs are free and the rest I have to pay WAY TOO MUCH for off of dealers!!  and it would take my stresses away like counting pills...torturing myself with "where to find more...?"  "how do i hide the amount i am spending from my hubby?"   It would also make me feel better about myself...like i was taking a step ahead...not back.
I  know u guys are speaking with much more experience and knowledge than me....i am new at this quitting thing lol. please dont judge me though because i want to try this route.  I am not looking for a "high", i am looking to function..not be in pain and not be pill popping and not to suffer too much.
If anyone wants to tell me their specific symptoms/side effects of methadone i would love to hear it tho.......
thank u for your support

[willruthie1965]

Dont go on methadone!!!!!!!!Itis the hardest drug to quit!!! Ruthie

[angel47630]

When I called around I couldn't believe how quick they were to offer me methadone!   It scared me.    One nurse had the good graces to call me back and tell me that I in NO way needed that stuff to get off norco and that either ct or taper would be 1000 times better than the evils of methadone.  


I thanked her so much and also let her know I wasn't ever interested in it.    I have done a huge taper in the last 10 days.   I went from a 20 pill a day of Norco 10's to now 4 a day.   I am feeling really good, proud, clear headed and this time next week my taper will be coming to an end.    

I know taper is hard for some, but try it,, really, methadone is just another drug.'

Best wishes,Karen

[hillary5]

what about suboxone?  Have you considered that as an option?  You'll need to find a doctor in your area who can prescribe the drug though ... go onto their website and check it out, it might be for you ... plus they can work w/you and all the other rx's you are taking .... www.suboxone.com .... it works for me and alot of people i know personally it has helped tremendously ... i'm still on them.  you'll get a lot of diff vibes about what people think about it on this forum ... but you need to do what is best for you ... good luck ...  ~~ peace ~~

[beachtowel]

I personally think down the road you will regret that decision to start on Methadone more than you will ever know...........

Terrible move.........why would you want to leave one drug to get hooked on a very dangerous highly addictive drug like Methadone?

I would be very curious to know your answer if you don't mind responding...........

[Calzy]

I took methadone for 6 mos and could not get off it fast enough. First off you dont get high off it, some ppl say they feel something off it but most dont, unless you cheat with something else. Second, if you complain enough they will keep giving you higher doses which will lock you in for a long ride on it and third, (i'll stop here with this), chances you will have a number of side effects that you will be posting here later about. If you never what to be cured of addiction, than thats the drug for you. Try to quit the pers and see if the others meds you take help you first.

[DogtownEVH]

I have to agree with Lisa. Methadone is the wrong way to go. My sister had a fifteen year Heroin addiction. She enrolled in a methadone clinic for "treatment", and has now been on methadone longer than she was on Heroin. And there is no sign that she'll be stopping anytime soon.

BTW - Her life and health issues are just as messed up as when she was on heroin.

Joe

[No name22]

If I were you and you seem like you really want help, but with all thats going on I think the smartest and safest thing is to call a inpatient clinic and get some help and B4 you know it, it will all be over. You'll have to go through alot i'm sure, but it will be the best choice for you...

[liscamdave]

Please, please....run as fast as you can AWAY from methadone. It is trading in one bad addiction for a worse addiction.

I am sure you will get alot of responses to this question. Just please, stay with this forum as you will find alot of help and answers.

Welcome and good luck....

Lisa