Can you guys offer any advice? Using Methadone to detox off Valium? Huh?

[nursegirl6572]

Hey all!

I have a thread in anxiety that's kind of making me scratch my head.  Anyone who can offer this OP some suggestions for his GF, I would appreciate it.  I don't know a ton about Methadone, but this seems like a crazy approach.  Maybe I'm missing something!?  Maybe this IS an accepted practice?  Seems insane to me!

Thanks a million you guys!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Anxiety/Switching-to-Venlalic-XL-Nightmare/show/1964340

[EvolverU]

Hey there NuseGirl!,

This is probably the craziest thing I've seen around here in mos.(if not ever)!

What's up with that?  Valium, as OpenMind24Hours, above, noted is the easiest of the benzos to detox from -- the safest!  

My addict's knowledge tells me the following:

Methadone can be used to mitigate the symptoms of just about anything -- particularly in the opiate naive. A low dose for a month will not prove addictive and will certainly reduce/alleviate the anxiety & sleeplessness of benzo w/d's.(not sure about the risk of seizures.)

HOWEVER: If the person was already an addict re: Benzos. The HUGE danger is that they'll seek a powerful narcotic like Heroin, Methadone, Oxys, etc. as their new DOC.

I've seen it time and time and again. Poly-abusers finally discover opiates and it's like 'coming home' in terms of self-medicating for emotions & energy, etc.. Opiates are the ultimate high - (the other contender would be 'early' Cocaine use.) - in terms of euphoria.

If they are instituting this 'protocol', I find it to be incredibly irresponsible and it shows me that many Drs. simply do not understand the nature and spectrum of addiction. This is madness.

[nursegirl6572]

I hear you...it's crazy!  

Vic...thanks so much!!

[OpenMind24hours]

It sounds so far fetched! Dr. Ashton, an expert on benzo rehab, switches all her benzo users over to valium to taper off of because of it's extra long half life. She believes Val to be the easiest to taper because when you get down to the small cuts it's still lasting in the system throughout the day and the patient remains comfortable. You wonder why a doctor would drop val for done??

[VICourageous]

I found the post and went in..Maybe some others that used the dones can go in there too!!

[VICourageous]

Yes NG have them say NO! And get another Dr. If they have become addicted to the drug Valium they will be addicted to the Methadone as well. And this is the worst drug I have ever detoxed from. If they have no pain issue either. This is just too much!!! I agree on why they are not doing a taper or like I said give them something non-additive that works like a benzo. Also Atthebeach is right too. My paper work said NOT to mix a Benzo with the Dones but they still did it..I did not catch that until I was way down the line.

[nursegirl6572]

Open...You'd have to read the thread.  It's the hospital/docs I think are kooks, not the OP.  

Sounds like they're just throwing meds at this girl.  She was having lots of symptoms and severe anxiety on the med regimen she was on, not to mention since she's been feeling worse, she started abusing the Valium. They're answer was to hospitalize her and put her on Methadone to get her off the Valium.  So weird.  I thought maybe there was something I didn't know.  I asked the OP, he said she's not on any opiates.   It sounds like a freaking mess!

I feel badly...I hope he gets a second opinion for her.  :0(

Thanks you guys!

[atthebeach]

Sounds like they are shooting in the dark. She is on Valium and give her methadone. We know these are both CNS and respiratory depressants why would a doctor combine them?   Did she try tapering off them? How many mgs is she on?

[OpenMind24hours]

Sounds like a kook. I think they're doing a scam post just get a "full moon rise" out of someone. If something like that actually worked we'd have heard about it by now...

[VICourageous]

Wow! Being a experienced Doner here this makes no since to me. Shoot I had to use the Klons to come down from the Dones at night! I mean I know we are all different But Gezzzz!!!! Why don't they go a step sown to Ativan or even use the Buspar (Bupropion) Buspar is used widely in treatment center for people coming off of any Substance. It is used to treat the Anxiety part.
NG is this what the Dr is telling them to do??? Really if so it really has me floored!