Congradulations to clean time this week!!!!!

[MMT-Md]

Congradulations to you all!! I'm sure there has been some mental bumps and bruises this week, and I'm sure some that have healed as well. Stay strong and surround yourself with those people places,and things that truely care. I wanted to share a short quote by a person who I've learned so much from his name is  Dr. Vincent Dole " The goal is NOT abstinence; the goal is to become functional".
                Take care, Dr.Mike

[AlexisInTx]

I'm curious as to why Methadone is prescribed for long term maintenance for heroin withdrawal and for pain management when there is a viable alternative in buprenorphine/buprenex.  Since you seem really knowledgeable, I was wondering if you have any information about the long term usage of buprenorphine and if the w/d's from this are comparable to Methadone withdrawals?  

I only used bup for 2 weeks after coming off of Norco, I had NO withdrawals or negative effects when taking it after quitting the Norco and it was very easy to step down from 9 bup a day (the first day) to 1/2 a pill (.2 mg.) for the last 2 days because there is truly no incentive to take this other than to stave off withdrawals or for pain management.  I noticed that bup also is a great pain reliever for moderate to moderately severe pain (I have herniated disks).  I did experience very mild withdrawals for a couple of days after stopping the bup, but it was so mild that in retrospect, I tend to wonder why this isn't used more often?

[bmac]

you are right about doing the detox the correct way.I didn't.
My addiction started way before I put myself on methadone.
In the course of my addiction and the depression I was under
I became a zombie.No, your'e right I didn't tell my doc.I
thought and this is my addiction talking,40 to 60 mgs a day
was a minimal dose.I went down to 20 mgs a day in about 10
months ,just guessing then to 10 mgs a day.Stay there 2 months
I think,then stopped!Aug 18th I took my last methadone tablet,period.I had a bad experience in this drug,psychologiclly
I mean it was more than I have ever felt,withdrawing.Being my
3rd or 4th or maybe 5th time to withdraw,hydro,oxy I never had a problem detoxing.I was sick for a week and got over it.Mentally!
I am sure you have experieced many more cases of addiction
than I.My addiction has always been private.Not even my spouse knew I used.Aug.18th I told her I had just taken my last methadone pill.Then I had to admit I was taking it for a year
without her even knowing.My problem is now not opiates.it's
getting over the physical and mental problems my addiction
has caused me.You are right to say methadone does work,I guess what I should have said was I had a bad experience with
methadone and left it at that.I use this board to vent my anger at myself,through these other addicts.I just went to far,sorry!
                              peace,
                               bmac

[peaz]

Ken Kesey has NOTHING on you...If you wrote a novel I promise I'd read it. Yeah, I love Ayn.  With her verbose nature it's for sure she was a speed freak.  But then she probably toked throughout the evening while sipping brandy, mellowing out after a hard day of philosophizing and postulating....
        But, I digress...thanks for attempting to answer my question, anyway.  It's not like I'm going to sue my ex-boss, anyway.  I was just curious as to procedure.  My situation was that i was stealing narcs from the pharmacy  where I worked as a Pharm. Tech. and el senor made the deal that if I got help. he wouldn't press charges.  So I could hardly argue w/ the termination...
         So I totally switched careers(and I am not young--my walker is on order) and we'll see how it goes.  Thanks for your replies.   Peaz

[bmac]

I forgot,Answer me this,Do you know me?
I thought so!!
                       Peace,
                        bmac

[4kids]

Hi everyone! Sorry to but in on a thread. I have been reading this site every night for the past week and I have not been able to post yet. I really need some help. I have been taking Vicoden Es for about 2.5 yrs and I am up to 12 a day. I stopped cold turkey once and it lasted 15 days. I want to stop again and this time for good but I am scared to go cold turkey again. I have 4 small kids that depend on me. I guess I just need to know what would be a good way to stop and how can I get a professional to help me? I mean who am I supposed to go to? I don't want my kids to see me taking pills anymore. I am also scared that I won't be able to function off the drugs. I was never really happy until I started the Vicoden. Then everything was great for awhile. Now sometimes I feel happy and sometimes I don't. I guess I am just lost. I grew up with drug addicts for parents and I swore I wouldn't do that to my kids and look at me now. When I got addicted I was taking the pills for TMJ and I honestly didn't know they were addictive. I had never even heard of them before. Now I wish I wouldn't have heard of them at all. Sorry this is so long but any suggestions?

[JSmith02]

John Galt would say you were entitled to take all the drugs you had the ability to get your hands on. 'Think Ayn liked to get high? Always had a thing for her ... Anyway, sorry, but not THAT smart. All my law-learning has taken place on the receiving end. I attended one drug rehab with the full knowledge of my employer without being fired. But that was in the misty early 1990's ... we lay on white sheets, theme from Il Postino drifting down the hallway, the nurse like a waiter soliciting a good tip gayly entering the room with a platter of pills. "The Benzo Tortillini is especially good here," I'd say to my roomate.

"Would Monsier like me to open his Tussionex?" The nurse asks.

"Yes. Let it breath."

"Of course, Sir. Will there be anything else?"

"Yes. Step up my Demerol. We're feeling a bit peevish this evening."

"Certainly, Sir."

--- of course, I had really good insurance in those days.

I never gave any employer the opportunity to can me for using after that one rehab. Besides, the service was never the same ...

Perhaps someone else on the forum knows the answer to your question. My inability to suck scum always kept me out of law school.

Thomas