Getting Hubby off Meth - 3 Weeks In

[wifeofaddict1897]

I recently found out that my husband of 12 years, has relapsed once again with Oxycontin.  He's had a problem with them twice before and each time we were able to detox him at home.  He was not very well for a week or two, but it wasn't as bad as we were expecting. It took quite a while before he slept throught the night properly.  

This time I found out by finding a pharmacy receipt for methadone.  It turns out he relapsed a few months ago, and decdied on his own to start meth three weeks ago.  He's at 30mg per day and I am more worried about him becoming messed up and hopefully addicted to the methadone then I ever was about the oxy.  

Since it's only been three weeks at 30mg per day, do you think he is best to get the hell off as quick as possible, or take his time weaning.

Help!  Any advice would be helpful.  I don't think I can handle months of him on this and then going through withdrawl anyways.

[kim715]

WOW,that just goes to show how little the medical personnel that dispense methodone actually know about it.I just don't want you or your husband to be disillusioned,he's going to feel that decrease.If the doctor is going to taper him that fast from 30 mgs.of methodone down to 15 tomorrow and last dose on Thursday,you're husband is so much better off just stopping now and not putting anymore of the methodone into his system.Doing it the way his doctor wants him to do it is just going to prolong the w/ds for a few more days.If he was wanting to taper that certainly is to fast a taper to do him any good.I think getting him into a detox facility as soon as you can and making certain he has an aftercare program set up for when he gets out is a good idea.I will keep you both in my prayers.Stay strong. Peace.

[wifeofaddict1897]

Thank you all so much for your advice.  My husband talked to his dr. today and the plan is to cut down to 15 mg tomorrow and his last dose on Thursday.  Is this possible?  We're thinking of him going to a detox facility on Friday for a few days.  This all sounds too easy to be true.  I'll keep you updated.

[welldigger]

I did the same thing. My finace thought that I could come off oxy's with methadone. It has been horrible. Please tell him to stop taking the methadone. He can wean down to 5mg and still have the same horrible withdrawls and they last months and months not weeks. It has a very long life in our bodies. If I had known what I was doing to my body, I would have NEVER let myself be talked into this nasty drug. It has messed my life up. Please let him read these posts. He needs to get off asap. The longer he's on methadone, the harder time he'll have. There is a page on this website that says that the hardest drug to come off of is Methadone. Please, let him read this. I don't want anybody to  have to go through what I have.
Karen1964

[maxbipolar]

since he is only on 30mg a day he could switch to suboxone which is mush easier to come off of IME

[sadinmichigan]

I agree with Kim100% ...Please tell him to stop now..The w/ds will definately make him wish he was never on it..He cold start to taper now..I'm not sure how bad it will be after 3 weeks..But I would jump now..Please keep posting..we are here for you and maybe he could check this site out too..

[kim715]

Yes it is absolutely in his best interest to get off of the methodone asap.I jumped off of it at 25 mgs almost 3 months ago,30 mgs was the highest I ever dosed.I'm not going to lie to you w/ds from methodone are some of the hardest w/ds out there.I know you want him off of it,but it's not going to work unless he is ready.He will have to be totally committed to getting clean because he's in for a rough ride once he starts.It's sad because like alot of us here who found out the hard way about methodone it sounds like he was seeking help to end his addiction to the pills.Taking methodone is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire but the people that dispense it don't warn you about how the w/ds from the methodone,unless you want to be on it the rest of your life,will most likely be so much worse then they would be from your original drug of choice.Methodone is not a solution in most cases it just ends up becomming a bigger nightmare.If he is wanting to be free of this drug also,tell him to get off now.I wish you both all the luck.My prayers are with you.Keep posting,and perhaps you can get him on here too.Methodone detox is a rough ride,but it most certainly can be done.Peace.