How can I withdraw from Methadone ?

[Saul]

I was sniffing heroin for 7 monhts and tried for 3 months to quit. I went to a detox doctor and got clonidine,some muscle relaxers and shots of buprenorphine. He said it did not come in a pill so I had to do the shots. I got the stuff and took it home but I was too terrified to take the shots.My fiance offered to inject me and I let her give me one of the 3 shots because I was so sick from the withdrawl. I went into a panic and have not been able to face another one. This is hard to explain but I have not had any medical work done in years that requires a needle. I guess it's a phobia. So I have these 2 shots left from January. I was able to get methadone under the table from my heroin supplier and have been on it for 2 weeks now and want to get off it really fast. It has helped me with the heroin which I had been on a small maintenance dose for a month. Since supply and cash were no problem maybe I should have just stayed on the heroin. Why don't they use morphine or just less and less heroin to detox from the heroin? I am having a hard time getting off this stuff. The cravings are really bad. Is there a way to stop them? This is the only reason I kept relapsing from the heroin. Will Naltrexone stop cravings? I wouldn't take that pellet from the doctor because if it doesn't stop the craving I'm afraid I might use and od. He didn't have an answer for this and said maybe I shouldn't get it afterall. I appreciate your help.

[Frankinscense]

I have never heard of methadone being fatal during a detox. I do not know why anyone would want to cold turkey from methadone. Like all opiates the abrupt withdrawal is very uncomfortable. I wish I had some time to share Dr. Dole and wifes research. With all due respect I cannot remeber his wifes name. Dr. Dole and wife founded methadone maintenance. Brighty and all. THere is a interview with Dr. Dole on line. It addresses a lot of worthwhile information on MMT. No myths and untruths in this interview.
Dan...

[Brighty]

Thank you very much !!! I got lots of my questions answeed in your posts and will look for the online with the Doles. Peace be with you also. Love, Brighty

[Jimenez]

Schedule ONE? Methadone? Wouldn't it HAVE to be schedule II? As far as I know - schedule I is reserved for drugs that have "no known medicinal value" or street drugs. Methamphetamine, Heroin, LSD, Pot, etc. I find it hard to believe that the DEA or the FDA would classify methadone in the same class as these other drugs...maybe you meant II. Just curious I guess, are you sure it's I?

[Gina]

Believe me...I can relate to trying to find a way to get high on methadone. That's what I thought too. I was taking up to 40 vicoprofen a day. Never tried heroin but only because it didn't come my way, thank God! The great thing about methadone is that it gives you a feeling of well-being thus not needing to get high. Don't get me wrong, the thought of getting high does pass through my mind on occassion but not 24/7 like it used to. I feel normal and it is truly unbelievable that there are no cravings. I would like to stay on it forever, but people who need to do that are the 30 year heroin users who can't live (productively) without it. I don't have take homes but will be starting the long acting meth., so I have to go only 3 days a week instead of 7. I wonder when I wean off comfortably if I will feel depressed? Oh well,  I am just enjoying a normal life now.

[spook]

----------------WARNING AMUSEMENT PURPOSES ONLY------------------

The only reason I got high on methadone was that I had no tolerance to Narcotics.
Usually Methadone is a very good way to feel good without being high,its just that I wanted to be high,so I stuffed around on it, putting my dose down to 10mg,saying I wanted to get off it and then when used to 10mg(no withdrawals),saying to them ,I am using large doses of Heroin and need my dose put up(bullshit of course),you like? 60mg is not holding me etc,so up to 80mg etc,I ended up on 130mg,and just got pissed off and stopped.
"I want to make it known that Methadone is a very valuable tool for helping Opioid addicted,live a relatively straught and normal life,when used as directed,don`t think I did not pay the price for my Methadone abuse". Vincent Dole and Marie Nyslander(speling)-(spellind)**** (spelling).bloody spewing...
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Now the weird stuff....
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I do not know what everybody elses problem is but I use Opioids as a substitute for sex and friendship and love,I am/have learn/`t/ing to love and have sex with myself,but I do not want to get ?too" friendly with spooky.We all know about the David Bowie song ,where Ziggy "sucked up into his Mind".
The 80`s and 90`s have been a real pain in the butt(although the Simpsons is an American Icon of enlightenment for us old hippies).where the HELL did AIDS come from,oh well at least the Nuclear Proliferation is over,Or is it?.(hot war)
Christ I do not know(not that I would not like to meet him),even if I am a sick joke,at least someone may find some amusement in me.even "Bookitty" found a use for me.(although she thought I was Mr Manson Reincarnate)
Oh ,I do not have Aids but how do you really CONNECT with a woman with a piece of plastic between us.
Plastic world,plastic people,plastic economy,plastic love:=yer all want to find a way out or save the planet.Well,well even a Doctor of Psychiatry believes in Aliens(Californication).we all know the ending,its just a meaningless letter followed by a full stop.
Life,make the most of it I suppose,while you can.
By the way,I am going to come into some serious Money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4-"4"(whats that 4 for?) soon,does anybody want to be on a Luxury Ship and park it in international waters,then we can do what we want.(mummy is an Attorney,legal issue,what was that law again,sorry,sleeping with to many Judges,for even the President is not immune)
RIGHT.
Well I have not been wrong yet(comment welcomed),and want to know how many people have become dissolutioned with "LIFE" in the year 2001 and when our ships meet on some lonely international sea,You can betcha I will know the Launch code sequence for your Nuclear Devices and have Viral mechanisms for their inactivation.
Peace,love and Happiness.
Sorry if this is too Cryptic or INSANE.....

[Frankinscense]

Sorry that was a typo. I mean't CII. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
                                                                  Gina> Why would you want to get off a medicine that has made such a dramatic change in your life and productivity. Methadone is known by pharmacologist to be an excellent antidepressant. If it is working for you why change it. This about your existance no one elses. When and if you decide to get off methadone it has to be your decision. No one can influence this decision. Because it will rarely work. MMT is not only for 30 year heroin addicts. It is for anyone with a chronic relapse disorder due to opiate abuse. I have no personal xperience with the switch, methadone to LAAM. I know that you must have a history of no heart problems to use LAAM. Some people develop a heart malfunction due to LAAM. It has to do with particular heart problems certain people are born with. Maybe you should have your heart checked or speak with your counselor about this particular heart condition.  Aren't you due for takeouts? Dan..
ps. please find on the web the interview with Dr. Dole. It will explain to love ones the TRUE purpose of MMT. From a scientist and physician.