How does a Methadone Program work?

[Musicman101]

Good day everyone. I posted some recent posts questioning Methadone and such. I read a recent post about getting off the pain pills. I am 22 years old, and for the past 4 years have been addicted to every pain medication I could get my hands on. Lorcet, Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, and recently a sleeping medication, that is pretty stong, called Chloral Hydrate. I am trying to get myself off the Chloral Hydrate now, but haven't been too sucessful with that. You get the picture. I really really really want to quit this s***. I can't do it anymore. I read that going through a Methadone program helped some people. I wondered if maybe that would be a good way to help me get off of the meds. But how do you go about doing that? I'm afraid to admit to ANY medical professional that I have an addiction problem as I DO NOT want it going on any premanent records, messing with my benefits, insurance, ect. Any advice? Just curious as to how the methadone program works and if it helps with getting of the pain meds. I appreciate your time.

[ifadede]

thank you josh231 i am glad there is one person in this forum that can give real info .my daughter is in this program i was looking for info b/c i  drive her every morning  to get her dosage .i wanted to know how it work againg thans

[Musicman101]

Yes I am taking both meds PO, the Dilaudid is stronger than my Norco, I can't take too many of it or i am unable to function. I know Dilaudid is more potent through IV or IM Injection. I am for sure the Methadone program is a no go for me. Thank you everyoen for all of this information.... just gotta pick a quit date....

[mr.lucky66]

You are taking all these pills PO by mouth? It a fair amount but like morphine, dilaudid isn't so effective orally. I'st hard to dole out tapering doses of these drugs yourself. Can you go inpatient? Remember,"Methadone, there's no future in it"

[worried878]

Check your inbox...i sent you some info on tapering

[worried878]

The Right step..I will do some searching and see...we need more places that are outpatient like that as being commited to rehab when u work is just not feasible for all...they do have a program similar to that for alcholics here..I am gonna look into it...thanks rose

[VOsRose]

Where are you?  I was just telling someone else that this program is both state and federally funded.  I'm sure that if there is not one in your area, there will be soon.  Narcotic pain medication is the fastest growing addiction in the U.S. and the gov't. is implementing programs, finally!!!!!!!, to help people with this, along with stricter regulations on these meds.  

I was just reading that the DEA is trying to pass legislation to make Hydro a higher scheduled drug so that Drs. cannot write for refills and are more closely monitored.  

Personally, I think the Gov't. is going about this all wrong, but that's a whole other issue.  The bigger issue is the problem and, thank goodness, our gov't. is finally doing something to try to help people.

Good luck.  If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Rosie

[worried878]

There is a great article to help you with the basics of tapering in the health pages under DISCUSSION to the right of the screen...basically...you need to know how many you have to work with and pick a clean day...a QUIT day...and stick to it...I did a 10 day taper which is fast but I was ready..I planned a long weekend off of work and made it...tapering is not easy for an addict and was not for me at all...but it helps when you are at a high dose...you dont feel on top of the world during your taper but I would get your dose down a little before u CT...I had to end up giving my pills to a friend and had to run by there daily and pick them up...made me feel very weak to not be able to taper on my own and many can without much difficulty...main goal is to reduce dosage during the taper and not take big doses during your taper..spread them out throughout the day in small doses...no spike doses...it is a good idea to go ahead and read up on the thomas recipe and Fladdicts amino acid protocol and get ready and prepared...I will be glad to help and many others on here will help too...For a bunch of addicts, we are a great and caring  group of people!

[worried878]

Hope you come back and read all these posts....so much support here...I wished we had a clinic like the 10 day rose talked about above where you pay daily....I guess it is more like outpatient?  I hope and pray I will be ok but I have a friend that needs help...

[Musicman101]

WOW.... what support. Thank you. I see Methadone is NOT the route for me, I have tried to quit the pain meds cold turkey and I don't think I have EVER thrown up that much in my life. I had nothing in my stomach and I still threw up. Horrible horrible, but it sounds like everyone on here goes through the WD and "sucks it up" so i guess I could do the same. I know for a fact I am going to have to get help to get off the Chloral Hydrate. It's too darn strong. Thank you for all the info. I am currently taking 12 "10/350 of Norco" a day and 5 "8mg Dilauded" tablets a day. If I am going to taper myself off what should I start tapering down to? Take away one pill of Norco and one pill of Dilauded a day? I DO NOT want to make myself sick and am afraid I might take too much away at one time, so what should I start out at???

[Mikeinthesouth]

Let me know what you think after reading it. It is a lil long read if your withdrawing but it is no doubt a good read for someone considering.

[VOsRose]

Hi.  I am addicted to Lortab 10/500.  At the heighth of my addiction I was taking 80 pills a day, approx. (plus or minus 8 pills...I took them 8 at a time every 2 hours from 5 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. or later, sometimes.)  I relapsed in October and this time have been taking approx. 36 - 42 pills/day (6 at a time, this time).  I live in Houston and am going to a Suboxone outpatient detox.  I am on a short duration/rapid taper program.  When it is all said and done, I will have taken 7 8mg. Suboxone pills over a period of 11 days.  

I did some research before I started and have gotten on here and talked to numerous people about it.  I am on Day 5 today and so I can't tell you the end result yet.  I'm hoping for the best with this.  From what I have been told, getting on and off quickly is the key to having minimal problems with the Suboxone.  Another key to to not take any more than you need.  And you will know...overtaking the medication won't help at all.  It is working well.

That being said, I don't know if they will detox you off of a benzo (or anything like it) in an outpatient setting.  Benzos can be very, very dangerous to come off of.  

The place I am going to is called The Right Step.  If you need the number or more info, let me know.  It is sponsored by the State of Texas DHHS, so they charge on a sliding scale, but they do take insurance.  Or, like me, I am paying the full price.  The cost is $250.00/day for however many days the Dr. feels you need to be there, usually somewhere between 7 and 10.  I was ordered for 10 days.  They do require that you come in each morning at 9:30.  There is a group session and then individual counseling.  Then you see the nurse to get your meds and be monitored.  

I have tried many, many times to detox and stay clean and have failed each time.  I'm hoping this will work this time.  However, I am not going onto the maintenance program of the Suboxone.  They will do that if you want, but I'm terrified to do that, so I'm sticking with the short detox and off.

Let me know if you need any more info.

WHATEVER YOU DO...DON'T GO THE METHADONE ROUTE.

In the words of John Lennon..."Methadone was 10 times harder to kick than Heroin!!!!!"

Good luck.  Take care.

Rosie

[Mikeinthesouth]

You still there? Go to this profile and read the post she has regarding methadone. It might help you make the decision if you want it or not. wait2long





Journal Entry:   "story 1... MY SON MICHAEL DIED FROM ME..." [Read]
  

[addictedme]

You may want to get last thursdays edition of USA today (4-3-08). Theres an article in the health section that says presciption med poisoning is now the # 2 cause of injury related deaths behind auto accidents and before gun accidents. They talk about how scrip meds (specifacally methadone) builds up in your system and creates the poisoning which can lead to death,,,gl

[Penelope14]

I am warning you, dont go on methadone!! I was told that the withdrawals from this drug would be mild if you go slow, yeah right! No one warned me about this drug, so Im gonna give it to you straight up, dont do it, you will later regret it! I hear many more positive info regarding suboxone, although this requires a slow taper as well, but Im guessing its not as bad as methadone, so if you like sweating & not sleeping, oh & the lack of energy that can take many weeks to get over, also chills & hot flashes, give it a try!  Prior to detoxing off of methadone I really thought I had it all figured out, I would be the one who didnt have to suffer, as Im healthy, young, live a stable life, happy, financially secure, I had all the things going for me that they say needs to be in place prior to detoxing, wrong, it doesnt matter how young, how healthy, or how financially set you are, methadone doesnt care!!!   I really think that many people on it, including myself should have never been on it, I regret not just going into rehab. Take Care  Penelope

[josh231]

it is realy hard to come off of but this is how to works

you start out goin 7 days a weak they ggive u how much you need to function every weak if you pee clean you get cut down a day and in the end youll only be goin 1 day a weak to get all 7 days worth of stuff cant have no other drugs in your system or you go back to 7 days ect


you also speak to a consoler every weak for a lil

you can tell them when r ready to taper off it

but dones gona b 50 times harder to come off of what ur on now

[TrayCee]

It should be a last resort option for treatment. If you really want to quit. This is the most important thing. If you have not been to rehab , detox, na/aa, cold turkey, clodine detox, and many others please dont try methadone. It may be nessessary for some but that is a very few. If you goal is to get clean dont go the methadone routine.    Kicking hydro heroin oxy is a walk in the park compared to methadone maintence.  Also it is very expensive and I dont know of any methadone programs, atleast not in my area that accept insurance  For the first month or so you have to go in everyday to be "dosed".

Good Luck

[worried878]

I quit hydrocodone without methadone or suboxone but high quantity users and people who relapse often try those...methadone is very strong and you will have to get off of it as well eventually.....suboxone is the other alternative and there can be WDs from that as well ... Both sub and meth are used for narcotic WD and chloral hydrate is not a narcotic...and as far as I know the patient/physician relationship is private...of course if you filed it on your insurance i am not sure how that would work as far as your company finding out...where i work we are self insured and they would know...have you tried to guit the narcotics on your own?  Chloral hydrate is a barbituate and you need to get off that with a doctor's supervision...can u talk to the doctor who prescribed it to you about tapering off...the narcotics can be quit on your own but the chloral hydrate will need to be supervised as it can be dangerous to WD from
Googled this:
Chloral hydrate addicts may take huge doses of the drug (i.e., up to 12 g nightly has been reported). This abuse is similar to alcohol addiction and sudden withdrawal may result in central nervous excitation, with tremor, anxiety, hallucination, or even delirium which may be fatal. In patients suffering from chronic chloral hydrate intoxication, gastritis is common and skin eruptions may develop. Parenchymatous renal injury may also occur. Withdrawal should be undertaken in a hospital and supportive treatment similar to that used during barbiturate withdrawal is recommended.

[allaboutmary]

Please, Please don't go the Methadone route.  I hear it is one of the worst drugs to come off of.  If you feel you need some help look into Suboxone or a Rehab etc.  Just don't go to a Methadone program.  Others should be on tomorrow that will back me on this. There are quite a few here coming off Methadone and they will tell you about it first hand.  Keep reading and posting.  You will find so much help here.