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Is it really a symptom of methadone detox or is it heroin usage? HELP!

Hi...My boyfriend is an opiate addict...He initially became addicted to Oxy Contin and then graduated to heroin use...For almost two years now he has been going to a methadone clinic and had a few slip ups on the way (A couple months of Xanax abuse, for example)  He had been gradually decreasing his methadone so he can enter a treatment facility (the place he'd like to go, St. Jude's, requires that you are detoxed before being admitted to their program)...As he has been decreasing the methadone he had two instances (to my knowledge, mind you) where he freaked out and binged...Once it was cocaine, the other time it was snorting heroin.  Now he claims he really wants to enter treatment because he knows he's slipping, yet he still acts like he's using...He is fine during the morning and afternoon but by early evening he becomes extremely tired, dazed, and  all around just "doesn't feel well".  Although both his family and I openly suspect that he is still usingl, he claims that these are symptoms of withdrawing from Methadone.  He says that the reason he feels fine early in the day is because that's when the medicine is strongest, but as it wears off, he begins to feel extremely tired and awful.  I've looked into symptoms of Methadone withdrawl on the internet and yes, he could be telling the truth...But some of the side effects of Methadone withdrawl are so similar to Heroin usage/withdrawl that it is hard to tell what is really going on.  I suspect that the rapid withdrawl will make you feel extremely tired, nauseous, etc, but will it make you DAZED?  I don't think so...(Btw it was initially a gradual withdrawl but then he'd asked the clinic to speed up the process so they decreased the dose again, but still not so quickly that he would be sick)...Now all of a sudden he's on an administrative detox and they've dropped him down from 30 to 16 (he started at 100)...He claims the forced detox was because of an unpaid balance but could it possibly be that his urine keeps coming up dirty so they are forcing him to detox?...Any thoughts?
- Fed Up Girlfriend
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Avatar universal
There are a few habits that should never be taken as normal W/Ds.......long time alcohol, benzos and yes Heroin, Morphine, Dilaudid W/Ds where Seizures are probable......

When I was getting off Heroin the first time I was locked up in a motel room with people who thought they would let me go through nomal opiate detox after my third Seizure they finally took me to a hospital the doctor told me  I could of died.......or could of damaged one of my organs permanently...

I don't want to argue with anyone here but unless your a doctor please don't give facts unless your a doctor.........
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
thank you.
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
I just figured there was a mis communication... based on the original post what you said made sense..  the withdrawl symptoms are very similiar.. and as you said intensity and duration may be different but the actual symtpoms are very much alike. Althought I do believe heroin withdrawls was the only time I actual crapped myself and vomitted at the same time... For like 3 days straight.. I don't thing that happens with many other drugs..LOL
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
I think what hellc was saying was that the list of symptoms are virtually the same.. whether it is heroin or methodone.. not that the actual addictions or that each are all the same..
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
yeah man.It dont matter what opiate we take the wd symptoms r virtually identical.Some just last longer and are more intense.I seen plenty of posts on this forum from people with measly codeine habits talking about the same wds i encountered comming off 13 years of mdone.Bro,its not up 4 debate.Its fact and accurately reflects my experience dtoxing off of numerous opiates/opioids.Btw.Isnt addiction just addiction.Aint that one of the major foundations of the NA paradigm.
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Avatar universal
May i ask what you base your facts on that all opiates w/ds are the same........
You included Heroin, morphine, fentnyl...and my favorite dilaudid....
are you saying these addictions and w/ds are the same as
pills.........hydrocodone,,,oxycodone or codeine......

I have to disagree with you from the both physical and psychological stand point..................
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
yeah.we dont do urines or clinics here in NZ.A forced countdown is only done when the client has been caught diverting or dealing or aggresive behavior at the pharmacy.I did know a guy once who would draw his mdone up in2 a 30ml fit,drop his trousers there in the chemist and hit a vein in his groin.Every time he did this they would drop his dose by 10%.Forced countdown is rare where i live and is never about money.Since the guy appears sick id give him a break.Hanging is the antithesis of using.
J
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
You took done' didn't you??  Did you do it through a clinic??  What do you make of this administrative detox stuff she talked about?? Could it be from dirty urines??
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
opiate withdrawal is opiate withdrawal.The only true variable is intensity and duration but the symptoms are virtually identical whether it be morphine,codeine,heroin,mdone,fentnyl etc.
Helpful - 0
182493 tn?1348052915
Thanks for re posting you should get more responses this way... Its late and its a weekend so you may not get lots of response tonight.. You can always stop in tommorrow and "bump" your post to the top by posting on it..

Rapid withdrawl or tapering would make someone anxious, edgy, moody, experiencing sweats/chills, goose bumps, flu like aches..

Admisistrative detox does sould fishy like I said below..

I hope I was able to help.. more members should be along to help too
Helpful - 0
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