Metadone Detox

[cspan]

My 20yr old son is detoxing off metadone, he is dropping 1mg per day. He started at 140mg and is down to 77mg. What can I expect, right now he is sleeping so much. Is it unrealistic for him to work?

[mr.lucky66]

I agree with the one poster who said it won't make a difference about the taper because of the half life. It's what he does when he gets below 20 mg. or 0 that really matters. Than it's about support meds which in his case may be better if you administer them like clonidine and valium or the Thomas recipe. Listen to the advise of people who have successfully kicked methadone. There are several of us here. all the best

[feelingcrazierbytheday]

just a question...why are ya'll so competitive on who's right?  honestly.. put in your two cents and let it be.  It's starting to become absolutely ridiculous on this petty fighting and immaturity on the level of education one has. share your experience, take a bow, and get off the stage.  It would be so nice if we could all advise with a little more professionalism.  

[godezzofchaos]

I with ya there girl!  I wish the best for this kid, and his parents. The orginal question was is it unrealistic for him to work and my answer is YES!  Especially if he is detoxing so rapidly..but then I don't know ANYTHING about methadone ...LMAO

[sadinmichigan]

lol, i think the guy doing this 1mg a day, will know soon enough if he doesn't already. I personally think it's ridiculous . And when 99% of the people who have had experience with methadone say it is so hard and su cks..I would go with the majority. Just my opinion.

[godezzofchaos]

Save your breathe SAD..he's not a ROCKET SCIENTIST!  LOL

[feelingcrazierbytheday]

yeah....i agree.  it really won't make a difference.  most people i've talked to who have even dropped at 1 mg suffered the same withdrawls for just as long.  It's that dang half life.  However, it makes a difference in how fast he gets well by not prlonging the process any further. I guess it depends on where one is at mentally and what they feel more comfortable doing.  

[sadinmichigan]

If he goes off 1mg a day..then why not just jump off right where he is at??? I am sorry but I do not agree with you at all . Of course he CAN do it..I DID it too and lived..but it was the most horrible experience of my life..It makes no sense to drop a mg a day..you might as well go all the way. It will make no differnece in my opinion..

[mr.lucky66]

your observations are wierd and sophmoric. It not about you or me anyway. It about a young guy who is getting off methadone. He can do it one mg. a day and I hope he wants to.

[godezzofchaos]

LOL..wow, another rude JAB...I say "anyone who knows me can attest" and you come back with "the truth is that know really knows anyone here except for what we disclose".  I see my orginal perception was the correct one.

[mr.lucky66]

the truth is that know really knows anyone here except for what we disclose. Hopefully we can share our experience and help another. Here in this forum we are very focused on drugs, doages, medicine ect. This is all important but the thing we often forget is the mental/spirtual component of withdrawl, PAWS or cravings. One example would be that if someone is in jail and they know they can't get anything they may be less sick than someone who can get something. In other words we can control to a certain extent , how much withdrawl we feel. I understand that this forum is mostly about detox but we can lesson the withdrawls a little with a better frame of mind. I think your soon will do fine. The harder part is when he gets to 20 or when he is off methadone completly.

[godezzofchaos]

Let me clarify something RIGHT NOW..I WAS NOT FROWNING ON YOU FOR BEING IN JAIL....I was pointing out the IRONY in your judgemental statement!  I DO NOT JUDGE..and most who know me can attest to that, I apolgize if it seemed I was.  However, Sad is correct when she says it was different for you in jail, you had NO way to get anything else, a person who does it too quickly and is still able to "hook-up" is much more likely to relapse (as LOVEPAT said) and there in lies the REAL danger.  I agree with you that at 20 years old kicking may be easier, but I think this young man's continued use DURING treatment shows that he is no way strong enough to go cold turkey.

[feelingcrazierbytheday]

He will be ok.  I've detoxed cold turkey from methadone as well and found that yes it was very difficult and not easy at all.  Infact, it was absolutely, positively DEFINATELY the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  With a fiance in dental school who was NEVER home and a 6 month old baby.......come on now......everyone is looking for an easy way out....this hurts, that hurts, that stings, ......YES.... it does.....but he WILL be ok.  Clonodine if he doesn't already have low blood pressure, a positive attitude (which is HARD to find during this time), and a good support system...and voila..he can do it...THere really is NO easy way out....it's the price we addicts have to pay....and most of us pay more than once.....everyone is different....and they all have differnet opinions of what "OK" is to them.  To me, as long as I'm still breathing.....I'm ok.  Pain and all....to others, as soon as they get stiff joints they are NOT ok....so it depends......However, he is the one to make the ultimate decision...he can either justify each reason in which to KEEP using, or find the right ones which tell him to not.  All the best.

[mr.lucky66]

Yes that's true, but 1 mg. a day is much slower than they used to detox us in the hospital. In jail was the last time I also detoxed 5 per day in a hospital about 4 times. I didn't feel great but it was ok and I was gateful. Some few people may have problems with 1 or 5 mg. per day but most will do fine. The most important thing isn't the detox but what you do after. Anyone can get through detox it's what you do after that is most important.

[sadinmichigan]

It's great that you had no problem, but that is not typical at all. Everyone is different. I also have seen many many people "not"do this..and I guess thats where we get our own points of veiw. I guess in jail you had no choice and a persons mindset etcc have alot to do with it. You really can't tell somebody that it's not a prolem We are all different and with different metabolisms,tolerances etc...

[mr.lucky66]

I don't mean to offend anyone. I have detoxed from methadone at least 5 times and spent 25 years on and off it and  broke the cycle 6 years ago. For a young guy, 1 mg. is easy. 5 per day was easy until I was off and then I got out of jail and went straight. About you frowning about me being in jail. That was the only time I was in jail and was cleared of all charges. Most serious drugs addicts have been to jail ecept for maybe today's vicodin addicts. The main thing is this young guy can dotox easily I mg. per day. I have seen a hundred addicts do it faster and they didn't suffer much at all. all the best

[lovepat906]

I would say 2 mgs a week is a safe taper on methadone. The real danger you face here is relapse. If he goes too fast, and gets too sick, he will go back out. Relapse can kill him. So slow- with lots of support- is my recommendation. Once he is down to 30 mgs you could move him over to Sub and do a slow taper off of that. Long tapers allow for doing the work necessary for sobriety. I think the " NoPain-NoGain" philosophy doesn't  work for many addicts.  That has been my parental experience with my long term addicted son who is free at last.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

maybe its a personal thing....but my habit started in '69 and just stopped last year.. I tried methadone and did detox from 85-120mg myself - - but it was really rough....and I relapsed ----- cold turkey this last time......off 400mg hydro daily ...... wasnt much fun at all and took months to get past ---- but today I have a little over a year in ... and loving it!! maybe it depends as much on individual attitude as method??

[godezzofchaos]

So your answer is "don't listen to others" but YOU..BY GOD they should listen to you!  This coming from a guy who HAD to detox in jail..hmmm. The problem around here is people like you pointing fingers instead of giving advice from your perspective WITHOUT degrading others.  Man that irritates me...we all have our IDEAS and VIEWS..and we should respect each other..and most do, but then someone makes a comment like that and sets us all back.  MRLUCKY..we are in this TOGETHER...the person was asking for our input, which you gave but then felt the need to take a JAB at the "PEOPLE AROUND HERE"...my question is WHY??

[mr.lucky66]

I mg per day is fine. I detoxed 5 mg. per day from 110 in jail. I didn't suffer that much and never looked back. Don't belive what others say about it being to fast . He's young and he could go faster no problem. That one problem around here. People are looking for a painless detox or a miracle drug. They thought sub was a miracle drug but most found out it isn't. Methadone is very sedating and I went through life sedated for many years. He can make it off methadone and stay off dope if he really wants to. all the best

[godezzofchaos]

AMEN EAGLE...I do not see how this could possibly help this young man..and I fear him not having success with methadone will only drive him into a deeper addiction. I wish places that dispense this drug (clinics, insurance companies) understood the value AND the liablity it possess. Fight on another day.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

That is just too fast -

[godezzofchaos]

That is very common with methadone...if you keep moving it helps. Perhaps he could get a job where he is active. I honestly believe this rapid of detox is way too fast.  Pot could be a huge contributing factor to the sleepiness.  If it is his non-compliance driving this, then I fear he is not ready to change.  I am sorry.  If he is still smoking pot he is still looking for a high and that scares me. I have to run out, but will be back shortly..let me know if I can answer anymoe questions.

[cspan]

I know he is not on anything but pot because he signed a release and I get the reports of his screen every week (the sample is random) I don't think Metadone is bad at all but it is his non compliance that is driving this. He also wants to be off.
His lask of energy and sleepiness is almost like a chronic fatigue syndrome

[godezzofchaos]

I just realized I did not answer your orginal question...is it realistic for him to work?  I do not think so in his current state.  Although I feel 20 years old is young for most to be on methadone in his case, having been a heroin addict I feel it may be neccassary. However, he has to WANT to get better. You can't just take methadone and think it is a cure all..it isn't. What it does do is help you come off the "HIGH" and begin to rebuild your life. They now have vitamins called VITADONE that are especially formulated for people on methdadone and can help with the sleepiness and other side affects.  I pray for your son, and for you..GOD BLESS.