Methadone ~ Is it worth it??

[StarLitSkyes]

Hello,
After lurking on the board I feel as though many of you could be helpful. My partner started methadone today, and we are really unsure if this is the route she should be taking. She is suffering from opiate withdrawl (after 2-3 months of abuse) but after extensive research we are not sure this is the best thing. Quite frankly, it appears to be something more like goverment controlled drug addiction. The fear is replacing one addiction for another and thus just prolonging the withdrawl process. ANYBODY, who has has any personal experience in this who is willing to share their thoughts on methadone...we would be so grateful to hear from you.  I and she knows this is a very personal decision but we cannot seem to find any conclusive answers from the clinic or the local IOP treatment center. Sometimes personal expereince is much more informative.


Thanks so much!!!!

[MotherSuperior]

I have pretty much been on and off every opoid/opiate in my time. Methadone IMO was not as VOILENT as Heroin.... but oh my Lord it went on... and on... and on. A month later I was feeling better but it took MONTHS before I could even walk a few miles without feeling really tired. I could not work again for about a year. I was on  200mg of Meth a day(in 50mg injectable amps.... taken with Dexe's.... sweet hit but one you pay the price for no mistake) and went Cold Turkey at mothers house.

That was my 1st and worst detox.... it was so bad that decades later I will still not go near that chit again... ever.... and frankly theres not many substances I would regard as no go areas....(yep... no point denying I'm on this road for life).

I can believe this though... here in Slough/UK they offer Meth to ANYONE that tests positive for opiates and asks for help.... when I had my DF118 'problem'...lol yep they offered me the juice...

I would go for Subutex which in comparison was the easiest Withdrawal. Ever. Also with Subbies they are a partional agonist so they block the action of other opiates/opiods... well at least on Mu(the reeptor that gives us most of our 'fun';)).

Right now I'm getting of the Heroin and Cocaine... man... if it wasnt for the fact I have DF's,  Diazepams, Zopiclones and a certain amount of Morphine possibly Oxycodone if the GP is in a good mood.... LOL... I do have chronic bone disease so I get pain meds for legit pains! Dexedrine for ADHD... and so on.

I know I'm for sure not really the person who should be giving people advice who wanna stay clear of the sauce.... but 3 months on Oxy's which some people rate stronger than Diactlye Morphine... listen to me, Methodone will turn you into a friggin zomby and it's a real biatch to get off. Reasons it's still used? It's cheap and IMO offers a degree of control over addicts and indeed lasts so long promotes less choatic lives for lots of smack users... its been around for ages. Subutex is new, more money, has some small issues(remember I said it blocks mu?... that can be bad... it lasts for SO long over 48 hours... and is only partially reverseble). It is given in super high doses compared to it' cousin Temagesic.... many docs dont feel they know enough to prescribe it.

My advice for what its worth... you want to kick this the easiest way? 1/Subutex(Buprenorphine) or one of the derivitives if in the US. 2/Taper doses of existing DoA. This is SO hard to do but is do-able. 3/Go cold, stock up on downers, sleepers and after day 7 although her sleep may still be bad... she'll be her usual self by the time the months out.

I would not wish Methadone on almost anyone... it can work out for some people but in all my years... I have met VERY few,

[bubbaganoosh]

Hi Kim 19days wtg, how you feeling now?

[bubbaganoosh]

Hey Mrlucky i forgot about that one yes i can be sitting here and all of sudden be drenched in sweat summer is worse of course, anxiety yes another, doctors i hear are Rx ing it for pain now alot too sure it works for that but i believe there are better options, and yes your right its to stop crime all that, but what actually happens is people end up staying on it for long term , life even for some, i know bup is a better option but i asked my pharm the other day and he even gave me a look as if same issues of methadone, i know side effects are alot less and less addictive but that too can turn into a long term affair. I am going to make up a bottle draw a line on it and tip out 1/3 or start to with takehomes because i have enough i can start some taper plan here even, or another year will pass on argggggggh cheers

[mr.lucky66]

Bubba, you said a couple of important things about being on the done. Being overweight, contipated and a sugar addict, and that's just for starters. How about the sweating and anxiety etc etc.. The reason I'm so against meth for pill users is twofold. First, done is ment for heroin addicts originaly. That's not to say you can't get a real bad habit from oxy, diluaid etc, but nothings as bad as or strong as dope. Second and maybe most important is that the meth clinic system was made to slow down addict crime and get addicts to stop stealing. Many or most Rx addicts don't steal that much. That's good but they are given a treatment of last resort to early and can't get off it. that's how I feel. all the best

[kim715]

I'm so glad you both are making an informed decision about the evils of methodone.Earlier I don't believe anyone was trying to minimize her physical pain during withdrawl,but stating that because she was only doing the drugs for a few months how horrible it is that a doctor or clinic would consider her a canidate for methodone.I am 19 days off of methodone,before that huge painpill addiction.The withdrawl from methodone 10 times worse then any withdrawl I ever had from the pills and 3 times as long.You both hang in there.I will keep you both in my prayers.Peace.

[bubbaganoosh]

Excately i was put on for Rx too, its just not the answer at all, but i have to say the first 4yrs where great without to much bashing of it, i was able to build a life so in that respect it was fine, but the problem i see is it is kinda trading one for another, sure its synthetic clean and safe because its from a pharmacy, but it to becomes a lifestyle with restrictions your never really free from addiction imho in the end, eventually one becomes tired of being overweight, contipated, and turning into a sugar addict.

[lucyred68]

hun, i have done withdrawals from opiates, and from methadone.  the norco wd's took 5 to 7 days, the methadone took 31 days and it was many many times worse than norco wd's.  norco is the same as double strength hydros, with half the acetaminophen.i am not downplaying what she is going through.  you feel like you will die, but you won't.  if she can't take the cold turkey wd's, maybe she could do a taper.  if she could get on a suboxone program at a low dose and for no longer than a month, she'll have a much easier time.  just remember she'll have to taper off the suboxone too, but it seems to be much easier, by what i read in here.  good luck,

Lucy

[mr.lucky66]

The medical system is creating worse addicts by giving Rx addicts methadone. Some will never be able to get off it and others will go from one rehap,  clinic or detox to another like I did for over 20 years. It's not the answer and is like putting gasoline on a fire or tying to kill a fly with a shorgun. "Methadone, there's no future in it" all the best

[StarLitSkyes]

Wow, you have all been so amazing and kind in sharing your expereince.  I cannot thank you enough.  After much research, tears and soul searching it seems we have come up with a plan.  It is obvious methadone is NOT the right path, so she has decided to begin detoxing over the weekend, she will attempt it at home and if that doesnt work she will look at IP detox as an alternative.

We are hurt, angry and saddend by a system that is very clearly broken, but seem to be finding peace despite the chaos.

Your stories definitely helped lead us off what I am certain would have been a very long and painful road.

Thank you so much and I will be sure to keep you posted.

Peace, Light and Health,
StarLitSkyes

[special_k78]

i went on methadone after a very looooooooooooooong battle which started with oc's progressing to shooting dope and have been on the stuff for 3yrs. if i were to go back i'd probaly do it again, nothing seemed to be able to stop me. i am now detoxing off of it and it is just like being dope sick, but now i am truly a different person-one who is able to work through the sickness. when i used pills though i went to detox and was comfortably detoxed w/suboxen, which is less physically addictive, and a whole different type of narcotic. if i were her i'd try that first

[bubbaganoosh]

That Dr should be shot methadone for a 3month pill addiction? My advice switch to sub ASAP once you start the methadone road its hard to veer off, 7yrs for me fortunately i dont have clinic bs to go through as im private and get alot of takehomes, but it will turn into a love/hate r/ship with it like mine is, agony to come off too im near the finish line but that's the worse bit, When i get of it ill never touch it again long as i live.

[spacecadette]

Point blank.....Not worth it, no smoother than that of tapering and time frame of withdrawls multiply by sets of 10.  

[worried878]

reasearch options and make a plan...keep posting

[worried878]

What s her dose?...I have no experience with sub or meth...i did a fast taper and quit...80 mg hydros a day for 3 years...i know this is not a huge amount to many but it was not painfree by any means...but i would defintely say it was do-able...keep doing your research as she will have to wd from the methadone...OUCH...or the sub (which I hear is easier but still a withdrawal) she may should try quitting without the other drugs first...if she can not then she can re-evaluate.....when someone comes up with a pain free way to wd from narcotics...it will be a feat....even if u get the physical part down to a minimum...it is the mental part that causes relapse later on in many cases

[jessejames31]

i don't like to say the word never, but i wish i never took methadone. i think the 4-5 day withdrawal hell you'll get quitting ct from opiates is the way to go. i take 40mgs of meth a day, and when i try to taper, i make it to 25mgs a day, and i cant go lower or i just wanna die. and i'm not kidding. i believe the devil was born to create one thing and it was methadone!  (just my opinion though)

[tracey63]

I am on methadone I have a cronic pain issue that also turned into an addiction a 8yr nightmare oxy, morphine whatever I could get and methadone has saved my life but if she has only been taking the oxy for 3 months I agree methadone probably isn't the best route. If Im not being to personnel how much oxy is she doing a day? Its true WD suxs but 3 months she has a better chance of kicking then 3yrs and it would take alot longer for her to get clean using methadone then 3 months.

[allaboutmary]

Yes, Suboxone would be a much better route. She could do a quick taper on it and from what I hear hardly have any at all withdrawal.  There are a few here that have done this with sub and did very well.  It would be important to get her off of it in a month, before she becomes addicted to it.  I am on sub and it is a wonderful drug.  

[StarLitSkyes]

Hi Mary,
Thank you for your kindness and understanding. We have looked into suboxine but are having trouble finding a dr who will accept her under her insurance. We are going to call every dr on the list tomorrow and see if we get anywhere.

Is suboxine a better, safer route??

Oh and Happy Birthday!!!!

Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!

[sickcookie]

Withdrawl sucks no matter how long or how much ,I did not mean to minimize her pain at all ,I am sorry

[josh231]

yeah if she wants to be drug free dont let her do this, itll just make things worse the w.d.s take soo long to wear off. its def not worth it if she dont work just get some movies and sit with her as much as you can get some vitamins and alot of water and have her just lay around for awhile  it will get beter it does suck but itll work

[allaboutmary]

Yes, I understand .  Did you try a slow taper or Suboxone.  Either of these would be better choices.

[StarLitSkyes]

Thank you everyone who has responded.  Please know it does not go unappreciated.  

She is withdwawing from oxys, and tried to go cold turkey. As we all know the grips of addiction combined with that of withdrawls is beyond maddening.  I realize 2-3 months is not a ten year addiction but when she comes of them she is in significant pain: pain no one should ever have to endure.  

As a recovering addict myself, I am not convinced cold turkey is the answer.....I just also know methadone doesnt seem to be the answer either.  

I hate to sound unappreciative of the time you take to respond and educate us, but please dont look at her using time and minimize what she is experiencing.  

She hurts physically and that is where the focus would be most most helpful as well as alternatives.

Again, thank you so much for reaching out and offering your stories and knowledge.


Peace, Light, and Health,
StarLitSkyes

[confused456]

Bad idea....very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, BAD IDEA!!!!

Oh, did I mention it is a bad idea?

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Do not go on a methadone program if you only have a couple of months of use - I have methadone experience and cannot say to do it. In fact, run like the wind from whomever wants to do this to you.