Methadone & Oxycontin Mixed!

[alwaysburbabee]

Can someone please tell me if methadone gives you the same side effects as Oxycontin?.. I'm not to sure how this all works but my boyfriend has been an Oxycontin addict for almost 2 years and is now started the Methadone treatment.. It seems like hes doing the same actions as he was as on  Oxycontin nodding out, falling asleep sitting up and his face is breaking out in hives, all the same affects as Oxycontin!!!... He has started the treatment (45ml) 3 days ago the first times he had took the Methadone he went about his day fine and today hes acting really weird.. WHY?...

[sky_is_the_limit]

I totally agree with gnarly on this one. Methadones half life is long and it builds up in your system. This can be a very dangerous drug so maybe he should talk to them about reducing his dose some for it could be deadly. Keep posting for support and good luck.
Your boyfriend dosen't take any other medications with his Methadone does he? Just be careful.

                                                                           sky_is_the_limit    
                                                

[BrentD]

I was on oxy for a long time before I ever took a methadone and ya, methadone can get you pretty lit if you take a lot and it would probably appear just as if hes on oxy. As gnarly said if hes nodding out hes taking too much.

[alwaysburbabee]

Thanks all means alot to me for your comments..

So he had his METHADONE increased to 55ml I'm very confused it's like hes still on O's his face is in hives red blotches all over, dry mouth, pupils and very tiny, twitching, nodding while standing up using the washroom while putting his kicks on just like random places & while driving that's the worst of all.. I've did sum reading on the net about the side effects of off the withdraws and it seems all the same as if hes on O's, I wish I knew the differences so I wouldn't be getting so mad at him I feel so bad, I got him to this point on METHADONE and I'm still getting mad at him I don't want to confuses him and make him think this is all not worth it I want to be happy and let him know that but I can't cause of these damn stupid withdraws... I'm SO VERY STRESS cause we have a son together and I'm trying to take of of both which hes the hardest "Sad to say" I wish they never came out with these damn pills, "But hey I guess the government gotta make their money some how ugh!" I stay up late at night watching him breath I'm so scared if hes mixed the METHADONE with an O that he may have a seizure cause a few months ago he had taken 12 Demerol and starting twitching and then went in to the seizure... Oh my I'm so lost please tell me what I should do, like as I sit here writhing this I try to call his name and he don't respond back and it looks like hes dead but hes ok cause I flicked a pillow at him... My nerves are almost gone please someone just tell me anything and everything should I keep an eye on him?.. should he go to the hospital like now?... HELP!!!!!

[throwindatowl]

I almost lost my life taking methadone. Now let me be straight up. This was about 3 years ago. I never really messed with pain killers really. One day I got 10 methadone pills. This is extreme and dont want to scare you at all. I feel like I gotta let you know what happened. I did 4 or 5 one night and woke up the next morning. I was mixing them with xanax. Just being honest. I took 3 more the next night and didnt wake up the next morning. My very first memory is laying on a stretcher in the front of my house. I could not breath at all. Paramedics told me to calm down and had oxygen going. I lived in a small town and went to that hospital. I was so bad off they sent me an hour away to a larger hospital. I got nephnionia-however you spell it. 5 days in intesive care with oxygen for 4 of the days. It was horriable. I made it out with no brain damage and doc told me I was very lucky. Now I am not telling you this to scare you. Id like him to read it. In a clinical setting they MAYBE safer. So my story is extreme. Is it unheard of. No. Very few people know this happened to me. Close family and friends. Addicts can get whatever almost whenever. Id hate him to get those and think its ok too take more than he should. Addicts do that. I wish I could tell you what to do. I think he needs to NOT take methadone. I think he needs to go to the hospital now. Not later like me. My poor ex wife and daughter had to live through that. The guilt haunts me.You would think that would scare me straight and I wish I could say that it did. Ive been offered methadone since and would never touch it. An addicts story I hope helps you in some way. Im sorry to scare you if I did. I wrote this to help not hurt.

[feohmoon]

Methadone does build up in your system due to its long half-life and I do not want to scare you but in my journals there is a post about methadone written by a mother whose son dies from acute methadone toxicity.  Like I said, I am not trying to freak you out because I would be a wreck myself if I were in your situation but you have to be aware of the worst case because it can be dangerous...especially if your suspicions about OC is right.  
Those are 2 very strong drugs...I do not know what you should do or if he is ok...but that behavior is nothing to mess with...especially with recently starting methadone....
You are in my thoughts and prayers dear - so sorry you are having to go through this....
Peace & Love

[throwindatowl]

PLEASE have him read this...An addict to another. We are here too try and help eachother. Thats my one and only intention. Dont let my story be yours, please.

[alwaysburbabee]

I'm very worried and stressed the most.. I've already been through alot with him from preforming CPR on him to child services in my life cause of having him around his child while on the O's, I know that sounds bad but you would never know how hard it is to keep the father of the child that you care and love so much away from his child...And also hes after flipping his car form nodding out Thanks all for the information/help means alot to me for some one across the world to be understanding about this and helpful, I just wish I could take his pain so he could stop all at once, never thought one little pill could destroy everything, very sad ):

[alwaysburbabee]

THANK YOU EVERYONE I WILL TO BE SURE THAT I GET HIM TO SIT DOWN AND READ ALL YOU POSTS... <3

[feohmoon]

I commented on my journal entry that is actually the mothers story of her son that I pasted there...again, I do not want to make you feel worse, but you can compare his symptoms to be on the safer side.  

[feohmoon]

I commented on the wrong one first...
Read 'If you are considering...'

[Jaybay]

He's stoned out of his mind - not in withdrawal.  Whether it's just methadone or a mixture of methadone and oxy, only he knows.  You are right to watch his breathing and right to be very concerned.  It's entirely possible he'll nod out and never wake up.  If you can't rouse him enough that he can talk sense, call an ambulance and get him out of your house.  You aren't a doctor, and he needs medical help.  Can you at least call the prescribing doctor of the methadone?  Also, many hospitals and insurance companies have nurse hotlines to call for advice.  This isn't a law enforcement issue; it's a health issue, and maybe a life and death issue.

You are also "allowed" to be very angry.  We spouses of active addicts are hostages to their disease - if we allow ourselves to be.  For your sake, something's gotta give.  Either he keeps using and/or kills himself, or you remove you and your child from the situation.  There comes a point that being supportive turns into enabling, and it's a very fine line.

[gnarly_1]

HI....why did I just know they would move up his dose....GRRRR.....I hate methadone clinics
from what your saying things are not good normally methadone takes away the desire for the pills except if you want a buzz then people mix and it is dangerous to mix anything with methadone be especially careful if theirs the possibility of xanex being mixed in this is deadly especially for someone just starting out....your going to have to become pro active here and go doawn to the clinic with him and tell them whats going on....if hes using oxy they will ketch it in the first u/a they give him but the methadone alone can cause you to nod off he is still acting like an addict buy telling them he needs more if he was already noding he very well my be trying to get high on it and if dosed correctly methadone dosent get you high
for the sake of both you and your child together go to the clinic with him and speek to the nurse on call and tell her he is nodding off constantly or this is just going to get worst all he has to do is tell them it not holding him over and there going to keep uping his dose ...I really feel for you but the only hope is if you intervene keep posting for support good luck and God bless......Gnarly      

[alwaysburbabee]

(2:30a.m. Sunday,Oct 24)
So a few hours have  past by and I got him on the couch asleep, he seems a bit better Im keeping an eye on him I can hear him breathing fine,  now the only thing is I don't want to close my eyes, I just want it to be morning already ugh!!!
Every little noise makes me get up to check on him, I walk slowly down the hall hoping hes not in seizure and that hes fine (I'm so scared) ..........

Oh and another thing is that he was trying to explain something about his METHADONE refill slip I noticed it was saying 100mg for the METHADONE and 15mg for the grape juice but then he was saying it wasn't 100mg..... UGH why dose this all seem like one big **** up, I also told him that I want it to go with him tomorrow when get gets his METHADONE so I could talk to someone about what dose hes taking but weird thing is he said that he don't want me to go cause he scared that I might get him kicked off the treatment..
But I wont... I know  I effin got him to this point damn it... Any ways I'm really hoping that they didnt fool up any thing on him ]0=  cause that may explain why hes so wasted going from he now says 35ml which I thought it was 45ml & then to 55mls tp 100mls hummm, I shall find out tomorrow for sure!!

Thanks for the support friends your very kind, night all (:

[gnarly_1]

HI.....the clinics are bad about bumping up the dose it usually takes a bit longer here to get to 100ml but its not uncommon its just sad 30 ml is enough to hold most people over this just makes coming off it that much harder...the clinic will bring you down 2ml every 2 weeks
so its painfully slow....I hate to say it but most are in it for the money....all I had tyo say was my back is hurting and they would move my dose up...I got up to 150ml that was the max the clinic I went to would go.....all I know is you dont want to stay on it any amount of time
the withdrawals are miserable and last a long time...it took me 8 1/2 mo to get off of it
you can do a quick detox like 21 day that progam is different then maintenance and it sounds like there setting your b/f up for long term maintenance...kepp us up to date keep posting for support and good luck with this mess.......Gnarly    

[Jaybay]

He doesn't want you to go with him because he's got a great source for a legal buzz now.  He knows darn well that if you tell them about what you see every day, they'll knock his dose down to a non-buzzable level.  God only knows what he's telling them to get the dose increased that quickly, but I seriously doubt it's anywhere near the truth.

The danger with methadone is not so much seizures, but pulmonary failure.  Nod out; stop breathing; heart stops beating; death.

I'm sure you know by now exactly how manipulative addiction can make a person.  Everything you write tells me your boyfriend is not at all serious about treating his addiction.  He's just trying to get you off his back by going to a clinic, but he's still abusing drugs.  He's just switched from oxy to methadone.  

I suggest that when he goes to the clinic next time (and pray to God he's not so whacked that he gets into an accident) pick up the phone and call them.  Tell them what you've been seeing since he started therapy.  If he finds out you snitched, well tough toenails.  Be prepared to lay down the law.  Either he flies right, tells the truth, lets you go to appointments with him AND hold his meds and dose it out, or one of you leaves.  The man you love is still in there, he's just eaten up with a disease called addiction.  It's entirely possible that nothing you say or do will make a darn bit of difference to him.  That's why you have to be prepared to back up your words with action.  God grant you the strength to do what you have to do for you and your child.

[alwaysburbabee]

Thanks gnarly_1, I understand what you mean, I'm hoping to get to go to his next appointment I believe its Tuesday so I will definitely fill you in on Tuesday what happen , but if I  don't go I'm going to call the office to tell them the side effects I've been seeing...  So today hes not hurting and the color in his face looks good hes not acting really weird but a bit slow... So I'm really thinking he should be on a lower dose, like I'd say maybe even a 45ml, it's been almost 18 hours from when he last took his last dose (55mls) it's only a matter of time and it's going to be the same as last night "UGH" another stressful sleepless night ):  

And thanks Jaybay
I know I hope they lower his dose before something bad happens.. I know underneath all of this disease hes still there I know he is, and I know no matter what I say or do nothing will change him, hes has to be willing to do it himself..

[Jaybay]

You're welcome sweetie.  I've been in your shoes and completely understand how the worry and anger and disappointment and yes - love - all seem to conspire to make you lose your sanity.  

Sounds like you have a good plan.  If your boyfriend won't allow you to go to the appointment, you'll call the clinic.  Good for you!  Hope you manage to get a few hours of decent sleep for yourself.  :-)

[Jaybay]

Just checking in to see how you and your other half are doing today.  Is today clinic day?  You're both in my prayers for some kind of successful understanding and resolution of his therapy.  :-)

[alwaysburbabee]

Hey Jaybay,

Thanks for your concern I really appreciate it so much!!

Well its the same for the last two days he still has all the same side affects.. I was with him all day Sunday so he didn't get a chance to do a O if he had any, he took his METHADONE and then with in a hour or so he was the same "UGH" so I'm guessing his dose is to high!!!!!? Not to sure but his appointment is tomorrow.. sooo I will call the office if he dont let me go with him tomorrow... well wish me luck xo

Thanks Care <3

[Jaybay]

This may be a dumb question, but - are you aware that methadone IS an opiate, and a d****d strong one?  

The reason it's used for addiction therapy is because it lasts a long time in the bloodstream.  That means at a proper dose, the patient won't get dope-sick (experience withdrawal symptoms).  Meanwhile, he's supposed to be doing psychological work to learn some new skills to deal with life and stress without reaching for a bottle of pills.  That therapy can be done through Narcotics Anonymous, with a therapist associated with a detox clinic or with a private addiction therapist.  While that psychological work is going on, the methadone dose is supposed to be slowly lowered.  At some point, withdrawal is going to happen.  It can't be avoided, but usually a slow taper helps lessen the agony.  For some people, the taper itself is agony so they go cold turkey just to get it all over and done with.

Most addicts look for something that gives an immediate high, which is why many of them will snort or inject or use other fast delivery methods.  Drugs like methadone and Suboxone/ Subutex are long-acting, which means that instant buzz isn't supposed to happen.  Yes, an addict will get high on it if he keeps increasing the dose until it finally kicks in.  A person who has no opiate tolerance (is not an addict) may even die at doses that an addict can take and feel absolutely nothing.

I am very much afraid that your boyfriend is telling the clinic that he is still having withdrawal symptoms when he appears to be having none.  He is manipulating them into constantly increasing his methadone dose so he can stay high.  Every symptom you have described is of a person who is stoned out of his mind - not in withdrawal.  He knows darned well what he's doing, and he knows darned well that he's getting high - legally, and with your permission.

I'm also very much afraid that you are laying an unnecessary guilt trip on yourself.  In your earlier post, you said you felt bad because "I got him to this point on methadone."  I assume that means you got him to agree to go to a methadone clinic?  YOU did not make him an addict, nor can you force an addict to do something he doesn't want to do.  It's entirely possible he is taking advantage of your lack of knowledge to make you think he is seriously addressing his addiction, which to my mind he does not seem to be doing.  He is manipulating you and he is manipulating the clinic staff.

If he allows you to go with him to the appointment, that's a great sign.  If not, stick to your guns and call them.  We all want your boyfriend to recover and we all want you to get through it too.  Stay strong!

[Wolfmedicine]

Hey Girl,

I gotta make this short cause I'm feelin' pretty crappy myself right now.  Jaybay is my best friend on the planet and what she and Gnarly are telling you is correct.  Methadone, although a good legal method of getting off of opiates when the program is administered properly is a good thing for someone that really wants to detox.  It is however one of the most powerful opiates known.  Your man is scamming you and the clinic.  His dose was too high initially if he's nodding out!  He's freakin' HIGH.  I was on 120mg. daily (legally) for several years in addition to other stuff we won't mention.

Feel no guilt at getting him to do this.  You are trying to get him to do the right thing, but until an addicts mind is right that they WANT off, it ain't gonna happen.  They will onlly seek ways to get high.

I like your idea of calling the Doc and explaining what's up.  However, you are not married(?) and you may run in to some legal issues there that they will not let you get involved.  If so,  your only option is to go with him and have a joint consult at which point they have to accept you both and hear you out.  They won't FIRE him.  They can't.  They may see the light, reduce his dose and try to get him right though........

All the Best

[gnarly_1]

anny news on how the clinic visit went today ??

[bmdad]

Jaybay nailed it with her last post. Some go to the methadone clinic for the right reasons and those reasons are to get stability in their life, stay on the lowest dose possible, seek aftercare such as counseling, and have a plan to taper off of it one day. They are sick of the hectic lifestyle and sick of chasing a high they can't always get. They get sick of this life and sick of the high. They want a change. Going to a methadone clinic gets them out of the drug seeking behaviors. Even though they are still on a very strong opiate they are on a low enough dose to where they don't feel stoned out of their mind and are able to go on with an everyday "normal" life.
You also have the people that the are spending every penny they have on street drugs and are constantly trying to chase that high. Some steal, lie, and do everything they can do get money so they can buy their drugs to get high. But they are not always able to get the drug the want either because they don't have the money or they can't find their drug that day. After awhile they get sick of this life but don't get sick of the high. They go to a methadone clinic because it is cheaper, they know they can keep getting their dose raised in order to get a bigger buzz by just simply saying they are still having withdrawals and thinking about using, and they can get their drug everyday legally. A lot of these doctors probably feel as long as their patients are using other drugs that it's fine to keep upping their dose.
Your boyfriend seems to fit in the second half of the second category. I'm not saying he was stealing or anything but he still wants the high whether it is from oxys or from methadone. Like Jaybay said, he knows damn well what he is doing. If he's walking acting the way you described he is stoned out of his mind. I'm sure he's already had them up his dose just so he can get that bigger buzz. He knows he is playing you. He feels he's in the clear because you recommended the clinic. What he is doing is no different than when he was on the oxys. You can't make someone get clean. They have to want it. Sure, methadone can be a great option for someone who wants to get clean but it can be the devil for someone that is still wanting that high.
Maybe you can talk to him about dropping his dose. Maybe talk to him about starting to taper off. The thing is he's not going to do it if he's not ready to get clean. You have a long road ahead of you until he is ready. It may be a week from now or it may be ten years from now. Right now you need to look out for you. You may have to start playing hardball to get through to him. Don't let him play you any longer. Call him on his lies. I'm sure he is laughing on the inside because he feels that you think he is doing what you want him to when he is actually playing you and the clinic.