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Methadone detox and subutex and suboxone question
My daughter (age 30) with a history of depression primary (serious depression) and substance abuse secondary issue is in process of detoxing off of 70 mg odf methadone.
My question is this:
Can she be given an rx of subutex or suboxone in a very small dose for a period of 6 months to l year to alleviate any leftover withdrawal feelings or help her with her depression (just for a few months)? if so, which is better subutex or suboxone ? She has mild chronic pain also.
jj
My question is this:
Can she be given an rx of subutex or suboxone in a very small dose for a period of 6 months to l year to alleviate any leftover withdrawal feelings or help her with her depression (just for a few months)? if so, which is better subutex or suboxone ? She has mild chronic pain also.
jj
Hi i felt i had to reply to ur post as i could relate to ur daughters situation, i had 10years of addiction to heroin during which time it almost robbed me of everything that i am, i think that when u are suffering from depression opiates numb u and give the feeling of not having to deal with it anymore. when i got to 29 and had lost everything i had enough started on 70ml methadone tapered down over a year to 30mls at which point i went without for one day and went onto 12mg of subutex i can only say in my case it has provided that crutch to keep me level while i get back on my feet, i am down to 2mg now and have been free of heroin for about 4 years now i do not have any cravings for it at all and thank god have my life back in my control, since starting the subutex i am back in full time employment at college and back doing my artwork etc etc. i finaly have a life again... genuine good luck to u and ur daughterx
Hi again and thank you for your comments. Can I ask you how you came up with your profile name, "tramahater?" Please feel free to let me know if it is too personal. Just a curious one. No negativity here from me.
You are completely right, and I think that the main goal should be to help her depression. Without that, she will likely relapse in an effort to cure it herself. I think I have done that alot. I would get clean and try to "just forget" about my addiction, and the depression, insomnia and low energy would hit me, and I would start taking pills to alleviate how I was feeling. NOT a good idea! It's a vicious cycle.
Just tell her to look up medhelp.org to find us, and join the community. I sure hope she gets the help she needs!! : ) Good luck to you AND her!
Just tell her to look up medhelp.org to find us, and join the community. I sure hope she gets the help she needs!! : ) Good luck to you AND her!
I cannot thank you enough for all your input and support. Your knowledge is invaluable because "you are the people that KNOW". My daughter is still in the "deciding" process of whether to keep doing the "tapering" at the clinic (which she hates) or to go inpatient and then do a 30-90 day rehab. She is able to go to an innovative holistic (12 step as an option, not the whole cure) as she and I both believe if mental health is a big part of the picture, 12 step alone does not work for everyone. It is a wonderful, spiritual supportive program, just not enough in my daughter's case.
She has 15 years of inpatient hospitalizations for depression,mental health, suicidal thoughts (which came before the drugs). The methadone has alleviated this. She has chronic pain issues which could be alleviated with exercise. She says she is most in fear of the depression returning rather than any pain. So, I think that is why she wants to remain on some subutex or suboxone after weaning off methadone. Antidepressants have not helped her. We have read that suboxone/subtutex helps some people with depression and pain.
Or her other option is to go to a place called "Alternative to Meds" in Sedona Arizona. They use the Orthomolecular Method to detox plus work with psychiatric issues. Expensive, but her nephew will help pay. She has had years of sitting around in groups, years of psychiatrists, years of private therapy. She wants to LIVE now.
GNARLY,Thank you for mentioning the aftercare to address with the mental issues that are left over after the physical withdrawals are gone to . She is researching where she wants to go, because she does not want to return home. Fear of Relapse.
Tramahater, By continuing onto Suboxone is "Opening up another Can of Worms", so it has to be her decision, of course. Completely Clean verses "a temporary shield/babysitter for a few months to fend off a possible relapse because of the "thoughts in her head", the horrific depression ? I hope she chooses completely clean, but I will just be so happy she is off methadone and making choices to better her life once again.
Thank you ALL and I will try to introduce this forum to her. What should she google to find you all ?
hopeforthefuture2011
She has 15 years of inpatient hospitalizations for depression,mental health, suicidal thoughts (which came before the drugs). The methadone has alleviated this. She has chronic pain issues which could be alleviated with exercise. She says she is most in fear of the depression returning rather than any pain. So, I think that is why she wants to remain on some subutex or suboxone after weaning off methadone. Antidepressants have not helped her. We have read that suboxone/subtutex helps some people with depression and pain.
Or her other option is to go to a place called "Alternative to Meds" in Sedona Arizona. They use the Orthomolecular Method to detox plus work with psychiatric issues. Expensive, but her nephew will help pay. She has had years of sitting around in groups, years of psychiatrists, years of private therapy. She wants to LIVE now.
GNARLY,Thank you for mentioning the aftercare to address with the mental issues that are left over after the physical withdrawals are gone to . She is researching where she wants to go, because she does not want to return home. Fear of Relapse.
Tramahater, By continuing onto Suboxone is "Opening up another Can of Worms", so it has to be her decision, of course. Completely Clean verses "a temporary shield/babysitter for a few months to fend off a possible relapse because of the "thoughts in her head", the horrific depression ? I hope she chooses completely clean, but I will just be so happy she is off methadone and making choices to better her life once again.
Thank you ALL and I will try to introduce this forum to her. What should she google to find you all ?
hopeforthefuture2011
I just came off of vics and somas 25 vics a day along with 25 somas a day. Man the withdrawls were terrible. I layed in bed for a week only a up to bathroom and sit in chair for a short while. It didn't work cold turkey, NA, therapist. After 2 months I started taking low doses of vics and darvocets to just feel like getting up. The cravings drew me back in. I don't like myself much right now.
I made an appointment Monday morning with a suboxone treatment center and plan on going on suboxone. People in my NA group had good luck with it. They said the withdrawls were not that bad. Dr will taper you down. People are calling it a miracle for them, and the it has saved their lives.
I have read and read about the program and the pros and cons of each side. I have decided the pros out weigh the cons and the benefit from the suboxone sounds promising.
I made an appointment Monday morning with a suboxone treatment center and plan on going on suboxone. People in my NA group had good luck with it. They said the withdrawls were not that bad. Dr will taper you down. People are calling it a miracle for them, and the it has saved their lives.
I have read and read about the program and the pros and cons of each side. I have decided the pros out weigh the cons and the benefit from the suboxone sounds promising.
HI welcome to the forum.....well your question is complex its impossible to get around withdrawals you do have a choice of what you decide to withdrawal from ....methadone hand down is considered the worst of the worst....normally I tell people you just have to deal with it and sub is a whole nother can of worms....however we did have a member recently transition to sub off of methadone when she got down to 20 ml of methadone ...she only stayed on it for 3mo and tapered off b/4 the sub really had a chance to get a hold of her she did taper off the sub....she still went threw withdrawals but nothing as sever as methadone withdrawals...you do have to be on a low dose of methadone to transfer over
she so far is the first one I have herd of that had success doing this so it is an option
I would do it the same way because it worked...if your on sub for long periods of time it can be just as difficult to come off of...as for the depression you should deal with that b/4 you try and go threw withdrawals normally depression is not uncommon wile going threw withdrawals..right now you should have your daughter get involved with some sort of aftercare to help prepare for the mental angle of coming off narcotics witch can be as challenging as the physical withdrawal itself wile on both methadone and sub it is a good idea to start to build up your foundation b/4 you detox aftercare was ment to be part of these programs but is often skipped over...N/A or A/A offer free programs and the 12 steps work if you work them..if thats not a good fit try an addiction therapist or a substance abuse conslor...it would be good if you could get your daughter to come on line here...we will welcome her with open arms and understand exactly what she is going threw...I detoxed off 150ml of methadone and tapering off is challenging in itself she could use this forum for support weather she just goes off the methadone or decides to go the sub rout ...I wish you and your daughter the best of luck doing this just know that in the end it is so so worth it..keep posting for support...good luck and God bless..Gnarly
she so far is the first one I have herd of that had success doing this so it is an option
I would do it the same way because it worked...if your on sub for long periods of time it can be just as difficult to come off of...as for the depression you should deal with that b/4 you try and go threw withdrawals normally depression is not uncommon wile going threw withdrawals..right now you should have your daughter get involved with some sort of aftercare to help prepare for the mental angle of coming off narcotics witch can be as challenging as the physical withdrawal itself wile on both methadone and sub it is a good idea to start to build up your foundation b/4 you detox aftercare was ment to be part of these programs but is often skipped over...N/A or A/A offer free programs and the 12 steps work if you work them..if thats not a good fit try an addiction therapist or a substance abuse conslor...it would be good if you could get your daughter to come on line here...we will welcome her with open arms and understand exactly what she is going threw...I detoxed off 150ml of methadone and tapering off is challenging in itself she could use this forum for support weather she just goes off the methadone or decides to go the sub rout ...I wish you and your daughter the best of luck doing this just know that in the end it is so so worth it..keep posting for support...good luck and God bless..Gnarly
Hi
There are two issues here that you would have to seriously consider.
There would be withdrawal symptoms left after stopping the sub, so this would probably only serve to delay any withdrawal, not prevent it, and
Two of the side effects of subutex/suboxone are mood disturbances and depression. She might be lucky and not experience these, but it would be a risk.
Take care
There are two issues here that you would have to seriously consider.
There would be withdrawal symptoms left after stopping the sub, so this would probably only serve to delay any withdrawal, not prevent it, and
Two of the side effects of subutex/suboxone are mood disturbances and depression. She might be lucky and not experience these, but it would be a risk.
Take care
Hi! She can certainly be given that, however she will just have to be weaned off of it the same way. It isn't used for depression I don't think. Just the WDs. If she is tapered properly off of the methadone, she should not really have a horrific WD. That is usually avoided with the taper. It would, in my opinion, just open up another can of worms to deal with when you would be better off dealing with it in another way!
Good luck!
Good luck!
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