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Methadone right before suboxone?
Hi everybody!
Its been awhile since I have posted but I am in some serious depression states. I have been tapering down from methadone at 5mg a week and am down to 12mg. I have been feeling like poo and am just ready to say enough! I had a Dr appt. (w/the suboxone Dr.) on Tues (tomorrow) but canceled on last Fri telling myself I will just go down 2 more times and in 2 weeks I will be at 9mg. I thought the lower I was at the easier it would be when I took the suboxone. So anyways I chickened out again b/c of the fear of having to go 48hrs w/o anything prior to taking the first dose of suboxone. My question is what if I can not go the 48 hrs before taking the sub and only go 12 hrs? How bad will it really be at only 12mg of methadone? The people here that have transitioned over from methadone to suboxone....what mg. were you at and how long did you wait before taking the sub? Also, were the precipitated w/d's worse after just taking the suboxone than just going cold turkey....or were they not as bad? I know people here have said that if you are on methadone and take suboxone the precipitated w/d's can be awful. This fear is keeping me from taking the jump. But as of tomorrow I will have no more methadone until Thurs am. So if I dont get my appt. back for tomorrow w/the suboxone Dr. I will be cold turkeying it on Tues and Wed. and then I dont think I will go back to the methadone. Hopefully I can get on the sub and feel alright. I really just want this all to be over with! I really want to be clean by Thanksgiving.......
Its been awhile since I have posted but I am in some serious depression states. I have been tapering down from methadone at 5mg a week and am down to 12mg. I have been feeling like poo and am just ready to say enough! I had a Dr appt. (w/the suboxone Dr.) on Tues (tomorrow) but canceled on last Fri telling myself I will just go down 2 more times and in 2 weeks I will be at 9mg. I thought the lower I was at the easier it would be when I took the suboxone. So anyways I chickened out again b/c of the fear of having to go 48hrs w/o anything prior to taking the first dose of suboxone. My question is what if I can not go the 48 hrs before taking the sub and only go 12 hrs? How bad will it really be at only 12mg of methadone? The people here that have transitioned over from methadone to suboxone....what mg. were you at and how long did you wait before taking the sub? Also, were the precipitated w/d's worse after just taking the suboxone than just going cold turkey....or were they not as bad? I know people here have said that if you are on methadone and take suboxone the precipitated w/d's can be awful. This fear is keeping me from taking the jump. But as of tomorrow I will have no more methadone until Thurs am. So if I dont get my appt. back for tomorrow w/the suboxone Dr. I will be cold turkeying it on Tues and Wed. and then I dont think I will go back to the methadone. Hopefully I can get on the sub and feel alright. I really just want this all to be over with! I really want to be clean by Thanksgiving.......
LOL,
Sorry, I'm getting used to the boards here. This came up as a recommended thread with relation to the one I'd been reading. If there's an admin that can kill my post, please do. I didn't check the dates, and didn't want to start a whole new line of argument. I was simply referring to the thread I'd BEEN reading, which had all of this in detail.
My bad!
Sorry, I'm getting used to the boards here. This came up as a recommended thread with relation to the one I'd been reading. If there's an admin that can kill my post, please do. I didn't check the dates, and didn't want to start a whole new line of argument. I was simply referring to the thread I'd BEEN reading, which had all of this in detail.
My bad!
Jordan,
You are talking on a thread that is two and a half years old. These members are not active here at the moment. If you wish to discuss YOUR intensions, suggestions, etc. you should either go back to your thread or start a new query. You will not get many responses to this one, if at all. The older posts, such as this one, move to archives rather quickly.
Good luck!
You are talking on a thread that is two and a half years old. These members are not active here at the moment. If you wish to discuss YOUR intensions, suggestions, etc. you should either go back to your thread or start a new query. You will not get many responses to this one, if at all. The older posts, such as this one, move to archives rather quickly.
Good luck!
Jess-
This same question was discussed in great detail yesterday on my thread (I had the same query): http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/First-post--starting-recovery-from-opiates/show/1243966#post_5699567
I actually called the Subutex helpline to ask about this very thing... the details are in that other thread. Short answer: you should wait 72, NOT 48 hours, due to how long Methadone stays in your system. I won't restate all the discussions in that other thread, but the doc's advice and the manufacturer's advice seems to be wait 3 days and then switch IF your WD symptoms are bad enough.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now. Good luck!
This same question was discussed in great detail yesterday on my thread (I had the same query): http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/First-post--starting-recovery-from-opiates/show/1243966#post_5699567
I actually called the Subutex helpline to ask about this very thing... the details are in that other thread. Short answer: you should wait 72, NOT 48 hours, due to how long Methadone stays in your system. I won't restate all the discussions in that other thread, but the doc's advice and the manufacturer's advice seems to be wait 3 days and then switch IF your WD symptoms are bad enough.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now. Good luck!
IT TOOK 4 DAYS AND MY FIANCE STILL GOT PREC WITHDAWLS SCARY STUFF WAIT TILL U ARE SICK
Methadone stays in your systems for up to and sometimes over 3 days. If take it too early you will be in hell. Believe me I did it. I would wait it out as long as you can. I think it is good to feel some withdrawl...it teaches you a lesson.
My dr. said 24 hrs to get on suboxone. In fact, every sub doctor I called when said 24 hrs. and I called a LOT of them, so I wonder why your dr. is saying 48 hr? I guess they are all different. Keep in mind though, they can tell how much withdrawal you are in by simply taking your blood pressure and pulse. Whatever you do, don't lie to them about it. The sub doctors here in TX are STRICT about the sub program and will kick you out for the tiniest thing. I don't know if they are that way where you are, but just a precaution. If they ask you to wait, wait. Trust me, it's really a small price to pay for your recovery.
I just have to say, YES I do get withdrawals almost 12 hrs. after my last dose. Please dont tell me I dont recieve w/d that soon......you dont have to believe me as I never asked you too but I have no reason to lie here. I am only coming here for help and support. Maybe I feel w/d's so soon is because I am on such a low dose that does not stay in the body that long. I wake up feeling crappy, stomach cramping, hot flashes, chills, etc. AND I do know of several other people that say their methadone dose starts to wear off late evening. So I know it does happen. I just really wanted to clarify that and make sure no one thinks I am lying here. Like I said before I have no reason to lie here. Remember every body is different and reacts differently to medications. Also I am serious about getting off the methadone.....I have been consistent every week since July going down 5mg. till I got to 20 then went down 2 and then at 15 mg I went down 3. I think that shows dedication and perseverence. And yes I know about the COWS chart and I can meet that everyday right now with the w/d's I have been feeling all day everyday on & off for the last 2 months. It is definitely not an easy route to taper off of methadone, it has been extremely trying and very uncomfortable to say the least......but a goal has been set and once I am under 10mg I will be taking suboxone. I have options and dont really think you always have to bite the bullet to get it over with. Sorry, just my 2 cents. Peace............
my input AGAIN...if you do not wait the 48 hours and you are put into immediate precipitated withdrawals YOU WULL BE SICKER THAN GOING COLD TURKEY, precipitated withdrawals is like going cold turkey but having it all compressed into a 2-3 day process...it is horrid!!! steph is right...it is not the amount...it is the long halflife...i waited 5 days between my last dose of meth and my first dose of sub...I WAS SICK!!! and the longer you have been on meth, the more that is most likely stored i your receptors...the 48 hours the doctor is asking you to wait is quite petty compared to cold turkey...its probably not as bad as your feeling right now with the taper...there is no way you can be have withdrawal symptoms THAT severe when you go without it for 48 hours because it last so long in your system, no way, i just cant beleive that...i waited 5 days from a 20 mg habit, and didnt even really start to feel ANY withdrawals until the 3rd night...
precipitated withdrawals have the same symptoms as cold turkey, but 100 times the intensity....you keep saying you want this over with...but you have to do it for it to be over with, most likely if you keep cancelling your appointment with the sub doctor, he will realize that you are not serious and he may not take you back for yet another appointment because you are taking up much needed appointment for others that are ready to make the commitment...2 days is NOTHING to have the rest of your life back.
there are certain criteria you have to meet in your withdrawal phase, they use something called the COWS chart...i was at 18 for a score...ask your doc about this...most likely the sub doctor wont give you any sub unless you are sick enough anyway, just bite the bullet and get it over with...
precipitated withdrawals have the same symptoms as cold turkey, but 100 times the intensity....you keep saying you want this over with...but you have to do it for it to be over with, most likely if you keep cancelling your appointment with the sub doctor, he will realize that you are not serious and he may not take you back for yet another appointment because you are taking up much needed appointment for others that are ready to make the commitment...2 days is NOTHING to have the rest of your life back.
there are certain criteria you have to meet in your withdrawal phase, they use something called the COWS chart...i was at 18 for a score...ask your doc about this...most likely the sub doctor wont give you any sub unless you are sick enough anyway, just bite the bullet and get it over with...
In most cases I agree with you Steph........but if you into W/Ds from meth you can do it my friend just went through it.......I took him to the doctor.......30 hours he was really getting sick when he came out of the doctors office he was much better..........
If you have ANY trace of methadone in your system you will get much sicker than you would if you just wait the 48 hours.. IT is NOT the amount of methadone its the long half life... You need to wait the 48 hours. There isn't any playing around with this.. YOu will get much sicker if you don't wait. and there is NO way to stop precipitated withdrawals once they start.
24 hours is fine....you will be in the getting sick phase..........
The doctor on the spot if your sick will give you a suboxone is you are sick so you will get relief right there in with the doctor......
The doctor on the spot if your sick will give you a suboxone is you are sick so you will get relief right there in with the doctor......
Just do the 48 hours, and when you take the sub., you'll feel great. That's what I did. I was on 20mgs a day (only for a week - my regular Dr. gave me the methadone to hold me over 'till I could get in with the sub. Dr.). I think precipitated withdrawals are much worse that going CT.
You'll feel great on the sub.!! I'd go on the sub. for longer than 'till Thanksgiving though - that would be a very rapid taper, and you don't need to do that to yourself. Try to do once month to 6 weeks if possible so you can get your life back and be easy on your body.
You'll feel great on the sub.!! I'd go on the sub. for longer than 'till Thanksgiving though - that would be a very rapid taper, and you don't need to do that to yourself. Try to do once month to 6 weeks if possible so you can get your life back and be easy on your body.
Stick with it!! Getting on the sub is the BEST thing you can do!! I am on it, and I tell you, it has been a life saver! I was on Norco and was in withdrawal for 36 hours when the normal time was 24, but I did it and it was soooooo worth it!! Just hang in there, it will come and go before you know it!
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