Methadone to subutex

[Mace21]

I am on methadone and I want to get off because I was into body building and was in great shape now I look like an Oompa Loompa I haven't changed any of my eating habits nothing and I can't understand why I'm gaining weight I was 115 with abs and obliques to die for now I am 140 with no muscles and I fit in none of my threes I was trying pants on the other day n I fit in an 8 that were stretchy! I haven't tried working out on methadone cause I'm scared I'll sweat the medicine out n forget it I'm deathly scared to feel that sickness I hate it for some reason mine is very very worse than anyone I know since I have panic disorder  I think that causes my anxiety to be a million times worse, (I'll get back to that this is a 2 parter lol) so ok I'm wondering if it's because I poop like once a week. Or maybe it goes into two weeks and that poop is like giving birth it hurts so bad - I've tried magnesium sultrate the strongest laxative out there n worst one to get done due to the taste and I have drank the whole thing in my days of trying to get lean and cleanse before and I'd look like all my water weight was gone and I lost about 5 lbs of everything left in my intestines it comes out like water and will work in about 20 minutes and literally everything in your intestines comes out EVERYTHING. So back to the subject I had taken this to try and lose some of this weight or water weight or whatever is going on and it barely worked (and if Uve taken this b4 u know how strong it is and how it makes u **** out of ur *** lol) so for it to not work that scared me maybe the next day I went like once or twice instead of it emptying me out so idk what that was about  regular laxatives do nothing, so my digestive system is at a very very slow crawl, legit will go a week or maybe two before I have a bowel movement .... the thing that's getting me is when I was using, nothing really changed in what I did everyday and my digestive system wasn't as slow but I noticed it wasn't healthy as b4, but I feel like it's just the methadone? I'm just not understanding ... and I'm wondering if cardio will work at all? And if it will sweat it out also....

Part two, which is the headline to this question lol I want off of methadone due to all this--- I have started my taper AGainst medical advice coz my clinic is toooo strict  so if I get sick I'm screwed they won't bring me back up  ---but I'm on 70mgs so it will take a while @ 1mg a week so anyway I know suboxone cannot mix with methadone bcoz of naloxone in the subs ---naloxone rips any opiates off ur brain aka methadone...  unless u let urself get sick first n withdraw so the methadone is not in ur system (which I can't do - my body gets wayyyy to sick, sicker than normal people idk why like I said prob the anxiety the nausea is unbearable  something I've never felt in my life) so again I know u can't go from methadone to suboxone because of the naloxone so I know there is a subutex that doesn't contain naloxone im wondering if I can take this over the methadone aka while on methadone ---and just switch without getting sick because the naloxone isn't there to rip the methadone out sorry this is all repetitive I jus would like someone who knows a lot about what I'm talking about to understand because it all makes sense just I'm horrible at explaining lol hoping a sub dr can answer
.... let me know if you have any ideas I look it up but can't find anything on the subutex without the naloxone xoxox

[VICourageous]

Hello Mace21,
Hope you come back and let us know how it is going?
I too was on the Methadone for over 12 yrs and the short acting ones before this. Came clean in 2012. All these opiates change our Brain Chemistry which highly affects our body and the Nervous System. We also have Receptors in our Stomach, as we do in our brain and all over, so this is why one can get plugged up, as these receptors will get blocked, plugged or full, call it what you want. This is why we have to drink plenty of fluids with some fiber and eat tons of fiber foods.
I agree with the above about doing a slow Methadone taper, becasue if you go on the Subutex, you still will have to taper and feel a w/d from that one too.
I do have a ASAM National Practice Guideline Book for use of Medications in treatment of Addiction involving Opioid use and it does say that on the Short acting opiates you can go on the Subs after 12 to 18 hours but on the Methadone you  must wait at least 24 to 48 hours before you can take a Sub..BUT I would Highly Recommend you just do a Methadone taper and a slow one at that.
It will take some time after you are off of these meds to Balance your system back, but you will and you will feel much better and keep your weight at bay. I wish you the best! Let us know what going on.
Bless
Vickie

[atthebeach]

Hello and welcome congrats on starting your taper.
I agree with soulscapex. You might as well just continue
Your taper with the methadone. How long have you been on methadone?
It is possible to reduce more than 1mg when you start. 5mgs. Week is very doable it is once you get to 30mgs that the taper needs to be slowed down to 1 to 2mgs a week. Many here have done it. You are at 70mgs which isn't that high of a dosage that is good.

Are you attending any counseling and/or substance abuse support meetings?
Please start to exercise, healthy eating, drink lots of water.
There is freedom from the chains and bondage of addiction.
Sending encouragement, support and prayers,
Keep the faith.
Debbie

[Soulscapex]

There is no way around getting sick, at some point you will have to deal with the wds, unless you plan on staying on it for life. Around my area no sub doctor will take you , until your in full blown wds, from the methadone , i have read some places will take you once your down to 30 mgs, but methadone half life is long and its still in your system days after your last dose. In my opinion there is no way to avoid getting sick, everyone gets sick when coming off of it. Same thing with subs. Its really not as bad as some say ,I suggest just getting off of the M, i recently did it and believe me life is better, i started getting into lifting i hit the gym 5 days a week, the amount of energy you have once your free from it is amazing. Its not the methadone making you gain weight, its the sugar cravings, if your eating healthy there is no way for your body to gain weight. I also gained weight but it was from the lifestyle , which the drug made me lazy and a blob. Best wishes on finding your path from this disease.

[Soulscapex]

By the way i suffered from severe panic attacks, I no longer have them once i got off of methadone, I started goin to a therapist to help me cope with the all this . She helped me get off the methadone and fight panic attacks. There is a way to be free, Its all in how much you want it.