Aa
Methadone
Hello...
I’m new to the site.
A little about me:
Drug and alcohol free for over 20 years, yes I had my day but I pulled through with flying colors, I guess I’m one of those lucky ones that just said “Enough” and was able to stop the abuse.
The last few years has been a blur for me, divorce, changing jobs, loosing my father who I took care of for over 10 years, along with many bumpy roads to ride over.
I met a new love, we hit it off right away, one year after meeting we moved in together, life was good.
I knew that she had been through a drug rehab program for pain medication abuse, no big deal many of us fall into that trap and need help.
Recently I found out she was using again, she fully understands that is not ok with me, but I stood by her side and said “OK, lets deal with this” I will be here for her to get through this again.
That said I had a bomb dropped on me yesterday.
During her stay in the last rehab, she met many people who had many additions, one became a friend.
This new friend turned her onto another drug to help stop the craving for pain medication.
Yes, my new love was not only back on pain medication, but she is hooked on Methadone as well.
I have a lot on my plate.
My question is how does one get off this medication?
Yes, I have researched the topic (and found this site in the process)
She gets the Methadone from a local clinic, it is liquid form, the bottles are not identified as how much of a dose but she thinks it is 80mg.
She gets a week worth of the Meds at a time, having to down the first dose in the lobby of the clinic, how can you taper off the dose if you have to take a full dose at the clinic each week?
She wants help, she knows that this must stop; I will be there for her to help in any way.
I’m a strong person, I can deal with what I must do, I have always been Mr. Fix it and right now I’m looking for the tools to complete the job at hand.
I’m putting on my gloves and tool belt to get ready for the task at hand.
Any help would or advice be appreciated.
Thank you in advance...
I’m new to the site.
A little about me:
Drug and alcohol free for over 20 years, yes I had my day but I pulled through with flying colors, I guess I’m one of those lucky ones that just said “Enough” and was able to stop the abuse.
The last few years has been a blur for me, divorce, changing jobs, loosing my father who I took care of for over 10 years, along with many bumpy roads to ride over.
I met a new love, we hit it off right away, one year after meeting we moved in together, life was good.
I knew that she had been through a drug rehab program for pain medication abuse, no big deal many of us fall into that trap and need help.
Recently I found out she was using again, she fully understands that is not ok with me, but I stood by her side and said “OK, lets deal with this” I will be here for her to get through this again.
That said I had a bomb dropped on me yesterday.
During her stay in the last rehab, she met many people who had many additions, one became a friend.
This new friend turned her onto another drug to help stop the craving for pain medication.
Yes, my new love was not only back on pain medication, but she is hooked on Methadone as well.
I have a lot on my plate.
My question is how does one get off this medication?
Yes, I have researched the topic (and found this site in the process)
She gets the Methadone from a local clinic, it is liquid form, the bottles are not identified as how much of a dose but she thinks it is 80mg.
She gets a week worth of the Meds at a time, having to down the first dose in the lobby of the clinic, how can you taper off the dose if you have to take a full dose at the clinic each week?
She wants help, she knows that this must stop; I will be there for her to help in any way.
I’m a strong person, I can deal with what I must do, I have always been Mr. Fix it and right now I’m looking for the tools to complete the job at hand.
I’m putting on my gloves and tool belt to get ready for the task at hand.
Any help would or advice be appreciated.
Thank you in advance...
You are so wrong about methadone. I have been on it for 19 years and none of your predicitons are even close. I know this is an old post but reading what you said about control of his girlfriends meds was so wrong.
As you know I am doing quite well. Your support has been great. Although I am doing this for myself as I can't totally enjoy you until I am totally off all of this. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life and I will not do anything to disrupt our love again. I am so sorry for the distrust that I have caused. But I am on the right track now. I just hope that the clean me isn't to much of a boar for you. I trust in you with everything, and just hope you can trust in me again. I will not let you down again ever. Thank you for not giving up on me.
im a strong 43 yo male who took a low does (30mg) of methadone for about a year, im 5 months clean now, hardest thing ive ever done. she has her work cut out, it isnt going to be easy.imagine waking up every day feeling like you got beat up in the night and need all day to feel 'ok' thats what i felt like for over 3.5 months, the last 6 weeks have been better but i still feel cr@p a lot and negative about almost everything.methadone is THE HARDEST DRUG TO QUIT and many people never do quit, its common for people to accept a methadone maintenance progrm from a clinic for LIFE!
good luck
good luck
I was on the pill form of methadon for 3 year's. 150 of the 10mg. PLus 90 10 mg. Lurtab.... I had to get off them. So i found a Doc. and he put me on SUBUTEX. Maybe 6 week's. I ween down from 8mg. to 6mg. 4mg. And the last 2 week's only 2mg. I am a very strong belever in this prosess.....I've been clean for 19 day's.Don't seem like a long time but it is to me. The longest in 3 year's.I also atend NA meeting's 3 to 4 night's aweek. And I beleve with all my hart NA has help me stay clean. ps. I was still sick about a week or so. But It work's if you want IT BAD..ENOUGH... Istill take Cymbalta...... I need some feedback on this Thank You..
Still have information slipping in...
Much more than meets the eye as always.
Have a visit to the clinic Wednesday and will request a Taper not a Maint as she is on now...
THIS SUCKS!!!!
Much more than meets the eye as always.
Have a visit to the clinic Wednesday and will request a Taper not a Maint as she is on now...
THIS SUCKS!!!!
Yeah, it's legal. And there are so many "what would happen" situations involved with taking a daily drug that you'd essentially die from not having it's mind boggling. I don't mean to digress, but did I ever put up that post here on the emergency protocols for methadone patients in a disaster (9/11, Katrina, etc)?
To sum it up, their aren't any. They suggest a 3 day detox, regardless of dose (100...200) and it's up to the E.R. doc's discretion. There are VERY vague statistics on the number of deaths during Katrina that where drug withdrawal related. I'd guess they're at least three times that amount (Person has to make it to a "saftey station" while in full withdrawal? I don't think so. They'd starve/drown.)
I was in a detox during 9/11 and they booted all the patients out onto the street to make room for the influx of victims that never came. The experience probably added two years to my time as an addict. My trust of the medical community has NEVER recovered. There's nothing like having the staff of a detox telling you "you aren't important, we don't really care" to break trust in the system.
This is the kind of treatment that makes me say you have to do this yourself, get the information yourself. If you can't trust a medical authority to help you in an emergency of that nature, then you can't trust them at all.
To sum it up, their aren't any. They suggest a 3 day detox, regardless of dose (100...200) and it's up to the E.R. doc's discretion. There are VERY vague statistics on the number of deaths during Katrina that where drug withdrawal related. I'd guess they're at least three times that amount (Person has to make it to a "saftey station" while in full withdrawal? I don't think so. They'd starve/drown.)
I was in a detox during 9/11 and they booted all the patients out onto the street to make room for the influx of victims that never came. The experience probably added two years to my time as an addict. My trust of the medical community has NEVER recovered. There's nothing like having the staff of a detox telling you "you aren't important, we don't really care" to break trust in the system.
This is the kind of treatment that makes me say you have to do this yourself, get the information yourself. If you can't trust a medical authority to help you in an emergency of that nature, then you can't trust them at all.
I have been on 100mgs of methadone for 9 mos. The clinic i go to is setup where for the 1st 3mos you go every day but take home Sunday dose. You must have clean UA's to move to the next phase which is where you can chose 3 days to go to the clinic and pick up. I am currently on a weekly phase where i go 1x a week, dose for that day and take the rest home. I cannot imagine not knowing what dose you are on!! What would happen if she had a wreck and had to be hospilalized? Is blind dosing legal?
I hate to tell ya, but 80 is a low-moderate dose now a days! What's happening here is called a "blind dose". I think it's a bad way to do it, but...it works for some.
First: You've got to be sure she's really okay with coming off. Talking about wanting to, either because it's a "burning desire" or "to please her lover", is all well and good, but it won't make it happen. If she's taking it for pain management...well...unless you see her taking steps to deal with the pain issue (other than going to a doctor who will just throw meds at her)...then I wonder if she can get off.
Look, I was on 80 milligrams as well, and I've come down to 2.5 at present. It wasn't hard for me...but it wasn't easy. Everything else aside, it's the length of time you're doing it for that tends to kill you. I've been doing this for a year and a half, and that's a year and a half of the same symptoms, over and bloody over again, and it's tiring as hell. And if I hadn't had a lot of control and flexibility in my schedule, I wonder if I could do it.
Start by requesting she sign a waiver so you can talk to her counselor. It should be allowed, she has the right. If she says otherwise, she's probably lying. You can call the clinic and confirm it yourself, if a patient can sign this waiver. Then you can both ask whether this clinic supports tapering to abstinence, or it's just another methadone control the masses mill.
First: You've got to be sure she's really okay with coming off. Talking about wanting to, either because it's a "burning desire" or "to please her lover", is all well and good, but it won't make it happen. If she's taking it for pain management...well...unless you see her taking steps to deal with the pain issue (other than going to a doctor who will just throw meds at her)...then I wonder if she can get off.
Look, I was on 80 milligrams as well, and I've come down to 2.5 at present. It wasn't hard for me...but it wasn't easy. Everything else aside, it's the length of time you're doing it for that tends to kill you. I've been doing this for a year and a half, and that's a year and a half of the same symptoms, over and bloody over again, and it's tiring as hell. And if I hadn't had a lot of control and flexibility in my schedule, I wonder if I could do it.
Start by requesting she sign a waiver so you can talk to her counselor. It should be allowed, she has the right. If she says otherwise, she's probably lying. You can call the clinic and confirm it yourself, if a patient can sign this waiver. Then you can both ask whether this clinic supports tapering to abstinence, or it's just another methadone control the masses mill.
This person in your life is using and taking methadone? You know 80mg is a high dose for these times. How did she get take outs so quickly? You know she cold detox if she wanted to right? All she has to do is tell them 80 is too high. I want to go down to 60. They will do what ever she asks. especially is she is clean from all other opiates, In the mean time you know she could skip a dose of 80 the day after she doses at the clinic. The next day she doses 70mg you can prejudge what your taking? If not get a dropper from the pharmacy that measures mL., and find out how many ml. are in an 80mg bottle. Then you have control over what she is taking, or should I say what she wants to take. Personally I think she running game on you. Who pays for the take outs? But you better than anybody know what this Methadone can do. Your from the day when they actually used methadone biscuits right? The orange ones, Now they use methadose which is horrible. It gets into your bones depletes your body of calcium, your teeth fall out after several years of use. You have another solution to your problem. It's a drug called suboxone it works by blocking the opiate receptors and you can get 1 month at a time. possibly with a refill depending on your doctor and your urine's it is only a C-III, drug and works on the cravings but does not produce euphoria. for more info go to www.suboxone.com and order a starter kit or watch the video. One more ? does she nod on the 80mg dose she is getting at the clinic. You put this all behind you many years ago. I know you love this girl but you have to focus on you and not the Madness. You beat that long ago , However it is not unheard of for someone with all the years you have to relapse. Please watch your back--NOAH
Kudos for wanting to help her. It is admirable. As it was mentioned...tread lightly. You can lead a horse to water and all that......
I hope to see you posting more and let us know how you, and she, are doing.
Take care.
I hope to see you posting more and let us know how you, and she, are doing.
Take care.
Thank you for the replies…
I do fully understand the up hill climb ahead…
More details of the new “Bomb” are still filtering in; I’m still looking at the problem as a puzzle with the pieces slowly being added to the mix.
She wants help, she wants to stop, I just feel lost at the moment, it has been less than 24 hours since this bomb was released, I felt the bomb explode but still do not know what the damage is yet.
Thank you so much for the kind words, I know that I will not go back to my past problems, I’m 100% sure of that, I must be a role model for her and for myself.
I’m having a problem with honesty today, it has always been #1 on my list, this new issue was hidden from me for well over a year, and I’m not sure how I will deal with that issue alone.
I like the “ice fishing” analogy very much, through the years I have become very good at walking on thin ice.
She has definitely fell in, I’m not worried about falling back in myself, I’m 100% committed to help her get out and floating on thicker ice again. I can only hope we don’t drift apart in the process.
So much going through my head right now, I’m trying to be a sponge and soak up as much information as I can….
I do fully understand the up hill climb ahead…
More details of the new “Bomb” are still filtering in; I’m still looking at the problem as a puzzle with the pieces slowly being added to the mix.
She wants help, she wants to stop, I just feel lost at the moment, it has been less than 24 hours since this bomb was released, I felt the bomb explode but still do not know what the damage is yet.
Thank you so much for the kind words, I know that I will not go back to my past problems, I’m 100% sure of that, I must be a role model for her and for myself.
I’m having a problem with honesty today, it has always been #1 on my list, this new issue was hidden from me for well over a year, and I’m not sure how I will deal with that issue alone.
I like the “ice fishing” analogy very much, through the years I have become very good at walking on thin ice.
She has definitely fell in, I’m not worried about falling back in myself, I’m 100% committed to help her get out and floating on thicker ice again. I can only hope we don’t drift apart in the process.
So much going through my head right now, I’m trying to be a sponge and soak up as much information as I can….
First of all congratulations on 20 years of sobriety........that is frigging amazing next month in November I will have 2 yrs......
You have to know that living with an addict is dangerous I don't care how strong you are or how much clean time you have my first sponser had 24 yrs clean time before he met a new women with a cocaine problem that he thought he could help and blew his 24 yrs of sobriety when he dissapeared for three days......
"I’m putting on my gloves and tool belt to get ready for the task at hand".
I remember his saying something very simular to me.........
As an addict in recovery you know that you can't help her she can only do that you can support her in her efforts but she must do the work herself.....
If she has insurance a 5-7 inpatient detox would be best...........and let the medical professionals handle it.......but then you should also know that she should start attending N/A meetings and get herself around people who are clean and in recovery....
If I may give you an analogy imagine you see someone ice fishing who has fallen through the ice do you just run up and grab them out of the hole there in and run the risk of the ice breaking and you falling in a s well.......
All I am saying is have a plan take her to some N/A meetings what nice support you could both give to each other........
You have to know that living with an addict is dangerous I don't care how strong you are or how much clean time you have my first sponser had 24 yrs clean time before he met a new women with a cocaine problem that he thought he could help and blew his 24 yrs of sobriety when he dissapeared for three days......
"I’m putting on my gloves and tool belt to get ready for the task at hand".
I remember his saying something very simular to me.........
As an addict in recovery you know that you can't help her she can only do that you can support her in her efforts but she must do the work herself.....
If she has insurance a 5-7 inpatient detox would be best...........and let the medical professionals handle it.......but then you should also know that she should start attending N/A meetings and get herself around people who are clean and in recovery....
If I may give you an analogy imagine you see someone ice fishing who has fallen through the ice do you just run up and grab them out of the hole there in and run the risk of the ice breaking and you falling in a s well.......
All I am saying is have a plan take her to some N/A meetings what nice support you could both give to each other........
Good Morning and Welcome to the Forum!
It is a little early yet, and not that many folks are around. My experience with Methadone was very short-term, and it was many moons ago, so I cannot share much personal experience. However, I do know several folks on this forum who have had experience with it.
If you can hang around, or check back, I am certain you will receive advise and suggestions from those more knowledgable than I am.
I answered your post just to let you know that you are not being ignored.
Take care and check back.
It is a little early yet, and not that many folks are around. My experience with Methadone was very short-term, and it was many moons ago, so I cannot share much personal experience. However, I do know several folks on this forum who have had experience with it.
If you can hang around, or check back, I am certain you will receive advise and suggestions from those more knowledgable than I am.
I answered your post just to let you know that you are not being ignored.
Take care and check back.
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