meth or benzo taper

[Gordo11]

My son has been on methadone (120ml) for almost four years, got hooked on Oxycontin following surgery for testicular cancer . Additionally he is prescribed lorazapam, plus he buys some on the street. He wants to taper off methadone while continuing the benzo's until he is methadone free. My question is has anyone any experience in this area? My sense is the other way around would be a better approach but i really don't have any knowledge in this area. Would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

Gordon

[LyricalAngel]

I was wondering the same thing about coming off methadone and prescribed 3mg/day of Clonazepam/Klonopin, which I take as needed. But when I take it as needed sometimes it ends up being more than 1 pill. I have been tapering off methadone off and on for years. At least the illegal drug use is gone and I really have no desire to use heroin anymore, which I thought would never happen. I thought I'd deal with that craving forever. Point - I've been on methadone for the bigger part of 12 years. I only got clean in the past 2 years. I feel that coming off the methadone first would be better, as the Klonopin seems to be the only thing that works for me. I was on Prozac off and on since 16, I'm 34 now. I stopped taking the anti's (Prozac and Wellbutrin) about a year ago. First the Prozac then the other. I felt like it was the drugs making me crazy finally. I am trying to make a better life for myself and little girl. I feel diet and exercise are huge in achieving my goals. I have PTSD and OCD along with sever depression, some think borderline personality disorder. So I don't know. I just know I cannot live feeling afraid every morning I wake up anymore. I have become almost a recluse and finally just started making myself get out... Counseling helps. I was recommended to do the CBT, Cognitive Behavior Therapy I believe... There is also Biofeedback, but I had a brain injury at age 12 and it was to help (for me) with well, I guess in fixing my brain... okay I don't know exactly what it does. I do know the guy said my brain was trying to go 50 mph in 2nd gear. I am an artist... paint, photography, crafts, piano, I write my own music and it's like divine intervention at times. I know that when I am creative my brain quiets down in a most peaceful way, more than any drug could ever do for me, and with no side effects! You have to have an outlet for the emotions. They become cancers in my opinion. But I am no professional in this department. Just trying to learn as much as I can from the "mistakes" I made, even though I feel it was so I could better help others at some point. Former addicts make the best "helpers" for other addicts as they've been there. Sorry for the rant. I am new here and have so much to say and learn.

[mtgoat911]

by law methadone doctors are not allowed to prescribed nerve pills with methadone
so it makes sense that he is seeing different doctors
the combination of the 2 drugs over a long period of time,  is deadly
i have been there,,,i know what your son is going through,, at the end of my addiction i was taking 200mg of methadone and an undisclosed amount of xanax each day
my detox was pure helll, but i kicked both at the same time
i got so sick i ended up in icu, because i had liver disease, so your son may need to be inpatient
ativan is used a good bit for detox patients, but its not going to help him much with methadone detox, we usually give it to alcoholics
the detox is very difficult, and in my expereince the hardest out of all opiates to get off of
he may start taking more benzo's then he should on his bad days and this could lead to death
my best friend gary dies from taking nerve pills during methadone detox, i think about him all the time
if you son does use a benzo, make sure you know the dose, keep an eye on that
here is what i did to get off methadone and xanax
i woke up one morning and decided that my life cannot go on this way, so i quit taking both meds
a week later i started throwing up everything i ate and drank
on my second week i was throwing up greenbile constantly for 3 days
after that i had a seizure while i was walking down the stairs
(by the way i am a paramedic, i did not want to get help and risk my carrer) well, my family called 911, and everything came out
95% od methadone detox patients get over their wd symtoms without complications, i had other health issues going on, and it was too much
if i had more time, i could write about my experiecne with methadone for atleast a day
if there is anything you need please let me know
your son has an awesome mom!!

[sadinmichigan]

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/15543?personal_page_id=793

This is from my journal..I hope you find it helpful.

~Lisa

[january43]

please post your blog URL for the Methadone w/d information.  I'm very interested in this.
january43

[sadinmichigan]

hi..i just wanted to say that he should definitley taper off the methadone first..this is going to be hard. Especially once he is down to the end of it. I have first hand experience with methadone and have been off it for 2 yrs. In my journals I have a very good article written by a dr about methadone and w/d...he was also an addict for 18 yrs. There is alot of helpful info in it and things he can do to help some. Methadone is a very very hard drug to detox off, but it can be done with alot of determination and fight. The valium is not going to help very much..maybe just a tiny bit. What is his taper plan? If he goes to fast he is going to suffer w/d..I would be happy to answer any questions..feel free to pm me.   Lisa

[Gordo11]

Got it, thanks for your help.

gordo11

[avisg]

the benzos will help with some of his wd symtoms from the methadone .

[Gordo11]

Can you explain your comment "... I can see why he would want to do the methadone first."
He is prescribed by two different doctors but both are aware of the dual use. He would work with his Methadone physician to taper plus he has an appointment with a "case manager" at a rehabilitation center for an addiction assessment in early October. I believe she would then work with his physician(s).

[avisg]

yes I can see why he would want to do the methadone first .I do wonder did the same doctors prescribe both drugs for him?they both will have to be slow tapers .Is he going to
work this out with a doctor .