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methadone treatment
I started doing the methadone about 3 months ago. I am currently on 130 mg a day. I was doing 30 lorcet 10 a day prior to starting the meth treatment. I have been reading the posts on here and I am wondering when I should start to taper down now that I am scared to death of the meth w/d from reading the stories on here. any advice??
thanx spec.
thanx spec.
IMO you have been on the M'done for a short time the sooner you can get off the better. If you have stayed away from you doc this last 3 mos than thats pretty much out of your system and now just get the M'done out of you and you can start on your recovery plan to stay off the drugs. Your after care is as important as you detox and setting a plan to stay off with meetings or cousiling or friend or family member to share with on a day by day basis. I c/t off M'done at 115mg because of bad side effects and i took 25 mg about 9 days and 15 days after i quit to balance out and it has been a month since i quit and i'm dealing my recovery plan now without any meds. Some say it's pretty hard to get off but i had a easy time maybe because i was on it for only 6 mos so just make sure you have the prescription or comfort meds (listed in this forum) you need when you get off, i had about 5 take homes at my house when i quit and talked with the dosing nurse on how much to take if i had to take some. If you have had w/d's before than this should be no worse because of the short time you been on. Just do it !!
Just checking; did you get the p-mail I sent you? Med-help has private mail as of a few days ago.
Well, it's supposed to last 36 hours, but it depends on your metabolism. It's also affected by how many hours you sleep. But, in normal conditions, on a steady "Same dose every day", it can last up to 36 hours.
BUT, when you first start, or if you're tapering, I've found (my and others experiences) that even the small dose reduction can cut into how long the dose lasts. That's why people get below 20 and have so much trouble. During the couple of weeks after the dose drop, it cuts into how long it last, so you get from 12 to 24 hours (depends on person).
Which is why I suggest split dosing.
Another thing that helps is the sleep issue. When you sleep, your body goes into a "healing/cleansing state". So if you're waking up sick, cut a few hours off your sleep. On days I had to go into the clinic and couldn't split my dose, I'd sleep only 3-5 hours (only get 6 normally). By cutting off a few hours sleep, you wake up a little tired, but you stop your body from processing out the methadone, and stay well a longer period of time.
BUT, when you first start, or if you're tapering, I've found (my and others experiences) that even the small dose reduction can cut into how long the dose lasts. That's why people get below 20 and have so much trouble. During the couple of weeks after the dose drop, it cuts into how long it last, so you get from 12 to 24 hours (depends on person).
Which is why I suggest split dosing.
Another thing that helps is the sleep issue. When you sleep, your body goes into a "healing/cleansing state". So if you're waking up sick, cut a few hours off your sleep. On days I had to go into the clinic and couldn't split my dose, I'd sleep only 3-5 hours (only get 6 normally). By cutting off a few hours sleep, you wake up a little tired, but you stop your body from processing out the methadone, and stay well a longer period of time.
Now you have first hand experience to the phrase "liquid handcuffs" they get you to go everyday and line up like cattle.. None of us want to be a hostage to opiates.. you will have to find out what its gonna take to get off them and stick to your guns.. It can be done.. you just need a plan and a doc to help you..
Thank you both very much for your input I am definantly going to start tapering off now I know what it was like to have the DT's from not having the tabs all the time I dont want to find out about the meth withdrawls any more than I am already going to have to. They make it sound sooooo good though "you dont have to chase down pills no more' all u have to do is come here and dose every morning. I will admit at first it did help me I went from taking 30 tabs a day to just taking the methadone but like I said I have gained alot of weight and feel like I am really lazy and have no sex drive. I am going to see if my doc will help me get off of all of it I would rather just live with the pain than be a hostage to opiates!!
Do you think you could go back to that same doc and ask him to help you with a taper that would be perfect he almost cant say no... Ima not sayin how much I gained............
Many people complain of weight gain while on methodone.. Most of us here try to tell people not to go on methodone for a pain pill habit no matter how big the habit.. its a much stronger and longer acting pain med so its much harder to get off of not to mention the restrictions the clinics put on people when they try to get off they don't make it easy.. Can you find yourself a addiction specialist to go to for help with this?? The clinic will probably only detox you 5mgs a month. and that is gonna take forever at the dose you are at now..You need to find a way to do this... the longer you are on methodone the harder it will be.. methodone withdrawls can last months due to its long action so you definatly wanna start to get your dose down as soon as possible.. I would set up a appt so that you can talk to then about how they taper patients off of it..
No I stopped going to my doc since they just wanted to keep giving me more and more lortabs instead of fixing the problem. I turned to the meth clinic to try to get off the tabs but now Im thinking that may be worse to kick than the tabs from what Im reading here. They neglect to tell you that part of it! Just keep raising ur dose if u dont feel good!! I have also gained about 30 pounds Im guessing from the dones?
I have not tried to lower yet but I have to take my whole dose at once they dont let you do it in half or nothing like that its a meth clinic. They done even have any kind of counseling or any other kind of therapy just hand ya ur dose and send ya on ur way everyday!
OMG..I wish you would have come here prior to going on methodone... yes start tapering... ASAP.. the less you are on it the better..
Savas you are saying that it doesn't last 36 hours.. More like 12 to24?? Ihope Ia am doing well.I have cut from 20 to 10 in 2 weeks. I waited 30 hours before I took my dose today.My thinking is to wait longer and longer and less and less. Savas can you coment on how I seem to be doing.Ruthie
Yes taper down I am only at 10 mil and never took more than 20 mil. It has beenonly 3 months.I would start reducing right away.. Get off as soon as possible but I think youmay need to rediuce first .Plz read others advice I dont know much about that highof dosage..Ruthie
Well, the sooner you start the better. Have you read any of the things I write about methadone's half life when tapering? When tapering it doesn't last for 36 hours like they claim, it's good for 12 to 24, depending on your system. This is why most people fail.
If you can split your dose (half morning, half night, or something like that) it solves the problem. Most places won't do it, though, and since you're on such a high dose, I bet your place doesn't as well. Is there a way you can "work this out?"
Also, it takes about two weeks to "settle into your dose reduction". Which is why once a month is best. It gives you two weeks to feel "normal". Since you will get slight chills and hotflashes and the like as you go down. Nothing major, just irritating.
Any other questions?
If you can split your dose (half morning, half night, or something like that) it solves the problem. Most places won't do it, though, and since you're on such a high dose, I bet your place doesn't as well. Is there a way you can "work this out?"
Also, it takes about two weeks to "settle into your dose reduction". Which is why once a month is best. It gives you two weeks to feel "normal". Since you will get slight chills and hotflashes and the like as you go down. Nothing major, just irritating.
Any other questions?
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