need advice

[tami51]

I am in the Asheville/Mars Hill area and have been in a methadone tx program for 3 years and have been advised by by counselor that since I am considering detoxing from the methadone, that I should consider using suboxone while I am detoxing.  I need a physician.  Does anyone have any suggestions.  I really want to come off of this methadone.  Thanks

[Cricketk92]

Congrats to you for wanting to detox off the methadone!  I work in a methadone clinic and have never seen anyone switch to subs to come off of it.  But others here have used suboxone and it sounds rough to come off of!  I can tell you I have seen many people successfully detox from the methadone... just take it slow!  And those who have been successful have had a support system in place.  That can mean different things for each of us....AA/NA, therapy, church etc.... but I think it is essential to have the support!  I wasnt on methadone but detoxed from Vicodin and it wasnt fun but for me after the physical part was over having a support system has helped me to stay clean and sober!  
Keep on posting and let us know what you decide!  :)

[gnarly_1]

Hi...well sub is used by some and it can help the withdrawal is less intense then with methadone but the switch over has to be done right your still going to have to taper down to around 20mg to do it right  I came off 150mg of methadone in 8/1/2 months  and took it all the way down  it was a ruff detox but it was so so worth it  it has been over 5yrs now and it is all but a distant memory  it is something I will never forget   as addicts we are always looking for a pill to fix the problem  sub has become that pill for many  you will still need to get off the sub   I guess I just dident want to trad one addiction for another  just know this we can support however you decide to do this  I will walk you threw a methadone taper  it is ez at first but the lower you go the harder it gets just know it is so so worth it once your free of the liquid handcufs.......Gnarly

[mjean15]

I am on suboxone and have been for 4 years...i moved and took about 6 months off and didnt taper properly and it was awful. I was sick for almost a month and gave into the demons in my head once i found ppl that could get me drugs.   I think it works well and if it helps coming off the methodone go for it but once youre coming off of the subs taper down properly!!!

[pillguy]

What's your current dose of methadone?  How long is this "detox" supposed to last?  I'm not very knowledgable about suboxone being used as a detox agent as opposed to long term opiate replacement therapy.  I'm going to do some reading about the current thinking on using suboxone short term to detox.  Suboxone is very addictive and you're not going to hear much good about it here.  That doesn't necessarily mean it can't work for short term detox.  I'll post something in the next day or two regarding what I've read.  I would suggest you also start reading about suboxone.  Learn everything you can.  Many docs are woefully ignorant of the risks from using suboxone