How long is the detox process?

[SpecialKay123]

My boyfriend just started his detox from OxyContin. He is going to a clinic for professional help. He just started today and they are giving him methadone. Starting him at 30mg, probably going up to 80mg eventually, and then going back down to ween him off. I've read all of these stories about being on methadone for years, and I can't imagine that. Is that a normal time with professional help?
I've never been through this before and I don't know what to expect. I can't imagine this lasting even through the year at this point. He has to get a new job and basically restart life.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Dear Kay,
The process your boyfriend has started s not exactly "detox". What it is, is called OMT - opiate maintenance therapy. The clinic he went to is substituting one opiate - oxycontin  for a longer acting opiate methadone that lacks the ability to give as much of a euphoria as others. However it is just as difficult to quit as any other opiate and most methadone clinics take years and years tapering their patients off of it and are usually not aggressive about it.
I have written several blogs addressing this issue. You can reach them by clicking on my name and then "blogs" and look through them. You can also look at my clinic's website by clicking under the clinic's logo for lots of information about what we do, and both oxy and methadone addiction and detox. Your boyfriend is lucky to have you in his corner as it is a very tough fight. Good luck to both of  you. Please feel free to call our clinic's number if your have any questions.

[Pelton]

Well sometimes people are on it for years and others are on it for only months but it's different for everybody and the important thing is not to rush because otherwise u will fail and the purpose of methadone is to help avoid withdrawal so that u can get a job and b a proactive member of society without spending all ur time and money chasing that opiate buzz from oxy or vicodine or dilaudid or any other drugs. But  it's just like anything else an if u try and cheat the system and try to do drugs while on methadone it's a waste of time and money cause once ur dose gets up there a little higher u won't b able to get " high" ( if ur dose is at a correct amount) and so staying away from every other drug and that includes weed and sticking to ur health plan with ur counselor will insure that ur not on it longer then u have to b. if he's decided to go on methadone then probably u need to educate urself with what he's doing at the clinic he will b going to and they will give him a ton of info about it and the things to avoid and the things to do to help his recovery. Now there is downsides to every medication because he could choose to sell it or when they drug test if he comes back with anything other then methadone in his system then he won't get take homes and trust me those take homes mean a lot cause it's more days that u don't have to go to the clinic but u have to earn that trust by staying clean. If he's at 30mg he just started and he will have to talk to a doctor and his counselor and the manager of the clinic to go up in his dose but I'm guessing if he was on oxy then he's not gonna feel ok til he gets to a number that's a little higher so he can make it through the nights without cold sweats and chills and restless leg syndrome and so on and so forth. As his girlfriend I suggest being supportive and realize his whole demeanor will change. He's gonna b looking through a different set of eyes and I suggest that u guys talk about what he's feeling and thinking and let him explain what goes on at the clinic and the things he learned. A lot of people get the wrong idea of methadone or suboxone or most anything to do with addiction and that ***** because they scare people away from a treatment that could very well save their life. So if u don't understand something or have questions call his counselor or call the clinic and they will give u all the info u could ever want because education about ur boyfriends disease will bring u guys closer and make u stronger as a couple. Remind him that methadone isn't gonna b a complete fix all but it will help him to get back to being trusted and not having to lie and steal or whatever to get those Oxys and believe me give it a month and ur gonna b like "wow" !!!  Lol I hope nothing but the best for u both and u guys are getting help and that's the hardest part so the rest will fall I to place and I'll b hoping for a speedy recovery and as always a prayer for safety and strength on this journey u guys will b taking!!!! Contact me if I can help in any other way or if u just need someone to chat at!!!!