Getting Off Of Methadone (Page 10)
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There are two of us males, early thirties. One of us underwent major back surgery three years ago and has been addicted to pain medication for a total of five years. I have been addicted for about three years just from simply being his main caretaker and dipping into the cookie jar a few to many times like an idiot. We went back to our general doctor (same guy) and explained that we are both full fledged addicts. We told him we have been obtaining Methadone off the street as is seems to be the only thing that works. He asked us what we where getting off the street and we told him Methadone. His response was, "Well that's the smartest thing you have done so far, because of its extremely long effect on the body". We told him we need his help, that we just have no money left and our livers are just a mess and we can't move on with life. He decided to put us both on 100 mgs of Methadone to keep us comfortable until he could make some contacts with the proper addiction specialists that he new. We went for an appointment to his office once every week. We made various contact to different areas, inpatient/outpatient programs, who would not even touch us because we were at too high of a dosage of Methadone. They told us they only work with Suboxone which means we would need to be down to around 20 mgs of Methadone to make the transition to Suboxone. What a nightmare. The doctor also did not have any luck with programs because they where either the scum of the earth clinics, not to mention everyone's famous new drug Suboxone that could be treated in the privacy of a doctors office. About 3 months ago our doctor fell, he herniated a disc or something, all of a sudden was going to be out of the office indefinitely! He never referred us over to another doctor or anything. He just simply CUT US OFF the most potent and dangerous drug out there. Now we are back a square one and no one will touch us because our dosage is too high and there really is nothing they could do. If we could just get us a general doctor to write for pain to get us down to 45 - 50mg, then all these options could open up. A detox would be my first choice, but there is no way in hell we can both come off 100 mgs of Methadone that fast. Anyone know a general doctor in the state of MA that can write for Methadone for pain. That would just help us greatly, but I'm starting to think that there is no hope for us, but I know I cant think like that. Desperate in MA here.

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I don't know if detoxing off Methadone is any more difficult than my personal cold turkey detox off 180-mg of Oxycontin SR tablets daily. However, I did manage to do it without going insane or into convulsions. I did continue to use Vicodin daily after I discontinued using Oxycontin overnight. It was not easy, but well worth it. I did not go to a clinic to help me detox., nor did I inform my Doctor that I was detoxing until I was four weeks into detoxing. Since then, I have reduced the strength of my Vicodin by 50% in the last three months. My goal is to get it down to 250-mg. per tablet and eventually down to less than three pills a day. You don't have many choices that you can pick from, so why not just do what you know you need to do and want to do. Your Doctor has abandoned you and you won't find another who will take you on given your street drug use and abusive drug history. Look up my postings under Oxycontin's Deadly Issue, to read my full account of detoxing and others accounts as well. It may give you the courage and strength you need right now. I wish you much luck and inner strength. You can do this!

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Yes, that is the biggest drawback of Methadone, most people are never able to get off of it and end up on a lifetime maintenance dose.

The latest medication that has been proven to help people and enable them to get completely drug free is Soboxone, which contains the active ingredient Buprenorphine.

Some of its most common side effects include: nauseal drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation.

You can read more about it here:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Suboxone/­

If you wish to look into possibly Suboxone treatment, they have a site at Suboxone.com

And you can see if there is a doctor in your area that offers treatment with it.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

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I'm on 160 and go 1x week. Other days I take 40. You can take that safely and not be sick but don't, repeat don't get on a methadone program because you'll never get off. I've been on it for 25 of the last 35 years. I'm a kid of the 60's era. Go to a doctor for suboxone or subutex. One has narcan in it so if you give it to an addict they will go into imediate withdrawal. The other doesn't but they're both the same for your purpose.I'm in the Bronx NY.

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I am a 27 year old female. I had been going to the methadone clinic for 4 years. I went to rehab to get off the pain pills(oxys) they put me on the methadone there. AHH!! What a nightmare. I thought over the years everything was fine. Gained 80 pounds, sweat like none other, tooth decay. I was on 130 mg. Liquid handcuffs is what they call it. There is no better way to put it. We have a house in the Bahamas,we travel alot. For the past 4 years I could never go anywhere even though i had a weeks worth of bottles. They would do random calls and make you come in a show all your bottles. You never knew when. Three weeks ago I had to pay $11,000 to go and do a rapid drug detox. I am now off the methadone. I feel like a visor has been lifted off my eyes. I feel like a totally different person. If I had to go back in time I would never ever have taken that first dose. What they dont tell you is that it is almost impossible to get off. If I hadnt done the rapid detox the withdrawals would have lasted months. Methadone get in your fatty tissue, bone marrow. Its made from all man made chemicals unlike other pain meds. I can not get over a Dr. not from a clinic prescribed such large doses. What in the world does he expect you to do? Is that even legal? Rapid detox worked for me but who in the world would be able to afford it? My father paid for mine. Plus you have pain you will have to take something. I feel your pain! I know you have to be in detox to get subutex but it is almost worth it to get off the methadone. I have friends who have changed to subutex who say 30 mins after they put the pill in their mouth they felt fine. Please dont get me wrong, methadone saves lives. It just wasnt good for me. Please weigh you options. Also I would look into the way your Dr. did you. I just wanted to tell you my story because I was never told anything about methadone till I was off. I hope you both are ok. If need to talk just send a post.

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