Getting Off Of Methadone (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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 read that. Stuff u were talking and laughed so hard I almost pissed my self u need your meds man lol u funny as s***!

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Jones33, I happened to come across your post 4 yrs later. I'm curious, how are you and your friend doing? Sounds like you two were seriously trying to get help and there were no options. Funny how they are so quick to prescribe potent narcotics but turn you away when you are in real need of their help. I'm a recovering Methadone addict. I was actively addicted to prescription medications for nearly 10 yrs. In my last year I was addicted to Methadone and taking close to 120 mg a day. I am completely clean today and can offer some suggestions if you two are still in need of some help. I hope that after 4 yrs that isn't the case. Good luck whatever the case is and hope to hear from you.

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@Wonker You seem like you are in quite of a dilemma. Tolerance is created when your body starts to reject the drug after a period of use. Are you currently on 800 mg of MS Contin as of right now? If so, you might want to start tapering down and when you reach "at least" 400 mg, then switch over to another narcotic pain reliever. Also, make sure to keep yourself educated on these potent narcotic pain relievers so it doesn't come back to haunt you in the future. Good Luck.

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I am also detoxing off methadone. I've gone down from 100mg's to 40mg's at a rate of 20 mg's a week. I also take 3mg's of xanax a day. Dropping your methadone dose is easier to do than 5 mg's at a time. After I get down to 10mg's a day I switch to norco, 2 pills every 4 to 6 hours and it's a comfortable decline once you switch to norco and taper off. Done it before and tired of the ball and chain, like you must be. Good luck. Hit me up if you have any questions. Mike.

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Your doing great bro. I'm in the same position as you. I've slept 10min. in the last 3 days. I play guitar to pass the useless days of detoxing. I get two week take homes too, but cut down myself so I'm not miserable in the process. I know you feel me. I get hooked up from my friend with the xanax. He owns a dispensary and his Dr. is our highschool personal friend. The only thing that makes me feel comfortable is benzos with my methadone. We both know you could slam a gram of dope and not feel any effects if your dosing regularly . How long have you been on methadone?

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@Barb
In my opinion and experience detoxing from methadone, no.. It will not kill you. Just make sure to keep following up with a doctor so they can monitor you. The experience as we all know, tapering/detoxing from methadone, is unpleasant. But you will get past it and hopefully be in a better place. Good luck to you.

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@Mirth
What is your goal? To come off of methadone completely? If so, your doctor should know to taper you in a safe time frame. I was on pain medication for 10 yrs (last 2 yrs with methadone), I decided to go to a rehabilitation facility. They put me on a 14 day taper while giving me clonidine, nausea medication, and vitamins. The 14 day taper was not as tough as I thought it would be, possibly due to the medications they provided for relief. The first day I was completely off of methadone was rough but manageable, second day still a little rough and on the third day it had gotten better. For the time frame I had been taking narcotic pain medication it could have been a lot worse. After the physical symptoms started to subside, it was time to start working on my mental state. It's important to get your mind clear and start working on your inner self. Once your able to do that, you start to get your spirit and life back. And what an amazing feeling it is to have the power to control your own life again. Good luck.

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@Mirth

My prescribed dose was 90 mg daily, but I was taking roughly about 180 mg. I was also on Klonopin 6 mg daily and exceeding that by half as well. Let me start off by saying that I was a tough case, so rehabilitation for the first month (eating, sleeping, etc..) was tough for me. But not tough enough for me to want to go back to using. As for pain, I had none (7 surgeries later). If I do have any type of pain today, I'm able to cope and work my way through it. It's very important to know that during the physical process you need to be working on your mental state as well. Keep yourself busy, find new hobbies, surround yourself with positive energy.. Don't let the fear of physical withdrawals keep you from finding yourself again and living life to the fullest. Good luck.

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Racheal I started off on 120mls of methadone after a ten yr H addiction and I stayed on that dose for nearly another ten yrs I know it feels like a death sentance ive been throgh the worst kind of withdrawals over the yrs even cold turkey its hell on earth ...but eventually the dependance of a methadone mantainance wheres you down dont get me wrong previos to that I was at deaths door several times and it has in its way saved my life...but its like a prison sentance...the only managable way to do it is slow reduction it took me the last 3 yrs ...but I have to say I never needed 120 just greedy I suppose 80mls should be enough for anyone as a starting dose...I was able to drop to 80 without feeling sick and even able to drop to 60 after that...but as you get lower even a small drop is kinda difficult I then stated dropping 5mls every month as I was on a monthly script for good behavior...I went on like this all the way down to 1ml...and im off methadone 3 weeks the1st two were hard but now it is just about managable ...so I am finaly free after20 odd yrs...it can be done..just gotta drag ur self kicking and screaming through hell ..bk to life...x

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I READ THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER?
DOCTORS PERSCRIBE METHADONE EITHER FOR PAIN OR ADDICTION TO OPIATES I MYSELF WAS ON 80MG OF METHADONE AND HAVE WEANED DOWN TO 38MG OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IT HAS BEEN HELL MOST PLACES WILL PUT YOU ON SUBOXONE ONCE YOUR ON 30MG? UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE THIS REALLY SUCKS THEY DONT TELL YOU WHAT A HORROR IT IS TO COME OFF THIS DRUG I KNOW HOW MUCH PAIN YOU MUST BE IN THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU IS TO FIND A METHADONE CLINIC AND START THE WEANING PROCESS EVEN IF YOU ONLY COME DOWN A COUPLE OF MLS A MONTH YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOUR ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING AND IT DOES GET EASIER YOU JUST NEED TO BE PATIENT AND KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO AND THAT YOU CAN DO IT IT ALSO HELPS TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS YOU CAN DO IT

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Hi can you tell me about Thomas recipe?

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I'm a 28yr old female who has been at a methadone clinic for 6 years. Biggest mistake of my love, besides getting hooked on pills to begin with. I decided about 2 years ago that I wanted to quit the clinic. The highest I got was 83mgs, so I slowly weaned myself down to 37mgs until August when I found out I was pregnant. I was scared for my baby. I always wanted a family, but being pregnant and on methadone was not the way I wanted it. Once you're pregnant, they will not let you lower your dose or quit in the interest of the baby. I actually had to go back up to 40mgs bc the hospital would be giving me pill form once I gave birth. And I did on April 24th to the most beautiful and healthy 9lb2oz baby boy. He suffered a little withdrawal as to be expected, but not enough to have to be given meds. My plan was to detox the rest of the way while on maternity leave. It would suck, but I would have my life back, and be able to focus on my new family and finishing school so I can provide the best life for my son. I took myself down to 30mgs at 5 mgs a week for 2 weeks, then to make it official signed a detox plan for 30 days, lowering 30mgs a day. I knew I wouldn't make the trip to the clinic for anything less than 15mgs bc I felt it was a waste of time to drag it out and I wanted to finish before I went back to work, knowing that there would be withdrawal for a week or two (my bf quit at 55mgs so I knew what to expect). Today is day 3.i feel abnormally well for being clean for the first time in over 12 years. This makes me proud, but also makes me worried that the length of time I was on methadone or maybe below metabolism may just be the culprit, and that in a day or so I'll wake up in physical and mental torture. I think the big thing for me right now is my new family and promising future. I have people depending on me to get better so I can provide my family with a better life. Every time I get worried that I won't be able to do it and I'll go crawling back to the clinics door step, I look at my beautiful son and know that I WILL be successful for him. I had an alcoholic father and I REFUSE to put my son through that. I am HOPEFUL and POSITIVE about my future and I think this makes a world of difference. Do whatever you have to do to GET OFF METHADONE, and any drug for that matter

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I really don't know if this the right forum, but I honestly do not to end my life by taking one of several meds I have. I am 58 and was doing quite well. But the doctor retired and sent me to another pain specialist. I have a seziure disorder (epileptic now) Do to another doc, who gave me a medicine well known to cause ostoprostis, The doctor convinced me it would take time to stop the seziures well of course it did not. I have now fractured just about every








I was put on methadone, it did nothing for my pain, the money hungry doc made me see him 2 times a week, and just happened to have a small pharmacy,so he thought he would get me addicted to methadone and charge me usually about 8 times the price of a regular pharmacy. After a few months, I told him it still did nothing, thinking I was a fool, he wanted to increase the strenght of the methadone to b able to take every penny I had. I refused, he did not know I had done research, what he was doing was 100% illegal, I had my thoughts of what he was doing and had actually stopped taking it after only 2 weeks. I can happily say he is not a doctor anymore and is in prison and will never get his license back. Any patient he had wronged was given help for free from the insurance he had, and the money he had stashed away. The reason I wanted to tell you my true story is, if the cure sounds to easy beware. Just as in every single profesion, there are rotten apples. The old story, if it sounds to good to b true, in almost all cases something is wrong. I pray for all of you to get better, and only the best to one and all. PS I do beleive in God, thus if you have been taken advantage and beleive as I do, God also made addiction recovery clinic and proper doctors to help. No matter what God can help, but please, please get addtional help. I had my best friend and partner killed himself, and I lost him after 25 yrs together, his faith told him God would help him thru it all. In his letter, he said God had let him down when he needed him the most!! This is not a made up story and if even one person understands what I have said, I can have some releif, that the love of my life will have helped. Thank You for listening, again GOD BLESS all of you but ask friends, family for the extra help, to help you. True friends r there for the good and bad, family is forever!!

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I wish I had money for a rapid detox. There's no way off it!!!!

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What is wrong with you? Go to a pain clinic...if you are addicted to street methadone for pain, it helps minimally. I'm on 35 mg a day and have 3 take homes at clinic. You both are in danger. You could OD on other stuff... Coming of M done is HELL on EARTH cold turkey. Get on a Methadone clinic asap!!!!

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Methadone withdrawal is the most painful experience and nothing but time helps. It took me a YEAR of suffering from severe RLS, 2 months of ZERO SLEEP to gaining 1-2hr increments of sleep until at 1 year post withdrawal I was finally back to 6-8hrs of continuous but very light sleep. I didn't even include the severe flu like symptoms, no energy, and feeling like every cell receptor in your body is on fire for 3 months. It took a year for me to feel normal.

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Ive helped others with what i call split dose down..get some cranberry juice..tarts better sweet will work..tell your mind your set week levels...here we go..dont try to do a wham im off youll fall flat..week one..cut the tabs in quarters..take a quarter if the draws start take another..do this till you level but try droping an extra quarter a week off your week before..its a step down system..the juice stops the spasms...if you stick it..itll work i got off after five yrs and helped four of my friend..they leveled at one five mill tab a day..they like it there and know how to go clear off if they want...good luck..stic it..if u go this way and dont giv it will work the slowed thru it at a six month goal...

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I was on 3 80mg oxy a day 30mg of it 3 times a day and a 40mg..methadone 3 times a day. the methadone was the hardest drug too get off of in my life. 2 months it took me to get out of my body. My legs hurt, every joint in my body hurt, I would not recommend them to anyone.

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Thanks Preston.. I am an opiate addict who struggled for decades. I am 61 years old and I have been on methadone since Feb 1, 2001. I have a wonderful life because of methadone. I'm glad your life is good too!! For me it was the best decision I ever made.

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Gee Michael I have no idea where you live but not traveling because of call backs? That's a whole lotta crap. I have been on maintenance since Feb 2001 and I have 13 bottles. I go on vacation all of the time. Don't you know that all you had to do was tell the dosing nurse you would be on vacation and if your name came up they would have excused you. Whenever a patient needs extra take homes all you do is ask and as long as your not using they will give you up to a months supply. Methadone doesn't get in your bone marrow that is the biggest lie anyone has ever made up. I too gained a lot of weight after I got on methadone and all I heard was "I told you so". Well turns out it wasn't the methadone it was my thyroid and as soon as I started the thyroid medication the weight I gain came off and within 6 months I was back to my normal weight. As for tooth decay, it's not directly related to methadon, any opiate dries out your mouth so if a patient on any opiate doesn't keep their mouth from getting too dry that will cause problems. As for them not telling you that if you want to taper off you need to do it slowly, that clinic didn't do their job. Plus you were on opiates before methadone so I would thought you knew about long acting opiates and withdrawals I have many friends who tapered slowly and felt very little discomfort. I am very glad you were able to get off although the way you did it is a lot harder on patients like me who are older and have health problems. At your age I would have tried to stop you from getting on maintenance, I would have asked you to try a 180 day taper. I didn't get on maintenance till I was in my 40's, anyway this is just my opinion I am no doctor, I am going by my experiences

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