dangermouse7831
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2017
- Messages
- 24
Methadone prescribing question
I was hoping someone could help me understand a bit more about Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in Australia.
I've been addicted to Opiates for roughly 2 years. I started on Oxy, but within 3 months I was using Heroin. Never injected, only snorted.
At my worst I was snorting 2 grams of high purity Heroin per day. For the last 6ish months I have been on roughly 1 gram high purity per day.
I tried to quit a few times on my own. Earlier on it was easier, but now it's just so hard. I finally caved and spoke to a Doctor.
I tried Suboxone for a few weeks. It took 16mg/day before I stopped getting withdrawals a few hours prior to dosing. I was still craving and got up to 24mg/day. At that dose it felt super speedy, and I was still craving 24x7. I was clenching my jaw and feeling high. Uncomfortably high. It also drove me to drinking heavily to tolerate these feelings. So I stopped it and went back on Heroin until my next doctors appointment.
I am now on methadone. Day one I had 35mg, and it was as if I took nothing. My withdrawals began just as they do normally. So I went back to the doctor that very same day and got increased to 50mg/day.
At 50mg I was still withdrawing severely so I took Heroin on top. I am now on day 3 of 55mg and don't have any other opiates. I am still withdrawing. I took some dexamphetamine on top which has calmed the withdrawal slightly, but it's still ever present.
The doctor said 50mg was the max he could start me on, and my script says I can go up by 5mg every fourth day. I understand why, but this feels painfully slow. The withdrawals seem to come back every day BECAUSE I'm taking methadone (i.e. the withdrawals haven't stopped 6 days in because I still take opiates (methadone) daily).
So, my question is whether my script is normal, or too conservative? What were others scripted? I'm in the ACT if it makes a difference.
I can get back to see him mid week, but if this is the most I am allowed then there's kinda no point in going back. If others have been prescribed faster increases then I'll go back and ask for the same.
Thanks for reading!
I was hoping someone could help me understand a bit more about Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in Australia.
I've been addicted to Opiates for roughly 2 years. I started on Oxy, but within 3 months I was using Heroin. Never injected, only snorted.
At my worst I was snorting 2 grams of high purity Heroin per day. For the last 6ish months I have been on roughly 1 gram high purity per day.
I tried to quit a few times on my own. Earlier on it was easier, but now it's just so hard. I finally caved and spoke to a Doctor.
I tried Suboxone for a few weeks. It took 16mg/day before I stopped getting withdrawals a few hours prior to dosing. I was still craving and got up to 24mg/day. At that dose it felt super speedy, and I was still craving 24x7. I was clenching my jaw and feeling high. Uncomfortably high. It also drove me to drinking heavily to tolerate these feelings. So I stopped it and went back on Heroin until my next doctors appointment.
I am now on methadone. Day one I had 35mg, and it was as if I took nothing. My withdrawals began just as they do normally. So I went back to the doctor that very same day and got increased to 50mg/day.
At 50mg I was still withdrawing severely so I took Heroin on top. I am now on day 3 of 55mg and don't have any other opiates. I am still withdrawing. I took some dexamphetamine on top which has calmed the withdrawal slightly, but it's still ever present.
The doctor said 50mg was the max he could start me on, and my script says I can go up by 5mg every fourth day. I understand why, but this feels painfully slow. The withdrawals seem to come back every day BECAUSE I'm taking methadone (i.e. the withdrawals haven't stopped 6 days in because I still take opiates (methadone) daily).
So, my question is whether my script is normal, or too conservative? What were others scripted? I'm in the ACT if it makes a difference.
I can get back to see him mid week, but if this is the most I am allowed then there's kinda no point in going back. If others have been prescribed faster increases then I'll go back and ask for the same.
Thanks for reading!
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