Heading To Rehab! Desperately Seeking Advice! Scared

[Dakoz]

So I am finally going to rehab! I have been a steady user of H for years and everytime I called my local rehabs they wanted a few G's so I got on methadone, which I have been on the last year or so. My buddy got in somewhere in Cali for free using www.sobersupports.com and he has been doing good, so i did the same thing and now Im heading from northern to southern florida, my question is the center wanted me to ween down to as low as possible on the methadone, then they could lower me further, so it would be easier to get me on the detox meds. Ive been reading about methadone withdrawls lasting a month or longer. thats scares the shit out of me. I talked to my doctor at the clinic and he is going to lower me down from 40 to 30 in a week and a half so ill be low when i go (they got me a flight for two weeks from now) would it be a good idea to maybe try and get a script of something that isnt long acting, or maybe even use for the next few weeks, so instead of going through the month long withdrawls i only go through the week ones and they can detox me with bupe instead of methadone then bupe? Does anyone have experince with this? The fact of dealing with it for a month scares me, im excited to get off and so is my family I just want to make sure i do it the right way and have the best shot at staying clean. ADVICE PLEASE!!! Pro and Cons

 

[cj]

Switching from methadone to a shorter acting opiopd before withdrawal at a rehab can be good for 2 reasons. 1 it could theoretically make the withdrawals shorter. 2 it will be easier for them to get you on suboxone which is what most rehabs use to taper with. So yes I think it is a good idea to make the switch. This is a controversial subject though so I am sure someone will come along and give there reasons for disagreeing with me. Good choice at going to rehab though. I kinda wish you had more time to taper down at the clinic though as studies show the longer you taper the better chance at a positive outcome you have.

 

[Dakoz]

My only concern is that i havent done H in so long, do you think a doctor would understand a situation like this

 

[crzydiamond]

Methadone does have a very long half life/withdrawal. I detoxed from it slowly once, and cold turkey once (not by choice)

I am glad you want to be off everything, but reading your post flashes some big red stop signs.

It takes your body a while to adjust to the lowering doses. Most traditional detoxes/ rehabs don't have a lot of experience with detoxing people from methadone so usually you are much better off staying in the clinic on a taper until you are much lower. You can theoretically be switched over to bupe at 30 mg of methadone but that works better when you are going to do a slow bupe tape which most detox places won't be doing

I would really try to see if there is any way you could possible push back your rehab date for at least 4-6 weeks (longer if possible), and go on a methadone taper at your clinic. Optimally the easiest way to detox methadone is to come down like 3 mg a week (from the dose you're on), til you get to around 15-20 mg, at that point you can really feel the drop in dose. Then switch to like going down 1 mg a week. Or get down to that lower dose and switch to sub for a taper

I have been through detox and rehab as well. They are great for getting someone off of heroin, oxy, etc (regular shorter acting opiates). Methadone is a whole different ball game. A lot of places won't take you if you are on methadone, which I think is smart, because really a 5-7 day sub taper isn't going to do much when coming off methadone that has built up in your system for a year

Please don't think I'm discouraging you. I want you to succeed. I just don't think being on methadone for a year then coming down 10 mg in a week and a half (that part isn't bad) but then going right into a quick detox is a great plan for getting/staying sober. You will not have an easy time coming off like that.

Truthfully yes if you can switch to oxy or something similar your plan would be better. But you need at least 3 weeks for your body to make that transition before attempting to detox

What is the rush to get into a rehab now? If you've been clean for the time on methadone why not just do a methadone taper until you come off then go to a rehab if you feel you need the tools you would learn there? Can you talk to the people helping you?

I just don't want to see you go from stable into a mess. Look into how long they would detox you on the sub when they switch you. Unless it's a slow taper this is probably a bad idea.

I hope you do succeed, whatever method you choose!

 

[cj]

Methadone does have a very long half life/withdrawal. I detoxed from it slowly once, and cold turkey once (not by choice)

I am glad you want to be off everything, but reading your post flashes some big red stop signs.

It takes your body a while to adjust to the lowering doses. Most traditional detoxes/ rehabs don't have a lot of experience with detoxing people from methadone so usually you are much better off staying in the clinic on a taper until you are much lower. You can theoretically be switched over to bupe at 30 mg of methadone but that works better when you are going to do a slow bupe tape which most detox places won't be doing

I would really try to see if there is any way you could possible push back your rehab date for at least 4-6 weeks (longer if possible), and go on a methadone taper at your clinic. Optimally the easiest way to detox methadone is to come down like 3 mg a week (from the dose you're on), til you get to around 15-20 mg, at that point you can really feel the drop in dose. Then switch to like going down 1 mg a week. Or get down to that lower dose and switch to sub for a taper

I have been through detox and rehab as well. They are great for getting someone off of heroin, oxy, etc (regular shorter acting opiates). Methadone is a whole different ball game. A lot of places won't take you if you are on methadone, which I think is smart, because really a 5-7 day sub taper isn't going to do much when coming off methadone that has built up in your system for a year

Please don't think I'm discouraging you. I want you to succeed. I just don't think being on methadone for a year then coming down 10 mg in a week and a half (that part isn't bad) but then going right into a quick detox is a great plan for getting/staying sober. You will not have an easy time coming off like that.

Truthfully yes if you can switch to oxy or something similar your plan would be better. But you need at least 3 weeks for your body to make that transition before attempting to detox

What is the rush to get into a rehab now? If you've been clean for the time on methadone why not just do a methadone taper until you come off then go to a rehab if you feel you need the tools you would learn there? Can you talk to the people helping you?

I just don't want to see you go from stable into a mess. Look into how long they would detox you on the sub when they switch you. Unless it's a slow taper this is probably a bad idea.

I hope you do succeed, whatever method you choose!

I totally agree

 

[cire113]

THe above poster makes many great points;

However I would like to state that switching from methadone to short acting opiod is not as easy as most think; Well from my experience it ws almost impossible; because off the long half life of methadone i had to redose my short acting meds literally every 3 hours clock work and once they wore off i would go into withdrawal....

I wouldnt really reccomend the switching over method to a SAO unless it can be supervised in a medical context; because trust me its really easy when your withdrawing from methadone if your an addict like me to take a few more pills and suddenly you run out of pills 2 weeks early;


Honestly original poster your best option is to get the LOWEST dose of methadone that you cann starting NOW; if you can delay going i would delay; Try to do 5% reduction every 2 weeks if you really want painless but not sure if you have that time;

However if you can get do about 20mg or less in a medical facility and CT and they have the proper detox meds you should be ok; they will most likely give you buprenorphine after 72 hrs off methadone which helps alot; alot of different places have different protocols; so dont take too much into what im saying;

all im saying is QUITTING methadone man really has nothing to do with quitting methadone; Quitting methadone is like the tip of the iceberg; unfortunately its the easiest part ; Staying CLEAN and stopped and living without drugs is what all addicts struggle with;

Once you got the detox figure out really start to figure out what is causing you to use drugs in the first place; get a good recovery group going of recovering ppl ( doesnt havve to be AA, whatever works for you); get a support group; theres a million things most people have to do;

im about to quit methaodne myself in a few weeks and im going to be CHANGING EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE; and honestly it has NOTHING To do even do witih methadone its crazy!!! The methadone was just the shit i took to cover up the pain and problems i didnt want to deal with or live with in my life;

good luck man;

Im in south florida;

Atleast your treatment is FREE; but man i really feel bad for all of americA now because traditional treatment is a complete & UTTER failure for the most part in this country;

The whole treatment system needs to be completely revamped as well as the stupid failing war on drugs; anoteht rant;

But man if you are motivated and you want this more than life itself and your willing to change YOU CAN DO THIS;

START doing the steps now that will ensure your steps to future success; because once you get of methadone is when the hard part or the real part starts....


Peace and GOOD LUCK man ill be in the thick of it with you; I'm going to do Ibogaine and switching to a SAO for 30 days;

Methadone is so much stronger than i realized; Im gonna need to take around 120-150mg of oxy every 4-8 hours switching from 80mg of methadone cause my metabolism is so fast; really fucked up..

Ive tried every route except Ibogaine , so ive got nothing to loose and this is y last chance; IT HAS TO AND IT WILL WORK.

I DONT EVEN CARE WHAT HAPPENS afterwards; as long as im off methadone ill take LIFE as it comes; cant wait to get off this terrible shit;

Dont meant to offend anyone everything said here is my life and my opinion; DONT GET ME WRONG IT SAVED MY LIFE; but deep down inside there is a yearnig of my SOUL that needs to be free from this stuff; it is no doubt the MOST POWERFUL narcotic in the world;

any drug that only 40mgs can stop physical withdrawal of the most HARDCORE heroin addicts is dam powerful; and thats right only 40mg is needed; people only go above 40 for cravings and phsyiological reasons cravings mostly;

but anways im getting way off point here; just ignore all my methadone bull shit

good luck man

 

[cj]

any drug that only 40mgs can stop physical withdrawal of the most HARDCORE heroin addicts is dam powerful; and thats right only 40mg is needed; people only go above 40 for cravings and phsyiological reasons cravings mostly;



good luck man

Its funny because I knew going in that anything over 80mg is just chasing the high and that chasing the high is self defeating. Yet here I am at 140mg lol. Addiction is such a mind fuck.

 

[cire113]

Its funny because I knew going in that anything over 80mg is just chasing the high and that chasing the high is self defeating. Yet here I am at 140mg lol. Addiction is such a mind fuck.

you are ABSOLUETELY Right now;; HONESTLY most people on MMT dont need to really be above 60-80 at the most! considering 40mg stops withdrawal in the most HARDCRE addictions; I once chased the high to 160 in pill form; and the pill form is WAY WAY WAY more powerful ,euphoric, and strong then that bull shit fake liquid they give you at the cinic; But I dont wanna tget back into that debate;

Start tapiering down and IRONICALLY you'll start to feel not only better but you will also the methadone MORE lol what an OXY moron;

if you are 140; you can get down to 80 pretty dam painlessley trust me and from 80 to 60 is pretty eeason;

I was using the uber tabelts but im not sure the liqud mettadone which after having tried the iquid and pain formulation tablets; liquid methadone is NOT real methadone.. its completely bull shit;; JUST MY EPERIENCE and opinion dont mean to piss anyone off; buti has to due with th levels of d and l methadone in the tablets andthe formation;

funnny how there more than 5 or 6 patents for metahdone in the US ; if it was all the same why so many patents;

any cirmson trust me dud you only like 6 mos in right? taper down now to 80 it wont that hard; then do down to the LOWEST dose possible that will help your physdhocohlgical cravings whihc for me for the most part was around 55-60; and try what even mroe pisses me off is the cost of the cilncis most are 14$ DAY THATS insaen1 oh well

good luck guys im n your side;; just ignore my methadone rant

 

[cj]

Shit I am paying 16 a day. I might start tapering just to see if your theory that I will feel it more is correct. I know that is true with bupe but I have to say I am skeptical with the mdone.

 

[manboychef]

all im saying is QUITTING methadone man really has nothing to do with quitting methadone; Quitting methadone is like the tip of the iceberg; unfortunately its the easiest part ; Staying CLEAN and stopped and living without drugs is what all addicts struggle with;

Once you got the detox figure out really start to figure out what is causing you to use drugs in the first place; get a good recovery group going of recovering ppl ( doesnt havve to be AA, whatever works for you); get a support group; theres a million things most people have to do;

Truer words were never spoken. It is true, stopping using is the easy part. Finding what drives you without drugs, and why you were using them in the first place can take a lifetime.

@crimsonjunk: Yeah I noticed there was a sweet spot on bupe, and methadone. It was weird. At high doses I wouldn't feel it. but with bupe, at 1-2mg I was nodding...and had a distinct glow about me.