Opioids I need advice on kicking active fentanyl addiction while on Methadone maintenance

[ThomasB95]

Let me start by saying I've been on Methadone maintenance for 5 months now. I'm currently taking 150 mgs daily. But my problem is im still using fentanyl and I would appreciate any advice on how to possibly kick this habit!
When I first started the methadone it was great. I was in extreme fent withdrawal and the first 30 mg dose the clinic gave me worked like a charm. Took all my withdrawal away completely. I continued the methadone maintenance and stayed clean for almost 2 months. I finally ended up relapsing and started using fentanyl daily along with the methadone. Once this happened, for the next few months every time I tried putting the fent down, I would go into withdrawal. Not full blown withdrawal where I'm puking and shitting myself but enough to where I can't sleep, cold sweats, irritability....The methadone has almost no effect now no matter how much I increase my dose.
Now, like I said, the fent withdrawals aren't full blown dope sick and that's because of the methadone but it's still uncomfortable. I'm tired of wasting my money everyday on fent so my question is this...How can I use the methadone to smoothly get off the fentanyl like I done in the very beginning? I feel like I've permanently ruined the effectiveness of the methadone by using it and fent together.... Would maybe going a few days with absolutely nothing and then taking the methadone help??? Or if I just continue dosing daily like I'm doing now, stay away from the fent and just ride the withdrawals out? Maybe the methadone would start working again after 4-5 days. Or am I just screwed? And advice on how I can beat this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[neu_nobody]

You surely have to stop fent and see what happens. How long will that "semi-wds" last, how will you feel.
Also it's dangerous as hell.

 

[ThomasB95]

You surely have to stop fent and see what happens. How long will that "semi-wds" last, how will you feel.
Also it's dangerous as hell.

Why is it dangerous? I hardly even feel the fent when I use it. I would think that means it would be super hard for me to OD but I could be totally wrong. And why use the fent if I barely even feel it you might ask? Honestly, I don't really know. The best answer I could give you is my methadone dose always wears off around dinner time, and I guess I use the fent to help me sleep.

 

[neu_nobody]

it's dangerous bc of overdose risk. If I were you I would just stop using fent. Stopping methadone for just few days is pretty meaningless because of its long half-life
Withdrawals shouldn't be too bad. Are you getting it from clinic? Maybe talk to them?
You will feel the methadone, it is not permanent. You just raised your tolerance with fent.

 

[TheFunkeeJunkee]

If you are using high potency american street dope while on 150mg of methadone a day, I suggest you get admitted to detox and rehab.

You don't have to do this the hard way (alone).

 

[lovemissile66]

Why is it dangerous? I hardly even feel the fent when I use it. I would think that means it would be super hard for me to OD but I could be totally wrong. And why use the fent if I barely even feel it you might ask? Honestly, I don't really know. The best answer I could give you is my methadone dose always wears off around dinner time, and I guess I use the fent to help me sleep.

I totally get where you are coming from. I was not on Methadone long, maybe one month. I was shooting heroin and thought I was ready to give it up. The clinic started me on a standard dose of 30mgs. I did not like how I felt on Methadone and I was still using heroin. The Methadone blocked most of that dope but that did not deter me from continuing to use. I think the rationale is although the Methadone blocks the heroin high, I was just as addicted to the needles, the procuring of the heroin, fixing up, you know-the lifestyle of a drug addict. When I asked to lower my dose, because I, too, couldn't justify spending money on the clinic if I still wanted to use heroin. Man, the clinic had no problem wanting to raise my dose, but as soon as I wanted off and to taper my dose, I got red tape and was met with much disapproval by my 'counselor' at the clinic.

I have heard of people who split their dose of Methadone because they metabolize it too quickly and run into withdrawal issues. If a taper of Methadone was offered over say, the course of a month, I probably would have tried harder. But they don't want you off. Those fucking clinics are banks. I had friends that were heroin addicts for a year but were stuck on Methadone for eight years. At 150mgs, I'm thinking you have hit a plateau?

I didn't offer you much help but I do wish you the best of luck and hopefully someone with more information will hop on.

 

[Keif' Richards]

If you are using high potency american street dope while on 150mg of methadone a day, I suggest you get admitted to detox and rehab.

You don't have to do this the hard way (alone).

Seconded. If you want my true advice, you should find a detox and check yourself in. Confirm that they will be able to provide you medications to help with the withdrawal and stay for the full 5-7 days.

If you continue to use Fentanyl, you're either going to be totally dependent/addicted or not using it at all. There is no middle ground here. I knew lots of people who used Heroin "functionally". I was a school teacher and I used Heroin for most of my adult life. I've never met or heard of a person with true stability in their lives who use street Fentanyl.

Moderating dosage is impossible, as the potency is constantly fluctuating. Forget that idea. You might only want to catch a little buzz, you tell yourself, then you get super potent dope that knocks you right out for hours. You don't enjoy being high and your tolerance has now increased. Any possibility of controlling the intake is unrealistic.

With that being said, you have to find a way to go without the Fentanyl for 5-7 days. This will not be a picnic. It's gonna fucking suck but you gotta keep your eyes on the prize. At the other end, you'll have your Methadone becoming effective again. You have the possibility of life, love, happiness and self-respect. If Dante could walk through Hell to get Beatrice, you can get through this for your own self.

If Detox is not an option, you need to put distance between yourself and the dope, acquire comfort medications and set yourself up bunker style to do the 5-7 days on your own. Go to a cabin in the woods, hours away from the dealers, bring your medications, tell someone what you're doing and that you want them to help keep you honest. Repeat the same process as above.

Let me know what questions you have. Be sure to mention me by name @Keif' Richards so I don't accidentally forget to get back at you.