Opioids Question for People Who Have Been On Methadone and Subs

[Cadeblue]

I have a big oxy habit & I want to quit. I get 240 10/325 oxy's a month & usually go through them in 2 weeks if I'm lucky.

I recently tried subs and really liked the way they worked for me. I actually felt what I would, at this point after having been on the oxy for so long, consider "normal" for me.

I have an appt w/ my PM doc this next week and I'm going to request he put me on methadone as opposed to the oxy. I don't know whether he can prescribe subs or not. That is the reason for requesting methadone instead of subs.

My question is this: For those of you who have tried methadone and suboxone, did they both make you feel pretty much the same? I'm wondering if, since the suboxone seemed to work so well for me, that the methadone will work as well. Does that make sense?

I guess I'm wondering what differences, if any, there are between the way the two affected anyone who has been on or tried both. I realize that all meds affect people differently, but I'm just looking for some input from anyone who has tried both. Thanks!

 

[JaydenJohn]

subs have a sedative affect and sedatives in them and also methadone can take hours to take affect but last the whole day i didnt like the methadone affect tried subs then became clean with them i prefer subs alot more

 

[Ripamaru]

Methadone is a lot worse than OXY......The withdrawl is 10X worse and lasts for over a month.

Subs are a much better option for you.


I am addicted to methadone and I would never suggest an oxy user to go that far. That is like using heroin to get off vicoden.

They have a different feeling but subs work just as well for maintenance without as bad of a WD.



Stay the hell away from methadone unless you plan to be on it for life.

I will be switching back to subs as soon as I can and wish I had never gone to methadone in the first place....


I loved the way methadone worked, don't get me wrong......but it is hell to get off of. The WD is worse than heroin.

 

[JaydenJohn]

my brother been on methadone 10 years he kicked heroin 3 times but never be able kick the methadone take advice from Ripamaru post that sounds about right.

 

[Z Y G G Y]

Everyone is different but for me personally methadone works wonderful and subs didn't work so well. Even thou suboxone is a partial agonist it seemed to have a much stronger effect on me than methadone, which is totally odd.

With methadone I function very well. Wake up in the morning refreshed, have a lot of energy during the day. No side effects. No problems with sex life like other opiates can cause, can always get an orgasm. After a year on it I still get 95% control of pain.

Suboxone. I slept til 2pm sometimes and usually woke up at noon. Didn't feel like doing shit. The first 2 weeks were fine but after that I was extremely lazy all the time. This is not true with methadone, I never got used to its positive effects but all the negative effects that were there in the beginning went away (inability to orgasm, constipation, being overly high for several hours after the dose).

The only problem I see with methadone is that the w/d takes very very long if you ever decide to stop. 2 months I have been told. This personally scares me. But I am not going to stop any time soon and you can always go back on suboxone in order to get off.

But not everyone will have such a great experience with methadone. It might not be as good of a med for you as it is for me. And once you stop it might be hard to get of it. It's a risk. Be really sure you are willing to take it.

 

[Cadeblue]

Thank you all so much for the replies!

Well, right now, I am on oxy for pain management b/c I have post-herpatic neuralgia, which I could have for life. I don't want to be on the oxy anymore for numerous reasons. As far as the methadone w/d's being so awful, I may have to be on something for life and I would rather be on something that may help me feel better about my life than the oxy's are doing right now.

Just recently, I talked to my husband about my abuse of the oxy's, so he is on board w/ me getting on the methadone. This month, I gave him the bottle of oxy's and am taking them as prescribed. If I do get on the methadone and ever think about abusing it, I can just have my husband monitor my meds if it gets to that. I just want to be done w/ abusing the pills. I'm at the point now where I feel as if my life revolves around the pills, when I can take my next dose, etc. The oxy's don't even really help as much anymore and I often times feel sick to my stomach from taking them.

 

[Ripamaru]

Thank you all so much for the replies!

Well, right now, I am on oxy for pain management b/c I have post-herpatic neuralgia, which I could have for life. I don't want to be on the oxy anymore for numerous reasons. As far as the methadone w/d's being so awful, I may have to be on something for life and I would rather be on something that may help me feel better about my life than the oxy's are doing right now.

Just recently, I talked to my husband about my abuse of the oxy's, so he is on board w/ me getting on the methadone. This month, I gave him the bottle of oxy's and am taking them as prescribed. If I do get on the methadone and ever think about abusing it, I can just have my husband monitor my meds if it gets to that. I just want to be done w/ abusing the pills. I'm at the point now where I feel as if my life revolves around the pills, when I can take my next dose, etc. The oxy's don't even really help as much anymore and I often times feel sick to my stomach from taking them.

If your concern is abuse then methadone may be the right thing.

Once you are at a comfortable dose you won't really be able to get anything out of taking more methadone, it would just give you a headache and/or put you to sleep. Also you wouldn't be able to get a high from any opiates at all.

Subs still leave room to abuse other opiates if you skip a couple of doses and don't do much for the cravings.


You need to realize that methadone will not give you the kind of high that oxy's do. If you want to chase a high it will be pointless and possibly dangerous. That said, people try all the time and it would be a good idea to have your husband give you your doses.

The great part about methadone is that you won't get dope sick if you don't take any for 8 hours. Methadone lasts around 24 hours without any withdrawl symptoms although the pain killing effects only last a few hours. It is best to take 1/3 of your daily dose every 8 hours if you need the pain relief rather than just keeping the sickness away.


If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I have been on methadone for years and would be happy to answer any concerns you may have. Your doctor will not likely know what he is talking about.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

been on both..
1year methadone @120mg/day
4years suboxone @ 2yrs 16mg/day & 2yrs 2mg/day

sub>methadone all around ESPECIALLY when you want to get off completely. Methadone w/d's are the worst i have EVER been through.

 

[Cadeblue]

My biggest concerns are (1) the fact that I am abusing the oxy and I'm sick of doing that and I can't/won't stop and (2) the fact that the oxy really isn't even doing anything for my pain any longer no matter how much I take & has made me more of an angry person all around and pretty much sick to my stomach a lot of the time.

The thing about my situation is that I live in a VERY SMALL town w/ only 1 sub doc & 1 mmt. I actually went to the mmt place & she pretty much told me she didn't think I needed to be there & to deal w/ my PM doc - to tell him the truth etc. Sorry, but unless I KNOW he's going to put me on the methadone, I'm not coming clean w/ him. I NEED to be on something for my pain. If my PM doc won't put me on methadone, then I will start trying to get a sub doc, but then it's going to be about a 4 hour drive to get anywhere that I would be able to get a sub doc since the 1 in town is full.

I have read EVERYTHING I can about methadone & subs. I think I would RATHER go on subs, but since methadone may be the easier way for me to go & the drive will be shorter, that's what I'm going to try first. As it is, I have to drive 1 1/2 hrs to get to my PM doc. I don't think my PM doc does subs.

I understand about the horrid w/d's that come w/ methadone, but honestly, w/ my pain issues and my abuse issues, I truly pretty much plan on being on this stuff for the long haul anyway. I really have done my research on both, but just wanted to get some personal feedback from you guys that have been on both.

Edit: Oh & I am not looking to get high off the methadone. I really just want to feel somewhat "normal" as compared to how I feel on the oxy & the fact that I'm abusing the oxy. I am not going to try to take anything else on top of the methadone. I just want to be done w/ the abuse of the pills. I'm looking for the long-lasting effects of the methadone and not always concious of when my next dose of oxy is going to come every 4 hours. It's very tiring.

 

[Cadeblue]

With methadone I function very well. Wake up in the morning refreshed, have a lot of energy during the day. No side effects. No problems with sex life like other opiates can cause, can always get an orgasm. After a year on it I still get 95% control of pain.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

THIS is what I am looking for & want for my life!!

 

[BrokedownPalace]

Have you thought that possibly the reason you are feeling sick to your stomach, is due to your very high APAP intake? You take, what, eight of those pills a day? At 325mg APAP each your liver is surely hating you, and that much APAP daily, while not LETHAL, is certainly not doing anything positive for your stomach, liver, or mind.

I currently take methadone, and while I stopped shooting up heroin, the withdrawals and being a slave to the clinic, not to mention the DEPRESSION, has been worse than horrible. I wish I just got through the w/d cold turkey off of heroin, instead of getting stuck on this shit.

It has it's positives, don't get me wrong, but overall I would have to say I regret it. I am certainly not *happy* by any means. I am debating switching over to suboxone in the next few months so I can actually taper down and get off.

I would suggest trying out some extended release formulations of pain medicine, such as Oxycontin or MS-contin, before you make the commitment of starting methadone. Methadone isn't even that great for analgesia in my experience. Forget it if you ever have to go to the hospital, nothing will help your pain and breakthrough the methadone for me. Not shooting dilaudid, heroin.. shit loads of oxy.. nothing. fentanyl..HA. The pain just shits on any other opiates you decide to take for breakthrough pain.

 

[PinK~cloud]

I've been through the whole opiate addiction thing, and I have some advice that might help you.

Subs and methadone are typically for two different types of people looking for "sobriety."

The type of druggie who wants to quit a large habit because it's expensive, or because they are being forced into it usually likes methadone better. This is because methadone still gets you high even after months of being on it. A lot of people choose methadone because it's a way to still feel a "high" without spending tons of money on oxys.

Here's the other type of druggie: someone who is sick of living a life of addiction, and who wants to get serious help for opiate addiction--and eventually wants to be completely sober--would most often choose suboxone. Suboxone is a great tool because it allows an opiate addict to be rational for the first time in possibly years. This is because suboxone initially gets the user "high," but after a few days and weeks it fails to do so.

I personally have tried both. I liked methadone when i was being forced into quitting my habit, because I could still secretly get high. I was 19 when I was on the stuff, and I hated the fact that my parents had forced me into a program. However, after a few years of straightening out my life, I wanted to truly get "sober." I switched to suboxone and felt a feeling of relief that I had not experienced in years. I could actually think rationally about opiates, and suboxone quenched my "thirst" for the high in ways I had never felt. The best part? I wasn't fucked up all day.

The only problem I have had with suboxone is that it's hard to quit. I was never addicted to it mentally, as it gives an unnoticeable high after a while, but I was physically addicted. I had trouble quitting because of the long half life. It was a few weeks before the goose bumps and chills were all gone.

Best of luck man. Hope my advice helped.

 

[lmc422]

I am just going to add my experience. I was on methadone for 3 years. I switched over to suboxone 2 1/2 years ago and was by far the best decision I ever made! Methadone is just switching opiates. not to mention it is just plain aweful to get off of. It also numbs you, your feelings, senses, everything. Atleast with the suboxone I am 'normal'. and I didnt notice the numbing effect the methadone gives you untill I switched to the suboxone. The suboxone keeps my cravings away and does its job without the opiet induced state. So, imo, if you want to feel and live a 'normal' life, suboxone is by far the best choice.
I wish I just went thru the w/d's from heroin and never went on it. Everyone I know that I went to the clinic with that I met when I first started on it are still on it and cant get off bc the w/d's are that bad. and the few people I do know that are off of it sweitched to suboxone and either went off the subs or are still on them.
My best advice I could give anyone even considering to go on methadone is to just not do it! Dont even make it an option. Just forget that it even exists!
What many people do not know is that while on suboxone their are some partial opiets that you can take for pain management while on suboxone. I know this bc I have 4 sliped disks in my neck from a car accident 2 years ago and my PM doc who also prescribes me my subs prescribes me my PM meds. And im still not in that opiet induced fog. I get my pain relief and my cravings controled.
This is just my personal experience. There are some people who swear by methadone and the others swear by suboxone. But Suboxone is really the way to go in the long run. Please please please whatever you do dont go on the methadone. Please consider the suboxone. I promise you wont regret it!

 

[lmc422]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

THIS is what I am looking for & want for my life!!

I can assure you that it is NOT what you are looking for or want in your life. I will promise you that it is absolutly not what you want or need in your life. And I am speaking from experience and I understand the physical pain you are in. I am telling you that methadone is NOT the answer. and take it from those of us that know. I wouldnt be reaching out to you like this if I really didnt know. I dont want you to make the same mistake that the rest of us did going on the methadone. Altho most of us are not on it anymore and can tell you and asure you that suboxone is the best an only option.

 

[sprockets2000]

in my opinion you have to think about it differently, I prefer subs and I dont EVER plan on getting off of them WHY WOULD I. Ive always had pain and depression since the Army and Subs KIND of helps with the pain and TRULY helps with the depression it has a long half life and I dont see any reason to taper off until one day you are just like hmm I dont want subs anymore which I doubt ill ever say, who knows though maybe. One day subs will be generic too or the doc will give me subutex and I can just take htem the rest of my life and hope that this relativley new drug doesnt have long term consequences.

 

[Ripamaru]

I have been on methadone for years and some of the people above are flat not correct.

I am very serious about getting off of it and don't get high at all (haven't for years). Not all MMT people are still chasing the high.

Some people swear that subs are better, others swear that done is better. Not everyone is the same.

If I had a choice to start one right now I would likely choose subs only b/c the WD isn't as bad. But subs do NOTHING for the cravings IMO and allow people to continue to abuse other opiates just by skipping a dose. Methadone will not allow you to get any high off of other opiates period once you are on a stable dose. Most sub people I know still abuse other drugs.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

Most sub people I know still abuse other drugs.

^ well than, tell your friends who are on bupe maintenance and are still using other drugs to get high to get the hell off bupe so they aren't taking someone else's place in line who REALLY wants to get off drugs.

 

[Ripamaru]

^ well than, tell your friends who are on bupe maintenance and are still using other drugs to get high to get the hell off bupe so they aren't taking someone else's place in line who REALLY wants to get off drugs.

Not my friends by any stretch of the imagination. I tell anyone stupid enough to screw around on maintenance be it subs or methadone that I think it is stupid and it hurts those of us that are serious.

When you go to a clinic every damn morning you can't help but be around these type of people. I don't make friends with anyone there really, not the kind of place to develop friendships. My true friends are at my NA/AA meetings.

 

[Ripamaru]

But most of the sub people are always switching between bupe and dope all the time......You cannot do that with methadone.......So the idea that bupe is for the serious people is laughable IMO.

Hell, people on these forums talk about exactly that all the time......

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

But most of the sub people are always switching between bupe and dope all the time......You cannot do that with methadone.......So the idea that bupe is for the serious people is laughable IMO.

Hell, people on these forums talk about exactly that all the time......

i was on it for 4 years and never abused an opiate once.. and most of the people abusing bupe aren't scripted it.
And i don't see how you can see someone who is struggling to get off drugs *laughable*, of course that's in your opinion so i respect your opinion but i just fail to see any humor in people who are dependent on drugs and want to use subs maybe to just take a break or something like that.