Advice on Tapering with Methadone?

[cire113]

Ive been taking methadone for about 1.5 years now; at doses ranging from 40mg to 100mg; I was stable for a while on 80mgs a day;

I was getting all this rxed by a dr and filled at the pharmacy; I just can't do the daily clinic thing;

It was prescribed for pain; But I'm 29 years old and its impossible for me to get my script filled; My original script for 240 i was lucky to get filled for a year;


To keep a long story short I can no longer get my meds filled because of asshole pharmacists in Florida. Looking at me and thinking why does a 29 year old need this much methadone; When i actually have legit pain issues.

Right now I'm on about 60mgs a day; But Every month Im getting a prescription for 30 less pills; This month I had a script for 180 but only got 171;

What the hell could be the reason for the pharmacy for only getting 171 out of 180 when they did a special order for me?

It was a new local pharmacy so maybe she was making it look like she didnt fill the whole thing and giving me less who knows???

If I'm stable right now I'm 60 mgs once a day; What is a good plan to taper down ???


I was thinking 5 mgs a week and when i get to 40 see how I feel... I was at one point down to 40mgs but because of stress and triggers went all the way back up to 80;

I found that 60mg was really the optimal and ideal dose for me; Anything over 60 and its diminishing returns with more side effects anything less than 60 and i started to crave more ;

Unforunately I live in South Florida and I'm SICK and TIRED of pharmacy's playing god; I just want to taper down to around 40mgs which is more reasonable to get filled (120 a month) or even switch to suboxone. or get all together ....

Hell I'm even considering IBOGAINE;

Been dependent on OPIATES for over 10 years but only on methadone for 1.5


Can someone please give me some valuable input and advice here its urgent nd it feels like I'm STUCK in BIND


Much Love

 

[Zerrr]

Hello cire.

You might get more info on this if it is posted in OD.

From what I have read it's not advocated to try to switch over to suboxone unless you're at or under 30 mgs methadone/day...

Wish I could help more..

Take Care

 

[T. Calderone]

Moving this to Other Drugs where you may get more expert answers. Wish you luck!

 

[MONSTA!!]

I find the US system rather strange, here in the UK if you have a valid prescription the pharmacy gives you exactly what is written on it. For a pharmacist to question a doctor's prescription for anything other than an unforeseen contraindication is madness.

 

[jamesBrown]

I find the US system rather strange, here in the UK if you have a valid prescription the pharmacy gives you exactly what is written on it. For a pharmacist to question a doctor's prescription for anything other than an unforeseen contraindication is madness.

Unfortunately the US(where I regret to live), does seem to be VERY different from the UK on matters like this. Although, a lot of these problems have a lot to do with insurance companies. I live with THE WORST pain I can imagine someone experiencing...(im basically missing my lower vertebrae)...anyway, my pain is so extreme, I am prescribed 2 100mcg/hr patches a day. Plus I'm only 25. I've never heard of someone being prescribed meds like this. But it is what I need. And I have had this pain for 4 yrs, yet only have had an increase in my pain meds ONE time(from 2 100mcg patches every 2 days..to 2 patches EVERY day).
Anyway... concerning the insurance companies... I am on disability, and therefore I get Medicaid(or medicare, the pain makes it difficult to remember such things)... but I also have my own private insurance which is VERY good coverage. Yet, they somehow have the authority to tell my pharmacist to NOT give me my whole prescription(a prescription prescribed by a very well known/respected PM dr.)... consequently.. I often only receive about 60%-80% of what I am prescribed. Infuriating. How does a pharmacist have authority over a HIGHLY respected medical dr. ?? The answer is that there is no answer. Our "system" is so damn convoluted and corrupt(among other things), that you will always reach a point where there just aren't any answers.
Its all a game. One big fucking game. A game where the people in authoritative positions make a lot of $. Im rambling, all apologies.

**I'm also prescribed 8mg Dilaudid(hydromorphone) 6 times a day**

 

[Zerrr]

(no offense or anything) pretty sure the op would prefer advice focused on a rational way to proceed with his methadone taper rather than an argument about the 'system'.

I have no experience with this drug so I cannot help much beyond giving this thread a bump.

gl op

 

[jamesBrown]

Unfortunately the "system", or insurance companies as I was pointing out, sometimes seem to have complete control over what you are allowed to fill in regards to your prescription. This is an issue the OP was complaining about. So I was trying to give the OP another perspective on that part of his question/post. You did read him complaining about this problem right?

 

[Zerrr]

I did see that part, I also read the title of the thread

NEED Expert ADVICE on Tapering with Methadone from those with EXPERIENCE!

Unless they drop his dose dramatically and without prior notice, someone should be able to suggest a viable taper plan.

I don't care if you want to focus on the system aspect just figured he wanted advice on tapering.

carry on

 

[Ksa]

(no offense or anything) pretty sure the op would prefer advice focused on a rational way to proceed with his methadone taper rather than an argument about the 'system'.

I have no experience with this drug so I cannot help much beyond giving this thread a bump.

gl op

You don't need to have cancer yourself to know how to treat it. And if you DO have cancer, that doesn't mean you know how to treat it also lol.

You don't want to leave the impression that trying the substance is the only way to understand how it works. There's good theoreticians on bluelight

 

[Zerrr]

The op specifically asked for someone with EXPERIENCE....in caps.

You don't want to leave the impression that trying the substance is the only way to understand how it works. There's good theoreticians on bluelight

I mentioned that I did not have experience with this drug, I didn't say "trying the substance is the only way to understand how it works"

 

[jamesBrown]

I believe there have been dozens of posts/threads where people in almost the exact situation the OP finds himself in have asked for assistance in tapering from methadone. I see no reason why a simple search shouldn't reveal MANY answers to the OP's question. That is why I didn't refer to any tapering method in my original post.
And please, if you don't like someone's post and you think it is just derailing the thread or ignoring the original question, then simply report the post. Responding to it simply to tell the poster(me) how they aren't helping... is ALSO not helpful.

Now, I DO have experience with this particular situation but as I am in much pain and do not feel like I could explain in detail what I think should be done as a result of said pain, I will again say that a simple search should yield any answer the OP could hope to get from the members of BL.

 

[Zerrr]

I believe there have been dozens of posts/threads where people in almost the exact situation the OP finds himself in have asked for assistance in tapering from methadone. I see no reason why a simple search shouldn't reveal MANY answers to the OP's question. That is why I didn't refer to any tapering method in my original post.
And please, if you don't like someone's post and you think it is just derailing the thread or ignoring the original question, then simply report the post. Responding to it simply to tell the poster(me) how they aren't helping... is ALSO not helpful.

Now, I DO have experience with this particular situation but as I am in much pain and do not feel like I could explain in detail what I think should be done as a result of said pain, I will again say that a simple search should yield any answer the OP could hope to get from the members of BL.

I did not say you were not helping, I just pointed out that he asked for advice on taper.

FTR-Before anyone posted in this thread I sent him a pm with details about another BL'r who found himself in a similar situation.

I did this without being sarcastic or offensive, unlike someone else ITT.

gl op and I hope you feel better JamesBrown.

 

[jemjada]

Please read immediately I can help you

I have a lot I can help you with honey I just left the methadone clinic .. at 63 mgs ...unfortunately in the beginning I didn't have a choice because it was either overdose and die or go to the methadone clinic. first mistake I made was letting myself be talked into going up to 210 mg and next thing you know four years later $16,000 down the drain. I couldn't live with myself anymore I didn't care about the way I looked or the way you know I really felt about myself oh thank God I'm strong-minded and intelligent that's why I feel like it's important that I send you this.. Methadone is hell to come off but it is so 's out there like it's no big deal like it's some helpful wonderful recovery program these doctors look it people they see a background and they do what is morally correct when really what we need is more resources we need hits people that will stand and stand tall and let these people know that look we are dying care if you're looking at that like I literally feel like I am dying here with drawls can get so intense that I know for a fact if it wasn't for the people the support I had I would have ran to drugs to hard-core drugs again and I wouldn't have made it out I want to ask you something??? Do you feel like in the time you've been on methadone that you don't feel like your brain is retaining information correctly or you're feeling like your memory is messed up bothersome things in your mental status???? I can help you I have some really awesome straightforward advice that you can go and get what you need without having to deal with all of the political bull crap but please write me back I'm really on your side and would like to help you -hay

 

[jemjada]

I recommend you go to your doctor and that you get clonidine those Will help when your legs are going crazy in your body just does not want to get comfortable in it's own skin. if your sick and you feel like your stomach is just going through hell literally Promethazine (Phenergan)... is going to take care of your stomach and you are also going to be able to sleep Clonidine is what you can get for your legs because trust me that is unbearable ..

 

[neversickanymore]

I would drop 2 mg every week. Methadone half life is pretty varied between people. Its range goes from 8h all the way up to a whopping 150 hours. The average half life is around 30 hours.

To estimate how long it will take to eliminate a drug from our systems we take its half life and multiply it by six. So 30 x 6 = 180h = 7.5 days to eliminate methadone from the system. Then we can add four days to allow the system to readjust and we get around twelve days.

So to feal the full results of a decreased dosage of methadone and allow the system to readjust it takes about two weeks. For this reason you will want to set your taper up so that you drop a very small amount once a week or a small amount once every two weeks. I would suggest dropping 2 mg per week. If this proves to be to much then consider trying 2 every two weeks.

I see so many people try and taper daily or every couple of days. The problem with this is that the full effects of the reduction in dosage aren't felt for many days. So they will do really well for a week or so and then all of the sudden the half lifes start catching up and this combines with effects of the continuous taper and they find themselves in substantial unpleasant withdrawal and fail at the taper.

There are more than a few people on BL that have had ibogaine work wonders for them. So its a very real option.

Very best of luck with your taper. You can do this.

 

[phatass]

I would go from 60 to 50 in a week, 50 then diminish 5mg/week if it is too "difficult" do 5mg/2 weeks (better the taper take longer and be successfull), once you reach 5mg, you can diminish by the mg if you want (at least here there are 1mg gelcaps), so at the end somthing like like 5mg to 3mg in 2 weeks, than 1mg/1 or 2 weeks diminishment... allways depending on how you feel.

Also don't forget alcool makes methadone metabolize far quicker, so lasts less long... in case you're a regular drinker, take that into account.

(I failed my methadone taper back in the day (startd at 120mg) and relapsed when i was at a few mg/day it took too long, was frustrating, and was like having a "mise en bouche" to get your mouht watering, but then not even an entrance or main course, i you get my analogy, but i managed to stop completely when i cold turkeyed 90mg)

If u use the search engine i'm sure you'll find good info, also at th very end of your taper hen you "jump off" your last mg, you migt want some meds to help, but you shouldn't NEED them, doing a slow taper, if you get me.

 

[downerhead]

I used to be on a clinic that mixed the dosage with Methadose tablets before switching to automated machine.With the tablets the smallest increments they could use was 2.5mg (breaking a 5 in half ),the machine they switched to could measure down to single mg increments.Since I am assuming you are getting the 10mg pills I'll tell you the taper I was using before the switch.I told them to decrease my dose 2.5mg every 2 weeks.This was going well but once they went to the machine I decreased 1mg per week and walked off the clinic at 2mg.It went pretty good,just a bit of mild discomfort around the 5mg and below point.Easily handled with some benzos and alcohol.If they had stuck to methadone tablets I would imagine the results would have been about the same. A nice,slow taper like that should be pretty painless,just a couple sleepless nights and mild discomfort easily handled.I think you would be fine with that method and be out of the woods fairly easily.If you hit any rough spots feel free to PM me.I may be able to offer some pointers or something.Good luck.