do people who get on methadone usually get off the methadone eventually?

[alexthealien]

my friend has been increasing his dosage, and i was thinkin if he needs to increase he'll never get off of it because it'll be harder and harder. is it much harder than heroin to get off of? are the withdrawls much worse?

 

[nAON]

If he's trying to get off opiates in general, he should be lowering his dosage gradually, not the other way round. Methadone has a longer half-life, which makes it easier to taper your dosage than with heroin. Not sure about which has worse withdrawals, though in theory the metd withdrawals would last longer due to the longer elimination period.

 

[nsauce]

Heroin withdrawals: intense and short lasting. Methadone withdrawals: less intense and MUCH more long lasting

 

[oxymoron310]

Heroin withdrawals: intense and short lasting. Methadone withdrawals: less intense and MUCH more long lasting

This about sums it up. Isn't the point of methadone maintenance to get off opiates? (Rhetorical)