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Methadone for heroin am i trading one addiction for another? Should i be worried

Ganjcat

Ganjcat

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 13, 2013
Messages
4,881
Hi as some of you may know I finally got off my arse and got a methadone script and I'm not going to lie it was great the first few weeks being able to get my fix for the day in one but what about methadone addiction vs just heroin
 
It's a pretty good replacement in terms of safety's sake. It worked for me and I was on a huge amount (at the highest point nearly 400mg). I was able to get off slowly and it wasn't that bad. That said I was surprised how severe and long lasting the withdrawal was even when I dropped off at around 5mg.

I'm a big methadone fan for recreational purposes. I'd take it over oxycodone or heroin any day, although the onset is admittedly very slow and boring.

I'm sure if I took 30mg right now I'd get lit up like a Christmas tree.
 
Obviously everybody is different but for me it has very little recreational value at all, I would never choose it over oxycodone ore heroin or even morphine but for me it has never been about recreation.

Long story short, methadone saved my life, without it I would most definitely be dead or on the prison merry go round, it allowed me to get control of my life, which at the time was totally out of control due to heroin addiction.

The reality is that it is a strong opioid and if you stay on it for a long time, as in methadone maintenence therapy then you will become dependant on it and withdrawl from it is very drawn out.

The question you have to ask yourself is, can I get off opioids without it and if you can't then in my opinion it is a great way to get control of your life and when you are ready you can then taper down to a low dose and come off.

For some people staying on it for a long time, perhaps indefinitely is necessary, myself I've been on the program for over 20 years, during that time I have had a few little binges, if it hadn't been for the methadone those little binges would have quickly become full blown habits but the methadone made it possible for me to pull them up and regain control.

There really is no easy answer, you have to give it some serious thought but for me it was a life saver and I don't regret going on the program.
 
coming off methadone was always worse than heroin for me which after a couple of times made me not even want to take em if i was dopesick
 
xxfreak187xx said:
coming off methadone was always worse than heroin for me which after a couple of times made me not even want to take em if i was dopesick
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yeah but I plan to quit heroin for good anyway and if it's to hard replace it with methadone because at least then I can stop wasting so much money on heroin that would feel great to just take methadone for a whole month without taking heroin on top for once I might have some money left from my last giro to the the next obviously I'm not at that stage yet I nearly am though I have fallen back a few steps this last week because my guy has got some very very strong heroin someone I know who is a 20 year addict says one bag of it is enough to give him the first decent high he's had in a while but kills your tolerance and mine so I'm gonna try to go all out now and just stick to my methadone one good thing is I have no money so can't get any but one bad thing is my guy rings me everyday age after 3pm to ask me if I want to loan a ten and I never quite have it in me to tell him no sometimes I tell myself I will just save it but that don't usually last long I'm gonna try anyway I need to take a tolerance break for Christmas because I'm going away on a sort of holiday to visit some family and I'm only gonna be able to take a little bit with me so
 
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Ganjcat said:
yeah but I plan to quit heroin from good anyway and if it's to hard replace it with methadone because at least then I can stop wasting so much money on heroin that would feel great to just take methadone for a whole month without taking heroin on top for once I might have some money left from my last giro to the the next obviously I'm not at that stage yet I nearly am though I have fallen back a few steps this last week because my guy has got some very very strong heroin someone I know who is a 20 year addict says one bag of it is enough to give him the first decent high he's had in a while but kills your tolerance and mine so I'm gonna try to go all out now and just stick to my methadone one good thing is I have no money so can't get any but one had thing is my guy rings me everyday age after 3pm to ask me if I want to loan a ten and I never quite have it in me to tell him no sometimes I tell myself I will just save it but that don't usually last long I'm gonna try anyway I need to take a tolerance break for Christmas because I'm going away on a sort of holiday to visit some family and I'm only gonna be able to take a little bit with me so
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That's exactly the point I was trying to make, yes when you eventually want to come off methadone, that's if you do want to come off, it will still be difficult, however you can do it on your terms and at your own pace.

This is a very different situation from having to stop h because you have run out of money and are forced to stop whether you are ready to or not.

The withdrawl from methadone takes longer than smack but if you reduce down to a low dose the withdrawls are nowhere near as intense, they can be managed effectively with some clonidine and benzos.

Don't let the horror stories scare you, I would rather come off a low dose of methadone than a big habit of heroin any day.
 
vision conquest said:
Don't let the horror stories scare you, I would rather come off a low dose of methadone than a big habit of heroin any day.
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This is absolutely true. I was on 380mg/day and was able to get off without too much of an issue. Though I was surprised on how severe the withdrawal was when I finally jumped off at 5mg. I was sick for a month. But it wasnt particularly severe. I'd probably be dead if wasn't for methadone. I don't think buprenorphine would have done the trick for me. Im glad I found a place willing to give me that giant dose of methadone because although I have no pain issues, i think i needed that massive dose. Yet for a while I was still doing bad stuff on it, like injecting 32mg/day of fentanyl in top of it.

The horror stories likely come from those who jumped off at a high dose or were forced to cold turkey. I know how horrible that is. I was hit with narcan by a paramedic while on 380mg/day. I've been so cold in my life, and the pain in my bones was unimaginable. I started spontaneously shitting myself within minutes. If I came across the paramedic who did that to me (it was unnecessary, I was wide awake and told him not to do it but i was restrained) I'd cut his thumbs off so he could never inject something into someone ever again
 
Methadone is an extremely useful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. Yes it is just replacing one addiction for another, but it's a more manageable addiction where you only need to dose once a day, you dont have to associate with fuckwits and it's cheap as chips. This allows you to rebuild your life without having to suffer crippling withdrawals.

However; it does take a considerable amount of input on your part to make it work. You need to really hate the whole heroin lifestyle and be determined to get off. You need to take it slow and easy and reduce at your own pace. There are bound to be hiccups along the way, but the important thing is to not take heroin on top - every time you do it sets you back. It's not easy, can take years and also depends upon personal circumstances, but when the stars align you can glide back down to earth with virtually zero consequences.

I had to reduce to 1mg/day before I realised that by this point my addiction was purely psychological and I was just wasting everyone's time. One day I just didn't bother picking up my script and that was it.

That's not to say I dont have other issues - booze is the biggest. But for all its toxicity, I prefer that to shoving all manner of unknown shit in my veins supplied by shady fuckin cunts...
 
Unfortunately my guy just called to say he's in the area and unfortunately I couldn't really say no because I know I would regret it later and he's not the kind of person you can change your mind with later so I got a ten of strong shit I feel a bit guilty because my grandma thinks I'm not touching it and cutting down she's got my methadone dose for tomorrow and everything but I know better then to let this make me give up I just gotta keep trying peace
 
Ganjcat said:
Unfortunately my guy just called to say he's in the area and unfortunately I couldn't really say no because I know I would regret it later and he's not the kind of person you can change your mind with later so I got a ten of strong shit I feel a bit guilty because my grandma thinks I'm not touching it and cutting down she's got my methadone dose for tomorrow and everything but I know better then to let this make me give up I just gotta keep trying peace
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Keep trying is all you can do mate. Just don't give up on giving up and one day you will...
 
Are you from Canada or Europe? Cos u can get a prescription for Diamorphine (Heroin) if the Methadone doesn't work however not all doctors are licenced to prescribe it ud have to find one. Alot of ppl are unaware of this!
 
evo4ever said:
Are you from Canada or Europe? Cos u can get a prescription for Diamorphine (Heroin) if the Methadone doesn't work however not all doctors are licenced to prescribe it ud have to find one. Alot of ppl are unaware of this!
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what I can get diamorphine which I know is heroin on script?? I'm from .uk tell me where I go mate :D
 
Ganjcat said:
what I can get diamorphine which I know is heroin on script?? I'm from .uk tell me where I go mate :D
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You wont stand a chance mate. You will need to be a hardened junkie of many years vintage that has tried every other treatment method available (and failed) with associated and repeating criminal behaviour. They don't give the good shit to just anyone ya know...
 
F.U.B.A.R. said:
You wont stand a chance mate. You will need to be a hardened junkie of many years vintage that has tried every other treatment method available (and failed) with associated and repeating criminal behaviour. They don't give the good shit to just anyone ya know...
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Yeah its used as a last resort but the option is still there and he should be aware of it.
 
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Methadone is better than heroin without a doubt. You are doing the right thing. Heroin daily use will only keep you broke, and in trouble.

I am also convinced the dope these days is complete bullshit. Might as well throw your money in the blender. Even the good stuff is still bullshit.

Since you just started, no need to worry. Simply get your dose to the right level you need to stop dope, and get all your shit together. Then you can figure out the next part (coming down, or deciding you need to stay on for longer).

Also..

If you go to jail you get a taper (here). Dope you will be left to rot in your cell.
If you go to the hospital you get your dose. Dope they will tie you down.

If you find yourself abusing the methadone (taking double doses, or ending up without several doses by the end of the week), or using lots of benzos and alcohol on top, then it becomes a problem.
 
F.U.B.A.R. said:
You wont stand a chance mate. You will need to be a hardened junkie of many years vintage that has tried every other treatment method available (and failed) with associated and repeating criminal behaviour. They don't give the good shit to just anyone ya know...
Click to expand...
yeah I thought so really... that would be to easy I have read articles about the government thinking of treating addicts more like ill people then criminals and stuff who knows what could happen in the next few years
 
Maybe their might be a finding that opiates somehow fights covid better then anything else and they give people free opiates I mean opiate addiction is better then dying it might not feel like not when your withdrawing but it is when your high I dunno I am high tonight very high
 
negrogesic said:
This is absolutely true. I was on 380mg/day and was able to get off without too much of an issue. Though I was surprised on how severe the withdrawal was when I finally jumped off at 5mg. I was sick for a month. But it wasnt particularly severe. I'd probably be dead if wasn't for methadone. I don't think buprenorphine would have done the trick for me. Im glad I found a place willing to give me that giant dose of methadone because although I have no pain issues, i think i needed that massive dose. Yet for a while I was still doing bad stuff on it, like injecting 32mg/day of fentanyl in top of it.

The horror stories likely come from those who jumped off at a high dose or were forced to cold turkey. I know how horrible that is. I was hit with narcan by a paramedic while on 380mg/day. I've been so cold in my life, and the pain in my bones was unimaginable. I started spontaneously shitting myself within minutes. If I came across the paramedic who did that to me (it was unnecessary, I was wide awake and told him not to do it but i was restrained) I'd cut his thumbs off so he could never inject something into someone ever again
Click to expand...
wow that sucks man that paramedic wants shooting
 
F.U.B.A.R. said:
Methadone is an extremely useful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. Yes it is just replacing one addiction for another, but it's a more manageable addiction where you only need to dose once a day, you dont have to associate with fuckwits and it's cheap as chips. This allows you to rebuild your life without having to suffer crippling withdrawals.

However; it does take a considerable amount of input on your part to make it work. You need to really hate the whole heroin lifestyle and be determined to get off. You need to take it slow and easy and reduce at your own pace. There are bound to be hiccups along the way, but the important thing is to not take heroin on top - every time you do it sets you back. It's not easy, can take years and also depends upon personal circumstances, but when the stars align you can glide back down to earth with virtually zero consequences.

I had to reduce to 1mg/day before I realised that by this point my addiction was purely psychological and I was just wasting everyone's time. One day I just didn't bother picking up my script and that was it.

That's not to say I dont have other issues - booze is the biggest. But for all its toxicity, I prefer that to shoving all manner of unknown shit in my veins supplied by shady fuckin cunts...
Click to expand...
so when you didn't pick up the script and decided to stop you didn't get any physical withdrawals at all even a week after well that makes me feel a bit safer I haven't been on methadone for that long if I jump off soon I might be able to get out of it
 
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