Opioids Methadone Mega Thread and FAQ v 2.0

[Siouxjenn4]

Thanks erikman, I am off the methadone and as far as finding a doc to help with the w/d thats tough in new jersey so im forced to go to the streets to self medicate.

 

[namnoc16]

yeah you don't want to get dependent on benzos,if you think detox of opiods/opiates are bad nothing is worse the wds from Benzos or alcohol.Dope and methadone withdrawal makes you feel like you are gonna die but benzos and alcohol can make that feeling a reality.Vivitrol is an injection of naltrexone and it doesn't help with wds but once your clean you get an injection and it renders opiates/opiods useless so you don't relapse.

 

[namnoc16]

Hey soulmeetsbodi that is a rapid detox off methadone and I hope you have the resolve to kick that shit,methadone sucks.I went to clinic for 9 years and not only was picking up daily dose bad enough I was confronted with all kinds of junkies who went there selling drugs(which much to happy to buy from,im an idiot).Anyway I to was at 60mg and ended up getting locked up so I had to quit old turkey.The wd sucks,it wasn't as intense to me as smack wd but lasted much longer. In the end I was happy to be free of it but it was rough.

 

[mandraxx]

w/d from methadone sucks big time, especially cold turkey from a high dose. I had to quit cold turkey from 120mg plus taking 2mg+ xanax a day. It was pure hell for a month. I'm now considering going to a gym, to get my endorphins running again. Certain things help - music being another help. As for what can alleviate the pain, without resorting to other medications, it differs from person to person. For me, exercise, reading in small amounts, psychotherapy, music - these have helped me. I do take some klonopin, which normally helps, but that's another issue (read MEGA benzo thread for more info on that).
If you are addicted to the done, plus the benzos, best case scenario is to detox SLOWLY. If you can get some bupes legit, then do so. Watch yourself on the benzos, you don't need another problem with those. Best to detox from them after the methadone detox, if that is what you need to do. And I recommend finding a sympathetic counselor and/or psychiatrist. Problem is most psychiatrists are so goddamned biased towards methadone clients, it is hard to find one to truly talk to.
Exercise can help. Sex no doubt, although if you're puking your guts out it will be hard to find a g/f, but I'm just mentioning that as a possible long term thing. You can get your life back. It is possible. I've been through two methadone detoxes, and tons of benzo detoxes, all done at home. Oh, and the television. Christ, can't forget that

 

[Zackjones95]

Just found this site. I am in desperate need of advice. I took in a very loved family member (Sam, not his real name) who was living on the streets and shoplifting to pay for a very bad addiction to heroin. He was 26 and in terrible health. We tried a suboxone program but he didn't respond well. He got into a Methadone clinic and quickly got up to a 140 mg dose and stayed there for almost 5 years. He did great. He really liked the clinic he was going to. He stopped all other drugs, became very respectful and grateful and helpful with a lot of things around the house. I am away on business a lot and he held down the fort whenever I was away. He became like a son to me. We recently moved to a nice suburb and rented a very nice condo from my brother. He had to switch clinics and everything has gone to hell. He must attend several hours long group meetings a week where militant 'counselors' berate participants, belittle their lives and talk about other patients from other groups and how messed up and stupid they are. Sam feels personally harassed by these counselors because he has had several neurological disorders since childhood that make ordinary things like holding down a job or maintaining grades in school extremely difficult. After 6 months at this cultish clinic he lost it and demanded his dose be lowered to zero over time. He wanted out. He really hates it there. Their doctor evaluated Sam and prescribed a lowering of 5mgs a weeks. He is now down to 95 from 140 in 9 weeks and nothing is going well. Sam is paranoid and delusional the past few weeks. At first I thought he was developing schizophrenia. He hears voices screaming at him through the walls "F YOU!!!" everywhere in the house. He hears people snickering at him when he sits on the toilet. He thinks the house is being shaken by people to drive him out. When he walks outside he thinks someone is screaming at him from inside houses. He takes me to rooms in our house and asks me if I can hear the voices or feel the shaking. I can't. Because it is all in his head. He gets furious when I ask him to consider that possibility and he won't see a doctor. A week ago he ran from the house in the middle of the night. He wouldn't go back. I took him to a hotel and he slept for 24 hours so relieved to be out of the house. But on the 3rd day he checked out of the hotel because he said the people found out where he was and were on the roof and in the next room yelling at him and shaking the room all night. A friend told me that the doctor must be nuts to lower him that much so quickly. Sam is almost impossible to talk to about all this. I have no idea what to do or how or where to get help from. Is it even possible to get off methadone this way? Shouldn't there be much more supervision and supportive medication to ease these symptoms? I'm worried he won't survive this. It's really terrible to live through for both of us.

 

[Runtoparadise]

^sorry to hear of the situation. Could you coerce or otherwise get "Sam" to an ED? Some benzos might quieten the noises in his head. Unless he's also on a contract to avoid such substances while attending the clinic.

 

[CfZrx]

Aha! A new cyp2b6 inhibitor. I searched hard and found a new CYP2B6 inhibitor for use in methadone potentiation. Thoughts? http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/36/6/1010.full

 

[Zackjones95]

I believe he is allowed medications as long as they are prescribed to him by a doctor. I am starting to really think a 5mg drop per week is too fast but I can't get him to agree or to see a doctor. It's a tough situation.

 

[CfZrx]

trip report-cimetidine raised my methadone high quite a bit! I also dropped 25mg diphenhydramine, but i think it was the cimetidine

 

[speedballs_over]

I highly doubt my clinic will prescribe doses above 200 mg, though. Legality aside, they're the only clinic for at least 1.5 hours one way in any direction, and as far as they're concerned, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. They have plenty of people waiting who'd be happy with any amount of methadone. They give the slowest and least increases I've ever heard of. I started at 20 and increased 5 mg the first week, then 10 every week after. After you hit 70, you have to show serious wd symptoms to get an increase. They do a COWS sheet before ANY increase and at 85 I got denied the increase to 95 the first time I put in a request because I scored too low. I scored in moderate withdrawal a about 22 hours after last dose. I had to leave my counselor a voicemail at 7:30 pm practically crying because I was trying to work but the withdrawals were too bad before I got my last increase. The doctor will not do an increase due to cravings alone. They will not increase more than once a week, even when starting. And most people I know there are right around 100 mg. The one thing I can say is at least they'll increase if you're still using, although eventually you'll get kicked out...

I do not doubt your situation one bit. It doesn't help much, but all these rules and policies were determined detrimental to recovery when Dr. Dole and Nyswander completed the research that led the federal government to outline how states could implement MMT programs.

Forty years on and the feds are too far removed, states have methadone authorities (agencies that regulate) with rules and regs that are contrary to the research that made the clinics possible!

I doubt that helps much. It sucks. They're violating federal regulations, if not laws, probably just regs - with their own regs. Of course Oregon has cannabis despite the DEA... Anyway, you're kinda stuck, you need an effective advocate for your situation at the clinic. Sometimes clinics provide advocates, but they tend to be useless. A former patient who has done very well after a successful program may be your best bet for relief from bad regs. Kick you out b/c you use too much? I got my big raises b/c I was still slamming three bundles at a time trying to get high. Two bags used to do me fine.

I wish I had more, better advice but I've been out of the clinic system so long my current knowledge is dated.

People fucking move hundreds of miles to get to better clinics and i often hear it doesn't work out so great, but sometimes they do.

Just imagine the clinics in L.A. that all the famous people and their kids go to. Private waiting rooms, nobody but you, complete privacy, few UAs, few rules, take outs by the month, a gorgeous nurse that doses you. A physician on site to get your Xanax script ready for you. I hear they are fucking sweet. And you'll not find them without knowing someone, though these are completely legal. Theyv likely charge ab huge free, thus keeping thev riff-raff far, far away.

A guy on here in '04 (.....gesic) went to one of those clinics. He was also the first person I'd ever heard of having a 100-mg plus day diazepam habit b/c he got powder. That guy always had the best of everything. Then he sorta disappeared, he was legit for sure, and popular. Posted often and was extremely knowledgeable. He mentioned that the clinic he went to was in a penthouse suite in a large high rise, I believe. All private waiting rooms. I could just pull his posts to verify but that seems creepy. I digress.

Fight gently, know their rules better than them, if you need to file a federal complaint to SAMHSA, hit me up by PM if you need help with that. I've had some feds at SAMHSA get very involved in helping me with a then unpopular issue at the time, not getting take outs b/c I smoked weed. He wrote to the clinic personally and told them as far as the feds were concerned I deserved take out privileges. The clinic still denied citing state regs. But, I got help. You just need some guidance.

 

[Andy A]

yeah I think I'm pretty much done withdrawling, I was curious if anyone else had this prob. I have NEVER sweat like this before.

Yes I do sweat under my arms some since coming off methadone...1 and 1/2 years clean.Also have indigestion,burp a lot.and still have restless arm syndrome.Paws...Hope We feel normal someday,Its a long haul getting off this stuff especially if you were on long term like me! Be strong!

 

[Bigazznugz]

Anyone have a opinion on the different types of methadone that clinics are currently using. For example my Clinic I'm going to now currently doses Vistapharm brand methadone. That's what I have seen the most is Vistapharm. I have also had mallinckrodt brand "methadose" brand methadone which is darker in color and stronger in flavor. I find the methadose brand is much better. It lasts much longer than the lighter colored Vistapharm. I know the colorants have no effect and they are supposedly the same but I have to disagree. Especially when it comes to pill form methadone,methadose, or dolaphine. It seems that pill form is much more effective than liquid for me. I am on 120mgs and have been for too long. But 40 mg methadone diskets will have me as comfortable if not more comfortabke as 120mgs of liquid and last longer than liquid would. That's 40 mgs difference. I know what I'm gonna here is all the same thing methadone hydrochloride. The differences between the two are just binders and fillers and sweeteners in liquids case. But I have noticed doliphine is much stong per mg than regular liquid methadone.
I don't know if it's the way my body breaks down the powder or pill form or if it is truly placebo. I can't be the dispersion rate I always dissolve the diskets first you kinds have to they are so big. So any feed back guys.
Much love,
Nugz

 

[Gozlinchick]

New member- going to first appt at methadone clinic tomorrow

Greetings y'all. I have been on opiods for about 8 years now, up to 180mg (oxy)/day. I had a bad ankle fx that required surgery 10+ years ago. I have end stage arthritis as a result from my injury, causing pain/swelling with every step I take. I have been to numerous docs, none of which will script me narcs for my pain. Cortisone shots no longer help and there is just too much damage to the soft tissues that surround my ankle joint. I am 39 and have 2 kids that are my LIFE. This pain has really fucked with my head and my quality of life. I have decided, only because I can't afford to keep buying the pills off the street due to my tolerance, to go to the methdone clinic. My first appt is tomorrow. Can anyone tell me what I can expect? Will they start treatment tomorrow? I'm so afraid of w/D's, as I have experienced them quite a few times. I do smoke pot, have everyday for the past 20 years (minus when I was preggo). So I feel I can't even reach out to pain mamagemnt docs. I live in SC. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crzydiamond]

Depending on the clinic you may be dosed tomorrow or within a day or two. Some take a urine or blood test and send it to lab first. Obviously they make sure you're on opioids. (First time you ever WANT to fail a drug test lol). Some will test on the spot.

They will do the psychosocial and drug history. You have to be using for at least a year to be admitted (unless that changed in the past couple years).

And of course they'll run your insurance or set up payment.

That's basically it. You see a doctor also who actually writes the prescription, that is a must before you get dosed.

When you do get medicated-- you'll start around 20 or 30 mg. that's all they are allowed to start you at. For a lot of ppl it's not enough to completely hold them out of wd. They understand this, and you aren't in trouble for using in the beginning , until they get you on a stabilized dose. Some places go up like 5 mg a day. Some go up 5-10 mg per week. It depends on the clinic. Usually you won't be sick the first week or two but you won't be 100% til you stabilize. So hang in there.

Good choice. You'll be able to put your family first instead of having to feel good above everything. It's hard to be a mom when you're in withdrawal. Better times are coming

 

[Gozlinchick]

Thank you diamond. I am so nervous. If they do dose on the first appt, will it matter when the last time I used was? I'll definatley test positive, as I've used last night. Just wondering if methadone is like suboxone, where you have to be in mild w/d. I am reading horror stories about patients who have said methadone w/d's are pure HELL. I was on suboxone maintenance for about 8 months, 16mgs a day and quit cold turkey. I've never been so sick in my life. I was so physically sick, throwing up, chills, restless, ext that I had to go to the hospital. I HONESTLEY didn't know how BAD the W/D's would be from sub's, as it had been a few days since my last dose. I had such bad stomach cramps that once they pushed some dilaudid thru my line, I was in heaven. Needless to say, I didn't tell the docs about my sub's and they found out. Reprimanded me, scolded me, threatened to call my sub Dr. Refused to give me anything besides clonidine and basically kicked me out of the ER. Urgh. I NEVER want to feel like that again. Again, thank you for your reply. I'm happy to have found BL. Praying it will help me get thru all this nonsense.

 

[Jabberwocky]

they will dose on first apt but the dose is extremely low; they say starting is usually 30MG but my clinic started at 25MG and went up 5MG every 3 days. I used until I got to around 75MG's. I was using about 1-2G's of a day of heroin and the urge was still there till I hit the 75MG mark. then again, if its your VERY FIRST APT they may not dose; you may need to take a drug test and YOU MUST PISS DIRTY! so the fact you have it in your is a must.

 

[My3sons]

I started mmt 2 weeks ago today. I had a 2 year iv H run where i did about 15 bags a day (weaned down a bit) at my worst i was at 25-30 bags a day. Anyhow, i don't know what that is in terms of grams we go by bags, bundles, bricks and sleeves where i live. I admit it was a pretty big habit and am quite ashamed but my question is: they have me on 80 mgs of methadone a day and i am fine during the day but still struggling at night. Am i always going to struggle at night? Is my dose not holding? I dont want to go to high but was also told that i shouldn't have cravings. So is my dose too low for my habit or is it just mental? I dont want to crave at night. I also have a runny nose and the yawns by the morning.

 

[Jabberwocky]

usually 10 bags = gram. depends on how they weigh.

youre dose is a bit too low if you ask me. everyone is going to react different so if youre struggling at 80MG you have 2 options; you can ask if you can split your dose but some clinics dont do that; that means you'd have to go twice a day rather than once. or if you get take home you can split your dose w/. 40MG in the AM and 40MG in the PM; that is your call.

you can probably request 5MG every 3 days; its how my clinic worked. I max out at 105 before becoming steady w/ it. but again, it still never held me but I'd never wake up or feel dope sick but would just fiend like a MOFO! but at my max rather than shooting daily I would use 2-4x's a week.

 

[My3sons]

Split dosing isn't an option. I wish it were. I have to see the dr again before they will raise my dose. Maybe i will talk to my counselor tomorrow. I also asked for a drug test today and they wouldn't give me one. I need a clean one too bc my ex is basically holding my children hostage until i get a clean supervised test.

 

[Jabberwocky]

pretty sure you just see the counselor and they can up the dosage; or at least its how it was at my program here in MA. where are you located? they test usually once a month and its random; you asking wont work because they would assume YOU KNOW YOURE CLEAN and then go use right after. they need to have random testing when it comes to a clinic.

did you every try suboxone? I like it much more than methadone; methadone never worked for me but suboxone has been my miracle drug.