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Opioids Methadone Question

C

Cadeblue

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Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
47
I have read everything there is on BL concerning methadone prior to getting on it for pain management, so please don't say I should have used the search engine, b/c I don't think this specific question has ever been answered. If it has, I must have missed that thread.

I know that for most, methadone is supposed to last approx 12 - 24 or 36 hrs or even longer for some. I'm just wondering, if that is the case, why people in MMT or who take methadone daily are sometimes, if not always, in w/drawals by the next morning when it is time to take their next dose?
 
It's a matter of tolerance...once you become physically dependent, your body needs it more. I'm sure you already know that, but it really is that simple. Same with Suboxone. Some people can go 12, 24, even 36 hours without feeling the withdrawal, while some others feel the WD after 12-16 hours, which can most likely be attributed to their dose, and how long they've been on it. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me, but this is my understanding.
 
Hello Cadeblue. You are 100% correct that methadone has a half life anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. People that are on MMT usually get started out on 30 or 40mg's of liquid methadone and then are either stabilized or the dose is increased depending on how the person feels(Some people on 200mg). From personal experience even if a person has the biggest dope habit 40mg's will take away most if not all the withdrawls. The sad part is people will lie saying their dose isn't strong enough and the clinic has no choice but to increase it as long as the patient is passing his/her drug tests by the clinic and it shows they are not taking any other drugs while on methadone.

The answer to your question is sad but true.....Anyone who took methadone and comes back to the clinic after 24hours saying they are in withdrawls is lying!! I hate to say it but its true. Unless they took a suboxone later that night after taking the methadone as this is the only way precipitated withdrawls can occur. If not, they are just trying to get more methadone or perhaps a take home dose to sell(which is very common)
 
It's dosed daily to build up on itself and maintain a consistent level of the drug in your system. That is why some people will not feel comfortable on methadone (or suboxone for that matter) until a few days of dosing, because they are still experiencing the ups and downs of being sick and being straight. The reason that methadone and suboxone are good for maintenance, is that they are long lasting so theres no need to really dose more than once a day.After a few days the methadone will level out, and the patient should theoretically feel reliefe from withdrawals for at least twenty four hours. When you're on a high dosage of methadone, it can take up to a week to even begin to feel the withdrawals, due to the build up of each past dosage.
 
Cadeblue said:
I have read everything there is on BL concerning methadone prior to getting on it for pain management, so please don't say I should have used the search engine, b/c I don't think this specific question has ever been answered. If it has, I must have missed that thread.

I know that for most, methadone is supposed to last approx 12 - 24 or 36 hrs or even longer for some. I'm just wondering, if that is the case, why people in MMT or who take methadone daily are sometimes, if not always, in w/drawals by the next morning when it is time to take their next dose?
Click to expand...

That is a good question. Thats really why I got offo f methadone.. at the 24 hour mark I just wouldn't feel 'right.' My body temp woudl be fucked.. slight chills already.. so you have to go get down on your knees ready to suck dick at the meth clinic to get your dose.

I will tell you it would have made a WORLDS difference if I could have done a split-dose like I do with my bupe.
 
Znegative said:
It's dosed daily to build up on itself and maintain a consistent level of the drug in your system. That is why some people will not feel comfortable on methadone (or suboxone for that matter) until a few days of dosing, because they are still experiencing the ups and downs of being sick and being straight. The reason that methadone and suboxone are good for maintenance, is that they are long lasting so theres no need to really dose more than once a day.After a few days the methadone will level out, and the patient should theoretically feel reliefe from withdrawals for at least twenty four hours. When you're on a high dosage of methadone, it can take up to a week to even begin to feel the withdrawals, due to the build up of each past dosage.
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I Didnt think about that in my response. Good point. I was responding as if the person was already stabilized in the clinic and not a new comer. Yes, if someone is new to methadone than chances are it'll take a few doses to find where the person gets comfortable and could experience withdrawls during that process.
 
It all depends on tolerance, metabolism, and also functionality of the liver. ( considering that many people on methadone are hepatitis c positive, which can affect how the liver functions) I know that personally, I used to be able to go 24 hours and not be too sick. Now after 19 years on methadone I feel withdrawal symptoms after only a few hours past the 24 hour mark. I have found that methadone is good for short term pain management but not long term because of the way tolerance is built up to it. It also seems to lose alot of it's analgesic effects after that. i know many people who take it for pain and that seems to be the case with all of them. Good luck to you!
 
what the hell do you mean you most people on methadone are hepatitis c positive..? is that just your assumption or what im curious
 
I've heard the statistic but I'm not sure it's even over %50, but it seems to be a large number. i certainly wouldn't say "most" but I remember reading that it was quite a few.
 
bet i was curious thats still pretty high tho... i bet its just cause of the peoples lifestyle, right..? like using needles and stuff
 
I mean it makes sense, I bet the majority of people on MMT were IV heroin users. I bet that number will change though within the next ten to twenty years, what with the OxyContin epidemic and all.
 
Yes, perhaps saying "most" was a poor choice of words. However, there is a high prevalence of hep c among iv drug users. My point is only that hep c affects the liver and liver function can, in turn, affect metabolism of medications. And that is a factor to consider when asking how someone could be in withdrawal after such a short period of time. Especially with a drug that has such a long half life.
 
I have a question, I currently take 75 mg down from 90 and have for a year and a half. I have a surplus of unused methadone in my fridge, I am wondering if on days I feel like I need to get a buzz...

Is there anyway I can get some sort of buzz off taking more, taking some in the middle of the day, or does it just mess with my taper. I thought If i were taking now 75 on the regular, that taking 90 one day might get me a buzz going on, or taking in extra 30 in the middle of the day might relax me. Which is ultimately what im looking for, and pot does not help.

THANKS!!
 
Methadone's duration of effects vary greatly from person to person (depending on their metabolism), and also depend on how much you take and how long you take it, and other factors such as meds and foods. Some people may find they get withdrawal symptoms only 6 hours after taking methadone and some people don't get them until 40+ hours after their last dose. That's how different it can be for different people. If you are getting methadone for pain management then they will normally have you take it more often than just every 24 hrs anyway. Most people who I know of who are prescribed methadone for pain take it about 4 times a day (or more). Personally I would not recommend it for pain as you build up a tolerance to the analgesic effects very quickly. And it's a terrible thing to be dependent on.

By the way, I don't have HEP C and my liver is in fine shape (got tested recently) and for me methadone lasts for only about 6-8 hours. I take it every 12 hrs but I get pretty bad withdrawal symptoms before it's time to take my next dose.
 
Maybe you could attribute the people showing up at the clinic in the am sick from benzos. Seems so many people on mmt take Xanax. I don't know the rules have never been on mmt, but do they let you take benzos while on the it.
 
bnghit3 said:
Maybe you could attribute the people showing up at the clinic in the am sick from benzos. Seems so many people on mmt take Xanax. I don't know the rules have never been on mmt, but do they let you take benzos while on the it.
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It depends on where you live but where I live people on methadone are not allowed to take benzos unless the methadone doctor gives permission and prescribes them for a legit need (which most doctors here will never do, because they assume all methadone users are just "drug-seekers" and will "abuse" any medication given to them). People on MMT are randomly drug tested for benzos here.

Why do you say it seems like a lot of people on MMT take Xanax? I've known a lot of people on MMT and none of them took/take Xanax, (or any other benzos). Maybe it is a regional thing?

And someone being in withdrawal from methadone is very different from being in withdrawal from benzos and does not explain it, the difference in duration of effects from methadone varies from person to person, that it why some people are in withdrawal before 24 hours is up.
 
Cadeblue said:
I'm just wondering, if that is the case, why people in MMT or who take methadone daily are sometimes, if not always, in w/drawals by the next morning when it is time to take their next dose?
Click to expand...

Personally I think it's mostly psychological...
 
Plus your body knows when it's going to get it's dose. Whenever I wake up and am ABOUT to take a sub my body is in full blown w/d's almost.
 
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