Starting methadone maintenance treatment

[Stephred1028]

Hello! I have a fairly simple (I think) question for a friend of mine. I am already currently on MMT for a month now but I didn't have a need to as this question at the clinic because I wasn't in this situation. My friend is about to start MMT on Wednesday after doing heroin for about 8 months. It was a never a huge amount at a time or a lot in a day's time. Maybe spending about $20 a day and administering via IM (muscle) Anyways it was obviously enough to become physically dependent. The question I have is If they are going to start dosing on Wednesday morning, if they were to do any hours prior, how far in between should it be done. They don't want to do it an hour before taking the methadone dose. Would 9 hours prior be far enough apart? I hope this makes sense. Any input would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you!!

 

[T. Calderone]

Depends on his tolerance, at the clinic you're supposed to be in a fair amount of withdrawal at intake. At least that's what I was told at the clinic near me. Obviously they don't want to excessively dose a new client so they will start conservatively.

 

[opiatekrzy]

25-30kg is the initial dose, followed by 5mg increase daily until 70mg, after that request increase..Lethe other clinic starts 30 and you go up 10 every 3 days unto you hit 80

 

[junkieblues]

I was on methadone for 3 years and they started me at 30mg., then went up to 40 the next day and 10mg. increments therafter. I started on Liquid and then transfered to a clinic that had the 40 mg. wafers. I was on 100 mg.s when I transfered and went up to 130 mg. at the other clinic. I did good on methadone, I got up yo 5 take homes, but getting off methadone is a lot harder than kicking heroin. I wouldn't suggest getting on MMT unless you are concerned that you might OD and die from other opiods. I knew people who were on the clinic because they said they had a problem with Percocet. When I got off Methadone the withdrawal lasted almost a month before I started feeling normal. Other people I know all said the same thing. So be suire that you think you really need MMT befpore you do it because it really is one of the hardest drugs to come off of.
To answer your question Stephred1028 9 hours is plenty of time to quit before you get your first dose. Unlike Suboxone Methadone won't put you into immediate withdrawals if you take it too soon and like opiatekrzy said they will start you out at 30 mg. most likely. Also it does depend on his tolerance, mmy tolerance was always kinda high and 30 mg. didn't take away my dopesickness. I didn't feel better until around 50 or 60 mg.s.
Good Luck and remember that Methadone Maintenance isn't for everybody and try tpo stop at the dose that makes nyou feel better instead of just seeing how high of a dose you can get to.