Starting methadone on Wednesday....any advice

[the rover]

Hi, after many failures at trying to get clean, I'm going to get on methadone. I can't take this life any more and it has to stop somewhere. I have been to rehab, jail, prison you name it, I've done it over the past 15 years or so. I can't wait to get my life back. I have nothing left but my job, where I'm on thin ice anyhow. I am kind of afraid I'll be miserable like I always am without heroin. Dope has been my lover, best friend, my life for so long that I'm kinda scared to let it go. My legal problems are piling up again and if I don't do something I'm gonna end up back in prison, which sucks. I just need a little support, advice, anything you think will help. Only a week left of using and maybe I'll finally be free.

 

[neversickanymore]

Hi the rover and welcome to BL


Sounds like its a good fit for you right now.

I would make a promise to yourself that your not going to continue to keep your dose up and up. If you ever decide you want to kick the methadone then you will have to taper back down every increase you make. I would try and keep your dose below or taper down to 40 mgpd.

I would get a high quality daily vitamin and also a daily vitamin D dose and make sure you take them regularly.

If you are male then I would get your testosterone levels checked every six months or so.

Here is a bunch of strong information on methadone and possible side effects.

Methadone side effects, separating fact and fiction.

Low vitamin d status of patients in methadone maintenance treatment.

Methadone

Neuropathic Pain: Causes, Management and Understanding

Hypogonadism and Low Testosterone Levels as a Side Effect of Methadone and Buprenorphine

Opioid-Induced Endocrinopathy

Best of luck with your new approach

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

My short answer would be don't, if buprenorphine can cover your habit then go for that.

If you want me to explain further drop me a pm.

 

[neversickanymore]

^ I agree with the Cat. If suboxone will work for you its a better option. Here is some more relivent information and a DR locator for the US for subs.

Links for Methadone Maintenance, Suboxone Maintenance, Naltrexone Therapy, and other Pharmacologic treatments for addiction.[/B]

>Methadone< >here< >here< >here< >here<

>Suboxone/Buprenorphine< >here< >SAMHSA bupe physician locator for the US< >here<

>Naltrexone< >here<

>Pharmacologic treatments for opioid dependence: detoxification and maintenance options<


Methadone and buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence: a systematic review and economic evaluation

 

[the rover]

Thank you for the fantastic info!! I haven't been happy about anything except getting bags until I got this appointment at the clinic. I can't wait to never be sick anymore!!!! I feel like this is the best option for me as everything else hasn't worked. I am excited to start my life over and live like a somewhat normal person. I haven't been sober except in jail since I was about 15, opiate habit since 17, I turn 35 in April. So 20 years of this is enough already!!! I'm just a little nervous about life without drugs...not something I'm familiar with unfortunately. I don't think I even know who I am anymore. I'm no good to anyone when I'm like this and I really hate myself. So I hope this is a step in the right direction. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[the rover]

I've done the suboxone thing. I fail at that too. I end up fucking that up too. I think with the methadone being more structured it won't be as easy for me to go out and use. Idk...I'm at my wits end here. This is the last resort.

 

[neversickanymore]

No problem..

Throw all that guilt and shame out the window of rocket ship.. Its not warranted, does us no good, and drives us to use. Besides you don't need it where you are going

Here is another thread you may want to participate in as it has a whole bunch of good people working all manor of recoveries.

March forward, and fear not the thorns... March 2015 Gettin' & Stayin' Sober Thread

We start a new one every month. Good place to get support and share what ever you like.

Here is a great thread about the positives of getting off the drugs

Good things about being off drugs/getting sober

 

[the rover]

I would like to thank everyone who responded to my thread. I only have a few more days of this he'll I live in left. I've never been excited to get clean before. All the positivity on this board is amazing!!!

neversickanymore...thank you for what you said about the shame and guilt. You are absolutely right about that. It won't get me anywhere. I also love the thread about good things about being sober. I can't wait to be able to contribute to that!!! I haven't really genuinely smiled about much in a while and just thinking about all the good stuff mentioned made me happy. I actually am really excited and looking forward to the future for once!! I'm starting a new chapter in my life and really couldn't be happier about it.

The kindness from total strangers is wonderful and gives me hope and strength for my future and the future of this world. I didn't think there were so many kind souls left. It is great to know that their are still people out there who care. Its nice to have people to talk to where I can be totally honest and not have to hide and continue living a double life.

Thank you all again for making me a happy girl again!! If I'm this happy and excited now I can't wait to actually be free from dope. I can't even begin to imagine how great it's gonna be!!!!!

 

[kapheen']

I've been in your shoes. Opiates since I was 20 (I'm currently 37). The only time I've been clean was while I was in prison doing my second felony bid. My first prison bid my girlfriend would smuggle drugs into me every weekend. We got caught for that and I ended up getting another 1.5-3 on the back of my already running 3 with 3 post. These opiates have been such a love hate relationship with me as well. I actually just started using dope again a couple weeks ago. I've been on suboxone for about 18 months now. Lost my job in November and things just seem to be falling apart. So what do I do? Turn back to the one who ruined me in the first place. Addiction is so confusing and sometimes the pull it has over me is insane..... almost like I have absolutely no control over what I'm doing.

My apologies for the rant, but it did have purpose. I too went from dope to methadone. I was banging 4-6 bundles a day. I was to the point where I would shoot 10-12 bags at a time. I wouldn't get high, very small rush, and I would be sick again 6 hours later. It was a nightmare. I thought methadone would be the best option for me. Get on a stable dose and then get my life back. It did help, don't get me wrong. The structure of an outpatient methadone clinic, going every day, along with outpatient group therapy, helped me TREMENDOUSLY. The only thing you have to watch out for is trying to use the methadone recreationally. Use it for what its intended. don't go throwing benzos I the mix so you can nod all day. Stay focused and level off at a comfortable dose. Methadone is HELL to come off of. I went cold turkey after 8 years, from 220mgs a day to nothing. I was sick for months. No exaggeration there. After the first 3 months I still couldn't sleep worth shit and I was still having very loose bowel movements (pardon the nature of my description). I would say around the 8 month point is when I started to feel like I was returning to my own personal normalcy.

You've got to decide, do you want a decent life with whatever you consider to be happy? Or do you want to be a slave to heroin/opiates? We're both still young and have a shot to change and make something of ourselves. If not for us, at least for our loved ones and the ones who love us. People always say "do it for yourself first and foremost", but I'm sorry to say, I never felt worthy enough of myself. So I find my motivation within others. You do what you feel is best.

My best advice for methadone is:
1. Don't increase your dose after you feel comfortable.
2. Don't use it for recreational purposes.
3. Don't come off until you're sure you're ready. Have the clinic help you taper. (I would suggest switching to suboxone once you get down to 30mgs or so and tapering off of that)
4. Stay focused. Don't get into any trouble. Coming off of methadone cold turkey is definitely no fun, to say the least.

I wish you the best.

 

[David Wooderson]

Hey the rover,

My advice would be to never go over 60mg. That should hold anyone and I was on 240mg, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I went through the process twice and I can say that most people that go above is because they have no intention of using it to get clean. Allot of people come with good intentions and then get to stratospheric dosages that they will never come off of.

Do not mingle with the other clients. The worst crowds I ever met were at clinics. People that just brought me to new depths of junkidome. Misery LOVES company and you will find allot of miserable people in clinics.

Try and make a plan with your intake coordinator and follow it to a T. If you know in the back of your head that you might backslide, tell on yourself with your coordinator so that there will be some sort of accountability.

Methadone can take a few days to build in your system, if you do not feel right, wait 4 days or so before you go up in dose. My first day I didn't feel good, the second day I never got so high in my life.

Best of luck man, stability can be such a blessing!

 

[the rover]

Kapheen...thank you. I can totally relate to a lot of what you said. Your first paragraph is something that I almost could have written myself. I feel the same. You hit the nail on the head with running back to it after it had ruined everything in years first place. It's like an abusive lover. You're the girl who keeps going back and getting her ass kicked every time. Also not being able to control yourself, I feel exactly the same. Your advice is wonderful and much appreciated. You are so right on all of it.

David Wooderson ...you gave great advice too. I really do intend to do this right. I think what you said about the people there is so true. My ex husband was always meeting the most fucked up people at the clinic where he went. I am really serious about this and I've made up my mind that I'm doing this right. I will follow the program and stay on a low dose, do what they tell me and not abuse it.

You all have given such great advice and insight. I can't thank you enough!!!!!

 

[the rover]

Well tomorrow I start dosing at 20mg....I'm not sure how I'm gonna feel or if I'm gonna need dope until I get stabilized. My habit is about a bundle a day. I've cut it back significantly the last month or so in hopes that it will be easier to quit. I'm off work tomorrow and Thursday so if I only feel slightly shitty I should maybe be able to get through it without dope. Thoughts?

 

[the rover]

Well I got screwed....the clinic told me they can't accept me based on something in my intake paperwork. They wouldn't tell me why. I think it's because I told the truth. I told them I have been steady using since August when I got out of prison. I guess u have to be using for a year straight. This is total and utter bullshit. I try to do the right thing and I'm truthful for once in my life and look where it gets me. I've done so many rehab and suboxone and I know methadone works for me. I just want my life back and this is what happens when I try to do the right thing. I just wanna get better and things get more ans more hopeless every day.

 

[Cowabunga1]

Been there, done that

Hi, after many failures at trying to get clean, I'm going to get on methadone. I can't take this life any more and it has to stop somewhere. I have been to rehab, jail, prison you name it, I've done it over the past 15 years or so. I can't wait to get my life back. I have nothing left but my job, where I'm on thin ice anyhow. I am kind of afraid I'll be miserable like I always am without heroin. Dope has been my lover, best friend, my life for so long that I'm kinda scared to let it go. My legal problems are piling up again and if I don't do something I'm gonna end up back in prison, which sucks. I just need a little support, advice, anything you think will help. Only a week left of using and maybe I'll finally be free.

I developed an opiate addiction when I was 15, and by 22 I was hopelessly devoted to the big H. I tried to go with suboxone first on my own, but failed. So i tried methadone. I quickly realized that it was simply trading one addiction for another. One was just illegal while the other wasn't. I was exhausted and ACHED for the freedom that an escape from drug dependency could give me. I mean like you can't travel or do anything unless u make sure u have enough to get u through. I'm now 2 years clean. I'd like to say that i did it on my own, but i didn't. The treatment center of the palm beaches flew my ass out to FL where I received the best treatment available. I swallowed my pride and handed myself over to the professionals. Now i live where most people vacation and can go and do whatever i want without having to worry about ever going into withdraws again I wish you luck. Just remember you have many options as long as you are willing and know what u want.

 

[the rover]

I developed an opiate addiction when I was 15, and by 22 I was hopelessly devoted to the big H. I tried to go with suboxone first on my own, but failed. So i tried methadone. I quickly realized that it was simply trading one addiction for another. One was just illegal while the other wasn't. I was exhausted and ACHED for the freedom that an escape from drug dependency could give me. I mean like you can't travel or do anything unless u make sure u have enough to get u through. I'm now 2 years clean. I'd like to say that i did it on my own, but i didn't. The treatment center of the palm beaches flew my ass out to FL where I received the best treatment available. I swallowed my pride and handed myself over to the professionals. Now i live where most people vacation and can go and do whatever i want without having to worry about ever going into withdraws again I wish you luck. Just remember you have many options as long as you are willing and know what u want.

It's crazy you would mention going to a Florida rehab. One of my close friends did that and I've been talking to her about everything that's been going on and she suggested the same thing. She lives down there now too. She said she could get me in to where she went and I could stay with her when I got out. I'm seriously considering it.

 

[the rover]

Update....I'm starting a different clinic on Tuesday. It will actually work out the same as the clinic that denied me. At the one that denied me starts you at 20mg. Then u have to wait 3 days for each increase. So Friday I would be on 30. I probably won't hit 40 until Tuesday and then 50 by Friday. The new place goes 30, 40, 50 each day, so I'll be at 50mg on Friday no matter what. My brother called his clinic which has a waiting list and somehow got me in. So thanks little bro!!! Plus he can drive me every day cuz I don't have a car right now.

 

[T. Calderone]

That's good news you can go to another clinic. Do you know if they follow the same protocol as the first one?

 

[the rover]

I'm pretty sure state n federal laws say u have to be using for a year straight. I just got out of prison August 1st and I told them that. I shouldn't have told the truth. Even though I have been an addict most of my life, that wasn't good enough. How many rehab, jail time etc do I have to go through to prove that I can't stay clean no matter what? So when I fill out the paperwork I'm gonna say it was August 2013 instead of 2014. That should solve it. Like I said, next Friday I'll be up to 50 mg and I hope to be mostly comfortable at 50 or 60, I don't wanna go really high like a lot of people. This clinic has an 18 month detox/taper program that I might try. I'm gonna talk to them about it at my appointment on Tuesday. Idk..I'm so anxious, nervous, excited, even a little scared. I'm afraid I'll miss the needle, miss parts of the lifestyle etc. That's part of the reason I came to this board...get support abd talk to other people like me, that have been in my shoes and can relate. Thanks again to everyone who has posted and offered support and advice. It's truly appreciated!!!!?

 

[DETROIT*edm*JUNKIE]

I would go to alcoholilcs anonymous and do the whole program. all 12 steps. do it for you, not for the courts, not for your family, do it for you. you have nothing left to lose. we can choose our rock bottoms in life.