How can I withdraw from Methadone ?

[Saul]

I was sniffing heroin for 7 monhts and tried for 3 months to quit. I went to a detox doctor and got clonidine,some muscle relaxers and shots of buprenorphine. He said it did not come in a pill so I had to do the shots. I got the stuff and took it home but I was too terrified to take the shots.My fiance offered to inject me and I let her give me one of the 3 shots because I was so sick from the withdrawl. I went into a panic and have not been able to face another one. This is hard to explain but I have not had any medical work done in years that requires a needle. I guess it's a phobia. So I have these 2 shots left from January. I was able to get methadone under the table from my heroin supplier and have been on it for 2 weeks now and want to get off it really fast. It has helped me with the heroin which I had been on a small maintenance dose for a month. Since supply and cash were no problem maybe I should have just stayed on the heroin. Why don't they use morphine or just less and less heroin to detox from the heroin? I am having a hard time getting off this stuff. The cravings are really bad. Is there a way to stop them? This is the only reason I kept relapsing from the heroin. Will Naltrexone stop cravings? I wouldn't take that pellet from the doctor because if it doesn't stop the craving I'm afraid I might use and od. He didn't have an answer for this and said maybe I shouldn't get it afterall. I appreciate your help.

[Patrice]

Sorry, I dont know what happened to make my post show twice, guess I goofed!!!!!

[Patrice]

Hi all

Good to hear from you Gina!!  I was put on 80mg today and we will see how that goes.  Gina, you are so right, I started (I think) at 55mg, and went up a few times,it did last about two weeks, then I would start using again.  I learned years ago, being a member of NA since 1984 that there is no shame in using, the only shame is not to keep trying.  Thats what I am doing. It is also true there are a lot if misconseptions about methadone.  Number one is that people take it in clinical settings to get high.  The truth is, methadone used as prescribed WILL NOT get an addict loaded.  I know this, because I am on 80mg and feel normal.  Someone asked about detox verus MMT.  Detox is a 21 day treatment starting at 30mg,going up to (I believe 40mg) then weining off.  Also the way people get methadone on the streets is A. an addict who has been on MMT a long time may sell his or her methadone. B. it is available in Pharmacies, as doctors do give it for SEVERE PAIN. One last thing is a person on MMT after being on it for a certain time, can in fact (at least where I go) have take homes of methadone, ranging from one bottle to six.  You must be free of all opiates and it is a privaledge, not a right to have take homes.  The most important thing about MMT is, it has saved my ass.  Even though I admit I have used, I am on the right track, and one day, I will be opiate free due to MMT.  I know at my age (46) I will probably be a lifer, but if it saves me, and allows me to stay clean,work a program of NA and get a job, and being a productive member of society once again, thats all I care about.  Dont anyone allow the myths of methadone stop you from saving your life, one thing I forgot to mention.  Though opiate withdrawl being fatal is extremly rare, one of my best friends decided to stop cold turkey, and had a major heart attack.  It can happen.  Thank God he is still with us, but he did almost die, and is now back on his dose and doing fine.

Love and hugs too all

Patrice

[Patrice]

Hi all

Good to hear from you Gina!!  I was put on 80mg today and we will see how that goes.  Gina, you are so right, I started (I think) at 55mg, and went up a few times,it did last about two weeks, then I would start using again.  I learned years ago, being a member of NA since 1984 that there is no shame in using, the only shame is not to keep trying.  Thats what I am doing. It is also true there are a lot if misconseptions about methadone.  Number one is that people take it in clinical settings to get high.  The truth is, methadone used as prescribed WILL NOT get an addict loaded.  I know this, because I am on 80mg and feel normal.  Someone asked about detox verus MMT.  Detox is a 21 day treatment starting at 30mg,going up to (I believe 40mg) then weining off.  Also the way people get methadone on the streets is A. an addict who has been on MMT a long time may sell his or her methadone. B. it is available in Pharmacies, as doctors do give it for SEVERE

[Saul]

Thanks. I don't plan to go on methadone maintenance. I just wanted to know the right way and dose to get off the meth that I was taking to get off the heroin. I have a limited supply of 10's. I was already on a low manitenance of the heroin but could only get so far. Now I'm 2 weeks on the meth. I want off. This s__it is worse than the dope. Brightly was on target. I want to wean so I don't get sick or crave so bad I relapse. It's everywhere and easy to get. Most people getting it on the street abuse it, I just want to get off the dope. I didn't go to a meth clinic because they will keep me there for ever. I already go to NA. I plan to get clean and get a sponsor.

[spook]

Q:Can anyone here attest to the "feeling" of methadone?

ANS:The first time I went on methadone about 10 years ago(to get high of course),I was compleletly Opioid free,no tolerance,etc, I started on 30mg per day,the first day I did not feel that  much,within a couple of days I was absolutely off my face,I was nodding and lucid dreaming,the euphoria was so warm and luscious,it was as good as heroin,these effects slowly subsided over about a 3 month period until basically,I needed it to feel normal?if you can call that normal,so I got my dose put up to 50mg and got a little high for a few weeks "nothing" like initial experience.I eventually worked my way up to 80mg and then it took 2 years to get off it and I hung out the whole time.

Q:Is it a related feeling to propoxyphene?

ANS:slightly similar,in that you get the brain space out effect,but euphoria is "Dirty" and very mild and causes unpleasant side effecs ie stimulation,etc in doses required to get a "high".You could say that Propoxyphene is to methadone as codeine is to Heroin,in fact Propoxyphene is a Methadone derivative.Here is something interesting,not commonly known,IV use of propoxyphene causes a Rush as good as Heroin or Oxycodone,however it causes damage to the vein(necrosis)it will literally dissapear,this is why they make the Napsylate salt form,because it is not water soluble,thus cannot be injected.

Q:spook: in your post from a week or two ago, you were enjoying a beer. In the same post you said it didn't feel as good as the "shot of heroin" that you had some weeks before. I might be prying, but in other posts you have said that you are over a month clean and before that on 130 mgs. of methadone. Were you using other drugs while on the methadone or am I losing my mind and just confusing your posts and stories? Sorry if I am. Just want to make sure.

ANS:I completed detox from the 130mg methadone(2nd time on methadone,see Q:1) about 2 years ago,I used Heroin daily for 3 months during nov,dec,jan 2001 and had last dose of "HEROIN" about 7 or 8 weeks ago now.I did drink a bottle of Coopers stout and felt pretty darn good,I occassionally use a single 180mg dose of Dihyrocodeine(OTC-with aspirin removed),about once a week and at this point I am not getting withdrawals from it between doses,but get a mild craving,so I may stop that for a few months soon,as I do not like being Dependent on anything.

[Jimenez]

Thanks Gina - for the info. I truly hope that you don't think I was putting down your decision to go the Methadone route. I commend you beyond belief. Of course, I'm sure many people get in and out of there in a month or two. But there's also the ones that are there for years and years. I guess it all comes down to what "kind" of an addict you are. A lot of people want to categorize all addicts in the same bin. The 8 times a day heroin shooter who just beat an old lady up to get $15 and the guy who takes 20 Vicodin a day that are prescribed by a doctor are both addicts - but they are definitely different. One has sunk much further morally than the other. That's not to say we're not all CAPABLE of becoming that heroin addict. It's just that if you're not there yet, you shouldn't be treated as if you were. What the hell am I talking about now? Tangent yet again. Thanks for the info. I don't know much about methadone, but I do know myself and my addiction. I would try to find a way to get high on the methadone. That's for sure. I'd attempt to stick Tuesdays dose under my tongue, tough out the night and then get high as a kite on Wednesday with a double dose. Sick huh? It would really have to be all or nothing for me. If it's true that I now have a permanent endorphin shortage - God help me, and us all. If I could actually quit, but never feel "normal" because my endorphin levels are screwed then what kind of quality of life is that? I think a non-damaging opioid for the endorphin challenged would be the best thing for all/most of us. Especially for us that HAVE to take something for chronic pain. But the money that is being generated by Vicodin (consitently in the top 100 prescribed meds in the country) along with Tylenol #3,4's, Oxycontin (which is unbelievable expensive), Vicoprofen (over a buck a pill) etc.- there are HUGE industries that never want us or anyone in any methadone clinic to get "free". Of course, there will always be more coming down the pike, but what the hell? Might as well get the new ones AND keep the old ones right? We're all part of a system that people are making money off of. It's the American dream.