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Methadone Detox

I take or have been taking pain killers for the past 5-6 years. My addiction is caused because I nedd the medication for pain. I broke My back in 2000 and after several operations and ongoing treatment, I have found narcotics to be the best releiver of pain. I was well aware their would be a price to pay But of course underestimated it's strength. To save you from a 10 page story, I have now found that the medication may not be worth the pain releif. I have been taking 60-80  miligrams of Methadone a day for the past 2-3 years. On my own I have lessened this to aproximitly 20-40 a day using only the forty if absolutly necesary. Which is like 1-2 times a week. Where do I go from here.. My doctor is of no help.. He wants me to stay on the medication.. Though my family doctor would help but sadly I would have to tell Him How... Don't laugh, it's true..
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182493 tn?1348052915
If you can find a addiction specialist that would be helpful... between them and your family doc they could work together to make this happen for you.. I think at this stage of the game you would want to drop only 5mg a month or 1-2mgs a week.. That is generally what they would do at a clinic.. Or if you could stabilize at 20mgs you could switch to Subutex which is also a med used for detox.. But you have to be on no more than 20mgs of meth to switch and you would have to be without meth for 48-72 hours..

Welcome to the site..
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221182 tn?1199263667
ratdog..Wow we have almost the same story I was also put on methadone for back pain after surgery and was on for about 5 years. I resisted it because I have been on before after a life of heroin addiction, and after kicking I told myself never again for that s**t but tat was all that they could give me eventually..I just got done going cold off of 80 mg and it was no fun to say the least. But I know it can be done it ha been over 30 days for me and it still comes in waves one day good another feels like I am still kicking..I hates that but you can do it and all it takes is getting yourself ready in your head see what it is you want out of life, don't lose sight of it and get on it..Sound simple ? It is not but if you don't do it the longer you are on the worst it is you become complacent and it becomes part of your life..Go to some N.A. meetings I know alot of folks don't believe in N.A. for whatever reasons I read it alot on this board but it works if you work it. I think some people think going to the meetings is what it is about but you have to examine your life find the things that trip you up and cause relapse it is hard to use such powerful narcotics and come out the other end without some problems. Many of which lead to re-lapse keep on whatever program you think works best but for me just quitting the methadone was the only way . Detox just prolonged the agony too much time to think about how bad you feel, I have seen people go down 10 mils on a 100 mil meth habit and swear they could not stand the pain and others myself included cut your dose in half and not feel any different so I think some of it is in the head, It sounds like you have made some leaps down yourself and that you are handling it well so go all the way when you feel ready just don't forget the aftercare so you wont end up back on something else. And hang in their you can do it Good luck my friend....a-wakan
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