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Avatar universal

New here, help please!

I have been addicted to oxycontin for 3 yrs. I snort about 140 mgs a day. I quit before cold turkey. Felt like I was dying and even fainted at one point. I lasted about a month but couldn't stand the depression. I've always suffered from depression and anxiety but this was really bad. I relapsed and now I'm thinking about using methadone to get off these things and maybe by doing a taper off methadone the depression won't be as severe.. I hope. I could never taper off oxy but feel I can off methadone. I get no high from methadone (I have several methadone pills stashed for when I run out of oxy) so I think I could use it short term to get off oxys. Has anyone tried this? I'm afraid to go ct again, I don think my body can physically handle it and I think this might be the best option to finally get off pills. I am the mother to two beautiful kids and feel so much shame from what I've become. I really hate myself and if not for my kids I think I'd just kill myself rather then go through this living hell anymore. I'm just so sick of it. I don't even get much of a buzz of the stupid things despite the large amounts I do. I get a prescription for my back pain but of course that's gone in a few days and I have spent so much money it's sickening. I just want to be free from them but the mental hell that awaits really is discouraging me from breaking free but I know I have to try. I really hope I can lessen the depression by tapering off methadone as opposed to ct. Please give me some advice. I feel like such a hopeless case.
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Avatar universal
To echo what most people have been saying, Do Not Go On Methadone. Maybe try Subutex if you really need something. Methadone never works in the way you have said you want to use it. Methadone wds last far longer than anything else. It is a dead end. I went on Methadone to deal with my heroin addiction about 10 years ago. i am hopelessly addicted worse than the heroin and cannot forsee ever getting off it.
Helpful - 0
9880688 tn?1414115647
Hi Blonde & welcome.  You came in posting on a very old thread.  If you can please go to the top of the forum page and Post A Question.  This way you will get a lot more reponses and help if needed!
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Avatar universal
Methadone is never an answer to anything. I've done every drug, every way. I cleaned up in 1996. Long story short due to injury got on pain meds. Methadone is the devil itself. I'm 14 days today.
What are you going to do different. You can't just sit home & white knuckle it. That never works. Get up got to NA or AA and learn how to beat this horrible stuff. I've had some miserable days trying to get healthy again but even wd at it's worse is better than doing the medication & praying to go to sleep & die.
So glad you found us. We're here for you. Keep posting.
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Avatar universal
I am not a methoadone fan and have been on a pogram. They do lie and go out of there way to keep u on larger doses than needed. Also know meth with mess up your bones and teeth! Its a fact not as myth. Its also very hard to widthdrawl from. However,  under the care of a proper physician I feel if u can be detixed. However do not take the methadone for over two-three weeks!. Also be sure your dise is being stedily reduced on a very regular basis. Ive been in your position and two-three week detox (depending on your dependancy) may just do the job and u will not withdrawl as u will ct. The d Oi se MUST be steadily reduced until u require neither oxys or methadone. Do not let them talk u into a maintenance program!!! Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Sorry about all the typos and spelling errors. I'm not illiterate just old and with poor vision. My ordeal with opiates began in 1969 and I used heroin off and on but mostly on for 40 years. I was never attracted to anything else strangely enough. It's as though my brain knew what it wanted and that was it. I was convinced that due to the age I started and length of use I could never feel normal again without it I was wrong.  Nutritional enzymes and other supplements are hugely important to recovery of normal neurological function. When I finally kicked the heroin for good 2 years ago, I did not feel up to going anywhere so 4 or 5 times a day I would squeeze fresh juice from oranges from the tree in my yard and for some reason I would get relief from doing this. I have no idea why maybe just because it tasted so good and was refreshing. I commend and respect the many good folks here that have shared their point view and offered sound advice. We all made it through and so can you. Your options are more than you might but I for one would not consider methadone as one of them. Take care and good luck. Regards, Sonny
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Avatar universal
If you are intent on opiate replacement therapy, you might want to ask your pgysician about suboxone. I have to sgree with nearly evrryone here, if you start methadone, you will soon find yourself with a tigrr by the tail. The wdls from this drug for me were so bad even aftrr tapering only 3mgs a month for two years that I ended up returning to heroin  and even that did not relieve all of the symptoms. One of the problems with methadone you will still retain the cozy opiate warmth and once that flattens out you might start using your oxy on top of it to boost the feeling. They say st doses above 45mg methadone hss a blockade effect on other opiates but personslly I have never found this to be true. I have no experience with subs but I have been told that it eill blockyour receptors from other opiates plus it has a ceiling dose disouraging use above a certain level. Im certainly not suggesting anyone do what I did but for me taking h long enough for the m wdld to stop and then going ct off the h was far less traumatic and of a far shorter duration. Yes thsts how bad the edls from m were for me. Unfortunately, when it comes to opiate wdls, there is no free lunch.you can do it though and may God bless and be with you along the way.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thats the thing you cant just go on methadone for a few weeks and coming off of it is a slow process. I am currently coming off of it at 2.5mg every week. It is gonna take me 30 weeks to *** down off 70ml. i am very impatient aswell and just want it done. Have u thought about Subutex or Suboxone. They are really good , thats wat i will be going on once i come down to 20ml. But trust me u will be on Methadone probably a minimum of a year. Do research, i wish i never went on it but i was popping min of 60 pills aday. panadeine forte was my drug of choice, tramadol and oxycontin. since i have got my depression under control i am alot more determined and have stopped popping pills. talk to ur doc about ur depression. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
The clinic i another addiction hands down. I know no one who has gone and off in any sort of reasonable time. I'm talkin yrs an yrs. I f u did it wow cause i was done with **** and stuck at the clinic for 5yrs. U gotta really wanna quit
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Avatar universal
I had a bad prob first with vics and percs ect. do to two knee surgeries. Then of course needed more cause i fell in love with pills, the feeling I got was like no other better than sex. Then I'm hooked on oxy, now ten yrs later bad mistake also 4 yrs of the clinic was horrible traded one for the other cause they do try and keep u on long as poss. Fact!!! My main iss now is when I am off the **** my armpits sweat none stop and it bugs the **** out of me. nothing works???????
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Avatar universal
How u doing bro I seen ur email online I jst wanted some advice im 21 and been on opiates for 2 years then whem I relized I couldnt kck the pills I moved to methadone bad mistake I was on that for about 4 months and ut seemed like they were just wanting to give me more mgs of methadone and I wanted tk stop but couldnt after all kinds if ups and downs I turned to a rehab out in mexico we there is no in and out ******** ur in and u staying thete with no kinds of meds to help u through the wds I ended up not sleeping for about 35 day and had the worst goosbuumps pain and was not given any nitritonal food since it was mexico and the cost is 169 amonth I did 2 months of prison style rehab made me relize what I had and have I came out early since the program was 4 six months everything seemed ok since the worst part was over or I had thought. I stared smoking weed to get over the erge to do opiates 3 weeks from beign back and I found myself at the pill conect again went on a 3week binge and now I startd the wd prosses again which is not too bad ..but in dont wanna keep beign an addict and I havnt gone to any groups yet what should I do I feel there is no sence in like inless in on something
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Avatar universal
If I didn't get on methadone I would be dead. Please don't advise people not to get on methadone when the alternative is to spend hundreds of dollars buying illegal drugs or someone elses prescription and NEGLECTING TO LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILDREN / LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO BUSY WORRYING THAT YOU WILL BE SICK...methadone takes that scared feeling away, so you can get a job, take your kids on a trip and quit being a junkie.
This is my experience and I was told NEVER get on methadone. If I had done it sooner I probably wouldn't have lost my son, my house, my car, my job and my self respect. All if which I now have, thanks to.methadone.
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Avatar universal
I am in the sme situation. I am afraid of wd and i have severe depression. I ws on depression meds for a while, but those are crap compared to the roxy 30s im on now. As for your question about the methadone, i cannot speak from personal experience of using that drug. However, i do know some people that got on it to get off painkillers, and they are twice as addicted to the methadone than they ever were to painpills. And they arent the same people they used to be. It has really messed with their heads. Just know you are not alone. If you really want to beat this, i have faith that you can. I will pray for you, and god bless...
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Avatar universal
hi, i am 52 and in the same boat as you, been having peri-menopausal symtoms since the age of 33 , i use to take alcohol to help , but i couldnt handle the hang overs any more and switched to opiates, started with lil codeine 3 and now take oxycdone 15 and 20 ....im sick of being dependant on pills and it always comes back , the nite sweats, mood chanches, even had a nervous break down 3 yrs ago...that was worse than 10 child births....i prolly cant help ya much accept misery loves company and offer you my friend ship, i too am new here....good luck
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2333944 tn?1342912367
You posted on an old thread and you need to start a new thread.   Go to the first page where it says Post a Question.   You will get more replies.  Yes, many of us are in that age frame and situation and even older....you will have a lot of support.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am new to this forum and not sure if I have posted in the correct place but I could really use some support.
Long story short, on pain medication for legitimate reasons then menopause, empty nest and hormones hit. The pills seemed to mask my feelings now I've really gotten myself in a pickle. Is there anyone around 50 out there that can identify with anything I've said?
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Avatar universal
Keep your self occupied. I was a heroin addicted for 5 years It took 15 days at the clinic. I was doing 3 gram of dope in a day! YOUCANDOANYTHING!!!
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Avatar universal
Keep your self occupied. I was a heroin addicted for 5 years It took 15 days at the clinic. I was doing 3 gram of dope in a day! YOUCANDOANYTHING!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I found a good Suboxone program where i live and over a period of a year I reduced my dosage to 0.5mg, stayed on that two months and then jumped off with the help of Clonidine and Valium.  Im on day 10 and it gets better everyday.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was taking 10 80mg Oxys twice a day for years.  I tries suboxone, it worked for a short time.  I tried the rapid detox.  It got the drugs out of my system, but did nothing for the cravings.  Methadone was the only thing that worked for me.  I think the mistake people make is setting a time limit for their detox.  It took me a few months to be totally clean with methadone. Worry about getting clean first, then figure out how to taper off the methadone.  I,d rather be on methadone then wake up everyday sick, trying to figure out where the money would come from to get more pills.  For me, it also helped with the depression.  Being on the roller coaster of addiction is a big part of the depression, not to mention the guilt.  Try the suboxone, and if it doesn't work got to a methadone clinic.  I have my family back, their trust is restored in me.  I'll take that over being an addict anytime.  The hardest part for me was forgiving myself for all the damage I caused.  Do what works for you, don't worry about what people think.
Helpful - 0
1283286 tn?1312911966
Back_2_Life? Are you doing any type of tapering inbetween now and the 22nd ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow.... Good luck! I'm only day 10 and I completely can empathize with the depression.  I'm lucky I get my kids off to school. My husbands been driving mr around becuz I can't sleep either and feel like a zombie.  My mother, dropped off samples of an anti depressant and I call my pcp to see if it was ok to take them.  She said yes,and called in an rx for me also.  My point is....   Why not start an AD now? So by the 22nd, they'll have time to kick in and help with the depression. My only regret with all of this is I wish I prepared myself with the depression.  It looked like the blanket was lifting a couple days ago but then it has buried me. Literally.   I'm just praying that the AD kicks in quick so I can go about a happy, sober free from effin opiate life!  Those things are the devil.  I was using for 3.5 years and 300+ mg's. So wds sucked a$$, but there is a lot of info on these boards that WILL help you.  I'm so thankful I found this, I will pray for you and your decision, just my .02, I would not in any way go the methodone roite, even 9 days. Omg by 9 days you'd be done not struggling to get off methodone. Just my thought    
Helpful - 0
1283286 tn?1312911966
I found your thread Back_2_Life..I'm bumping it to get it back where we can see it..So whats the plan? Are you still going to do this Methadone thing you were describing above or did you get to a doctor to discuss this? Oct 22nd will be here before you know it
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have known two people whom which have died from methadone complications.  Both of them were not prescribed them legally but one stopped breathing during the night after having a few drinks earlier.  The other mixed the methadone with alcohol and other narcotics and had a heart attack....There are only a few people that actually have these severe side effects but out of all of the research that I have done it is worth mentioning to people to warn them about these risks.  As for the methadone being prescribed to heroin addicts, this is also my opinion after doing hours of research.  Going from an oxy habbit to a methadone habit is like trading smoking for chewing.  It is the same type of drug just different affects.  I agree that if you can truly detox off of the oxy with only 9 days of methadone you will not have the horrible methadone withdrawals but I do not think 9 days is enough to eliminate the wd from the oxy.  I have seen it a thousand times where people and doctors will prolong the methadone prescription or even increase dosages because of the symptoms of going from such a high dose of oxy.  My opinion is only based upon my own research and of course I by no means have all the answers.  I was on methadone off and on for about a year and full time for about 3 months at around 30-40mg/day.  I tried the same logic to get off of the hydro's which after going through several nasty detoxes off of LARGE amounts of perc's, hydro's and combo methadone, I thought that using methadone would work out great!  I think that there are several different ways to detox but I just like warning people about methadone and my experiences with it.  I think people get a little touchy when talking about methadone.....to some, it is the miracle drug....Mostly because they do not experience the high feeling and at the right dosage feel what they think is "normal".  When in all actuality you are just trading one drug for another just different affects.  Methadone clinics are for profit companies which loves to get long term patients.  Detoxing off of any opiate is difficult but I think that with a taper of the oxy on an aggresive schedule then jumping will be painful but better than the methadone route.....Just my opinion.....God Bless
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617347 tn?1331293081
Back2life.... Read what you have been told with an open mind, please, i know you are feeling hopelessness right now but as Brian has said, it is a thought and not a fact... you are stuck on the mindset that the solution here is taking self medicating with those pills you have of methadone because you went through very bad wds and you fainted last time but you can't know how they are going to affect you and afterwards. Fainting is not to be overlooked here and the main reason why you should not selfmedicate in your detoxing...You can make a better plan than this, just change the plan... go for a doctor to monitor and check you and help you whatever the way you need to detox.... It is not another plan, it is simply the plan  to start with and the best one for you, be your best friend now..
Helpful - 0
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