Please Help!

[out_of_my_depth]

My fiancee has been addicted to methadone (20 mg) for 2 years now and is trying to quit. We live in WA and he was able to get enough state help to be sent to a rehab clinic a few moths back. Unfortunately, the only clinic they could to send him to was not specificly for methadone (and was filled with people who were court ordered, unlike himself who was voluntary). Nobody in there was able to give him the support or help he really needs. We do not have money to send him to the fancy places everybody seems to mention. How do we get him the help he needs?! Or are we just screwed because we don't have the financial resources? It seems like a loose-loose situation. He has tried to wean himself off, but everybody says he needs a doctors help, which we just can't get! I am trying to be as supportive as I can, but without experience in this area it's limited at best. We are in trouble and I am so worried about him. What can we do?!

[vicki595]

Hi-  Does he get Methadone from a clinic? Street?

It's possible to detox from this at home as I'm sure Gnarly has told you. He knows a lot on this subject!   It should be tapered all the way down, very slowly with small drops in dosage. Tapering takes a while but to stop abruptly is very unpleasant. You should be in touch with a doctor so you have a back up and some medical support. There are meds he can take that will help him be more comfortable during the process.

Please read the articles in the "health pages", upper right of this page. Post back with any questions!

[apache2010]

I had to quit cold turkey of of morphine and norco at the same time back 564 days ago....
There is always a danger when going through the WD period of being drug free... after the first 3 to 5 days... the symptoms will start to subside.... easier said than done...
Opiates of all types are hard to get help with... they already assume whom ever is taking them is an addict. Well I say, How did they get that way? wasn't from a street dealer.. right Doctor?.... I feel your frustration and just like the person before me said... there is a light at the end of the tunnel...
you will feel and be normal again... just not with meds..
best of luck!  tough it out!

[gnarly_1]

check you mail...........Gnarly

[fbcoach]

If things get rough, go to the ER. I'm not a Dr., but I will quickly share my experience. To make a long story short, one year ago I was forced to come of morphine (400-800mgs/day for over a year) "cold turkey" due to the negligence of my doctor. The first 2 weeks were pure agony. I could only sleep from midnight to 2:00am. The rest of the day/night was spent squirming around, trying to escape the physical, mental, and emotional pain. I would force myself to walk 30-40minutes about 3:00pm in the blistering heat (it took me that long to get enough energy to do it, along with half a Vivarin/caffeine tablet). After the first 10 minutes or so, I would notice the pain would ease up. I could also relax for about 20-30 minutes after the walk, as well. As I mentioned, the rest of the day/night would be spent trying to escape the pain.
After about 2 weeks, the pain seemed to be subsiding just a little each day. I soon found my stamina increasing, and I was sleeping an extra hour hear and there. After 4 weeks, I started back slowly on a workout routine, along with doing some activities. By 6 weeks, I was back to my job as a Teacher and Head Football Coach. The coming season actually motivated me to get better by giving something else to focus on.
The point of my story was to let you know  that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and there are others that care, because we know where your bf has been. I wish you the best, and if there any questions you would like to ask, please don't hesitate. God Bless, and I will keep you in my prayers.