methadone maintenance

[pug3]

when someone is starting a methadone maintenance program, how long does it take or become stable? my boyfriend started about a month ago but has been changing mgs often. he says to stabilize himself. any input is appreciated

[mindsetMichelle]

Sorry, I have not been on to check to see how things were until today.
I am so happy that he has finally admitted what you/we had already known. I'm glad you are able to go thru all this with him rather than on his word with the counselor ahs drug tests. IF he truly means all of this then he will be in the right direction to getting clean again. But he didn't need to keep on raising his dose because if he continues to nod and all, then they will need to check that. I did that at first and found out my dose was to high and to much can surely give you that "high" we once went for so I had to go back down because I am there for help. So I am at 60 mgs myself. Try to attend the nar-anon or some type like that with the parents too. You can see how others have the same problems as well.
Good luck with everything and we are here if you need us to listen.
Michelle. :-)

[atthebeach]

I am glad he was finally honest. His symptoms definitely pointed in that direction.
Hun it is going to take longer than one week to get the xanax out of his system.
Yes he has to sign a waiver for you to go to the clinic and have access to his records. It is all confidential without consent.
Please attend nar-anon or al-anon. His parents should also attend if he lives with them.
When they are high it is best not to even try to have a conversation with them. Yes it is best to walk away.
I am proud of you. I hope you follow through with not seeing him until he
Can stay clean.
Thanks for the update. Take care of you,
There is always hope,
Keep the faith,
Sending prayers,
Debbie

[pug3]

ok he finally admitTed me last night that he's been taking xanax!! so I went to his house once I was done with work today and he was a mess. I called the clinic and I spoke to his counselor. he was willing to go there w me. he is allowing me to be 100% involved. he wants one week to get the xanax out of his system and then I can be involved from there on out and have full access to his drug tests and everything. he told myself and the counselor today that he took, I'm sure snorted, 3 xanax bars!!! she told him that I am doing the right thing when I leave him when he's high. he should understand and not make me feel guilty. the counselor was amazing. she also suggesting nar anon.  so I brought him home and spoke to his parents and then I left. I'm keeping my distance until he can prove to me that he can be clean.

[mindsetMichelle]

I have to agree with atthebeach 100%! He will never tell u truthfully if he's taking them, ADDICTS LIE, correct! But where I go if u mix them with ANY Benzos as Valium, Xanax etc then they will kick u to the curb and no longer help u bc mixing them with methadone can cause ur heart to stop and can KILL YOU!

[atthebeach]

Hun we have been telling you that we think it is very probable that he could be mixing xanax with his methadone.
When he was taking xanax was he getting it from the streets or a doctor?
It is very unlikely that he would admit he is using xanax.
Addicts lie.
Some clinics will kick them out if they are mixing xanax,
Some will just not allow the take homes.
90 mgs is a pretty high dose within a month.
It appears he still likes the high and the nod.
He should certainly be adjusted to the dose by now.
He probably asked for a continual increase in his dose until he felt high.
Is he going to counseling or attending support groups?
Him we can't tell you for sure if he is missing but the signs he exhibits point I that direction.

[pug3]

he's been on methadone for 5 weeks now. what will happen to him if he is mixing? he's on 90mgs

[pug3]

thanks. he hasn't had those side effects of flu like symptoms. he has pinned eyes, slurred speech, slow movements, nodding off etc...I'm so tired of the lies. and a crazy rash on his legs!! I'm wondering if that's a reaction to methadone or mixing drugs. I don't know. I just want someone to say: yea, he's messed up. ugh.

[mindsetMichelle]

Hi again, the reason I first started maintenance is because I got tired of spending about $1,000 or more a month on opiates. I was tired of being sick when I ran out, etc etc. So my husband and I talked about this so I decided this was the BEST to do. But when I started I had to get adjusted to the right dose for me. So I'm at 60 and it took several weeks to get to 60. But at first I had bad body aches, runny nose, all flu like symptoms. But this program does help from having these issues AFTER U get adjusted to the correct dose but as I said it does take SEVERAL WEEKS! If he isn't somewhat sick or having some type of side effects of being clean then I would have to say he's still using. That's what I would think bc he would honestly have some sort of Side effects till his doses kick in.

[pug3]

hi and thank you for responding!! I don't know for sure if he's taking xanax or not. when you first started the program were your family and friends accusing you of being high? I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but my gut instinct keeps telling me not to trust him. what signs and side effects are from methadone use?? I'm so frustrated

[mindsetMichelle]

I also go to a Methadone Clinic for help since Jan 21st and I have remained clean!!! This was the BEST thing i have done because I tried to get off other ways nothing I did worked but now I am indeed clean. I am doing so good now that I am able to bring "take home " doses on Wed., Fri, Sat & Sun.! Now when I started tho I was using Valium the RIGHT way for other reasons for the past 10 yrs and it was not my drug of choice. But before I was able to start the Methadone they said I had to have a clean drug test from any Benzo and so I did and  I passed of course. Now they did say the only way they will kick u out of the clinic is if there are EVER any Benzo's in my system or anyone bc that is a BIG NO-NO bc they said it will/can kill u mixing them, it can STOP UR HEART!! So u really really need to get him off of those!
Now as far as Mgs I went from 30 to 60 Mgs and I was able to go up AS NEEDED every 2 days (twice a week) and it was 35, 40, 45, 50, etc. they were in 5's. So going up to 90 in a month? Wow!!!!!! Not only that, we were only allowed to go up as high at 75 before getting the Drs approval first, if I went any higher than 60mgs I'd def be nodding off and too much will cause u to NODD OFF! That means ur getting to much methadone doses. I also get Counseling with my program. I think this has been very helpful for me but I WANT to stop so it's working. Good luck and I do hope he gets better but if u ever need to ask me anything, please feel free,  ;)

6 months clean now on the methadone maintenance program,,,  

[dutchcrunch]

You can nod off strictly from methadone, I was on it 17 years & if u are on too high of a dose u will nod off as I had many times b4 being at the right dose. If he is at a clinic they should be ua'ing him at least 1x per week in the beginning.

[EvolverU]

Amen & well put Debbie! :)

Sounds like the three of us have had similar experience with our significant others! (The only difference being that I was also on M'done. Naturally, I found it even more difficult to cope with my exes poly-abuse after I kicked.)

Have you checked out the 'Living With An Addict Forum' &/or considered going to local Al Anon meetings with his mom? It might really help you guys. You're both suffering & I think it might help you to get a better handle on what this is all about & be supported by others who've been through similar situations with loved ones.

[atthebeach]

You and his mom suggested he do something about his addiction.
If he isn't ready to get clean he won't. That would be why he keep going up on his dose so he would feel high. Also why he could be mixing xanax.

Has he gone to meetings or counseling church, have an exercise regiment?
Does he live with you or his mom?
Who is supporting him?

Clinics are different. Some would kick him out others not. My husband used xanax along with methadone for years the only penalty he had was no take homes. He had to go to the clinic everyday.

We can beg. Plead, cry, fight with them about their drug abuse. Until they are sick and tired of being sick and tired, hit their bottom, afraid they are going to die that's when they will stop.
We try to help them and it becomes enabling.

You and his mom should both attend al-anon. It will give you the support
And understanding you need. To help support his recovery and not his addiction.

As i mentioned Methadone if not used properly along with a recovery program just becomes a legal high.
Once on it it is very hard to come off. People stay on it for years and years.

With the way he is acting slurred speech, nodding, acting dopey how can he begin to look for a job.
He has been out of work since February?
I know the frustration you are living with. Loving an addict is exhausting.
We get just as sick as them.
I am glad you found us.
Keep the faith.
There is always hope.
Debbie

[pug3]

he's been using for about 7 years. his DOC is oxys, roxys, xanax. he went to the methadone clinic because he lost his job for the 4th time in February. when he came home, he was traveling and was in AZ, his mom and I both told him he had to do something to help this addiction. WE suggested methadone and he was hesitant. so now he is doing what we asked of him but we still aren't happy. it's beyond frustrating. he goes to the clinic every morning to take his dose. he does take zzzquil to help him sleep at night. I'm not sure if that's interacting with the methadone as well. he gets drug tested at the clinic. if there was anything in his urine, they'd kick him out...right?

[atthebeach]

Evolver (Annie) I meant had he taperd off xanax prior to starting methadone.
If so she would have known.
I stated I believe he is mixing.more likely because of his symptoms.

Most clinics will test their urine to make sure he isn't using something else along with the methadone.
Is he getting counseling, going to support groups. Methadone is "supposed"
To be used so opiates addicts can function in society. Not continue to chase their drug of choice. Work on their recovery.

Why did he go on methadone? Had he been trying to get clean?
That is a big "supposed" to. It is given so liberally now that he basically has become a legal high now. Especially when mixed with xanax, alcohol.

Hun you have to realize that addicts lie. I know you want to believe him.
We want to believe our loved ones.
Is he working? Do you live together?
Have you ever attended al-anon? Support groups for loved ones of addicts?

[EvolverU]

Hi,

I'm willing to lay strong odds that what you're seeing is not the effects of the Methadone but the effect of the admixture of 'done with a benzo (& Xanax is the strongest benzo). Xanax, Clonopin, Valium, etc. are actually contra-indicated with Methadone & a good clinic or Dr. will discourage their simultaneous use. It's dangerous & incredibly frustrating to be around (my ex did this, so I feel for you).

I agree with atthebeach that a 30 to 90 mg raise within a month is excessive! Usually, a client will have to claim a huge habit & constant 'illness' to get that kind of raise. Are they UA'ing him? I disagree that he would necessarily go through Xanax w/d's on a high dose of M'done as it can mask the symptoms of it. (i.e. it's much easier to quit benzos on a high dose of M'done than without it). Again, though, unless he's 'opiate naive' or didn't have a true opiate habit , I wouldn't expect him to be nodding off of M'done alone at that dose (though it's possible because he's in the first month & has climbed rapidly). In fact, the whole reason that M'done is used is that people are able to function & work without nodding on it like they would with other opiates. In short, the reason people on maintenance clinics add benzos is that they miss nodding out & want to feel high the way they did on other opiates. It's a common cocktail & a real problem. I feel for you! I'd echo the questions: 'What was his DOC?' & 'How much did he take?'

[atthebeach]

All symptoms of too much methadone and could very well be mixing xanax.
If he stopped the xanax he would have gone through withdrawal especially is it was tapered. Xanax is a rough detox. A proper taper takes months.
Was he getting it off the street?
Does he go to the methadone clinic everyday?
What was he using before he went on methadone?

[pug3]

he says he isn't taking anything else with the methadone. I want to believe him but I'm having a tough time. he's nodding off, acting dopey, slurred speech. and now he his this crazy rash on his legs. I just want my boyfriend back.

[atthebeach]

Well he is high. Methadone makes you high especially at higher doses. Getting from 30 to 90mgs was a big increase in a month.
Is he nodding off?
Is he taking the xanax with the methadone?
Methadone and xanax are both central nervous system and respiratory
System depressants they are dangerous to take together.

[pug3]

hi and thanks for responding!! he is a drug addict...opiates and xanax. he's at 90mg now and they started him at 30mg a month ago. i just hate feeling that I think he's high if these are just side effects from the methadone. I'm very frustrated.

[gnarly_1]

As addicts we will take as much of a drug as possible I went from 30mg to 150mg of methadone for most some where be twine 40 to 60 will keep you where you want to be and with that said it will be ezer to get off then the higher doses... methadone hands down is the hardest of all the narcotics to get off of  your dope sick for what feels like forever it took me 8 1/2 months to taper off and it still took 90 days to feel good again my advise if your jamming a needle in your are it may save your life if it is a pill habit your over medication mmt is ok for guys your sex life will be non exzistant  there are a lot more thing it does to your body it weeps into your bones and fatty tissues after being on it for close to 7 years I would tell you to run the other way wile you still can remember there is no get out of jail free card and if you choose methadone it comes at a high price keep posting your questions....Gnarly

[EvolverU]

Hi & Welcome,

Could you give us a little more info; like: what dose they started him on & how many raises they've given him & what he's on now?

Typically, they'll start you at a base dose & monitor you each day & raise you either 5 or 10 mgs. depending on the place. It's unusual for them to continue raising someone after that point without a test called a peak & trough to determine whether you're metabolising your dose too rapidly. The other possibility is that he's on a liberal clinic/Dr. & they are raising him in the first month because he is still using. It only takes 3 to a week for a person to stabilize on a fixed dose. Is he on or coming off any other meds?