Aa
Scared to start methadone treatment
Hi I've posted here before about my addiction to dihydracodeine n that I was due to c a dr to tell him about my problem, I have now seen dr n had referral to harbour drug n alcohol services they have been great really supportive n understanding, I now have a care worker n am due to start a methadone treatment plan on Tuesday starting at 40mg to be increased as needed then taper off at 5mg a fortnight. Thing is I'm really worried about the effects of methadone will I still be able to live normally? I'm a full time carer but will I be able to care? Can I still drive? Will I be constantly drowsy? What r the effects please?? Does it have a high success rate? Will I always have to go to the chemist everyday to take it? Also I been told if I still need to take any dihydracodeine to take them is this just till they get the rite level of methadone? Seems pointless else as I wanna be taking none at all!! Any advice or tips r very welcome I'm really worrying! Have a good day n thanks for listening
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Methadone is marginally better because the use does not get as much of a euphoria from it, so the function is better. However you need to realize that it is still an opiate and is extremely addictive. You would have to go to the clinic every day to get your dose. If you want to taper of all of the opiates the way to do it is to slowly go down on the dose you take as well as spreading the time between each dose.
I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves. I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates). I know we help many people get clean and stay clean, And, of course, we are completely confidential.
At home, the basic technique is to take less and less every day by cutting down by about half a pill every one or two days until you are down to nothing. See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep.
Clonidine is very helpful for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
But as hard as it is to get clean, staying clean as you already learned is even harder. That is why I am a big believer in post withdrawal long term Naltrexone therapy. This is what we practice in our clinic. Our goal is initiation of long-term Naltrexone therapy, which will guard you from physical cravings and enable you to participate in viable talk therapy which can actually produce result without the constant pull of opiates. Because Naltrexone induces withdrawals if you are not completely clean and opiate free, we initiate that therapy under sedation, so that the bulk of the acute withdrawals happens while you are asleep.
However, if you happen to be clean of all opiate - including, of course, Suboxone, you can just get a shot of Vivitrol. Vivitrol is - injectable Naltrexone that is slowly release into your system over a month period. It allows your brain to heal and slowly restructure itself back to its original pristine condition. It will also let your psyche to become used to being sober and clean as a "new normal". Talk to your doctor about it. If your physician does not prescibe it, go on Vivitrol.com site to find a doctor who does in your area. It is usually completely covered by insurance.
I have written several blogs on this exact matter. You can reach them by clicking on my name and than following that to blogs.
It would be a very good decision for you to get on a long term Naltrexone therapy by getting a Vivitrol shot for at least six months if not longer. Good luck to you.
I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves. I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates). I know we help many people get clean and stay clean, And, of course, we are completely confidential.
At home, the basic technique is to take less and less every day by cutting down by about half a pill every one or two days until you are down to nothing. See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep.
Clonidine is very helpful for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
But as hard as it is to get clean, staying clean as you already learned is even harder. That is why I am a big believer in post withdrawal long term Naltrexone therapy. This is what we practice in our clinic. Our goal is initiation of long-term Naltrexone therapy, which will guard you from physical cravings and enable you to participate in viable talk therapy which can actually produce result without the constant pull of opiates. Because Naltrexone induces withdrawals if you are not completely clean and opiate free, we initiate that therapy under sedation, so that the bulk of the acute withdrawals happens while you are asleep.
However, if you happen to be clean of all opiate - including, of course, Suboxone, you can just get a shot of Vivitrol. Vivitrol is - injectable Naltrexone that is slowly release into your system over a month period. It allows your brain to heal and slowly restructure itself back to its original pristine condition. It will also let your psyche to become used to being sober and clean as a "new normal". Talk to your doctor about it. If your physician does not prescibe it, go on Vivitrol.com site to find a doctor who does in your area. It is usually completely covered by insurance.
I have written several blogs on this exact matter. You can reach them by clicking on my name and than following that to blogs.
It would be a very good decision for you to get on a long term Naltrexone therapy by getting a Vivitrol shot for at least six months if not longer. Good luck to you.
Are you British? You refer to a chemist.
Please look at posts not just in this forum but also in the Addiction Substance Abuse and Living with an Addict forums. You will see many, many regrets from addicts and family members about using methadone to get off a prescription painkiller addiction. It is very much easier to detox from these than from methadone, which has a much longer half life. Methadone can be a lifesaver for hardened addicts who have turned to criminal activity, but it is overkill for most pill painkiller addicts.
Please look into detox followed by naltrexone/Vivitrol. I am under the impression this may be more widely and easily available in Europe.
Please look at posts not just in this forum but also in the Addiction Substance Abuse and Living with an Addict forums. You will see many, many regrets from addicts and family members about using methadone to get off a prescription painkiller addiction. It is very much easier to detox from these than from methadone, which has a much longer half life. Methadone can be a lifesaver for hardened addicts who have turned to criminal activity, but it is overkill for most pill painkiller addicts.
Please look into detox followed by naltrexone/Vivitrol. I am under the impression this may be more widely and easily available in Europe.
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