Methadone: Methadone Facts

Question: My body is addicted to methadone, can anyone help me with this?

(Posted by: Tom H on 2010-03-02 21:06:10)

The Methadone is given to me by pain management dr's, and I have since had my last visit because I tried smoking canibus as another form of pain relief and was dismissed as a result. Please no chastising, I know what I did wrong, my question is, I have 1 bottle left(120qty), I'm used to taking 10mg x4 a day, I went through detoxing a few years ago and it took 6 months to get out of my system or to feel normal again, but it almost killed me and was the worst hell anyone could imagine, I know now at 43, there's NO way I could make it out of detoxing solo and live through it, I just know I would not be able to do it, I would have to leave my work for months, does ANYONE know of a decent way to get this stuff out of my life, I'm having trouble seeing another PM dr because when the records are transferred, it clearly shows I breached the contract and they always turn me away? Please, if anyone knows of the best way to do this, I would virtually owe them my life.....anybody please?

Posted by: smokinstaseyokin on 2010-03-02, 21:44:37

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you! My dad has chronic pain also and was lucky enough to find a MD that prescribed canibus (and thankfully it worked for him) but not all MD's are so open minded. (and it's really messed up that the MD's closed mindedness reflects on your record!) The best thing for your body would be to gradually step down the dosage every other week and eventually week by week, but i don't know if you have enough medication for that. The other option is since you know your body has this dependance (and you obviously wish to get rid of it) see if you can find a MD that will agree to a contract of some type to help you wean off the medication by using either the methadone or a benzodiazepine like Ativan or Valium in conjunction with some sort of support group. It is a gradual process that goes on for many weeks since your body has a tolerance and dependance but it it also easiest on the body as opposed to cold turkey or straight detox. Hope this helps, and good luck with you quest.

Posted by: 12pleze on 2010-03-02, 23:19:44

If you are on only 40mg's Suboxene will help. I was on 440 mg's a day but stopped relieving pain so i went to 200McG;s of Duragesic as any opiiod is sameas methadone and will stop Methadone. At 40 mg's it is only like taking 4-6 percocets a day on conversion chart. No way to do without Dr. detoxingyou. tel the truth and you would havebeen OK. maybe a warning but OK. I was precibedmarinol but is like smoking swag and walk around tired and hugary for whole day so i just ysed Medicinal MJ from friend and it cures nausea in am from Diludid pump with snail venom. It is so good that 1 hit and will stop nausea and last an hour or two. I was honest to my Dr. and he understood as i am a chronic pain patient who goes to physiatrist and take pump with 9 mg's of Dilaudid which equals X 300 per mg. is like 70 oral 8mg's dilaudid but stays in spine and not through whole body, 6-8 30mg roxicodone a day and Norflex and Dexedrine to keep alert and ADD.

Posted by: ruthiepoo on 2010-03-04, 05:48:02

If you are wanting to get off the methadone, I would suggest contacting a methadone clinic and having them wean you off them medication. They can not turn you away because you have abused opiates in the past and/ or other drugs......anything like that. That is the only way I see that you will be able to detox safely unless you can get another PM doc to help you wean you off. I can't believe you doc is cutting you off like that w/ o trying to wean you. Methadone w/ drawals are some of the worst because they can last anywhere from 3-6 weeks! Regular short acting opiates it usually takes 7-10 days, but because methadone has a longer "lasting " effect and stays in the body longer, the withdrawals can go on MANY weeks! To take suboxone, you have to get down to 30mg of methadone and then go without for several day before the first dose of suboxone otherwise you will put yourself into automatic w/ drawals. DO NOT try to detox yourself from methadone alone. Contact a methadone clinic or if you want to try suboxone, a doc who specializes in suboxone treatment.