[jazpoppy]

I have been on Methadone for over 2 years now. I started out at a Methadone Clinic as I am an addict, but maintenance was NOT my first choice, until I started having MANY Chronic Pain issues. I really had no choice. I lost my insurance, and I could not get into a pain clinic without insurance. I was referred to a Methadone Clinic. Now for me, they didn't do me any favors. They had me up to 220mg of methadone per day at one point, I didn't want to go that high, but their protocol is to have certain people based on gender, weight, past usage (which was not taken into much account for me), they wanted me on 200mg, I moved up to 220 because I could feel my pain symptoms coming back, and I got scared. 220mg is where they were VERY happy that I got to. They told me that they have to get EVERYONE to a dose that will BLOCK ALL other opiates from our systems so we won't go out and use illegal or prescription drugs. Well I am an addict, but at this point I had NO desire for any illegal drugs (in fact I was not a herion addict, I was a methadone addict to begin with and my comfortable dose to keep me out of pain and withdrawal was about 80mg). I was happy on 80mg, but they kept upping me, telling me that 80 is not enough and that I'll use. I NEVER had a dirty urine. But besides the point. I weaned myself off of 220mg and down to about 60mg a day within 4 to 6 months. It wasn't as painful w/d wise as it could have been because I went so slow. I hooked up with a REAL Pain Mgt doctor how accepted me for $10 per visit, and she put me on the 60mg per day I needed after weaning WAY down. I am currently still on 60mg a day. I may need to go up to 80mg ONLY because of increased pain. I take NO OTHER DRUGS or ALCOHOL what-so-ever, I work my NA and AA programs, I have good responsible drug-free people around me. As well as I enjoy coming to SR and sharing my ESH with my fellow addicts/alcoholics! There is never an EASY way to get off any opiate especially Methadone. Methadone is the type of Opiate that stays in your system the longest. So you MUST wean off of it VERY VERY slowly. I am NOT a medical doctor so I cannot tell you how long it will take you to get off methadone from the dose you are at. A doctor could help you figure that out. My own experience, take your time, only go down 1mg or 2mg at the most per week, if that's too much, go back up, don't give up, YOU CAN DO IT! It just takes time and as addicts we are NOT patient people, but with this process we have to be! Good luck. PM me if you have any private questions you want to ask me.

Sincerely;

Jaz