FDA Study will help me get off of methadone--need advice and prayer!

[piper777]

I'm seriously considering participating in a FDA study sponsored by the federal government and done in conjunction with a major university.

First, let me just say that I'm not anti-methadone. Please see comments at end of this e-mail so you know that I believe of all the opioids prescribed for pain, methadone is the best. That being said, a Christian taking any opioids (prescribed or otherwise) should have, as their goal, to be off of them. That has certainly been my goal and I feel that I am now ready to meet that goal.

Back to the subject of this e-mail. The study will help people get off of chronic pain meds (opioids) by using Suboxone for a period of time, then gradually tapering study participants off of Suboxone so they are opioid free.

My history: I've been taking methadone for over six months (5 mg. 4-5 times p/day) for pain after switching over from Sub. My doc put me on Sub to get me off of Vicodin. It worked beautifully for that but I could not continue taking the Sub due to an unpleasant side effect and because it was not all that effective for chronic pain. It worked somewhat but not as well as methadone.

Having said that, I want to get off of methadone because, like all opioids it causes me to feel detached from life. Specifically, and unique to methadone (at least with my chemistry), it causes me to have obsessive dreams. In fact, if I am reading a book in the daytime and start to nod off, I IMMEDIATELY going into a REM state--starting to dream literally within 2 seconds. Very strange and disconcerting.
I would hasten to add that particular side effect contributes to the feeling of detachment since obviously one cannot dream while they are awake. So, feeling a detachment from life is the daytime version of night time dreaming. That's my theory anyway.

Okay, back to the subject at hand. The study will switch me from methadone to suboxone and I will stay on Sub for 36 weeks during that time they will slowly taper me off the Sub. At least, that's what I think they will be doing.

The way I look at this is even if it didn't work--that is, even if I discovered once I was off of all opioids that my chronic pain was too severe too handle without pain meds, at least by that point I will actually know what is the real pain vs. the "phantom" pain. By "phantom" I mean pain that is caused by mini withdrawals from methadone vs. the actual physical pain caused my underlying physical condition. (Bone spurs, steonosis, reversed cervical curve, herniated discs in neck plus overall arthritis.)

Since I've been on pain meds now for over six years it is hard for me to know what is real anymore. You get my drift.

Anyway, my concerns/questions are twofold:

(1) I'm nervous about the initial transition period from methadone to suboxone. When the doc used Sub to get me off of Vicodin it was a cinch but this is a whole different ball of wax because of the long half life of methadone. I will have to wait 3--maybe even 4--days to go into full withdrawal from methadone before they can safely switch me over to Sub and that makes me very apprehensive. (Switching too early will push the withdrawal into an advanced stage causing even more pain.)

I know how bad withdrawal is from methadone after 3 days because I tried going cold turkey off of methadone months ago and it was HELL! I was writhing and screaming on the floor in my doctor's office (not my pain doc) in complete and utter agony.

So, the question is, Has anyone on this forum switched from methadone to suboxone and, if so, how bad was it in the first few days, etc?

I read on Wikipedia that because of this issue, some doctors switch methadone users to a shorter acting opiate, such as morphine, for a few days before allowing withdrawal to occur and beginning buprenorphine. Has anyone done this and, if so, did it help?

(2) After I make the switch to Suboxone, will I really be able to use it for several months then taper off it? The study lasts 36 weeks and I honestly don't know yet how long they will have me on Suboxone before they start to taper me off it.

In regards to this, has anyone here on this forum gone through this process--gotten off of Suboxone completely and , if so, how long did it take you?

Please keep in mind that I am not anti-methadone. I think it's a great alternative to other pain meds like Vicodin and Oxy and I would stay on it except I just can't handle the obssessive dreaming side effect. Plus, to be even more honest, I will be traveling overseas (I'm starting a travel magazine) and on some of these trips (missionary trips where I volunteer at orphanages, etc.) they do not allow short (or long) term staffers to be on opioids.

Also, of course, if I ever do decide to take another staff position in publishing, I will most likely be drug tested. That is happening more and more as everyone knows and that, of course, is a basis they can use for not hiring you. Though, of course, they will never tell you that.

Okay, so those are my two questions. I need to make a decision by next week as to whether I will participate in the study so if anyone can give me their advice and/or experiences with this, or a similar process involving getting off of Suboxone, I would be most grateful.

piper

[Lily]

Piper,

I am sorry, I have no advice or experience w/ this, but I did pray for you for no complications should you decide to do the study.

blessings, Sheila

what kind of missionary orphanage trips do you do? share the gospel? Helps, service, etc....

[best]

Hello Piper and welcome to SR.
As I read through your post, I gain these thoughts...
First... Wikipedia is nothing more then a blog page of facts based on what ever research the person writing that page puts into it. Their facts may or maynot be correct. I see Wikipedia as a good source for quick facts but not something I would trust.

As for your questions, I see you have a pain Dr. I would think it be wise to run your idea of joining the study by the pain Dr. and get his/her feedback on if you should try it or not. You may have already done so..I think it wise.

As for the morphine and sub... I only know opinions of what others have posted.
You may do well to read the sticky posts (posts above the blue line that say "sticky" beside them) on the substance abuse forum and ask your questions on that forum (as the people who visit that forum would understand from experience)
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/substance-abuse/

Prayers that you get where you want to be and back on the mission field if that is God's will for where He wants you.