help

[korman]

anyone who has had any experience with the withdrawal process and getting off methadone and the treatment plan for that, I would love some advice. My finace is going through it now and I am not sure how to help him or what to tell him. Ideas? Any and all would be welcome. Thanks

[shockozulu]

You may want to call a methadone clinic or physician. I don't know and we don't give medical advice here.

Perhaps someone can share their ESH (Experience, Strength and Hope) but do remember that every person is different.

[Latte]

I've never used Methadone but I'm sure others will be along to help.

If it gets too bad there is always the Emergency Room.

I am a recovering opiate addict and IME Gatorade, Immodium, Motrin and warm baths are wonderful. Motrin and other NSAIDS can cause stomach problems so be cautious.

If he was placed on Methadone for pain management and he is being weaned off there are some great options medically and I sure the heck his doctor knows them. If the doctor doesn't consider asking him to consult with an addictionologist. There are a few blood pressure meds that can be used to help the withdraw more tolerable.

Welcome to SR.

[Lbad]

((korman)) There are many here that can offer helpful experience, strength and hope in this area... I sent you a PM...

Good luck and keep posting!

[korman]

He was placed on methadone not for pain persay, but to recover from opiate dependency. He has now decided that he doesn't want to be depedent on anything (which is great) and is being detoxed (slowly) from it by a specialist who is wonderful.

I am not looking for any medical advise. That is for a doctor and no one else. What I am looking for is anyone who has every experienced the detox and can offer words of wisdom and hope, that he is not going through it alone and other have done it before him so it is possible. He is scared at this point that without the methadone his body just wont work.

I have never used. I can't imagine what it is to have to go through this. It scares to me even imagine what anyone who is an addict has gone through and is still going through to get and stay clean.

I have that mother instinct though. The one that wants to make it all better.

We are getting married in 3 weeks and it is hard to deal with is all at once you know?

Neither of us have a support system besides each other. Our family and friends are great! But not when it comes to this.

Well I am off to my bridal shower! Thank you to all of you who come to read this, who will post and who have posted. It's nice to know there is a place like this I can turn to.

[kmsj75]

Wow, you guys have a lot going on!!

I have a friend who recently tapered off of Methadone. He was given it for the same reason as your fiance. He used NA and would come twice a week (with his wife for support.) He was very honest about what he was going through, and found tons of support. He had good days, and not-so-good days, but I think the meetings really gave him hope. A few weeks ago he had his last dose, and was able to walk up and get his desire tag (meaning he wants to try to stay clean.)

It was awesome!!!

Your fiance is so blessed to have your support.

Best Wishes!
K

[shockozulu]

There are a couple discussions on MMT (Methadone Maintenance Therapy) in the Substance Abuse forum. They have some good ESH on tapering.

You fiance is lucky to have you.

[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

[korman]

Thanks for all the advise you guys! I will be checking out the other forums as suggested to see what others have to say that may help.

I am happy to report at this point that he is now down to 7 1/2 mgs a day and is doing great! He actually has more energy now they he had before and I think since I have been sharing your stories with him, he has a better mind set and realizes that others have succeeded before him. He has high hopes for himself and so do I.

On Friday he is supposed to drop to 5mgs a day, so keep your fingers crossed for him and send out some warm thoughts and prayers.

As for what Jaz had to say about the methadone clinic, we encountered the same thing. He started at 30mgs a day and they had him up to 100mgs a day within a month. They would have gladly up'd him from there too. No questions asked. But when it came time to get off the methadone he had a real fight on his hands. His counselor refused to return phone calls, refused to comply with his requests to tapper off and even put a review in his file stating that he wasn't willing to work the program and he was being difficult. He got mad at him for reporting this to his supervisor and then tried to drop him 15mgs in one day. If my finace had not gone to a higher supervisor that would have made him REALLY sick. I was so angery at the situation I spent a week trying to track down a real pain managment doctor who would finish his detox. Thankfully we found someone. I am still pissed about the clinic.

Thanks again. You guys have all been a huge help!

[jazpoppy]

Korman;

That is AWEFUL!!!! That is the worst thing they could do to someone who is in recovery and actually wants to taper off of the methadone! The clinic I went to was not much better, but they at least let me detox off at the speed I chose, although they weren't happy with me, and complained that I was going to go back out and "use" again, it took me over 2 weeks to explain to them the I'm a pain mgt patient and I would not like to be on so much methadone that I can NEVER get proper pain relief if I need to. I went directly to a pain mgt. doctor from the clinic and she was glad that I came to her. She told me that the clinic was NOT doing me any favors by increasing me to over 220mg of methadone per day! It would be hard to treat me for pain if I broke my leg or something! Plus my chronic pain was more than just breaking through this dose now, I almost felt like I had no pain relief anymore because I'd been on so much for so long (over 8 months), and could not take my doses split up through the day and was not allowed to EVER take breakthru medications that a pain clinic would prescribe, but a methadone clinic would kick you out if another doctor gave you narcotics or benzos. So I'm happy that your husband is getting off the methadone slowly enough that he's not too uncomfortable. 15mg in one day is totally OUTRAGEOUS!!! Good luck! PM me if you want to ask me anything in private. Keep posting and welcome to SR's Pain MGT in Recovery!!!

Jaz