[Zaba The Hut]

I had a serious accident 12 years ago. Ive had numerous reconstructive surgeries and motion loss and chronic pain that gets worse year after year. Anyway I was on opiate therapy from then till now with no warnings from drs.(i was 17 when the accident happened) Acouple years ago iwas up to 3 80 mgs od oxycontin daily and 4 3omg roxycodone daily as needed for breakthrough pain. I was having side effects and was not happy on this so the drs decided to put me on methadone so i could wake up without feeling ********************py. I was on the methadone for years and towards the end they had me on about 200mgs a day. All of a sudden my dr got himself in trouble or something and he told me I had 4 months to find another dr to continue my methadone. I went to many pain management drs and they all said the same thing, "ill prescribe you anything but methadone" so eventually i tried switching over to a high dose of dilaudid which didnt work. I got too sick. Then my original dr tries to get me off this high dose of methadone with suboxone, Ive never felt sicker in my life. so eventually i ended up on the Methadone Maintenance Clinic they had me on 170 mgs a day but i also have really bad anxiety disorder and i wasnt allowed to take my anxiety meds on the program, so i went through hell and stopped the xanax. But now i want to come off of the clinic so bad, my panic attacks have been comming back full force and i cant live this miserable life anymore. I've been taking my old xanax when my panic attacks get real bad and the clinic could care less. They think evryone is trying to get high. So when the xanax shows up in the urine they drop my methadone dose 20 mgs. I am now down to 100mgs. I told my counselor that im not going to suffer anymore and i want to come doen off of the meth and go on subutex. I cant stand another day of this hellish life. I am extremely scared of withdrawals and i dont know what to do.
I dont even think i can stop taking the xanax because i may go through xanax withdrawals so the clinic may drop me down 20 mgs a week and ill start to get really sick. They dont understand that im just trying to feel not scared and normal, they only believe im trying to get high. I never would have had a drug problem in my lif if it wasnt for this accident. I am exremely scared and dont know what to do if any one has any advise please help. I wish i could get subutex over the counter( i cant take suboxone because of the naloxone and methadone is in your system for a long time.). Please give me good advise.

[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by Zaba The Hut

I had a serious accident 12 years ago. Ive had numerous reconstructive surgeries and motion loss and chronic pain that gets worse year after year. Anyway I was on opiate therapy from then till now with no warnings from drs.(i was 17 when the accident happened) Acouple years ago iwas up to 3 80 mgs od oxycontin daily and 4 3omg roxycodone daily as needed for breakthrough pain. I was having side effects and was not happy on this so the drs decided to put me on methadone so i could wake up without feeling ********************py. I was on the methadone for years and towards the end they had me on about 200mgs a day. All of a sudden my dr got himself in trouble or something and he told me I had 4 months to find another dr to continue my methadone. I went to many pain management drs and they all said the same thing, "ill prescribe you anything but methadone" so eventually i tried switching over to a high dose of dilaudid which didnt work. I got too sick. Then my original dr tries to get me off this high dose of methadone with suboxone, Ive never felt sicker in my life. so eventually i ended up on the Methadone Maintenance Clinic they had me on 170 mgs a day but i also have really bad anxiety disorder and i wasnt allowed to take my anxiety meds on the program, so i went through hell and stopped the xanax. But now i want to come off of the clinic so bad, my panic attacks have been comming back full force and i cant live this miserable life anymore. I've been taking my old xanax when my panic attacks get real bad and the clinic could care less. They think evryone is trying to get high. So when the xanax shows up in the urine they drop my methadone dose 20 mgs. I am now down to 100mgs. I told my counselor that im not going to suffer anymore and i want to come doen off of the meth and go on subutex. I cant stand another day of this hellish life. I am extremely scared of withdrawals and i dont know what to do.
I dont even think i can stop taking the xanax because i may go through xanax withdrawals so the clinic may drop me down 20 mgs a week and ill start to get really sick. They dont understand that im just trying to feel not scared and normal, they only believe im trying to get high. I never would have had a drug problem in my lif if it wasnt for this accident. I am exremely scared and dont know what to do if any one has any advise please help. I wish i could get subutex over the counter( i cant take suboxone because of the naloxone and methadone is in your system for a long time.). Please give me good advise.

I went from 68mg of meth to suboxone. I have to say the first three days were not nice but then got much better. You should of been on one without the narcan for the first two days then swithed to suboxon. but now that is done. I say get thru the first days of the wd on suboxon ( not as bad as cold turkey) by day 4 I promise u will be up, eating and seeing the light... day 7 feeling normal with energy again. True u can NOT take zanex.... I cant help u there with the panic attacks....good luck

[sisterwin2]

just wondering what happen to you?

[Zaba The Hut]

I'm not really ok. I am scared as hell. They dropped me down to 90mgs of meth and im trying to taper myself off the xanax but i cant wake up in the mmorning without feeling terrified. I cant find a place that will help me with subutex without paying $600 to walk in the door and then the drug is around $10 a pill. I dont have any money and im trying to apply for medicaid but im sure even if i do get it it wont happen in time. My counselor at theMMT clinic gave me a list of government run facilities around Suffolk County(Long Island, NY) but they arent being much help. I dont know what to do. I'm living a nightmare.

[amazonian1]

Hi,
Sorry to hear about the hell your in. How much subutex were you put on? If it was to much that may be why you got sick. I'm not sure about subutex but suboxone ( almost the same except contains naloxone) you have to be off of the methadone for three days before you take it or it will throw you into withdrawl. The clinic I go to will not allow you to be on benzo's if your on meth but I'm not sure about if your on sub what they will allow. Do you talk to the dr. there regularly? If you do then what is he saying about the situation? I think you should see about switching back to sub asap. There are other drs. out there that prescribe that, you can look it up online for drs. in your area that prescribe suboxone or subutex. Not all drs. can prescribe this stuff, only two in my area. Good luck and I hope you find what you need.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by Zaba The Hut

I'm not really ok. I am scared as hell. They dropped me down to 90mgs of meth and im trying to taper myself off the xanax but i cant wake up in the mmorning without feeling terrified. I cant find a place that will help me with subutex without paying $600 to walk in the door and then the drug is around $10 a pill. I dont have any money and im trying to apply for medicaid but im sure even if i do get it it wont happen in time. My counselor at theMMT clinic gave me a list of government run facilities around Suffolk County(Long Island, NY) but they arent being much help. I dont know what to do. I'm living a nightmare.

First thing is try to relax. This will work out. It almost always does if you are honestly trying to do the right thing. Just focus on getting this done the right way. I am not sure if subutex is approved under medicaid or not though anyway. It's a fairly new medication. You will be better off if you keep doing a dr search and continue to taper down off the methadone.

If I understand correctly you are still at 90mg of methadone and want to jump off to subutex. Let me make a couple of suggestions. While there are people who jump off methadone at higher doses and go straight to subutex or suboxone it isn't the best way to do this. You will fight it big time for a good week or two with nasty w/d symptoms. You're better off if you can taper down off the methadone to under 30mg. I know that puts you into w/d. But a methadone dose of 30mg or less is what is recommended to make the switch to suboxone. We have to take a medication the way it says to take it if we expect it to work properly.

Lots of people have bad experiences with suboxone because they don't take it properly. It's sad that there are a lot of bandit doctors in the subutex/suboxone business. Some are good, some know little or nothing about treating addicts. They passed a test. Some don't really know how to even prescribe the medication. Now they are charging addicts exhorbitant fees as they know we have little choice if we want the medication. My dr charged me for a regular office call. Then he wrote a script for a month that I filled at the pharmacy. There are good drs with ethics out there. My dr was a physciatrist who specializes in addictions. He is over a couple of rehab hospitals. So I'm sure he is the exception to the rule. But I know good drs are out there. It's worth the hassle to find a good one that won't charge us an extra grand or more to basically just give us some medication and refill it.

Some of us live in areas where certified drs are plentiful. You should have no trouble finding another dr where you live. Just make sure they have good credentials. There are hundreds of certified drs in Houston where I am. I just assume Long Island and the surrounding area would have a ton of drs too.

Be careful with the xanax detox. Detox from benzos like xanax sucks huge. Been there. Was taking 15-20mg a day of xanax plus about 8mg of klonopin for years. It was an awful detox. Electric shocks, seizures, all kinds of bad things. You really don't need to cold turkey off benzos if you were taking very many for very long. Can be dangerous. Need to taper with a benzo like valium with a long half life. Keep us posted. Good luck.

[bev49]

Zaba, I live in Queens and have been on a methadone program in Nassau County for many years. Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park. The meth program is connected to a suboxone program. In addition, LIJ is running a clinical trial on suboxone which is free. I was brought down from 80 mgs. meth to 20 before they said to start the suboxone and then had to be clean 72 hours (not pleasant but not totally unbearable as methadone has a long half life). The idea is to be able to do it without wds you have to be on less than 30 mgs. meth. and also have to be in partial withdrawal when you start the sub. I am not on the clinical trial but rather seeing the doctor at the clinic for sub. They take my insurance so its only a $15 copay and luckily, the pharmacy takes the insurance too so its $40 per month for the script. Even without insurance, it would be much cheaper to do it through the hospital. The doctor is extremely knowledgable. After many many years on methadone, I seem to have made the transition to suboxone effortlessly so far (thank God). You are not far from LIJ if you are in Suffolk County. The number is 516 470-8950. If you want any more info about LIJ, let me know.

[Zaba The Hut]

That idea doesnt sound too bad except that the LIJ is over an hours drive from where I live. My clinic is tapering me now and im at 80mg at the time of this reply and i dont know if they would take me after they taper me down enough. Do they do subutex? Would i have to go daily, because i couldnt afford the gas and i also have panic disorder/agoraphobia and am on xanax for it im trying to taper myself off slowly. Do they mind benzos for panic disorder/ agoraphobia? I dont know if ill be able to taper myself off by the time im off the methadone. I was taking 8mg of xanax a day in 4 divided doses (about every 6 hours) but ive so far got myself down to about 6mg a day, somedays less, but its hard battling the anxiety and panic. My clinic is very uncaring and gave me a list of mental and government run health clinics across Long Island and Ive been trying to call most of them and theyre not very helpful. Regular drs say they would help me, but i have no insurance and not much money and they want $600 for the first visit and $200 every other visit and then in the pharmacy the drug itself is very expensive. I think around $10 a pill and i would need a couple of pills a day at first. I dont want to stay on subutex, i want to get off all drugs, I just cant handle the withdrawal symptoms and i live everyday in fear. I just want to go on subutex to ween off the end of the methadone withdrawals, maybe a month or two, three, whatever. The dr that put me on these drugs did me a very great disservice. They never warned me about anything.

[Robert_325]

Just a suggestion on tapering off the xanax. Xanax has a really short half life ... just six hours or so. That is why it's used for panic. Valium and Klonopin have a longer half life. Valium is anywhere from 36-50 hours and klonopin is just a little shorter. They will work differently than the xanax and will help you do this detox. I have done this from a habit of 15-20mg of xanax and 8-10mg of klonopin a day. Did that while detoxing off oxy.

You can go to google and search The Ashton Manual. Ashton is a doctor who specializes in benzo detox. She gives you a very basic recipe how to use valium to detox off xanax. It works and can save you a lot of misery. You should check it out. Good luck.

[bev49]

Most doctors really suck, charging what they do just to give you the sub perscription. I had to see the dr. 2 times during the first week of sub, then 1 time next week then 1x a month only for the perscriptions. I have been on meth for over 30 years if you can believe that. No one ever encourages you to get off meth at the clinic. It's just another money making operation to them. But the doctor at LIJ is very good. I don't know the charge if you don't have insurance but it cant be what the outside doctors charge. The only thing was I had to go three days without any meth before starting the suboxone. I dont think they give subutex. They say you can deal with the 72 hours. Honestly, the first day wasn't bad at all but by the last day I was shaking like a leaf. But 20 mins after he gave me the first dose of 8 mgs. sub, I was fine. It was amazing. I think for you it would be worth a phone call. What do you have to lose? And you might have alot to gain. Good luck.

[Zaba The Hut]

I still cant find any help. My clinic has me now down to 70mgs methadone daily and i already feel the effects, they are detoxing me pretty fast(-10mg a week)I used to be maintained at 170mgs a day. On top of that Im still trying to taper myself off of the xanax, which is hell. With the xanax im down from 2mgs four times a day (8mgs daily total) to about 4-5mgs daily. I live in suffolk county,NY(long Island).I have no insurance and some money, but not much. I am waiting on my medicaid appointment to come in the mail. I know there used to be detoxes and rehabs around here that except pending medicaid but it seems like they all closed down. If anyone knows anyway to help me please reply. Sometimes I feel like I should just go to the ER or admit myself into the psych ward at one of these hospitals around here, but i dont know what they would do for me if anything at all. I wouldnt even know which hospital to go to around here either(there are about 5 different ones). I should not get denied medicaid because I have a few disabilities and cant work physically because of some of them, so as of now I have no job. I just want to get out of this mess so I can go back to school to get a good job I can handle with my disabilities. On top of all of this I need like 5 teeth worked on right now(they are pretty badly infected) and there is no help for that around here either. I paid to see a dentist and he x-rayed my teeth and told me that about 4 or 5 of my teeth need to be pulled simultaniously. I explained to him my problem and he wouldnt help me without a huge chunk of money so he gave me two weeks worth of PenVK 500mg 4 times a day and told me to hope my medicaid comes through soon because I cant wait. I dont even think i can admit myself into a hospital because I also have court for stupid driving tickets on August 18 and if im not there they will put out a warrant for my arrest even if im in the hospital. I dont know if i can send my father there on that date to explain. Oh god I feel like Im losing my mind. Sometimes the withdrawal from either the xanax or the methadone is so intense, it feels like my heart is pounding and im panicking really bad. I really need help and most people I talk to seem so cold. It seems no one cares. If anyone knows what i can do please help. Does that LIJ have an inpatient detox that excepts pending medicaid? Would they not help me because im trying to get off xanax too? I really dont know what to do. Please help.

[bev49]

Zaba, in reading your original post and your new one, I've been thinking it is not a wise idea for you to get off of the methadone program right now. You have alot of things going on at once and are very highly stressed. It's hard enough to get off meth when you aren't going through all this stuff, probably too hard to do with this anxiety. What program are you on? I live not far, in Nassau. Are you getting the xanax from a legitimate psychiatrist? If so, I would speak to the doctor at your clinic and/or your counselor, have them speak to the xanax perscribing doctor who will explain that you have real and true panic and anxiety, and maybe you will be able to continue the pills. I have seen patients on my clinic do it all the time but only with a perscription or note from a doctor. If you are buying the xanax on the street, forget what I just said. I just have to say that getting off methadone at this time in your life seems like a very bad idea. Keep us informed.

[sisterwin2]

I have to say I agree with Bev. Right now dosnt seem good for you. I would tell you clinic that your not ready to wean. take you antibotics.. and get you insurance in order. Every thing dont have to be done at once. One thing at a time. This may help you panic attach too.
Take a warm bath and think this thru a bit.
Sister

[Zaba The Hut]

I agree with both of you but the problem is my clinic knows that i have panic/anxiety disorder but they say they dont tolerate the meds unless your psychotic. My xanax was prescribed to me by legitimate psychiatrists but back when i had insurance. I have seen a couple of different psychiatrists back then for it and they all wanted me to take 2mg of xanax either 3 or 4 times a day mixed with an antidepressant(which i dnt take antidepressants anymore either). But when these psychiatrists prescribed me the xanax I didnt want to take it all day every day, I only wanted to use it when i needed it. So in my safe I had bottles of 2mg xanax from back then. Then recently while I was on the meth clinic things in my life were getting so hectic I couldnt sleep and was having constant panic attacks to the point where I thought that if I didnt stop them I would have a heart attack or something. So i went in my safe and started taking the old xanax as prescribed to me back then and I hoped my clinic would understand. I have never abused a drug, I always took them as prescribed(except not taking the xanax like all the psychiatrists wanted me to). But now i got myself stuck on the xanax. I spoke with a counselor at my clinic today and explained that I cant stop the xanax especially with them dropping my mthadone dose so quickly. She said that the only thing I can do to fix the situation is to get myself into an inpatient detox to get off the xanax and then when i get out hopefully the clinic will work with me and slow down my detox so that its alot more comfortable. So she gave me a list of inpatient detoxes to call and hopefully one will except me with no insurance (or pending medicaid).

[bev49]

How far are you from North Shore Hosp? I know they have an inpatient detox. How long does it take to get the medicaid? That will help alot. Unfortunately, doctors and hospitals are all about the money. If you can get into a detox, at least they will hold your methadone at a steady dose. This quick detox is terrible and I can't believe they are doing that to you. They shouldn't be allowed to. Once you get the medicaid, you will have no problem getting into a detox and getting off the xanax. At that time you should go back up to a dose on meth you are comfortable with. I wish you luck.

[sisterwin2]

I have to say that this whole deal is not makeing sense to me. Let me see if I am getting this straight.

So, the whole problem with the clinic is that you are taking the benzo without a Dr. perscription and that is breaking their rules. So now they are putting you thru quick detox unless you stop taking the benzo? Or, it was your choice to began weaning?

[bev49]

Sis, I bet they are force detoxing him. It makes me so mad. You are there to begin with because you are a drug addict, then if you don't follow their rules they detox you. I can understand rules and all, but they do it so fast. Imagine a doctor refusing to continue to perscribe insulin because you keep eating cake? It seem unethical and cruel to me. I have seen people get detoxed 10 mgs. every few days because they were more than 2 weeks behind in their bill. It shouldn't be allowed.

[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by bev49

Sis, I bet they are force detoxing him. It makes me so mad. You are there to begin with because you are a drug addict, then if you don't follow their rules they detox you. I can understand rules and all, but they do it so fast. Imagine a doctor refusing to continue to perscribe insulin because you keep eating cake? It seem unethical and cruel to me. I have seen people get detoxed 10 mgs. every few days because they were more than 2 weeks behind in their bill. It shouldn't be allowed.

that just blows me away. I have seen the programs here in baltimore receive dirty urines all the time. They ignor pot and do give you 8-9 chances before they force a quick detox. If they see you as an obovious threat to others, they will they get tougher. I will not swear to it but they allow so many infractions per yr. Maybe she should go to the MSW and ask for assistance for a trasfer to another clinic untill she can get things straighten things out.
Just seems she should be able to speak to the MSW or Nurse manager.... If Not. Then I would let wd symptoms show enough to allow a ER doc see her. Then tell him what is going on and use thier MSW or MD, which ever is approp. eval you and assist you on your immed problem. Its so dangerous I think to wean someone that is sick, could poss. be adding to benzo w/d and putting you life at stake. I can not see what else you can do without insurance..

Hope this helps,
Sister

[Zaba The Hut]

My xanax was precsdribed but by many different psychiatrists that i saw before i was on the clinic. I didnt take the xanax all day every day like the psychs wanted me to so I had stockpiles of old xanax in my safe. I was keeping my panic at bay with medication and the meth might have helped a little too. But then alot of things started going on in my life and my panic attacks came on so intense every day so i started taking my old xanax hoping the clinic would understand and help me. But every day i went to the clinic there was no one to talk to about it untill it was too late. I was stuck on xanax and they started rapidly detoxing me making it much worse. Today I spoke with my counselor at the clinic and she said if i get into a detox for the xanax right now when i get out they will work with me and slow down or stop my detox. (they so far dropped me 100mg methadone in about 1 month to 70mgs a day)(i also dropped my xanax dose from 2mg 4 times a day to 1mg 4 times a day). So after i left the clinic I was told that Brookhaven Hospitals Focus program would help me if i go in through the ER going through xanax withdrawal. So I did and sat there for 8 hours freaking out for them to deny me because they only take people for acute alcohol or opiate detox. They told me to go into Quantacut Hospital in Greenport's ER and they have to take me by law because they have a detox so hopefully it works. I am going crazy and I keep getting closed doors. I am such a good person my whole life and was always put on all these meds by drs and now they leave me on my own. I am losing hope in all people fast. I feel like I must be from another planet because I could never be so cold and cruel to people. I have had a horrible life since birth, I could write a bestseller book on all the messed up things that Ive been through and life never gets better. I just want to get of all these drugs and go back to school so i can get a good job that I can handle because I cant do physical labor due to all sorts of reconstructive surgery and chronic pain,motion loss, etc. I graduated high school but was unable to complete college because my family didnt want me so I had to work unbeleivable hours for no money just to survive and the pain management dr's were "helping" me by giving me massive dosses of oxycodone, methadone, dilaudid,etc. Not even beginning about my panic/anxiety depression disorder that i probably have from all the messed up stuff ive been through since i was a kid. Im such a good person that Ive always forgave everyone for doing what they did but somehow I always get the poop end of the stick. Nice people are aliens and they definately finish last.

[Robert_325]

Nice people DON'T always finish last. Don't think like that. That is totally counter-productive, won't accomplish anything. Not saying to be naive but not all people are out to get us.

I think that checking into the hospital that has the detox for benzos makes sense. Detoxing from xanax is tough, especially while they are reducing your methadone dose too quickly. The two w/ds together has to suck bad. Getting the benzo problem handled will make the rest of this go more smoothly. I think you simply got the wrong info at first about hospitals and you are upset so all of this is getting to you. Try to relax and get to the ER at the hospital with the detox. They will probably admit you on the spot when you go in if they have a room. If not they will probably tell you to come back the next day. If you are bad enough they will have to admit you by law. I would lay it on thick when I went in. Tell them you are afraid for yourself. Tell them what it takes to get yourself admitted. Let us know how things go when you can. Good luck.

[daniel556]

Hi Zaba I've been in exactly the same situation but luckily for me I live in the UK which means FREE meds FREE scripts.
I was addicted to Heroin and Benzo's for 14 years (not exactly the same as you but you get the drift) now I found it impossible to come off them meth while using benzo's (Valium) so I upped my dose of meth and stopped the benzo's nearly all at once.
The higher doses of Meth helps with the "Electric shock" feeling in your brain you get when withdrawing off Benzo's.
I've gotta admit when my benzo use was really high about 30-40 10mgs a day I used heroin (doesn't apply to you) and stopped the benzo's immidiatly.
Really what I'm getting at is the benzo's are the BIGGEST problem. Until you stop them Methadone withdrawl will be extremely difficult if not impossible.
They cloud your judgment increasing the chances of relapse also increase chance of overdose.
I personally found benzo's more addictive and worse for you in general than heroin, this is my own personal view so may be different for you and others.
I've now been off ALL illegal drugs for 18months and have reduced myself to 7ml of meth, I hope to come off the last bit on subutex but will see how i feel.
Luckily were I am in the UK (Blackpool, Lancashire) as long as your urine is clean off illegal drugs your OK with benzo's as long as prescribed by a Doctor. They also are very lenient with the doses, if you want 100-200 of meth FINE!! if you want subutex also fine. We also have detox centers which are free but their not the sedation type, their about £3000 (i think)
My best wishes go out to you and hope everything turns out good for you, stay off caffine, sugar ect.. as they just make withdrawls and anxiety worse, take meth exact same time each day and if you can take it home measure it EXACTLY with a syringe and reduce small amounts.
Better yet jump on a plane and head to the UK and get free treatment everyone else is
Good luck my friend.
Dan

[sisterwin2]

Originally Posted by daniel556

Hi Zaba I've been in exactly the same situation but luckily for me I live in the UK which means FREE meds FREE scripts.
I was addicted to Heroin and Benzo's for 14 years (not exactly the same as you but you get the drift) now I found it impossible to come off them meth while using benzo's (Valium) so I upped my dose of meth and stopped the benzo's nearly all at once.
The higher doses of Meth helps with the "Electric shock" feeling in your brain you get when withdrawing off Benzo's.
I've gotta admit when my benzo use was really high about 30-40 10mgs a day I used heroin (doesn't apply to you) and stopped the benzo's immidiatly.
Really what I'm getting at is the benzo's are the BIGGEST problem. Until you stop them Methadone withdrawl will be extremely difficult if not impossible.
They cloud your judgment increasing the chances of relapse also increase chance of overdose.
I personally found benzo's more addictive and worse for you in general than heroin, this is my own personal view so may be different for you and others.
I've now been off ALL illegal drugs for 18months and have reduced myself to 7ml of meth, I hope to come off the last bit on subutex but will see how i feel.
Luckily were I am in the UK (Blackpool, Lancashire) as long as your urine is clean off illegal drugs your OK with benzo's as long as prescribed by a Doctor. They also are very lenient with the doses, if you want 100-200 of meth FINE!! if you want subutex also fine. We also have detox centers which are free but their not the sedation type, their about £3000 (i think)
My best wishes go out to you and hope everything turns out good for you, stay off caffine, sugar ect.. as they just make withdrawls and anxiety worse, take meth exact same time each day and if you can take it home measure it EXACTLY with a syringe and reduce small amounts.
Better yet jump on a plane and head to the UK and get free treatment everyone else is
Good luck my friend.
Dan

When is the USA going to wake up...... at least we now have the subs.

[Zaba The Hut]

After the clinic (which i ended up on from "opiate therapy" for severe lifelong chronic pain that gets worse year after year, before switching me to methadone the pain mangement drs had me on the equivalent of over 100 percocets a day in the form of oxycontin and 30 mg roxicodone for breakthrou pain, they swithed me to methadone because they said i wouldnt wake up nervous anymore and ill have rond the clock pain releif. Toward the end they had me on 200mgs of methadone daily 100 in morning 100 at night. After i lost insurance i couldnt afford pain managent drs anymore so i had about 3 months to find a regular dr or internal medicine dr to help me. Everyone i went to said theyd give me anything but methadone {dilaudid, oxycontin etc...} i told them i as on too high of a dose to just switch so no help from anywhere. No detox in the world would help me because of the dose and length of detox. So i call the methadone maintenace program and explained to the head dr my problem. He understood right away and bumped me up the waiting list. So i ended up with them.) I also have severe depression that is on and off my whole life and panic/anxiety agorophobia that i usually keep at bay with meditation and keeping busy. But recently my life started falling apart (my fiance started having serious health problems and my father and myself) so i started back on my xanax 2mg 4times a day (which is mixable, people dont think so but look it up, as long as taken as prescribed there will be no problems, ive never abused a drug in my life. and on massive doses of opiate tharapy ive had psychiatrist who were in touch with my pain management drs have put me on both and never had a problem getting off of the xanax when i was ready, even if i was on it for many months.) I though my clinic would be understanding of my situation and be ok with this as ive never had a problem. But instantly they dropped me from 170mgs a day to 60mgs aday within a month and with this drop i can not stop the xanax. Ive cut my xanax dose anyway, trying so hard to make it through the panic and anxiety from the xanax and methadone withdrawal. I went from 2mgs 4 times a day to only takin a couple of mgs of xanax a night to sleep. I had a meeting with the director, head doctor, and psychiatrist at my clinic and they were planning on bringing me below 60mgs a day but i explained my situation and they said they would stop the detox and leave me at 60mg(which isnt doing anything im sick as hell on this dose) and if the psychiatrist deems it necessary they will raise me up. The psychiatrist deemed it necessary understanding that I cant stop the xanax with the methadone like this so he said he would get me back up to at least 90mgs aday. Its been 2 weeks since this meeting and im still at 60mgs aday. I heard from my counselor but despite the deale worked out theyt wont raise me untill i have no xanax in my urine. So i can eiher bite the bullet and go through hell or wait 2 to 6 weeks when my medicaid card comes in the mail and get into a detox to get off of my small nightly dose. Even in detox they ill keep my dose at 60mgs so ill be bouncing off of the walls. Besides all this ive been going to this clinic for over 2 years without giving them a single problem or dirty urine. The head dr that was there when they admitted me was much nicer and more sympathetic, but he retired and the replacing dr is cruel and seems to not like me for no reason so he likes to watch me squirm. He is nicer to other patients but he just picked me out and decided he doesnt like me. I so wish the other dr didnt retire, i wouldnt be going through this hell. But once im off of the xanax and they stabalize my methadone I want to be slowly and comfortably detoxed off of the methadone. I do not want to be dependent on anything. Ill figure out ways to deal with my severe debilitating pain and panic disorder. If i could get these drugs ove the counter i would stay on them but i cant trust other drs to give me my meds without deciding that they feel like messing with my dosages. Around 100 years ago on The Bill Of Rights there was a right that said the government has no right to tell the people what they can put into there own bodies. One president decided that was no good and just wiped it right off and created the DEA. How long until they wipe off another bill. Freedom of speech looks like its next.

[mallazon]

Hi there i am sure by now u have all the answers you need by now I found this site whilst looking for information on subutex and pain management doses as i was on methadone 80mg for severe neck and lower back arthritis. I was on methadone for about 9 months but i felt to sedated so much so that i didnt feel normal and could not motivate myself to do anything it was awfull. i have recently changed over to subutex i reduced my methadone down to 30mg I took my last meth on a saturday morning and on the folowing monday i started subutex 2mg i was in withdrawal by this time and the subutex did put me into precipitaded withdrawal for 2 days wich wasnt to good but bareable as my doctor gave me diasapam for the monday with my 2mg of subutex on the tues i increased the subutex to 4mg + diasapam then wed 6mg of sub pluss diasapam then thurs 8mg sub and stoped the diasapam friday 10mg sub. By the wed i was starting to feel better and by the friday i was covered by the subutex and my pain was compleatly gone for the first time in years and i also felt so much clearer in my mind and body i felt more normal and wasnt as anxious like i had been. I am now reducing the subutex till i get to a dose that is just enough to cover my pain but to a level that i can feel a small amount of breakthrough pain this is because of when u are on high levels of subutex your pain is compeatly gone and i over do it lifting things i could not normaly do and this isnt good for my neck or back and can cause more damage, but when u feel so well u forget that u have a serious pain problem and just go on as though u had nothing wrong with you. so i want a small dose so i can feel the twinges so i know when to stop. My doc told me u can use diasapam with subutex but u have to keep an eye on it as it can depress the breathing as alcohol and subutex can but if you dont over do the diasapam and your doctor keeps an eye on you i would imagin it is do-able. Its the best thing i ever did change to subutex i know its not ideal but for me it is better than the oxycodon and tramadol that i was originaly on before the methadone. I feel great now i do get a bit withdrawal when i reduce my meds but its bareable and i know when i get it right down i will be stable and feel well again. hope this helps and take care.......mallazon....xxxx

[methadonesucks]

My opinion on outpatient methadone clinics in my 4 yr experience I'm only 28. Is they are legal dope houses. They have no desire to get you off, they want your money and will take you up as high as you let them so you are way too high in dose to manage withdrawals. I went for oxy's... 4 years and thousands of dollars i'm still addicted (methadone now) My mother died at 47 and I tested for xanaz or another nerve pill too help handle my moms death on Easter. So the clinic started to medically detox me from only 70 mgs down 3mgs a day. A bit fast they didnt even let me get my drs appt for suboxone set up before my detox was over. I never had dirty drug tests and now they have put me back on the street... They also knew my dose was not regulated b/c I would withdrawl way early and be so sick I couldnt eat. I weigh 89 lbs. 28 yrs old now and they watched me lose from 140 to that is like 6 months or less. I'm in Nc and The McLoud Center is a dope house.... They dont care about their clients.. I will start the subutox not this monday but next. I've been off methadone for about 2 weeks. My doc gave me 60 hydro 10s for two weeks to ward off withdrawals (he is going on vacation) and gave me enough for 4 a day. NOT ENOUGH...panic is setting in pills are low low and another week and a day to go... I'm still really withdrawing even with the pills and i have to take 2 or 3 at a time for a bit of relief.. Just ranting.... My Suboxone will be over 700.00 a month already cheked w/ doc and pharmacy. No INS.. What choice do I have. After 4 yrs of methadone use how long does it take to clear your system...forever LOL

[methadonfriendly826]

Your best bet is to kick cold turkey. Its not the clinic's fault, its yours. Stop blaming everybody else for your drugs problems. Start taking some responsibility for your own actions. You knew the risks before you started. Methadone saved my life if it wasnt for methadone id still be shooting up in an ally somewhere. Me and my ex wife did heroin together and i told her i was getting help, we both had been on 5 to 6 bags a day. I had no options i couldnt take the withdrawal, and then somebody told me about a local clinic that can control your cravings and get your life back. So i tried it, my wife didnt, i have been clean for 6 months now, ever since i got started. Any way to put a long story short my wife OD'd on heroin 2 weeks after i started methadone, she almost died. The same would have been for me if i wouldnt of started methadone. She finally couldnt take it anymore and i talked her into going on methadone. We both have been clean off junk since we started, and it has saved my life. I doubt id be off h if it wasnt for methadone. So you can sit here and blame the clinic for your problems, but remember the purpose of the clinic is to get people of dope, to stop people from spreading disease, and to get your life back together, and to stop people from sticking needles in there arm. It is a legal alternative to heroin and heavy narcotics. So please don't blame methadone clinics for your addiction. People always blame others. Youve been maintaned long enough and its time to tell them to take you off. You'll be fine

[methadonfriendly826]

Here are your options:

1. Kick cold turkey using the following non-narcotic medications
a. Tylenol (acetaminophen). This will help with the body aches.
b. Benadryl. at night 1 hour before you try to lay down. This will help with sleeping.
c. anti-diarrhea medicine- i forget what its called but you will definetly need this for the diarrhea. (the opposite of exlax)
d. Dextromethorphan HBr. This will help with the coughing and sore throat that comes from withdrawing, if you in fact have these symptoms(not everyone experiences this).

2. Suboxone treatment:
I would NOT recommend this. Because of the simple fact you want to get off opiates completely. If you wanted to be maintaned i would, but since you are sick of the opiates i wouldnt really recommend it since it is the same thing or practically the same thing as methadone, and can be just as addictive.

Please dont blame clinics and others for your drugs problems it is just childish.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by methadonesucks

My opinion on outpatient methadone clinics in my 4 yr experience I'm only 28. Is they are legal dope houses. They have no desire to get you off, they want your money and will take you up as high as you let them so you are way too high in dose to manage withdrawals. I went for oxy's... 4 years and thousands of dollars i'm still addicted (methadone now) My mother died at 47 and I tested for xanaz or another nerve pill too help handle my moms death on Easter. So the clinic started to medically detox me from only 70 mgs down 3mgs a day. A bit fast they didnt even let me get my drs appt for suboxone set up before my detox was over. I never had dirty drug tests and now they have put me back on the street... They also knew my dose was not regulated b/c I would withdrawl way early and be so sick I couldnt eat. I weigh 89 lbs. 28 yrs old now and they watched me lose from 140 to that is like 6 months or less. I'm in Nc and The McLoud Center is a dope house.... They dont care about their clients.. I will start the subutox not this monday but next. I've been off methadone for about 2 weeks. My doc gave me 60 hydro 10s for two weeks to ward off withdrawals (he is going on vacation) and gave me enough for 4 a day. NOT ENOUGH...panic is setting in pills are low low and another week and a day to go... I'm still really withdrawing even with the pills and i have to take 2 or 3 at a time for a bit of relief.. Just ranting.... My Suboxone will be over 700.00 a month already cheked w/ doc and pharmacy. No INS.. What choice do I have. After 4 yrs of methadone use how long does it take to clear your system...forever LOL

If you go with the suboxone I can help you use them properly and be off in 6-8 weeks with no noticeable problems. Let me know if you need some help. We have lots of success stories here using subs.

Cold turkey detox off methadone can be done but it's very uncomfortable unless you taper down very slowly to nothing. My experience is that it's a little easier going down to zero on suboxone after you get down to 30mg of methadone or less.

The most important part of the sub therapy in my opinion is the induction. I did an induction with a guy from France a couple weeks ago at 1.2 mg. We do them here all the time at 4-8mg. Don't allow yourself to be convinced by anyone that you need 16mg per day like so many drs regularly prescribe.

Let me know if you need help. God bless.

[bev49]

While I agree with methadonefriendly that it isn't the clinics fault and a person is responsible for their own treatment, I think you are being kind of harsh. I DO NOT believe that cold turkey from methadone is a feasible option. I know a few people who have done it, but they usually substitute it with alcohol or other drugs. Short term sub would be a better option in my opinion.

[jloops]

Originally Posted by methadonfriendly826

Your best bet is to kick cold turkey. Its not the clinic's fault, its yours. Stop blaming everybody else for your drugs problems.

This is ridiculous. Your comment is heartless and immoral. How is he "responsible" for THE CLINIC reducing HIS dose?!?!?! He took MEDICINE that he obviously needs right now, and THEY did this to his dose! I'd call you a fool if that wasn't against the rules of this forum.

The man took a medication for (manifestly) serious anxiety.

There is NO REASON he should have his dose manipulated by the clinic whether he's taking Xanax or not.

No reason.

This is just as silly as clinics that refuse to lower your dose, garbage like that. It's absurd, it's immoral, and it's the one reason why people hate methadone clinics.

If they just stuck to handing out the drugs (with 1 month take-homes after the first couple of weeks) and leaving the patient to determine his dose, the whole thing would work just fine. All this BS and making clients come in everyday just puts a bunch of pissed off people with a propensity to use drugs in the same building on a daily basis... I wonder why they keep using?