[katz]

i was given remoran for the mind kick and clanadine/clonapine fr the musce cramps gt pain and restless wannacutyourlegsoff leg syptems also soaking in the hottet bath 2-3 day helps major meth gets deep in your joints/bones and the hot water helps draw it out quicker if your at such a small dose got there uself i recomend 2hrs daytwice in hottest bath you can and couple joints if weed not a option 4 you then get legease from riteaid i used the 3 combned after ROD and it was after a year i coud sleep though night cramps not waking me and 4 me theweed was great 4 the nausa and lose of appitite and keepin what little sanity i had left good luck

[Mel4help]

quote:Originally posted by mpvt

I would try and get on suboxone (suboxone.com).It will take care of the withdrawls and cravings then you wean down from the suboxone with little or no trouble.What your experieneing is PAWS post acute withdrawl syndrome and this can last for months or longer that's why I suggest the suboxone(buprenorphene).I garuntee you will feel alot better doing it this way.Methadone is a very powerful drug as you've found out and it has a long half life which is one of the reasons you need to get on the suboxone.Let me know how you make out and good luck......Dave

[Mel4help]

[quote]Originally posted by mpvt

I would try and get on suboxone (suboxone.com).It will take care of the withdrawls and cravings then you wean down from the suboxone with little or no trouble.What your experieneing is PAWS post acute withdrawl syndrome and this can last for months or longer that's why I suggest the suboxone(buprenorphene).I garuntee you will feel alot better doing it this way.Methadone is a very powerful drug as you've found out and it has a long half life which is one of the reasons you need to get on the suboxone.Let me know how you make out and good luck......Dave
Dave- I wanted to thank you for replying. I've been in my own private hell for so long that to find people out there who understand is a start.I haven't stopped again cause I know what lies ahead. Did it for 5 days. I fight depression and anxiety and also have ADHD as does my son who is bipolar. I am in an ugly custody battle in which my drug-dealing ex's mother just turned on me and switched to his corner. He manipulates and brainwashes them and tells everyone I am a crackhead. If they only knew the truth, they'd know that if it were meth, the battle would be hopeful. I am scared and It's the hardest thing I have ever come up against. My kids need me to do this so I can help them and their emotional issues. Very few people know. My psych. dumped me cause I missed a few appts. as a result of oversleeping from the methadone. He wasn't aware of my methadone use. I've never taken it legally but was on Oxy and Hydros before that. Will a doctor prescribe SUBOXONE or something like it to me if I got hooked on it from a friend's prescr. and will he grill me for info??? Up until 2 yrs ago, I'd never done pills before. Leave it to me to find the hardest one to overcome. Just my Luck. Any advice or moral support would be greatly appreciated. I've only recently seen the change it has brought over me and could use any support available on here. Thanks Dave= I feel a little hope for the 1st time in a long time. Mel

[Mel4help]

Karen= This is my 1st time on this sight and I am thankful for it. I have 2 kids 7 & 8 and cannot overcome the anxiety, depression and the rest to sufficientlytake care of my kids. Their dad's a jackass and I have to get over this. I can't do it cold turkey. I'd have to basically disappear from life as I knowit for a month or 2 and that's not possible. If you wanna talk, my email is melb@bresnan.net-it helps to know I'm not in this alone

quote:Originally posted by karen lock

this is karen l i wrote a minute ago and dont know what im doing i didnt leave e mail address was i supposed toL drg187@aol. please help

[nutballgirl]

mel4help, the doc will not grill you other than to ask questions so that he can help. they're not going to judge you if they're a good doc and the docs who are on the list to administer this drug are there to help folks like you. the unfortunate thing is you have to be in sort of bad withdrawals for a couple of days before you can take the first dose of suboxone. but if you can arrange to be off work and do it, then you'll be ok! then you can go into that custody battle with a clear head and go get those kids!!!! don't beat yourself up about how you got involved with this, put your energy into getting better--EVERYBODY has something in their lives they're not proud of, it's what they do about it that counts. I'm pulling for you, keep us posted!
susan

"to laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" -Emerson

[iknowit]

DEAR NUTBALL
I WAS WONDERING MORE ABOUT SUBOXNE? I HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO GET MY OWN APPOINTMENT SO I'VE BEEN BUYING THEM OFF A FRIEND.
SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFO I TOOK THEM THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE I WOULD USUALLY TAKE VICODIN. DID I TAKE THEM TOO SOON?
ALSO I'M LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR IN MY AREA TO SEE IF MY INSURANCE WILL COVER IT, ANY WEBSITES? I REALLY WANT TO GET TO A DOCTOR AND GET CHECKED OUT, I'VE BEEN TAKING SUBOXNE FOR TWO WEEKS, I RAN OUT YESTERDAY; GOT THRU THAT THEN TODAY COULDN'T TAKE IT AND TOOK 10 VIKS.
I HATE MYSELF RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WAS DOING GREAT. I FEEL SO LOST, I READ THIS BOARD, SOMETHINGS I RELATE AND SOME I WONDER ABOUT>
THE SUB. SEEMED TO REALLY WORK FOR ME BUT FOR ONCE I WANT TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT, I PLAN ON MAKING AN APT THIS WEEK, BUT CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT SUBOXNE?
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I WAS BREAKING THAT YELLOW WAFER IN 4, TAKING 1 IN THE MORN AND 1 IN THE AFTERNOON. SO 1 30 DOLLER PILL WOULD LAST TWO DAYS, BUT IN THE NEXT WEEK I NOTICED MYSELF WANTING TO TAKE ANOTHER ONE IS THAT IN MY HEAD?

[iknowit]

ALSO DO YOU THINK THAT THE DOC WILL GIVE ME SUBOXNE?
SINCE I'M ADDICTED TO VICODINE WHICH IS A LEVEL2 PAINKILLER WILL THE WNT ME ON A DIFFERENT METHOD?
IF ANY ONE CAN ANSWER PLEASE HELP

[nutballgirl]

ok, any doc who is on the list to administer suboxone i would think would be willing to work with you. i am not a doctor, i'm still learning as i go along too. there is a website though, i think it's www.suboxone.com where you should get most of your questions answered and a list of docs in your area. i'm pretty sure though that you DID take it too soon. for instance, i know for my husband who is withdrawing from methadone, he has to get down to around 50mg and then stop completely for two days to push himself into hard withdrawals before he can take the suboxone. during this time period, the doc told me that i had to monitor him very closely b/c he could go into seizures, etc. and might need to be hospitalized. he originally got on meth to overcome an addiction to vicodin which we now realize is ridiculous. anyway, there are some folks on here that definitely know more than me so try talking to them but check out that website and see if it answers your questions. please see a doc and try to come up with the money somehow b/c you really need someone to check your liver, bloodwork, etc. and that will all be included in the fee. keep in touch and let me know how you're doing. i wish i could have been more help.
susan

"to laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" -Emerson

[mpvt]

Hi Mel: Any descent doctor doesn't care how you got the drugs the fact of the matter is your addicted and the doctor can help.From what you have told me you are perfect for suboxone.Did you go to suboxone.com and find a doctor in your area that prescribes suboxone.If you did then make an appointment asap.Once you get on this drug you can then tackle the problems that you have because right now you know your in no shape to handle them.Don't worry I was there too and once you get on this stuff your mind will clear and your going to know what to do.Good luck and let us know how your doing........Dave

[PoppyQueen]

The doctor list can be found at www.suboxone-directory.com/

Important to know is each doc. can only take on 30 patients at a time for suboxone treatment. You may have to call around to different docs. to find one that has an opening. This treatment is so hot now, that openings are getting limited.

Go for it and good luck!

PQ

[adc1221]

I know what u are going through because I was an addict on methadone 10mg for years and it was the hardest thing for me to handle I never knew what addiction was til this. I was pregnant and still took it for the whole 9 months. before this I did not even smoke pot. I know the pain u are in. I went though detox with it. write me back if u need to talk.

quote:Originally posted by cantstandit

About a year ago, I, abused methadone. I have tried everything to get off of this stuff. I hate it, I wish I had never done it, I just can't stand it any more. Cold turkey of course did not work as I experienced muscle cramps and restless limbs. I have tried gradually reducing the amount I've taken daily until I got down to down to little tiny grains a day but the muscle cramps that keep me up at night have never gone away. Finally about 3 weeks ago, I completely stopped taking even those tiny grains and keep expecting the cramps and restlessnes to go away. My nightly routine is made up of falling asleep, then waking up 30 minutes later with muscle cramps, take a hot bath, try to go back to sleep, take another bath, fall asleep, wake up 30 minutes later, and on and on and on until 4:00 am when I finally fall asleep. I am only getting about 4 hours sleep a night and am absolutely going insane.

It's been 20 days of little to no sleep, tossing and turning in bed. How long am I going to have to suffer this way until the restlessnes and muscle cramps go away? Does anyone know of anything that will lessen the cramps?

Thanks for your reply.

[robprincep]

I've been off opiates since May and have since started suboxone. Since that time, I have not done any other drugs. I have weened down from 2 suboxone pills a day to a quarter of a pill. A week ago, I finally stopped completely. Since then, I can't sleep AT ALL and I'm about to lose my mind! My physical withdrawls have since subsided and it's been completely mental. DOES ANYONE KNOW A SOLUTION TO THE SLEEPING PROBLEM? I work as a musician and usually work odd hours (9pm to 3am) and already had sleeping problems. I need to know when this will go away and if I'll ever be able to sleep again. I have not had more than 4 total hours of sleep over the past week. Nothing helps, I've tried everything. I don't want to take any addictive medicine for help. I NEED SLEEP BEFORE I DIE!

[devoted]

my husband has been on methadone for 2 years. he tappered himself down to 20mg/day from 130mg/day. he has been on the 20mg/day for the past 6 weeks, any lower and he beings to have w/d symptoms. he has decided to go cold turkey. i have been researching trying to find ways to help with the detox process. i found the same article someone listed on the first page of this post. i emailed the dr and he responded with some very helpful information. what he has to say makes a lot of sense. i ordered the supplements he suggested so we will see if it helps with the withdrawals.

the following is the email i received from dr. dave: thesourcenmc@msn.com

you're husband is doing what is called a step down...using less and less trying to get ready for the unavoidable...he'll still go through the basic detox...in fact when people come to me for detox in house they go cold turkey and it works as well if not better than the misery one puts themselves through trying to do this over time...only seen one case in the last 6 years where the step down worked with any satisfaction at all...methadone is a synthetic morphine that binds to opiate receptors anywhere in the body...the real problem of course is that all opiates that are taken down regulate these receptors and the natural production of the bodies natural opiates--enkephalins and endorphins...a step down just makes recovery that much longer and usually when the patient drops down below 40-60 mg they start going through a sub-acute withdrawal anyway...because as long as one is on any level of this opiate or other opiates it just takes longer for the body to respond and longer for the natural systems to come back to normal functioning...if he is going to do this than the sooner he gets on the supplements--please review the opiate detox at www.happydestinysupplements.com the more rapidly he'll recover...I've never had a in-house methadone detox patient leave the program early and this is a 30 day detox...most are sleeping regularly...I do much of this over the internet without the IV nutrition and most make it and are feeling quite normal in 4-6 weeks...the one's who chose to do nothing in the nutritional arena have on-going symptoms of the withdrawal for months...(and only through guided nutritional protocols can one rebuild the body/minds biochemistry systems...no other drug can do this...there is no cure through Prozac/klonopin/ or any other Psych med)...this is called in the scientific literature as the "protracted opiate withdrawal syndrome"....I'm close to 20 years sober and clean my self and fully understand what feels like the impossible nature of things...the only thing I can pass on to your husband is this...this is never easy...and there is never a free lunch, so I decided early that I'd rather die trying, then to die using or doing nothing...I wanted my life back...and one must find a level of stoic reserve and a level of acceptance that this is the journey to life...getting life back...with respect dr dave

if anyone has any other suggestions or advice please advise and i will keep you posted on my husbands progress.....

Michelle

[devoted]

check out these websites. i have been doing some research for my husband who is coming off of methadone and dr. dave makes a lot of sense...http://www.dpeg.org/treatment/methadone_withdrawal.htm and www.happydestinysupplements.com

hope this helps...

quote:Originally posted by adc1221

I know what u are going through because I was an addict on methadone 10mg for years and it was the hardest thing for me to handle I never knew what addiction was til this. I was pregnant and still took it for the whole 9 months. before this I did not even smoke pot. I know the pain u are in. I went though detox with it. write me back if u need to talk.

Michelle

[aquamarine]

quote:Originally posted by robprincep

I've been off opiates since May and have since started suboxone. Since that time, I have not done any other drugs. I have weened down from 2 suboxone pills a day to a quarter of a pill. A week ago, I finally stopped completely. Since then, I can't sleep AT ALL and I'm about to lose my mind! My physical withdrawls have since subsided and it's been completely mental. DOES ANYONE KNOW A SOLUTION TO THE SLEEPING PROBLEM? I work as a musician and usually work odd hours (9pm to 3am) and already had sleeping problems. I need to know when this will go away and if I'll ever be able to sleep again. I have not had more than 4 total hours of sleep over the past week. Nothing helps, I've tried everything. I don't want to take any addictive medicine for help. I NEED SLEEP BEFORE I DIE!

Have you tried Ambien? I've heard that it really helps. I have a friend whose doctor prescribed it for him and he takes it every night. There is another one I've seen advertised on TV that's supposed to help one sleep but I can't remember the name of it. You've probably seen it too....the one with the butterfly.

[pharmloan]

lunista

pharmloan

[BROOKE99INFINITI]

Hi, my name is Brooke, I a 24 year old female from Alabama. I have been on methadone for around 4 years. I first went to MMT about 4 yrs ago. for help with my addiction to Lortab, I had been taking Lortab since I was 17 yrs. old. I had been through a lot of surgeries and had gotten addicted to the drug. I had tried several times to come off of Lortab and couldn't. At the time it seemed MMT was the answer. I went for 2 years and got up to 80 mg a day then I came off of it a little at a time till I was down to 4 mg a day. I couldn't get any farther than that and eventually stopped going to MMT. I am now back up to 20 mg a day and I get it from a local Dr.,the reason I want off of it is because it is doing lots of damage to my health. I am tired all the time and i haven't had a period since i've been on methadone, I've gained a lot of weight when I started MMT i was 110 lbs. and all my life had been little but now I weigh 160 lbs. I just have lost my life to this drug. A week ago I tried coming off of methadone cold turkey, the first three days after taking my last dose weren't that bad. I had headaches, leg cramps and aches, and just felt bad, it was harsh but bearable. The fourth day I felt somewhat better, I got up out of the bed a little and I thought i was getting better. However, the fifth day was awful and unbearable. I had been able to sleep every night up until the fifth night and I couldn't sleep it was like my brain wouldn't shut off. My whole body ached and i had goose bumps continually, my skin hurt so bad I coudln't stand myself. I ended up taking the 20 mg again just to get out of the hellish state I was in. You must understand I was really determined to get off methadone and still failed. I am going to wait for my body to get over the strain it has been through and try again. Do you have any suggestions on how to make this an easier process? I must also mention I take 20 mg a day of Prozac. I have the strong support of my family, I live with my grandparents. Even with all the family support this is the most difficult thing I have ever done. Please if you could just offer any help at all, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, I don't want to try Suboxone at all, for two reasons 1) it is also addictive and would just take the place of methadone and 2) it is expensive if you don't have insurance and I don't..

[sweetchikk05]

One suggesnter that prescribes methadone, I myself am on methadon right now and I will be on it until I have my baby, I am 7 months pregnant, they put me on it becasue I was abusing vicodin, isnt it amaxin how much stronger the methadone really is? You never would have thought that it would be so addicting did you?? I heard from so many people in the treatment center that its harder to kick methadon than any other drug, I mean only alcohol can kill you from what I heard I dont know for sure, but I know that methadone is harder to kick than heroin!!! I tried to quit cold turkey as well and i have only been on it on and off for 6 months and I couldnt do it either, well I couldnt do it because I am pregnant, I tried but when my baby started going through withdraw I knew I had to stay on it, well that and the fact that I had 11 different opinoins from all kinds of drs and not one of them recommeneded my coming off or tapering down off the methaodne, at least not until the babys born...anyhow if you dont mind my asking, why all of the sudden do you want to quit? are you just sick of it and the side effects? I heard of people being on it for 20 years and what not....well regardless you want to quit so what am I talking about..ok my suggestion, if I were you, I would go into a treatment center that prescribes it, they could try tapering you down or they might put you on suboxone, either way, if you explain your situation to them and let them know everything you take and how much of it they will know whats best for you, no matter what its up to you to do the work it would just make it asier on you if you did it where theres people that specialize in detox...at least that way they can make the whole experiance easier on you, plus they have like the best counsling to help prevent you form a relapse, either way if I were in your shoes I would seek proffesional help, you have been on they drug way too long to try and do it yourself...what does your dr think? or do you get it from a clinic?well Kepp me posted, I wish there was more I could do for you, I know exactly what you are going through, this is going to be one of the hardest things you will ever do in your lifetime but its for the better, you will be in my thoughts and prayers, God Bless You!!

Liz ann

[sweetchikk05]

Oh yeh, One more thing I dont know if you noticed or if anyone else who uses methadone noticed, but I have completely lost ny sex drive since I have been on the drug, thats th worst side effect aside from the constipation...lol
seriously though I am only 22 years old I dont want my sex drive to be gone yet!!! I have to fake it with my boyfriend to make him think I am enjoying it when I truly dont...and I have no choice but to be on the drug for a few more months, any suggestions as to what I can do to try and get my sex drive back while i am on it?? is there some sort of a pill I could take?I feel so embaressed asking but thats a big part of my life and our relationship is sex and I just dont have the urge and I want it back, I dont even have the desire to masturbate, yes I am sharing that with you, dont act like ya'll dont do it because everone does but this is really bothering me!! what can I do?????????? I cant even have an orgasm...I think I may have had like 2 since I have been on the methadone and they sucked they werent even intense I could just tell that I had them...I cant stand this but I cant quit taking the drug, please tell me there is something I can do! maybe there is some sort of a tea I can drink? I dont know there has got to be something, someone please help me with this!!!
thank you
Liz ann

[PainfulReality]

Hello to All-

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for sharing your struggles with your road to recovery! I have never tried Heroin, Methadone or Suboxone, however I have a 20-year-old son who is an intervaneous heroin user and I each time he walks out my front door I am terrified it will be the last time I will see him and the last time I will be able to tell him just how much I love him. I have done much research on the treatment options to begin the road of recovery with him and I am proud of him that is ready and willing to begin his journey. My son did not set a goal at an early age to become a "junkie", this is not the life that he ordered. To most G is just a "junkie", to me he is still that blonde, blue-eyed little boy playing with matchbox cars and then the handsome young man that grew up to be loving, caring and respectful to others. He was very social, popular and had many friends. He still had "friends" that popped pills and smoked weed with him, then a fewer "friends" that snorted heroin with him, now very few "friends" that shoot up with him. In the past two years as his addiction and drug abuse progressed he has become increasingly withdrawn, aggitated and quite simply just severely unhappy. Four months ago he moved back into my home as he lost his job and could no longer pay his rent. I have known for some time that he was involved in drug use and possibly drug sales in a means to support his own habit. G is an only child, that I raised on my own, his father has not been involved in his life since he was quite young. G also has a medical condition, Pulmonary Stenosis, which is a narrowing of one of his main heart valves. This condition creates a painful reality of even greater risk of death associated with intervenous drug use. So, to make a long story short.....G has decided to begin Methadone treatment. This decision is one he has made consciously on his own, I have not forced him into a clinic, as this would have only made things worse. He needs to want this for himself if he is to beat it. He no longer uses to get high, he uses to alleviate withdrawl symptoms, which are severe when he does not use. I will admit that when I discovered the syringes in his pillowcase I was a mental case and I felt as though I needed to be medicated myself to cope. I can tell you that as an affected family member my sleepless nights are too countless to mention, the pain and agony I feel daily is immeasurable. We may not feel the leg cramps and have convulsions, but our pain and sense of loss and hopelessness is truly as great. I went to the extreme of threatening his friends with jail, shooting their knee caps out, etc...Crazy and desparate measures a mother will stoop to in a desperate attempt to try to save her sons life. I have learned to be a better support system, but plan to be there through the long haul to ensure to bring my son back to LIFE. I have cried and read for so many countless hours that my eyes have been nearly swollen shut at times. Family members of the afflicted suffer right along with the addicted, ever step of the way. G is still my baby and will be until the day I die, I will fight with every bit of fight I have in me to keep him alive. I fully plan to see the day when he is clean and able to live a pain-free normal life. G's withdrawl from the H is a painful reality everyday of his life, as there never is and will never be never enough H to sustain his pain and the multitude of painful withdrawl symptoms he experiences on a regular and daily basis. Just as with the Methadone he does not sleep at night, he has severe legs cramps, vomits, sweats-hot and cold, takes hot baths several times per day, etc....My take is that Methadone is just a replacement drug and one that may be even harder to kick, yet I still believe it will restore him to sanity and will be the stepping stone that will save his life. Most painful reality....all it will take is one fix and those beautiful blue eyes will close forever. This is not an option in my heart of hearts....this is not the natural progression of life. A mother is not supposed to out live her son. So in this I support him fully in his decision to partake in his Methadone journey. Again, painful reality....G will use if he cannot change his behaviors, friends and life style....this is not going to happen without something short of a miracle. G is not "inpatient material", I truly beleive this would be a revolving door for him. Additionally, as much as he wants to be clean, he is not strong enough physiologically or physically to beat this cold turkey. He is fully aware that getting off of the Methadone will likely be harder than getting off of the H, he has "friends" in the program. He has used Methadone and Suboxone that he purchased on the street that he self medicated countless times trying to get off of the H. This type of medicating could also likely kill him, as studies predict a much higher death rate associated with self-medicated Methadone than that of prescribed and monitored Methadone. So I guess for now, we must fight for each day and take each step of recovery one day at a time. G and I must be able to view Methadone as the first step in saving his life and we will deal with than kicking the Meth habit when that time comes. As I stated Methdone will not kill him, but H likely will. Thank you to all of you that have shared your stories to help me better understand the road G will have to travel. These stories have helped me to be better prepared to support G in his fight for his LIFE. I feel it necessary to express to each and everyone of you that your lives are valuable and your fight is worth every pain you will have to battle. As a mother of an addict I can tell you the pain of loosing G would be far greater than the pain of his struggles now. I truly believe that God has given each of you the strength you need to succeed, remember your Higher Power and allow Him to guide you and sustain you! Good luck to all of you in your recovery, my prayers and thoughts are with you all! God bless!

[Robert_325]

I have posted to your other duplicate of this post. Please see the other post. God bless.

[fitzcoyote]

Greetings all,
This is my first post, and I am desparetly trying to help my fiance get free and clear of all of his drugs related to his IV heroin use. Unfortunately, we are doing this alone as he can not go to a clinic or rehab or he will go to jail. He has been detoxed more times that I would like to count, and finally was clean for 10 years, then started up again less than a year ago with pills, methadone and finally IV use again. So, now, it is all out in the open, and I am going to try this once doing it myself and being in controll of the methadone (not being an addict of any kind myself). I know this is not the optimum way to do this...trust me... I am the daughter of an addict, who still is on 15 mg of methadone daily and probably will be for life.... BUT...I have to work with what I got...and now I need help and guidance. We have started on 40mg methadone daily... but, he is not sleeping and last night he wanted xanax, which I would not give him until the morning, and then only 1/2 a stick for the day. So his plan is to do 4 days of 40mg and then 4 days of 30mg etc. To me, that sounds like to big of a drop to be successful, and also, I want to know what over the counter things he should be on to help him..calcium etc... Please help...I know this is not a great situation but I need to try it this way first....
always pondering~~

[Stefen]

I;ve been taking M for pain management for about 5 years. I was taking 240 mg a day for the last 30 months. I wanted to switch to a patch app, so I came down to 70 mg in about 2 months (no problem), started a Fentanyl patch and stopped the M.

About 8 days later I was slammed, killer slammed, even though I'm using 150 mg patch Fentanyl. Doc gave me Clono something that I though was helping until I got up today. Its into the 3rd week and it just feels like its getting worse.

Am I headed further downhill before this starts to lessen.

I'm considering going back to the M as I read more about the Fentanyl patch and its associated problems. I've always taken 10mg pills of meth and found taking 24 a day to much along with other meds. What is up with the liquid meth? Has anyone used it?

Any words would be helpful

Best
Stef in Joshua tree

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by Stefen

I;ve been taking M for pain management for about 5 years. I was taking 240 mg a day for the last 30 months. I wanted to switch to a patch app, so I came down to 70 mg in about 2 months (no problem), started a Fentanyl patch and stopped the M.

About 8 days later I was slammed, killer slammed, even though I'm using 150 mg patch Fentanyl. Doc gave me Clono something that I though was helping until I got up today. Its into the 3rd week and it just feels like its getting worse.

Am I headed further downhill before this starts to lessen.

I'm considering going back to the M as I read more about the Fentanyl patch and its associated problems. I've always taken 10mg pills of meth and found taking 24 a day to much along with other meds. What is up with the liquid meth? Has anyone used it?

Any words would be helpful

Best
Stef in Joshua tree

Stef ... the doctor probably gave you clonidine for your w/d symptoms. It's a blood pressure medication that has been used for years to help when detoxing from opiates.

Methadone effects can linger for a month very easily. It's notorious for long lasting w/d symptoms. Don't quit now.

Has the dr said how long you would be at 150mg of the fentanyl? I am not a big fan of that much of that drug either. Wish you could work your way off this medication completely and reassess your pain at that time without being under the effects of your dependency. God bless.

[Stefen]

Thanks for the info Robert,

It would be wonderful to be able to get away from pain meds but the truth of the matter is at 120mg of M my pain was difficult and the 150 mg of fentanyl just isn't doing the job.

I wish that Dr's would give some real advice. The M worked perfectly for me, at 240mg I was pain free and the only side effects I had was some constipation and the fact that I felt so much like a junkie with this never ending need, worried about what if x, y or z happened and I couldn't get a refill.

I hate taking pills and with AIDs I take enough, I thought the patch would make things simpler, every 3 days sounded so easy.

In the past 3 weeks I've become homebound and I'm beginning to think I made a very big mistake. M in no way interferred with my daily activities and missing a does here and there never had any effects.

I've always found it strange that both the M and the Fentanyl give me no sense of being 'high', maybe a bit drowsy the first few weeks but other than that I've never understood why anyone would want to take either. I don't get anything but pain relief and I am a product of the 60's and have always enjoyed a occasional buzz.

Best,
Stefen in Joshua Tree

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by Stefen

Thanks for the info Robert,

It would be wonderful to be able to get away from pain meds but the truth of the matter is at 120mg of M my pain was difficult and the 150 mg of fentanyl just isn't doing the job.

I wish that Dr's would give some real advice. The M worked perfectly for me, at 240mg I was pain free and the only side effects I had was some constipation and the fact that I felt so much like a junkie with this never ending need, worried about what if x, y or z happened and I couldn't get a refill.

I hate taking pills and with AIDs I take enough, I thought the patch would make things simpler, every 3 days sounded so easy.

In the past 3 weeks I've become homebound and I'm beginning to think I made a very big mistake. M in no way interferred with my daily activities and missing a does here and there never had any effects.

I've always found it strange that both the M and the Fentanyl give me no sense of being 'high', maybe a bit drowsy the first few weeks but other than that I've never understood why anyone would want to take either. I don't get anything but pain relief and I am a product of the 60's and have always enjoyed a occasional buzz.

Best,
Stefen in Joshua Tree

I began getting high during the mid 60s myself. I understand growing up during that time very well. It was an insane part of history, I know that I am lucky to be alive today.

I make it a practice to most always suggest getting clean first and re-evaluating the pain situation at that time even considering the hassle of detoxing. It's much easier to determine how much pain medication we really need when we aren't suffering from the pain of addiction and w/d. That is very painful in itself.

I seldom recommend methadone. It's a last resort medication, something I only suggest using when pain medication is required for life or at least for a very long time. It does have a valid place in pain management under some circumstances. Methadone is a good pain medication with less side effects than lots of other medications as long as w/d is not an issue. Methadone is a tough detox.

If your situation is permanent then I would recommend the methadone over the 150mg dose of fentynal. Your tolerance will continue to get higher with the patches and your dose will have to continue to get higher and higher for you to have any relief. You might just very well be better off on methadone than battling with the patches for the rest of your life. That is only my observation based what you have shared. Good luck and God bless.

[heyhaze]

I thought I had read all the in's and out's of Methadone. I've never heard that it causes heart problems. Now, I am going to worry about that. I have only been on Methadone for 3 weeks. Am up to 70 mg. and am not going any higher. Would it be too soon to consider going off now?
Vickie

[Stefen]

Again, thank you for your input.

Its so unfortunate that I was not presented with any information concerning what pain meds would deal with my specific probem.

It has been over ten years that I have been dealing with neuropathy (sp) and though I would like to believe that it will go away at some point, it just doesn't seem to be the case.

Best
Stefen in Joshua Tree

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by heyhaze

I thought I had read all the in's and out's of Methadone. I've never heard that it causes heart problems. Now, I am going to worry about that. I have only been on Methadone for 3 weeks. Am up to 70 mg. and am not going any higher. Would it be too soon to consider going off now?
Vickie

Hi Vickie ... I don't know what all information you have heard about methadone and heart problems. But I don't think that I would start freaking out until I discussed this thouroughly with my dr. I don't know your entire medical history only what you have posted. But you should talk to your dr and get professional answers to your questions before making a decision based on something you heard here or anywhere else. God bless.

[shiva666]

I just started Methadone 3 weeks ago.

I've been struggling with opiates for about 15 yrs. I was clean for a good 5 years, but then started up again about 5 yrs. ago but kept it to a couple of days a week to not get a habit, of course that didn't last. I've been hooked again for about 3 years. I've detoxed from Heroin/oxy's/dilaudid about 7 times in the past 3 yrs with the help of valium, chlonadine, muscle relaxants and sleeping pills, but I could never stay clean. I would always start up again a few days after I got clean. This time around, because of the fear of detoxing and missing work, I decided to go on Methadone. After spending a few hours reading message boards, I think I may have made the biggest mistake of my life!!!

It seems like the one week of ********************ty detox off of heroin is a breeze compared to the long drawn out painful taper off of methadone. I DON"T WANT TO GET FAT EITHER!!!!

I've been on for 3 weeks. I'm at 50 mg. If I start tapering now how bad is it going to be. I honestly can't miss work, and I have a physical job.

- because I haven't been on methadone long, will it be easier to get off?
- how slow should I taper, and by how much?
- i need to make this as painless as possible so I can work.
- or should I stay on it a few years and deal with it later?

from what I'm reading, it seems that the longer your on methadone, the harder it is?

also has every girl who's gone on methadone gained weight? like how much?
so like i said in my post yesterday, I started on Methadone 3 weeks ago. I'm at 50 mg, I drink it daily at the drugstore. After finding this board last night, I think I've made the biggest mistake of my life. If I stop taking my Methadone say, tomorrow and go back to using Dilaudid and Heroin, would I be sick?? I would do this only until I can book myself into a clinic to detox. I've detoxed of Dilaudid and H. before and it sounds like a breaze compared to methadone!!!! what do you think?? I've only been on 3 weeks. Seeing that a regular family doctor prescribes it to me, I do not get urine tests, so like the addict I am, along with my Methadone, I've still been using other Opiates, but obviously I don't feel them very much. I am very scared about Methadone. I need to do something soon, before it's too late! I live in Canada, Suboxone is not prescribed here yet.