need some advice please

[louietee]

hello everyone. i was a member of the forum in the past when i completed a suboxone taper. i was doing good and then relapsed. i went between suboxone and roxi for a period. even taking them both at the same time. i am wondering if i may be someone that requires maintenence. where i live there is only one clinic that is quite far and would actually be alot of effort to go. someone i know said if i was going to do that route that i might want to think about the idea that i would be there for good. he has been on methadone for years now and says that there is no getting off of it. now i know people have succeeded but i know its very hard. i thought maybe this would be a good place to turn for advice on whether or not to go down that road. any help would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

hey louie

guess thats a decision only you can make, methadone is generally used long term, i have had a few stints on it. and yes, it is hard to get off.
i have managed to get from methadone, to bein on subs now, i know for a fact bein on subs has changed my life in a positive way, firstly we can inject our methadone here so i am no longer using a needle since july 12 last year. thats brilliant for me.
subs are meant to be used to get off other opiates relatively easily, but its a long acting drug also, (as you probably already know) so both sub and methadone should not be taken lightly. some people say subs are not a maintenance drug, but for me, ive been on a low dose now for a few months, started on july 13 last year, and it has allowed me to start modifying a few dodgy behaviours i had.
yeh, methadone, i thought it was the answer for me when i had a opium/morphine iv habit, but really i just got the worst addiction of my life, and i was tied to a clinic, and goin to the pharmacy 2 or 3 times a week. in hindsight, i would have been better to try and taper but i never could.
the nickname for being on a methadone program over here is "liquid handcuffs" because of the tie to the clinic, rules, you have to apply for takeaways if you want to go away, or pick up early, and it becomes a complete drag.
my choice this time, methadone, or this new drug, suboxone, not injectable, so for me there was no choice, id done the methadone thing before, didnt really want to go back on but was using again, full on, so i went back to clinic.
yay for subs.

have you tried just takin subs in the correct way, and taper down.?

they say gettin clean is easy, its the staying clean thats hard. i got clean a couple of times too, but couldnt stay clean. i know i dont wanna be on subs forever, but for now, they have been a lifesaver.

ah well, hope thats a bit of info for ya anyway.

good luck
cheeky

[newyorkgal]

Methadone is very hard to get off of. If you have only had one relapse, I woudl suggest trying other things first. I'm not saying methadone is a bad thing, just that it should be used as a last resort. It is a fact that MOST (but not all) people stay on methadone for long periods of time and even for life. I don't know your age or drug history but if it isn't that lengthy, I would try c/t, tapering, meetings, detox before making a lifetime decision. Having said all that, I was on methadone for a long time and it was a major lifesaver for me, but I was also injecting Heroin, had tried to kick many times, had been in short term detox facilities and long term treatment centers. When nothing worked for me, I got on methadone. But again, it shouldn't be a first effort. It should be the last stop. Of course, the decision is yours and there is no wrong decision. It has to do with what will work best for you.

[louietee]

id like to thank both of you. i have tried to stop a few times and it has become a real problem for me. the suboxone taper i did in the past worked. all too easy i think. it is very true that the real work starts after. that is where i failed the first time. i have not been able to get through a taper since. i really just started wondering if its true that some people just cant stop. boy i dont think i know what to do anymore

[Anonymous]

dont give yourself such a hard time mate, hell i know exactly wot ya mean, like i said, i got off methadone, only to get back in deeper a few years later, and a crystal meth habit in between.

i am a chronic relapser too, thats why for me subs, for 9 or 10 months, has been a lifesaver. hang in there mate.

take your time if you feel you need to. if subs keep you off the other stuff, stay put for a while.

i have. sometimes i beat myself up for it, other times im real glad im still on them.,

dont give up
cheeky

[Idiot suvant]

hello everyone. i was a member of the forum in the past when i completed a suboxone taper. i was doing good and then relapsed. i went between suboxone and roxi for a period. even taking them both at the same time. i am wondering if i may be someone that requires maintenence. where i live there is only one clinic that is quite far and would actually be alot of effort to go. someone i know said if i was going to do that route that i might want to think about the idea that i would be there for good. he has been on methadone for years now and says that there is no getting off of it. now i know people have succeeded but i know its very hard. i thought maybe this would be a good place to turn for advice on whether or not to go down that road. any help would be appreciated.

You do not require maintenance and know one should take this route. Methadone and Suboxone are deadly as you should already know by completing a suboxone taper. Which I must say is the easiest drug to taper. Methadone and Suboxone should only be used for detox. In very short runs (5-7 days) they help tremendously and usually with no side effects aka withdrawal. Do not start a maintenance program. Tough the f---k up and get all it out of your life. I am 37 ex heroine user in my early 20s very heavy user. I quit for over 10 years and the monkey got me again. 6 months ago I was shooting 30 bags of dope a day and it was (Jerry Garcia dope) if you catch my drift. I am clean today. I will remain clean for the rest of my life! There is a post of everything I did some where on this site and I am posting another thread today on somethings I have discovered to help with tapering and withdrawal. Good luck and toughin up. You can do it. Everyone can do it. You have to want to do it. I have methadone in my home right now. Doesnt bother me a bit. Wont touch it. period.

Kindest regards

[louietee]

yes you said it right there. toughen up is something that i need to do but im like a lump on a log and after countless relapses it seems as if it is never going to end. this is why i was looking into maintenence. but im sure after a while there ill gettired of using the methadone. its those comparisons people make with other medicines people become reliant on. for example insulin and someone says some users require methadone or suboxone. but i do not think i could afford suboxone maintenence. boy did i get myself into something here!

[Anonymous]

contrary to the suvants ideas, there IS ROOM FOR MAINTENANCE, in some people.

according to your story, in your early 20's you started, then for 10 years you stopped, you are 37 so that equates to maybe 6 or 7 years, maybe less.

some people chronically relapse for 20+ years, and sometimes maintenance dosing is necessary. sure, i wanna be clean, but i also know my history,

each person is different, good for you for saying YOU WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN,
yeh i once said that, and the "monkey got on my back again" to quote you.

anyway, just wanna say that everyone is different, and your broad statement of "know (sic) one should take this route.", may not necessarily be true.

for some it is a lifesaver.

lousdad,
just be aware, you may be trading a relatively light habit, (not a good way of putting it) for a very very hard habit to kick. but only you will know.

i sure knew i needed some help and went to the methadone clinic on more than one occasion. this time gettin subs.

only YOU will know.

all the best
cheeky

[newyorkgal]

I disagree with idiot savunt (sic). Sub is not deadly, neither is methadone. Hard drugs are deadly. Not everyone can toughen up just like that or we all would and there would be no relapsing. Of course, the best route is the quickest route but not everyone is able to do that. I'm glad you did but when a person get's too sure of themselves sometimes things work out badly. Are glad you are positive that you'll never ever get high again. That's great for you but you can't speak for all. Maintenance has its place for some.

[louietee]

i have a much more extensive "career" than that. i started using opiates stemming from an injury and all in all probably 20 years of use for me. its like i said to the point where i feel out of control of it at times. i know they say nothing happens for sure until you hit that bottom and i sure feel like ive been living down there for sometime now. maybe theres hope still after all i feel like a scumbag just saying i cant control it. at times i wish my addiction could take the form of a person so i could have it out with him but i dont think punching myself in the mirror would be very effective.

[Anonymous]

sorry louie, i was referring to idiot suvant length of history, i wasnt clear with that post. i was pointing out that his was relatively short, and people like you and me have a lot more chronic relapse history over a longer time, and sometimes maintenance is the only way, for that time.

i am totally in agreement with you, ive been there done that, roughly 25 years worth, give or take, and i needed to go on methadone maintenance back in the late nineties to get some assemblance of order in my life.

i cleaned up only to change drugs, to crystal meth, and then after that another few years of morphine and methadone iv.

now im on sub, have been for about ten months now, and personally im glad i have taken this route for it has changed a lot of things in my life.

i totally disagree with idiot about hardening up,

if you need it to sort yaself out bro, you need it. dont let people like him give you a hard time,

all the best
cheeky

[newyorkgal]

Louie please let me second what cheeky has said. Do not let people make you feel bad or guilty for tough choices you need to make for yourself. I am not saying you should go on methadone. Only you can make that decision knowing the facts (long term, hard to get off, etc.). Sub is another option, but if not used in the SHORT term, it is very very addictive as well. I have been addicted to opiates for over 40 years. First IV heroin, then over 30 years of methadone maintenance, now sub. It's all hard to stop but the thing is methadone and sub are legal, you have time to get your head together, go to NA/AA, make things right with loved ones, etc. You hardly have time to do that when you're addicted to illegal drugs or pain meds. That is always first and foremost on your mind. I know. Please don't listen to people who will make you feel bad about a decision you feel is best for you. There is a place for all sorts of treatments. Whatever works for you is the best treatment for you.

[doc.rose]

My response to Idiot is, if you are so tough, why did you become an addict to begin with?? My point being, being tough has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not someone is successful in their attempt at detoxing. And being that you are currently in recovery, you should also know that sobriety is a "one day at a time" philosophy. So for you to say "you will be clean for the rest of your life" is a pretty bold statement. I certainly hope that is true for you. Maybe detoxing for you was not a hard process. Consider yourself lucky. Not everyone has your luck unfortunately.

Louie, I wish you luck my friend. Don't let certain people discourage you. Start reading other people's posts on this forum, you will learn a lot. In the end, do what is right for YOU. Addiction has nothing to do with being TOUGH, it's a disease!!!

[louietee]

i just wanted to thank everyone for their input. this is a tough one for sure. i have decided to do a quick as possible taper with my remaining suboxones. i do know that a quick taper is not suggested for folks prone to relapsing but i dont think i have many left and i dont think i can get into that doctor again. not to mention that they can be just as difficult as anything else. its been sometime since i was here on the forum so im not sure whos around still. i do remember robert and all the great work hes done with others. i do remember though that he prefers to do a proper taper with proper amount of suboxones but as i said i am not sure what ive got so if anyone has come up with anything new and improved in the way of tapers id love to hear about it. i will be without computer for a few days but i may be able to check in. i will be awaiting any advice anyone has for my taper and i will post with how my self induction goes as well as what i am working with as soon as i can. i hope to be having a few of you kind folks coming along with me on this final attempt to beat this demon with its claws so deeply in me! thanks again everyone and i hope to hear from you all again soon!

[ARTIST658]

Dear Louie,

I just wanted to pass on the link to Robert's thread about suboxone - so you can get a clearer picture on exactly how to induct yourself - and how to taper off. You may be "speeding up" the process, but at least you'll have Robert's know-how to make a plan. Here it is: http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...apy-50887.html

I'll keep you in my prayers...

God bless,
Ruth