Methadone for Opiate Withdrawal User Reviews (Page 5)

• Cjy...
• June 13, 2017

"I was addicted to opiates for years and eventually prescribed methadone to relieve chronic pain that was combined with opiate addiction. This medicine saved my life. It allows me to keep a steady job and be a good mother to my girls and a good partner to my boyfriend. I no longer wake up every morning with that nagging thought of, 'OK, how am I going to make it through another day?' There's a lot of people who will tell you all negative information about this drug. Don't listen to them. I recommend talking to a doctor or clinic about this and staying in Narcotics Anonymous."

• Har...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 24, 2017

"Was prescribed methadone for withdrawal symptoms in 1979, and never realized how absolutely addicting this drug actually is. It can make one sleepy, and it doesn't make one 'high.' At the beginning, however, it can give what one person called 'a garrulous sense of well-being.' It takes away nervousness, but then one of the early symptoms of heroin/methadone withdrawal is a sense of nameless fear, a stomach-rolling anxiety. Over 30 years later, I am still on methadone, being 'encouraged' [is there a choice?] to transfer to buprenorphine. Long-term addicts who have made the switch seem to rate the buprenorphine 'clearer headed.' By the way, methadone needs very careful titration in the beginning. 'Start low, go slow.'"

• Clu...
• January 23, 2012

"My girlfriend and I recently got on methadone. We finally had enough of the sickness and all the other things that come along with being an addict. Methadone has truly changed my life. We now have a baby on the way. This seriously is a blessing. It's so wonderful we both are doing great."

• xoc...
• August 7, 2008

"I am in my 3rd year of treatment, and I love it. I honestly think I would be in jail or dead by now. The only downfall to it is the bad reputation it has gotten over the years. It's a wonderful drug for those who are ready and willing."

• gre...
• December 21, 2011

"I was addicted to oxycodone and any pain pills I could find for 10 years. My world revolved around a pill. I would lay out of work and lay in bed if I didn't have a pill for that day. I lost 2 brothers to drugs and almost lost my life, wife, house, and 3 sons to drugs. I went to a methadone clinic because I was tired of the drugs running my life. Methadone saved my life. I have been drug-free for 2 1/2 years and feel great. Thanks to this medicine, I feel normal."

• Fru...
• March 23, 2018

"I would not be alive today to type this up if I hadn’t gotten brave 4 years ago and finally called the methadone clinic. I was at death's door 4 years ago, battling a horrendous addiction I couldn’t stop. Tried rehab several times, both in and outpatient, but could never go longer than 3 days, and that was pretty rare to go even that long. The inner sense of restlessness and anxiety and other Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) were just too much to bear, and I’d always go back to use. Methadone finally shut up the part of my brain that constantly was on 24/7, 365, begging me to use, and the battle got exhausting. It’s been a journey, but after 4 years, I finally got my life back and live a normal life because of methadone. I am so grateful for it, I’m afraid to get off! I didn’t give it 10 because of the side effects: massive sugar cravings and decreased libido, but to me, it’s a small price to pay to get my life back. Thank you, methadone, for saving my life!"

• LUC...
• June 8, 2008

"Methadone treatment has changed my life, but again, you have to want to be ready to be on the treatment and give up the drugs. If you are ready, this is the best treatment that will help you get your life back together. By the grace of God, I have not used drugs since I started taking methadone, and that was 14 years ago."

• guy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2018

"Been a heroin addict since 17 years old and now in my 30s. I went to jail for 5 years for dealing heroin and ice. Got on the methadone in jail in Australia. It saved my life, man. I no longer need any heroin, I've stopped dealing drugs and am now building back up my damaged life. I'm happy with family again. Everything has gone so much better. No more drama from hustling, even though I'm on a high dose of 120 mg, but I'm thinking of staying there. I guess I still wanted to get high, lol, but I'm happy with my dose. I know for a fact that I'll need it for the rest of my life. So yeah... methadone saved my ass..."

• kat...
• March 30, 2008

"I feel like methadone saved my life. I was addicted to pain meds for years and saw no way out. After finding my way to a methadone clinic near my home, I can happily report I have been free for almost 2 years. Only side effects I have really noticed are weight gain."

• She...
• December 15, 2008

"My drug of choice was heroin, and lots of it. There is no doubt that without methadone, I would not be alive today, and for this, I am very thankful. Unfortunately though, like many others, I am finding it very difficult to get off methadone, it seems to be a stronger physical addiction than heroin. However, as methadone enables former opiate addicts to live a 'normal' life while treating/battling their addiction, I feel methadone is immensely valuable."

• jes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 27, 2015

Methadone "It made me be able to function in society like I used to be able to before I got addicted to Lortab. I have more confidence now. I find that 115 mg a day fits me. Everyone is different, though. I can sleep well through the night, also."

• Swt...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2016

"I've been on methadone for over ten years, and currently, I am trying to get off of this drug. I've been decreasing my dose 2 mgs per month for over a year. I am at 3 mgs and really starting to feel the withdrawal. I don't plan to get my next 30 doses because it's almost ridiculous how little it does for me. I have 3 doses of 3 mg, and I'm terrified. Can anyone give me some truthful encouragement?"

• lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 20, 2014

"I have been on methadone for almost 10 years. I have tapered and got off a few times, but always seem to fall back. I have never gone higher than 45 mgs. This dose has completely covered all withdrawal symptoms without feeling tired and useless. I had a son last year at the age of 33 and was very nervous about the effect it would have on my newborn. I never increased my dose during my pregnancy and remained at 40 mgs comfortably. When Sam was born, he experienced no withdrawal symptoms. I was worried sick for nothing, however, that is not always or even often the case. Overall, methadone maintenance has been a very positive experience."

• Jtm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2015

"Methadone helped with my chronic lower back pain. I worked up to 80 mg a day. The doctor had his license suspended. Cold turkey withdrawal!!! On day 7 and it's pure hell! Oh yeah, at first I was great, could move, work, you name it. But after, no doctor would see me because of who my previous doctor was, I had to withdraw! Beware, my friends, when you go off methadone, you will hate your doctor for giving it to you and wish you were dead to stop the horrible pain. And it takes months to feel normal again. Just getting up to get water takes a long, agonizing experience! Please get off soon with professional help. I didn't have that. Hospital detox was too full, so they sent me home with blood pressure 90/60 and falling. Had to call an ambulance to go back!"

• Gut...
• July 19, 2008

"I have struggled with opiate addiction my entire life; methadone is the only thing that's helped. I'm now going to try to slowly titrate down; I feel like I can be successful now that I've been clean from all illicit drugs and haven't experienced any cravings in so many years. I've cut my dose by a third and feel fine so far - will stay where I'm at for a couple of months, then begin titrating down again at a very slow rate. Methadone has been instrumental in my recovery."

• Add...
• February 4, 2018

"I was on methadone for about 6 years. I was pregnant and on opiates. Daughter was born while on methadone. I was only on 65 mg during pregnancy. She had no withdrawal symptoms. Got down to 5 mg and quit. They tapered me down slowly, and 2 months later I still felt bad. It takes a long time for the effects of methadone to come out of your body. I would say it will help you, but be aware the withdrawals are worse. So if you go this way and are put on it for an addiction, it is very hard to come off of. I get a prescription but am in the same place I started at. Opiates are easier. I've been through both withdrawals and felt like I was going to die. But it is a good thing for certain people, I just wouldn't do it again. I learned my lesson that it is something needed for addicts for the rest of your life unless you're willing to wait a long time to get back to normal. It takes a long time to get the effects of methadone out of your entire body. Be aware of your choice if you choose to get on this drug. It will work, but at what cost."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2019

"I started taking methadone on May 29, 2019, and ever since then, I haven't had the craving for a Percocet, Lortab, or Roxy. It really has changed my life and saved me money, lots of money. I started out on 25 mg of methadone, and it was way too strong, so I came down to 20 mg, and I can handle it. I'm going to start going down by 2 mg until I'm free of all drugs! Another thing: I already had bad knees before the methadone, but since I have been on it, it really seems like they have gotten worse. Don't know if it's part of the withdrawal symptoms or not."

• Pik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2019

"Methadone has been a lifesaver as for the daily visits to the clinic have got me out of the house on days when I didn’t feel like doing anything. The downfall of the medicine is that I was on 145 mg and the taper down has been hard work."

• TSJ...
• January 21, 2009

"I have been receiving Methadone in a treatment facility for the better part of a year. At first, I was skeptical, but after the first few weeks of treatment, I started to notice a huge change in my 'mindset' (if you will). I had absolutely NO desire to take other painkillers, i.e., Lortab, Vicodin, and Percocet. Methadone has given me a whole new lease on life. It's given me the ability to do whatever I want from day to day without having the cravings for opiates. I know some people are completely against using Methadone to treat drug addiction, but the problem with these people is that they have not gathered enough information about opiate addiction and about Methadone itself. Methadone has literally saved my marriage and, most of all, my life."

• Aan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 30, 2018

Methadone "Methadone has been great for me. It's important to get a stable dose, as a lot of people are afraid to be on a high mg. But whatever it takes to get you to not use is key. If you're on a low dose but still using, then what is the point? So don't beat yourself up, just work with your doctor. It's nice not to go through withdrawal, and not to mention it is great when the drug-seeking behavior finally is over with. Do yourself a favor, and if you're struggling with addiction, try this."

• bla...
• March 17, 2009

"I was addicted to opiates for going on 7 years. I finally found out that taking methadone (supervised, of course) helped me dramatically. I had no cravings for opiates any longer, and I was still able to discontinue the methadone with the help of my counselor. And to this day, I am opiate-free thanks to the methadone and the support of my counselor. Methadone does work, but you have to give it at least 2 years."

• sop...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2014

"When I first went on methadone for opiate withdrawal, I was skeptical, but sure enough, I suffered NO withdrawal symptoms. I would have rated it a ten instead of a 9, but I DID kind of crave opiates for the first month I was on it."

• Hap...
• October 10, 2015

"I'm a 37-year-old female. I used from the age of 15 to 30. I've been on methadone for almost 7 years, and I am so grateful. If I hadn't gone on methadone, I'd probably be DEAD! If used the way it's supposed to be, methadone is a lifesaver. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 is because it's also very hard to get free of, but I'd rather be on methadone my whole life than be on heroin. I wouldn't last too long if I ever got hooked on heroin again. Don't be scared to try it, it's a lifesaver."

• gar...
• September 4, 2015

Methadone "I've been on methadone linctus for 27 years now. The dose has varied as the roundabout of doctors and care workers has come and gone from 50ml [1mg to 1 ml] right up to 140ml. It, for me, has been a chemical ball and chain holding me to a chemist and a doctor. It rots your mind and body away slowly. I wish they had just given me pharmaceutical heroin and be done with it. Methadone, in my opinion, is the most vile drug. Use Subutex always. I am too old now, and it wasn't about when I started to take it from one who knows. Subutex is the way to go."

• Ex-...
• February 7, 2010

"Both my wife and I have a ten-year history of opioid abuse in one form or another. We have undergone various treatment options numerous times, such as Rapid Opiate Detox, 28-Day In-Patient Rehabs, 3-Day In-Patient Buprenorphine treatment (before it was available out-patient) and Out-Patient Suboxone, Cold Turkey, 'Kick-Kits', the 'Thomas Method', Ibogaine/Iboga Treatment, and finally Methadone. It has been via Methadone that we have gotten our lives back in order, off the streets, no longer active in high-risk scenarios like IV drug use and prostitution. It works, plain and simple."