Posted by Elizabeth on July 18, 2001, at 8:44:28
In reply to Re: Ultram withdrawl! » Bijou, posted by MB on July 17, 2001, at 13:35:23
> My drugs were codeine and morphine derivatives (drugs with slightly different, yet similar, mechanisms of action).
Ultram is an opioid agonist, too -- just a very weak one.
> If you take the methadone route, I would advise you to not choose the *maintenence* program (where they keep you on it for a long time).
That might actually be the best thing (especially if Bijou isn't in the US, although I think that Ultram is strictly a US brand name). I'm not sure if they would admit someone to a MMT program who's dependent on Ultram, though, when there are so many people who need the service because of heroin addiction who aren't getting it.
> It may sound rosey
It's not, as you say. But most people I've met who are on MMT are happy with it, even in the US where it's very restrictive (as you also say).
> Choose the detox program (a program where they taper you down relatively comfortably over a two week period).
I'm not even sure that they would be willing to admit an Ultram-dependent person to a methadone detox program; they might just try to force "drug free" detox (which can be ugly, although I think with Ultram it wouldn't be so bad -- I still want to know how much Bijou has been taking).
Also, "detoxing" wouldn't solve the problem that Bijou has getting by without Ultram.
> There's also a blood pressure medicine called Clonadine that helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and it is not addictive (as far as I know).
It's also not very effective, unfortunately.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:70206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010714/msgs/70611.html