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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Festus on March 12, 2004, at 0:19:56
I take 80-100mg. of Methadone per day,in 3-4 divided doses.My Dr. and I decided on this med for chronic pain control,as it is very good and very cheap(no insurance).I do not like taking it,but if I don,t,the pain is too great for me to function well enough to run my business,as well as have any type of family life.I,ve tried everything you can name(most likely)and NO LUCK,except with strong Opiate-based meds.I,d sure like to get down to a near-nothing dose,hoping to get off of it for good.I,m hopin to qualify for some kind of long-term Botox Injection study or one of these nerve-radio frequency studies,there are a few things I,ve looked at,but I just ain,t sure,yet,my Dr. is one of the top Pain Specialists in the Southeast,so I got a good ally.The only thing about this is the few folks that I,ve heard from all tell me the same thing:Methadone is the HARDEST drug of ALL to get off of.That,s kinda spooky,I don,t want to put my family through an ordeal or put my business in jeopardy,going through withdrawals and stuff.I don,t want to have to go in a rehab place,I can,t afford it,money or time-wise.Maybe it,s just wishful thinking.I sure will welcome any feedback from you guys,I know there,s some mighty good folks on this Forum.Thanks,Festus
Posted by Lindsay Rae on March 18, 2004, at 22:38:13
In reply to Anyone have experience tapering off Methadone?, posted by Festus on March 12, 2004, at 0:19:56
Hi Festus,
I've researched Methadone for years, collecting data from various sources from chronic pain patients to clinic-goers, and I myself have almost three years under my belt. While Methadone can be the most difficult drug to withdraw from, it doesn't have to be. And you are pretty lucky to be maintained by a private doctor rather than in a clinic setting, where they don't treat pain anyway. I was taking two Darvocet a day from 1998 until 2000, at which point I realized that I was taking it to alleviate an ongoing depression that began at age 13. Without getting into the whole addiction vs. dependance, or drug abuse vs. self medication, or both (dual-diagnosis), I'll just say that discovering opioid supplementation gave me that "normal" feeling, as if my whole life had been wasted on being negative and uncomfortable in my own skin. I would pop one Darvocet before class, and I started enjoying my courses, my grades and social life improving immensly. I never thought to take more; I just don't have that kind of personality, but unfortunately there is an always will be a stigma attached to taking these kinds of meds. I think it's unfair to cast
judgement on those who are on Methadone, considering its potential for abuse is nowhere near that of Oxycontin or Morphine, or some other natural or synthetic opiate. It's long acting and slow to get ito your system, so there's not "high" when you take it, and no need to take more four hours later.If I were you, I would taper one mg every four days, then stop when you start to get uncomfortable. Once you get down to about 30 mg, slow it way down, to about one mg every three weeks or more. I know it will take a long time, but once you reach 30-40 mg, you can switch to Buprenorphine, or Suboxone (generic). The withdrawal is "a joke" compared to Methadone, and it's much more easily accessable. I have to hit the hay, but I'll post again when I get a chance.
Lindsay
"I do not like taking it,but if I don,t,the pain is too great for me to function well enough to run my business,as well as have any type of family life.I,ve tried everything you can name(most likely)and NO LUCK,except with strong Opiate-based meds.I,d sure like to get down to a near-nothing dose,hoping to get off of it for good.I,m hopin to qualify for some kind of long-term Botox Injection study or one of these nerve-radio frequency studies,there are a few things I,ve looked at,but I just ain,t sure,yet,my Dr. is one of the top Pain Specialists in the Southeast,so I got a good ally.The only thing about this is the few folks that I,ve heard from all tell me the same thing:Methadone is the HARDEST drug of ALL to get off of.That,s kinda spooky,I don,t want to put my family through an ordeal or put my business in jeopardy,going through withdrawals and stuff.I don,t want to have to go in a rehab place,I can,t afford it,money or time-wise.Maybe it,s just wishful thinking.I sure will welcome any feedback from you guys,I know there,s some mighty good folks on this Forum.Thanks,Festus"
Posted by krazybirdlady on March 31, 2004, at 16:00:57
In reply to Re: Anyone have experience tapering off Methadone?, posted by Lindsay Rae on March 18, 2004, at 22:38:13
suboxone is really not the "miracle drug" that it is cracked up to be...it's very hard to detox from as well....
Posted by Lindsay Rae on April 1, 2004, at 12:32:29
In reply to Watch the Sub..., posted by krazybirdlady on March 31, 2004, at 16:00:57
>" suboxone is really not the "miracle drug" that it is cracked up to be...it's very hard to detox from as well...."
Have you personally detoxed from this drug, KBL? Because I know several people who have tapered from both Methadone and Suboxone, at different times of course, and all referred to the detox from Suboxone as "a joke compared to Methadone," or something along those lines. Suboxone is not for everyone, of course. Neither is Methadone. But if given the choice, a heroin or Oxycontin addict would be better off, in general, trying the Suboxone first. Making a switch from Methadone to Suboxone is tricky, and there is no avoiding the sickness, since one would have to decrease the Methadone dose substantially, then be prepared to have the remaining Methadone bumped right off those receptors while the Sub takes over. Since it's only partial agonist, the Suboxone won't make this person feel better; in fact, it would send him/her into mild to severe withdrawals, depending on the person and the amount of time between doses. So for those of us who are currently on Methadone, unfortunately there is no easy way to switch over to Buprenorphine. But for a heroin user, having the alternative to maintain with Suboxone has substantial benefits, including privacy, monthly or bi-monthly visits, and the absence of all drawbacks associated with having to deal with "The Klinik." Methadone, when used correctly, can and does change lives tremendously, but the restrictions can be paralyzing, especially to those of us who have been true to our recovery for years. The embarrassment of frequent urinary analyses and the daily visits keep patients from getting and/or keeping a steady job. There are numerous other drawbacks to this system, as any MMT patient will be happy to tell you. The thing is, when Methadone is in the wrong hands, it can be deadly, as I know first hand. My husband died last November from a Methadone overdose, and he knew as well as any informed client how the drug affects you when you don't take it regularly anymore, or take a significantly higher dose. He knew about the slow onset, and he had weekly takehomes for years without ever abusing them. If this could happen to him, imagine how many unknowledgeable recreational drug users try to get high with Methadone and kill themselves in the process, not realizing that it's building up in their systems.
Look, all I'm trying to say is that Suboxone has a much lower potential for abuse, since it turns on you if you exceed the "ceiling" level dose. If you're in withdrawal, Suboxone will make you feel better. If you're high, Suboxone will knock you down so hard, you won't know what hit you. The potential for diversion is almost non-existant.
That's all...L Rae
This is the end of the thread.
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