![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 15 to 39 of 48. Go back in thread:
Posted by Festus on November 10, 2005, at 0:27:10
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 6, 2005, at 23:26:59
"Gooday Mate",I can relate how bad it can get.Methadone seems to have a "Love/Hate" stigma in the U.S.Many are strong advocates of this powerful Opiate,so successful for helping some of the Addicts, very potent,as a great pain reliever,but alas, there are the side-effects.After 20 years of Vicodin (Hydrocodone),Oxycontin,Morphine,I ended up on Methadone,100-120mg a day.In 2 years time,I began to see that I was losing almost all my libido,I could not sleep right,it took 10-12 hrs. for me to get 7-8 hrs. of rest,I lost all my motivation,my drive and interest in things dropped,I hardly cared if I was alive.Sure,Xanax,Prozac,Amphetamine,they all helped,but it was like I was taking meds because of meds!Since March of this year,I've tapered from 120mg to 40mg a day.I can slowly feel a little bit of "me" surfacing.I wonder how low I'll be able to get? Just like Declan told me, when you get lower,it takes longer.I think it's worth it.Good-Luck and God's Speed to you.Festus
Posted by maddawgz on November 11, 2005, at 2:35:43
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Festus on November 10, 2005, at 0:27:10
great you sound like your doing well, not sure if mmt is all cracked up as supposed to be tell ya
Posted by maddawgz on November 11, 2005, at 2:37:27
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 11, 2005, at 2:35:43
Festus i mean thanks..glad to always hear other ppl storys
Posted by maddawgz on November 12, 2005, at 23:57:07
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 11, 2005, at 2:35:43
Just another thought what's ur thoughts on how much we pay for for it??? i pay 3.oo dollars a day here or 42 a fortnight?
Posted by Festus on November 18, 2005, at 0:15:01
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 12, 2005, at 23:57:07
Hello,M-Dawg,
I ain't been here lately,just saw your last reply.I am prescribed Methadone by a Pain Management Dr.for my screwed-up lumbar.The only reason I went on it was on account of they dropped our Company Insurance,so any Meds were payed for by me.The one he did have me on was Oxycontin.It woulda cost me 1,600 American Dollars for them pills!Methadone only cost me 45 Dollars for 300 10mg pills,if you figure it up,it ain't much.Festus
Posted by maddawgz on November 18, 2005, at 22:46:20
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Festus on November 18, 2005, at 0:15:01
hi Festus where do u live?usa?..im in Australia mine is liquid form i think yours would be physeptone same as methadone tablets 10mg but yeah you can only get them for pain? as with program u need to go in drink it.hehe!! I used to buy them of a guy yr ago keep em as back up lol was nice having a bottle ..My dose is giving me the poops atm seems its not holding me strange only on 15mg though or 1 and a half of your tablets? so how much are you on in total? have u ever had the syrup? tlk soon ..R MDawgz
Posted by maddawgz on November 18, 2005, at 22:49:17
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 18, 2005, at 22:46:20
Im thinking i wonder if u ever hit a tolerance level? and u maybe need that 1 or 2mg more?? seriously thinking of it if i keep feeling this way!No point being on it huh? and feeling unstable R MD
Posted by Declan on November 21, 2005, at 17:02:56
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 18, 2005, at 22:49:17
Hi MD
That's the thing with methadone maintenance isn't it? Another 2mg will do it. Conversely taking 2mg away is not fun. I think it might relate to the stable blood levels of methadone and the almost complete tolerance that occurs. If days were 36 hours long it would make a difference, there'd actually be highs and lows and it might be more useful at a stable dose, if you timed your intake to suit.
Declan
Posted by maddawgz on November 21, 2005, at 23:24:48
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Declan on November 21, 2005, at 17:02:56
hi Declan u mean intake as in time u take it..For me it can even be 1mg that makes the world of difference do u think x tolerance can occur or even tolerance after so long they say methadone duznt work that way but i belive a tolerance can happen on all drugs? i take mine at 9am ? MD
Posted by Declan on November 22, 2005, at 4:08:53
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 21, 2005, at 23:24:48
Hi again, what I meant was if the days were 36 hours long and you were dosed with methadone once daily. then there would be a time you were affected by the drug and a period of comparable (mild) withdrawal. That period of stonedness would be useful to enable you to do whatever opiates enable you to do.
I always take methadone first thing too.
Declan
Posted by Declan on November 23, 2005, at 0:57:30
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 21, 2005, at 23:24:48
Today I might have taken 0.5mg. My eyes were watering and I felt awful, before a couple of drinks and half a Valium. So I notice reductions of 0.25mg, which will not surprise you MD having been there yourself. It's crazy eh? Any doctor will tell you it's psychological.
Declan
Posted by maddawgz on November 23, 2005, at 2:37:52
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Declan on November 22, 2005, at 4:08:53
Hi Declan yes tru mostly lasts me to about 6am id say 7am..1 or 2hrs b4 dosing so i havnt made a huge issue of it.perhaps i should but ya know the saying when u go up u gotta come down? .r md
Posted by maddawgz on November 23, 2005, at 2:39:38
In reply to Re: Methadone » maddawgz, posted by Declan on November 23, 2005, at 0:57:30
Wow that's not alot of mmt?? But yes i notice 1mg even?? Do u drink ontop? how many benzo's?? are u in the us of A?? or australia?? I know yours in tablet form do u cut theM/
Posted by Declan on November 23, 2005, at 12:32:43
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 23, 2005, at 2:39:38
No MD, I live in Northern NSW (and you live in SA don't you?). The way it is with me is that every week I go to the pharmacy and am given 1.25mg in liquid dose and 7.5mg in a bottle take away to last me a week, and I take maybe half of that. It's not much, is it?
Declan
Posted by maddawgz on November 24, 2005, at 0:02:59
In reply to Re: Methadone » maddawgz, posted by Declan on November 23, 2005, at 12:32:43
ok kewl declan are u on it for pain or drug maintanace? not not alot of a dose? mind u 15mg aint much either?? but enough to effect me without it..hope ur doing well Nsw blue mountains would be nice SA is a hole lol
Posted by Festus on November 25, 2005, at 23:50:06
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 24, 2005, at 0:02:59
Howdy Boyz,
Man,I been missing out on our ongoing Methadone talk,it's really giving me insight.MD and Declan:both of Ya'll are talkin bout this "1 or 2mg can effect you" and I been goin down from 120mg (12-10mg generic tabs) by 10mg at a time!I'm slowin down,though,since I read your post,Declan,I will tell you that I'm now at 40mg(going to 35mg starting Monday),daily.Did'nt you say to start goin down by 2.5mg a week when I got to 20-30mg?MD,I take it for Pain Mgmnt.,so it's always in tablet form.It's a very potent pain reliever,much stronger than people realize,especially when considering what Declan spoke of.With a half-life of a day-and-a-half,it can build to dangerous blood levels if Doc's mess up on the prescribing directions.Many doctors in the U.S. won't prescribe methadone because of all these variables.
My main drag is the side-effects of the long-term medication regimen I take.After 20 years of different Opiates,the past 3 years,100 or so mg of Methadone,60-80mg Amphetamine,and some Prozac and Xanax,ALL taken each and every day,I am zapped.I feel like a slave to the "Mood of the Meds", or something like that.How long have people stayed on a regimen similar to mine,before "Burning out" or becoming a Zombie? Anyone had similar events they can think of?Does everybody feel like a Zombie from decades of Opiate and/or Stimulant use?Festus
Posted by maddawgz on November 25, 2005, at 23:55:44
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Festus on November 25, 2005, at 23:50:06
hi Festus yes i do feel that way slave ? some form of meds?? I've been on last 20yrs and mmt side effects basically sux? but i still go everyweek and get it..one day im gonna be of it i know that? but I't such chit to come off i keep avoiding tapering? damn opiods?? Declan i thought liquid was only for Drug maintanance if hes putting 7.5 in one bottle and ur dividing it it wont be accurate they put water in there 2...lost me there R MD
Posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 12:52:52
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by maddawgz on November 25, 2005, at 23:55:44
Hi All
The 7.5mg thing works like this. Now listen up.
I'm on 1.25mg/d. One day a week I go to the pharmacy and take a 1.25mg dose which is one quarter of a millilitre of the 5mg/ml solution. Then they give me 6 takeaways, but because it's a pain to measure out and because I take less anyway the whole 7.5mg (6x1.25=7.5) is put in one bottle. The easiest way to divide the liquid inside, all 1.25ml of it, is to fill the bottle with water (about 25 or 30ml) and then take a little of that solution for the next 6 days. That way I can take a litle less most days.
So now I take maybe 0.5mg/d. I need to get that lower as I'm planning to go away.
Hey Festus, maybe you're on 40mg/d? When people are on higher doses and they look at someone on really low doses they think 'why don't you just stop?' (And any doctor will tell you it's psychological.) But it's a bit like people on heroin. Having just scored they know they've got to stop, so as they organize themselves a hefty shot, they say the will be giving it up. But always tomorrow. It feels so good planning to give up opiates when you're on them. Actually I dunno if that's true. The whole thing's pretty frightful. One thing I won't miss. The deadly fear of running out. And all the planning.
All the best
Declan
Posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2005, at 15:21:28
In reply to Re: Methadone » maddawgz, posted by Declan on November 23, 2005, at 0:57:30
Hi Dec
Do you have lofexidine in Australia? It can help with some of the symptoms of withdrawal.
Eddy
Posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 20:46:52
In reply to Re: Methadone » Declan, posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2005, at 15:21:28
What is it, Ed? What sort of drug? (Clonidine isn't a lot of use, but having said that I haven't tried it.)
Declan
Posted by Festus on November 27, 2005, at 0:03:47
In reply to Re: Methadone » ed_uk, posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 20:46:52
"Gooday,Mates!"
Now I see that everyone from Down Under but me!
Hey,that's OK,I ai'nt but half-Yank,anyway.Me Mutha hailed from northern Wisconsin,near Canada, Dad was born a "Southern Gentleman",but that has nuthing to do with meds and tapers and such.I still want to know what anyone can say about the way they felt after long-term Opiate/Stimulant useage (Chronic Pain and ADD).Thanks,fellas (and the Ladees,of course)!
Festus
Posted by maddawgz on November 27, 2005, at 0:16:34
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 12:52:52
hi declen wasnt sure if was pain or addiction you go to chemist for?? Yes opiods always tommorow give it up? the planning handcuffs the lot give me the poops? do u also find it depresses you???ru taking anything else daily? MD
Posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2005, at 16:36:58
In reply to Re: Methadone » ed_uk, posted by Declan on November 26, 2005, at 20:46:52
Hi Dec
>Clonidine isn't a lot of use, but having said that I haven't tried it....
You are certainly predictable in your attitudes towards drugs Deccie!
Lofexidine is similar to clonidine but causes less side effects. I don't think you'd like it. I could be wrong though. Like clonidine, it can relieve *some* of the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, especially the more dramatic 'physical' symptoms which occur when a person abruptly withdraws form a high dose.
Eddy
Posted by Declan on November 27, 2005, at 23:57:13
In reply to Re: Methadone » Declan, posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2005, at 16:36:58
Eddy
I might, on a good day, be able to reduce my dose from 0.75mg to 0.5mg. (Encouraging hey? But then my moral fibre is weak.) Now clearly, Festus, I wouldn't be able to do that on Dexedrine. I can see that the last tenth of a milligram is going to be difficult. Festus, I'd rather be a southern gentleman 100 years ago with a nice hammock on the porch, good patent medicines and absolutely nothing to do.
Declan
Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2005, at 16:01:16
In reply to Re: Methadone, posted by Declan on November 27, 2005, at 23:57:13
Dec,
Are you afraid to come off methadone completely? Do you feel like you'll be 'naked' without it?
Eddy
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Substance Use | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.