The Addiction Help .com

It works wonderfully for my herion addiction and I don't want to go off of it since I know I'd immediately start using again. So many people consider it a "heroin substitute". However, I DO NOT get high on it and it is medically controlled so when taken correctly, there is little risk of an overdose. Not to mention all the awful things that go along with heroin addiction like the risk of contaminated needles, drugs laced with deadly substances, doing illegal things to get your "fix", and the fact that you will eventually end up dead or in prison. The problem is that I still have problems with alcohol and cocaine and methadone DOESN'T help with those addictions. I want to get help for all my substance problems but almost all rehabs are VERY AGAINST Methadone. I don't want to be on Methadone the rest of my life. I will eventually wean myself off (VERY SLOWLY) so that I don't get sick (it is addictive like heroin). Any thoughts about this? Please be kind. This is rough!

I'm not really sure if you can mix it with the methadone or not but Revia (Naltrexone) can help with the cravings for both opiates and alcohol. You may want to ask the clinic where you get the methadone.

And go to an NA and AA meeting. You can find local meetings at www.aa.org and www.na.org

One day at a time.

2007-10-04 18:45:36 by jessica

This video I talk about my own personal addiction to opiates (painkillers and heroin) and what led up to my enrolling in the methadone treatment ...

I am 19 and about to come off of a 1 year opiate addiction. (Percocet, Hydrocodone) I was taking AT LEAST 10-14 percocet or hydrocodone (depending on strength) each time (bout 2-4 times a day)
I have told my family and we have all decided to put me in Rehab. and thank goodness my family is going to pay for it. I would be on the streets in another month if I kept on.
Anyways...
Will it be easy to start off with Methadone detox? Has anyone gone through this before? What Happend?

Thanks A Lot!!

I have never been through this but have an opinion. If it were me, I'd go "cold turkey" in a medical detox if needed. It takes just 3-5 days to get most substances out of your system. I would not continue with putting more drugs in your body (Methadone). You need to be drug free, make it happen. Best wishes with your recovery, you can do it. God bless.

2007-06-03 19:53:22 by Britni Gayle

No prescription needed. Addiction therapy and remedy can be taken in the privacy of your own home
Designed to be taken by itself or in conjunction with Addiction Buster Craving Aid
Decreases addiction, detox, withdrawal and cravings for alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviors

My husband and I are seeking methadone treatment for our addiction to opiate pain killers. We have been taking opiates daily for almost 2 years. My husband and I start at 2 Lortab 10 mg and go from there. We take up to 10 pills per day. Not only do we take Lortabs, but we also get Percocets, Dilaudid, Morphine, Tylenol with Codeine, etc.
I started taking such pills 6 years ago as needed after I had been prescribed Lortabs for muscle tension migraines resulting from a car accident. I never took them regularly until 2 years ago. It is very important that my husband and I seek help for our addiction. We began with prescribed pills, then sought them illegally.
Not only are we destroying our bodies, but we are spending all of our money on these dumb pills!
I have the # for a local methadone clinic and will call tomorrow to start. We are nervous and I am just wondering how the program works. Any details would help us greatly. Thank you so much... you are helping us get clean

First of all congratulations! You are taking the first step towards the rest of your life and from xperience let me say...Methadone saves lives! This is not the most supportive place to ask Methadone questions. Most of what you will get is negative feedback regarding Methadone clinics and that is not what you need right now. You need factual answers. Here are 2 sites where you will get a lot of support. Please go to...
http://www.readybb.com/nama_wespeakmetha...
http://findingnormal.webs.com/
There are experts, patients, advocates, etc at both sites to help. The first was the first support group I joined when I started and the second is my own website:) that I started because I wanted to give something back after having my life given back to me with Methadone.
I will try to give you an idea of what to expect though. Please remember that each state differs and although all clinics must go by federal regs. they can have stricter state regs or choose no state regs at all. Also ther is some variation depending on whether the clinic is regulated by CARF or JHACO.
It is in the Federal Guidelines and agreed upon between most MDs and Psychiatrists that are experienced in MAT that whether you have been shooting heroin for decades or are taking 10 Lortabs a day, that the initial dose for a patient entering an OTP is 30mgs. My clinic gave me 20mg to start. The rules also state no more than 40mg. for a first time visit. They usually advance 5mg. every other day until your withdrawal stops. This can be different for each patient mine was 85mg.
Why do you have to be there so long my first day? The reason for this is because you are a new patient. Many things will happen. You will be given a drug test. This happens before anything else. They expect to find opiates in your system. That is normal...you are seeking help for opiate addiction...LOL They do expect you to be in withdrawal though. Most clinics require 24hrs off of opiates before they will take you. They will observe you for signs of withdrawal. They will ask you if you have taken anything and if you have within the past 24hrs they may send you home. Some clinics require 48hrs. This is not so much an incompatility issue as it is a need to see how you react in withdrawal. Blood pressure readings, heart rate, etc. are considered in this. Specifically they use a scale called the COWS (Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale)If you want to peek at one go to...
http://www.naabt.org/documents/COWS_induction_flow_sheet.pdf
Therefore when you ask for an increase and say it is not working they have a baseline to go by. There are some drugs that will absolutely resrict you from admittance into most clinics. Benzodiazipines are one. Valium and Xanax, Clonipine, etc. These types of medications can be deadly when taken with methadone and are responsible for the majority of so called "Methadone related" deaths you hear about. You will be given a list of meds that are not compatible. You will also see a doctor, have blood drawn, see a nurse, and meet your counselor. It is a long day. If all goes well and you are a candidate you will be dosed and told when to come back the next day. Don't expect a miracle the first day. In fact the first 2 weeks are allowed for adjustment. You are drug tested every week. Counseling every week. As well as going every day for your medicine. If you stick with it and follow the rules there is no way you will die from Methadone! As far as trading one drug for another here is the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) states in their Frequently Asked Questions Section regarding that very claim...
Is methadone treatment just switching one addiction for another?
No– You are switching a life risking behavior (addiction) for a daily inconvenience of needing to take a medication (physical dependence). Many of us must take medication for a disease. Addiction is a disease. Look at it like this...
"It is like this. We have diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease.
Addiction is a disease.
Some people can treat their diabetes without medication. Diet & exercise alone controls it.
Some addicts can treat their their addiction without medication. NA meetings, councelling, etc. alone controls it.
However, for many diabetics diet & exercise alone isn't enough. They require medication.
For many addicts NA & councelling alone isn't enough. They require medication.
Some diabetics can take medication for a short time & eventually control their disease with diet & exercise but this is a small percent.
Some addicts can take medication for a short time & eventually control their disease with NA & councelling, etc. but this is a small percent also. Telling someone with diabetes controlled with insulin to throw away their insulin and jog the next morning is equivalent to telling someone whose addiction is being effectively controlled by methadone to throw down their methadone & go to an NA meeting.
It not only won't work but is so dangerous it could be fatal!
As far as what the other post said about it ruling your life. It depends on how you view it. For me it isure beats chasing pills all day. Granted I may have to make arrangements before going on vacation to get carries or go to a guest clinic but before I couldn't afford to go on vacation or leave my contacts that long. LOL I see it as a blessing. I dose and leave to go live a normal life. It is awesome. God Bless!

2008-06-22 14:55:45 by Frady

Price: $149.95

It depends on several factors. Research has shown that Heroin users and those addicted to high doses of opiates like Oxycontin, Morphine, Fentanyl or for a long period of time (years for example) tend to do better with Methadone whereas those who are addicted to hydrocodone, those addicted for less time and those who have never been in detox can get by with Suboxone. I believe Methadone works after other types of programs have failed (like abstinence &/or Suboxone) due to the commitment required for MMT. Also, MMT offers one on one counseling which is good for any addict but especially those needing more structure whereas Suboxone offers none. One of the biggest benefits for MMT patients is also one of the most difficult to get accustomed to. MMT patients must take their medication in front of the nurse for the first 3mo. in treatment. Suboxone patients receive a prescription which they get filled and take home. The problem is as addicts a "bottle" of anything that makes us feel better we will abuse. Most of us (whether we want to admit it or not) do better with this supervision at first then gradually adding one take home dose every 3 mo. So, the choice really depends on your individual needs.

2008-11-22 20:19:52 by ed

meth

2009-05-26 07:59:33 by t w