Hopefirst and whoever may be considering some kind of replacement therapy for opiates, I want to encourage caution. Worst withdrawal by far methadone and the longest acting. Where I detoxed the first time they did not do subutex or any kind of opiate substitution. I was on an IV for 6 days (usually they do three days at most) I must admit the amount of methadone I was taking daily it will be hard to believe im still breathing (in the hospital they told me i had some brain damage most likely from respritory depression) so i probobly stoped breathing more then once. I guess someone wanted me to stick around. I was taking up to 800mg of methadone daily as well as taking benzodiazapines and sometimes drinking alcohol. I can barely beleive this when i look back but it is absolutely true. Over the corse of 1.5 years I had gone from rarely using other then when it priscribed for sugery or medical reasons to a completely legit RX for 200mg methadone per day. Somewhere in that year and a half a switch flipped in my brain and i went from being physically dependent to a full blown no limits addict. If you speak to people who have tried methadone to get off of other opiates most will say they hate it. Where i am from clinics will actually adjust doses upwards to atempt to regulate physical and psychological well being. The problem is that no matter what if your an opiate addict your body will adjust and soon you will need to up your dose. Note, these people arent getting high, it is just what it takes to make them feel normal or level. People i have spken with absolutely hate their situation. They tried to get off one drug only to become dependent on another drug that has withdrawals like no other. You can hear and feel the dusgust they have for the situation, even though they are not in active addiction much of there life is still controlled or impacted by a drug. And if they try to stop they will get very very sick. MY ADVISE-tear the bandade off fast-detox either medically if you can or monitored by a physician and support staff. An inpatient medically managed detox I think can offer the fastest turn around to where you may start feeling like yourself again. It sucks most always but you WILL NOT DIE you may feel like it or even wish it. Some places treat withdrawal symptoms witch can make that really horrable time at least a little less horrable. Im sorry for the novel I just wrote. I just think of people i know who have done subutex or methadone and a year later they are still on it and feel traped. I AM RJ by the way, thank you for your time. P.S. my opinion--- tear the bandaid off fast! It may hurt like hell for a little while, but You will start healing faster and feeling better.
I really want you to know that you are in a really good place right now. I imagine that seems like an absurd thought but it is true. Your hurting and you are confused, you know something is wrong but you arent sure what. The addicted part of you will tell you that your not trying hard enough or that you are a bad person. That you hurt people and you should never be forgeven. I talk about that part of me this way because it really is not me, its not who i really am. It is like you have two personalities not because your crazy but because something has taken over and supressed a lot of who you are. Dont take all that weight and say "I should have known better!" "I am an idiot for letting myself become this, I deserve my misery". I have done that before and it does not work. Rarely does putting yourself down result in possitve outcomes. It is ok to feel bad or frustrated or just plain bewildered. By posting on here about your most personal struggle. Something you probobly feel like if people close to you knew, they would hate you or scold you. Addiction Is one hell of a POWERFUL desease. (cunning, baffleing, and powerful, if you try meeting like narcotics anonymouse you will hear things like that). What you have done by asking for help is actually a bit of a miricle. I am not sure how addiction is veiwed in the UK but here, if you really are an addict, there are basically 4 options, Jails, institutions, or death. If you are an addict and you dont treat the desease it will end with one of those 3 things, sadly many fall into the death catagory. The forth and most important option is recovery. My point in writting to you again was not to scare you or try to tell you how important any of your choices are or what choices to take. I want to write you again to tell you how amazing you are for asking for help, setting aside your pride, and pushing past the guilt or shame that makes you want to keep your secret. For the vast majority of addicts seeking help is one of the last things they want to do. Most have their entire lives fall apart and their bodies sufer a great deal. It isnt until all thats left is them and there drug that they see the real problem. You have an amazing opportunity now. You have opened this door and it is a heavy door but you did it. That is really amazing and I am proud of what you have already done. Getting better can be hard in many different ways, sometimes the first step is the hardist but it is also the most important. If I were around you I would hug you or shake your hand (whatever feels the most appropriate). Thank you for being here. Know also no matter what you choose to do next, there is a 32 year old guy in Wisconsin that cares and will not judge regardless of what happens next. I hope your feeling some hope its ok however you feel. Please feel free to ask me questions I will be open and honest.
FYI Clonidine and Lofexidine are not substitutes and only deal with withdrawal symptoms not mental addiction. Worth noting - they are a safer option if you are scared of getting hooked on something else. For me Lofexidine was just magic, withdrawal with no hateful withdrawal symptoms.
I agree those are pretty safe and effective. It is possible to detox without going through hellish withdrawel. Where I have been treated they usually use a mixture of meds. They seam to use antihistamines and intidepressant with clonidine which i think helps regulate your heart rate. For anyone really fearing withdrawl I would definately recomend some kind of inpatient facility. I have found that having the emotional support of others going through the same thing as well as professional counsiling can be very helpfull. I struggled many times trying to kick on my own and found it near impossible. Physically and emotionally it can be very difficult. I like to try to remember and really think about how many things your body suddenly has to adjust to. It is rough but getting those "voices" (I say voices I mean impulses and wants not like I hear actual voices. I am crazy but not quite that crazy>>....yet anyway) out or your head is worth it. To be ok with yourself again-----priceless.
Hi RJ, thank you for your support and comments, they certainly resonate with me. This is an up and down process, and whilst i am pleased I dropped 30mg last night I can feel the effects today and started wanting to give up giving up. Instead I searched for more answers, what supplements might help, whether i should speak to GP and generally trying to keep focused. I just spoke to a pharmacist who also said I should see the GP and work out a realistic strategy. I only have 30mg tablets so its good to see the GP even if its only for them to give me 15mg doses so I can wean off more gently. The plan is to bite the bullet and phone them tomorrow. Thanks for your support!
Awesome!
thank you so so much for replying to me oly because I clicked on your link and went to my local drug centre and have seen the doctor today, the whole process has taken about one week. We talked for two hours about me going on methadone or subutex and he believes I should go on meth.
He called my doctor and he said I could either do it via them or the doctors. He was concerned I was not a "hard addict" and didn't want me sitting in the waiting room but I said that they have shown more care and help than my doctor who got me in this mess in the first place.
So I left with a prescription of methadone for the next 3 days. I am taking 30mg each day and go back on Monday.
I have to continue taking my codeine and write down how many I am taking too.
Hi sue thank you so much for your advice, I've seen the drugs team today and was prescribed methadone. He said it was due to the high doses I was taking of codeine and believed this was the better option. I'm still really scared but took 15mg today and that increases tomorrow. I don't know what the future holds but I am more hopeful than I was. If anyone would like to email me, my email is ________
Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.
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I appreciate your reply, I've only just read it as there is so many conversations going on in this thread that are not directed to my situation.. Oh dear well the doctor from the local drug team has given me methadone today for my codeine addiction.
I had a choice from that to subutex but he said the high amount I am taking I will have severe side effects if I Consider something else.
I understand what you're saying but again you were taking meth at a high level along with another substances so can you give an accurate account?
I've tried to "rip the band aid off fast" but unfortunately it just doesn't work that way
I don't think I was clear I'm sorry. I made it sound like methadone would be the worst choice you could make, I'm sorry about that. And my situation was unique so definitely not universally true. I think what your doing is great. I know people who have succeeded with similar treatment. I tend to be an all or nothing person (one of my character flaws) so getting as far away from the drug as fast as possible is what works for me. It sounds like you are getting good care and advice from the Dr and that's awesome. You are on top of this I'd put money on you succeeding. I hope the best for you and admire and respect what you are doing.
Hi everyone I've now been increased to 40mg methadone and I'm feeling really good. Still using codeine but they have said by next week I will feel less needy when ive increased to maximum dose. I feel tired in the evening but apart from that I've felt really good
The doctor at the drugs centre has asked whether I have GAD generalised anxiety disorder?? I had never heard of it before. But I'm just taking one hour by hour as it goes x
Keep up the good work, stick with the plan :-) .... I found it really helpful when my dependency became someone else's responsibility!
well done - great job - just stick with the program and you will be amazed how good it will get -best of luck
Sue, does subutex help with pain as well? I'm in a double quandry that I know I'm addicted/dependent on opiate painkillers but I also suffer from chronic pain. I have moved from Endone to the Norspan 10 patch but I'm finding I'm still popping a dozen panadol/codeine tablets a day whether I need them or not. I don't know whether it's my anxiety, habit or addiction (probably all three). I know taking the codeine is the worst thing I should be doing as in the long term opiates actually cause anxiety but I cannot seem to shake them even though I'm wearing a patch.
Opiates are cruel, they are great at pain killing for a few months and then your bodies pain receptors start to malfunction. After 3 or 4 months it's hard to distinguish between pain and withdrawal. After stopping opiates it takes weeks/months for your bodies natural pain management to start working properly. Chronic pain is really hard to deal with.
In this context any change in pain management can be beneficial. Ideally a sit down with the pain management people would help but your mileage may vary.
Thanks to this forum and the replies I did what I never thought possible, I rang my local drugs centre and met an amazing doctor a who explained the difference between methadone and subutex in the initial detox and so 10 days ago I went from 30 x 30mg codeine a day to lowering it day by day and yesterday I had NONE! NO CODEINE!! I still cant believe it. The side effects are feeling really sleepy after taking it and an itchy face but nothing I can't cope with.
I'm on my way to a better life. I hope so, anyway x
well done - you should be very proud of yourself -
Well done
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. That's a huge leap forward in no time and I'm so pleased you found three right people to help.
I'm now on week 4 (or is it 5?) of no Morphine. I just get a little better every day, last night was my first proper natural 9 hours sleep - wow, that feels good!
Keep looking after yourself and it will all seem like a distant hideous memory soon.
Hey, as a person that works for the NHS I know how you feel! I would suggest taper your dose! If you have someone you really trust give them your pills and ask them to give you so many a day!