Methadone Addiction; Need Medical Experts Help?
Question by Tommy: Methadone addiction; need medical experts help?
Ive been addicted to methadone for around 2 years taking around 120 milligrams a day see today i missed the clinic and bought Suboxone to take away the withdrawl symptoms but it didnt it seemed to make it worse x 10 so can u tell me what happenend. And also how long it would take me to get off of methadone to where i would have no withdrawl symtoms Please I need medical help!!!!!!
Best answer:
Answer by GaryR
Suboxone counters the effects of opiates, and Methadone is kind of the King of Opiates. So, that’s what crashed you down hard. Addiction to opiates is difficult, but not impossible. Literally millions of people before you have done so successfully. But, you really would probably do better to get off it under medical supervision, and with the assistance of an understanding physician. That means tapering off the Methadone in steps, and taking medications such as Valium to help control the shakes, anxiety, etc., that accompany drug withdrawal. Addiction comes in two parts: chemical and psychological. The chemical part actually goes by pretty fast. If you come off Methadone, and STAY off, you’ll go into acute chemical withdrawal that lasts for about 5 days. This is the hardest time for you, and where a good physician can help ease your discomfort with careful medical supervision. After that, it’s just a matter of fighting off the mental part of the addiction, which lasts a lifetime. However, the strong cravings gradually taper off over a period of about 2 years so that after that time, you’ll find that you’re off opiates, AND you don’t crave them anymore. After that, it’s just taking it one day at a time for the rest of your life, avoiding opiates. Good luck to you.
Answer by …and the crowd goes wild!
They are both opiate antagonists. I was on 140 mg methadone for about 8 months. The withdrawal was complete and utter hell for like 3-4 months. I don’t know why it would have made it worse, b/c both being opiate antagonists it should be an additive effect. I do know that on that much methadone it doesn’t leave your body that quickly, I used to take mine every other day. You’d be much better just detoxing from oxycodone or morphine, even heroin, if you really want to stop. The withdrawal from those lasts only a week.
Edit: Sorry about that. I just re and re-searched and did a little more too, and it appears that Methadone is probably an agonist (even though there is a bunch online about how it is an antagonist). I wasn’t looking at wikipedia either or something any joe schmo could edit.