VH says I'm stuck on Methadone and I
don't know how to quit using it.
I am very disappointed in the choice that I made to get on Methadone.
I was in a very desperate place and time when I needed to get off heroin. So
I chose Methadone.
Knowing what I know now I would have gone through withdrawals from
heroin for those 3 days. I feel like I'm stuck on this medicine forever. I
have been on Methadone for 10 years now and I'm 40 years old. I have found
out my body doesn't feel vibrant like it use to, I'm tired all the time even
with vitamins and supplements. My digestive system is all messed up, and my
teeth are decaying around the gum lines. I feel like the Methadone is a ball
? chain to my life. I can't do anything or go anywhere without thinking
about Methadone first.
I have been on 30 milligrams the whole 10 years because I refuse to go
up. So it would be easier for me to get off Methadone, but that hasn't
worked for me. It still is hard for me to detox. I have tried 4 different
times to detox. One time I was off it for 2 weeks thinking everyday I would
start feeling better. I never did, so I got back on the Methadone.
The programs make it so easy for you to get back on it, and quick to
try to get you to go up on doses. There has to be some other help out here.
Someone told me to try Suboxone, they say it
works. It sounds scary too because I hear people get addicted to that also.
Someone let me know what you have found that helps to get off Methadone.
Comments From Nickscape:
I am not a doctor so I cannot give medical advice,
however I can share with you what I did to quit Methadone.
As you said it is always easy to get an increase at
the met clinic because it is a business and as long as they keep you
addicted they get paid.
Unless you are in a residential drug rehab using
Suboxone is a risky alternative to Methadone because as you said in your
letter it too is addicting. Also trying to detox from Methadone quickly is
always painful and the withdrawals last a long time.
How I Detoxed From Methadone
Here is how I detoxed from my habit
at the Methadone clinic. This was fairly simple however it took a while to do it.
If you have been on this nasty drug for 10 years as you say then you should
have no problem making your mind up and detoxing slowly.
Start by having your dosage dropped
2 mgs. every 2 weeks. You should not feel the decrease due to the fact that
it is such a small decrease. If at first you feel some discomfort just bear
down and deal with it as it should be very slight. At this point I highly
recommend going to NA meetings every day to give you the outside support
that you will need. Quitting Methadone is not just a physical problem but
also a mental problem. By going to NA and getting a sponsor you will have
someone to lean on as you adjust to your newly found clean lifestyle. You
need to remember that you didn't get messed up in one day so it is easy to
say that you are not going to correct this in one day either.
When I did my detox I did it at 5
mgs per week which may be a little bit to hard for some people. What you
really need to do is set your mind on the goal that no matter what you are
going to stop using this drug because it is destroying your life.
If you get to a point where you
become to uncomfortable then stop your detox and stay at the dosage that you
worked yourself down to until your body gets used to it. after a week or so
start back on the detox. Whatever you do do not increase your dosage at any
time as you will be going backwards and undoing all of the hard work that
you just accomplished.
As you work at this detox it is very
important to keep up with proper nutrition. Try to make sure that you eat at
least three balanced meals a day and drink plenty of liquids. Try and work
in maybe two healthy snacks a day like fruit or something non fattening with
good nutritional values. This will help you to maintain even blood sugar
levels that will help with the withdrawals.
Foods to avoid. Coffee or other
drinks that have caffeine in them. Chocolate, and any other items with a
high sugar content. As they say you are what you eat. Keeping to this diet
will help keep you healthy and on an even keel as far as your blood sugar
level is concerned.
Another very important aspect to any
detox is exercise. Start out slowly by doing some walks between meals. Start
out slowly and after time work yourself up to longer walks and after a while
you can probably work yourself up to a more strenuous exercise ritual. After
a few short months you should be able to detox yourself almost painlessly
and become drug free.
In order for this to work you must
be free of other mind and mood altering chemicals such as alcohol and
marijuana or you will just be spinning your wheels. the idea here is to
become completely drug free and that is why close association with NA groups
and friends is so important.
Liability Disclaimer
As I said in the
beginning of this article I am not a doctor or a medical professional. I am
just sharing what worked for me. Before beginning any exercise or detox
regimen I strongly suggest that you contact a licensed doctor other that the
doctor at the Methadone clinic to guarantee your safety and success to a
drug free lifestyle.
Nick M.
