Methadone Clinics: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: I start the methadone clinic tomorrow?

(Posted by: CJ on 2008-03-18 23:10:25)

Im starting tomorrow morning and i had a few questions. first off how does the dosage start? like how are they going to know how much to give me? and why do i have to be there soo long my first day? and if i did oxycontin the night before around 8 pm and i go in at 6am are they going to give it to me or not? because i didnt know if mixing them was lethal or anything???

Posted by: lilbit on 2008-03-18, 23:15:09

Methadone is hard to get away from just to let u know. and usally it is a good idea not to mix drugs..

Posted by: ♪Taraja♪ on 2008-03-18, 23:16:50

I just wish to say : GOOD LUCK!! My brother did it. He was on drugs for 20 years. All kind of tough drugs. I would have to ask him to respond you. All the best though!! Drugs (any kind) have the ability to take away from you THE CAPABILITY OF LOVING SOMEONE. People end up ALONE. I hope you don't.

Posted by: scott r on 2008-03-18, 23:17:38

I will say this, it takes a lot to admit you need help. please don't kick one habit just to pick up another. God bless you on your quest to be healthy again. remember your can't do it alone.

Posted by: kphelps2012 on 2008-03-19, 02:15:57

This is not the most supportive place to ask that question. 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. Please go to this link... readybb.com/ nama_wespeakmethadone/ index.php There are experts there to help. I will try to answer your questions but you really should visit the website. How does the dosage start? 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 i have to be there soo 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 befiore 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. 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!

Posted by: helen r on 2008-03-20, 04:29:04

Hi CJ, told you I would get back to you, a suggestion to you, is not to ask so many people Q's as we are different when we go onto the m/ done, you will have your own Q's to ask the Dr;s when you see them next, i have given you my knowledge as a nurse and as a menthadone taker. You are doing the right thing and as I said before I am extremely proud of you, ifeel as I have know you for ages, please take each day by day, remember if you don't feel well go directly to the Dr, don't go binging on anything, as they will take regular urine tests at random, I also forgot to mention that if you miss out on any off your doses, they will kick you off the program, the reason is that there are so many more people waiting to start it and when you get people stuffing it up, it comes back on all of us in oz, i am not talking about missing a dose, that will stuff you up, but these people that go out and sell it and thenpeople over dose and then the health department go crazy make it harder for the Dr's to give us take a ways etc. Please do this for you, your the only one who will benefit from it don't take in anyones crapp that they tell you, this is why I hope you will be doseing at a pharmacy, as you don't get to see all the others waiting to get dosed and while there waiting there talking about where can we score you don't need this. Be strong and as i said please keep in touch with me here is my email direct helenmarhelenrichnarlahr@yahoo.com keep in touch. Have just read some of the other answers, cj what that was written is not correct, it depends on the usage of a person their weight ect, you have no reason to believe me, but i have been on this for over 20 years, and being a nurse, i am giving you the correct information, they will not start you off on a low dose remember i mentioned that is why they want you to sit around for awhile so they can monitor you, please don't get caught up in everyones experience each person is different ok remember this. please just contact me if you have any concerns as some of these people replying to you worry me they really don't no what they are talking about. I will answer your questions without any lies, remember I am a menthadone user also, a long term one at that. have to go please email me tomorrow let me know how your going, you can email anytime, i will be here to help you. \Kindest regards againand again helen kindest regards helen