Methadone: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: Methadone to fentnyl patch?

(Posted by: on 2011-12-25 14:00:27)

After 12 years as a chronic pain patient I am trying to get off methadone. A doctor suggested changing to a fentynl patch first, then detox from that. What do you think? I have had a surgery that I hope will make things better and I would like to pursue acupuncture and massage therapy as an alternative. However, my family doctor has dropped my methadone by half in the last 2 months and I am a jittery wreck constantly and can't help but backslide. Between the pain and the withdrawal I can't tolerate it. Can't work, can't sleep. How can I explain this to her without looking like a failure.

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Posted by: J Miller on 2011-12-25, 23:15:48

Well, since Fentanyl is a short acting opiate while methadone is a long acting opiate it will be somewhat quicker to detox from. Fentanyl is a very heavy duty opiate though so unless you need that level of pain control I'd go with a "lighter " opiate. If you do need something as strong as Fentanyl then how are you going to manage when you're off opiates? In general, it is a good idea to switch to a short acting opiate when you are getting off methadone though. Keep in mind that the lasting effects of the methadone dependency will last for months so you should stay on the short acting opiate at least a few months before you start tapering. You should never just quit any opiate, methadone or fentanyl. Any opiate should be tapered slowly to avoid the brutal symptoms of withdrawal.