No w/d symptoms (almost)

[DFFL]

Swim has been on Rx methadone for several years now. He gets 80mg a day. It always gets abused and runs low at the end of the month. SWIM used up the last of it last week and won't get another Rx till next week. If he wants to get high it takes about 300mg. So I would think that he would be in hellish w/d right now, not so, he's sitting here right now with me, quite comfortable, no pains or even chills. I've known this dude all my life and have seen him in w/d more times than I would like to. I also know he has hep c, I have it too, every day feels like mild w/d symptoms. His wife is experiencing the same non-w/d symptoms with the same history. Here's what I want to know, has Anyone Who Isn't Reading This ever been through significant methadone use w/o w/d. could it be through juggling the dosage they missed out on getting strung out, they both have multiple experiences with methadone clinics, detox and w/d. Swim has noticed this over the last three years and is not even too nervous about running out.

[Dickon]

How long has it been since you last took the methadone?

Personally, in your situation, I'd praise God, the universe, sheer dumb luck, and never touch the stuff ever again. I'd not ask too many questions! If you did want a more considered answer we'd need to know more about your use pattern. If you're using an 80mg/day (560mg/week script) in two days (280mg/day) and going 5 days without each week you'd be a very odd fish, but might get away with it. I reiterate, more details please!!! Or just accept the miracle!

Happy new year

Dickon

[DFFL]

More details, O.K., Swim has not had any methadone since Fri., 20mg , Sat.,poppy tea ,Sun,3-#4 dilaudid (snort), Mon., P.T.and cooking P.T. right now. Like I said before, I've seen this dude strung out, on much less drugs, praying to die, in withdrawal. I've seen his wife pass out on her feet, smash her noggin on the concrete, after getting kicked off a methadone clinic, (HIS fault). I've known them both, going thru w/d, not sleeping for weeks, they're deffinately not beginners, both hold PhD.s in drug abuse. After several years of total abstainance SWIMs Dr. talked him into participating in a study of massive doses of interferon & riboviron for hep.c treatment in 1999, big mistake. Before treatment, no symptoms, after being hospitalised cause it almost killed him , he has all the symptoms of hep.c, which is much like w/d, miserable but not as violent.I know that the hep.c isn't just masking the w/d, nothing works on that but time or drugs. No one is complaining,yes they are thanking the mojos that be, but never touch again? When every day w/o feels like w/d? The dude started 'done to manage the pains of hep.c , now he and his wife ,who never did the interferon, seem to be able to use w/o getting strung out. Praise the Lord and pass the medication, a dopers dream.

[Dickon]

The reason you have no w.d.s is that you haven't gone a day without opiates. And there I was thinking a miracle had happened. My cat did a reduction from methadone starting at 225mg (he often took 300 mg sometimes 400mg+ a day) over 5 weeks and stopped altogether about 10 weeks ago. I was thus surprised to hear your experience, as the cat can vouch for the less than pleasant experience of the w.d.

I'm behind the times with the treatment of hep c, but I know that interferon treatment is a bitch and doesn't always clear the virus. I am fairly sure you can have a second try, and that might work. I'm working here with 7-y.o. information but it's worth a look. Everyone I knew who did the interferon had given up opiates first.

Best wishes

Dickon

[DFFL]

Honestly Dickon,swim has gone through this several times. Yes, there is some discomfort but nothing like a usual jones. A few months ago There was another two week span with at least a full week continous w/o any drugs, w/o a kick.W/D is definately the worst physical pain swim has known. Swim has taken, easilly, since Dec.4, 450 ten mg m'done pills, enough to kill most. Swim has a very high tollerance,300 mgs to get down. Swims wife is in the same status. She has been hospitalised several times this year with severe acid reflux. A week or three on I.V. m'done, 100 mg daily and dilaudid, 4 mg every 2 hrs. within a week or so of being released, she's clean. No loss of sleep, no poppy tea, no signifficant discomfort. The amount of drugs/tea being done here would no way put a dent in any habit/ w/d this guy has been thru before.This is certainly something different and it's two people concerned and they're not related. Swims wife has a ridiculous high tollerance too. Could it be that such a high tollerance could keep one from getting addicted? even with daily use, they only get high a few times a month. I'm baffeled but how great could it be if people could be medically treated for whatever problems with major narcotics w/o getting addicted? Any input? Please