Methadone - has it worked for swiy?

[Caitlin23]

Well, swim has finally made the tenative decision to spend $150 at the methadone clinic tommorow morning only to wait indefinately to recieve her first dose. Swim has been addicted to opiates for over 8 yrs now. God only knows what will happen. Anyone have good outcomes with methadone maintenance? I've heard all kinds of horror stories, but am convinced that swim truly wants to quit this time and start leading a better life. Swim has no intentions of abusing it, in fact Swim can't even get high anymore - at all! Any words of wisdom?

[Spare Chaynge]

Swim was on methadone. It was like the eye of a hurricane that was swims life.. It was the only normal and stable period of his life for an 8 year period.. Now swim is completely clean and sober.. Do not associate with the fellow methadone dossers. Try to keep your self on low doses as possible.. Do not use other drugs on top of methadone. Try to stay away from old friends who use heroin or other opiates.

swim looks back on his methadone clinic time as a relatively pleasant time during the time when he used drugs and alcohol.. He overall experience was very positive.

It was very hard to quit but swim cant complain..
swim suggest living clean and sober but if you have tried and can not methadone is the way to go.

Swims thoughts on subutex is that it is relatively new so drs tend to push it.. the only advantage is that it can be prescribed more liberally in swims opinion.
Swims friends who have tried both and kicked both say subutex is about equal in how hard it is to quit.

Overall swim does not understand the horror stories of methadone. If used correctly and with caution swim thinks it will be a relatively good experience. Keep in mind that relative is to shooting opiates.

Reputation Comments on this post:

I think you've given some useful advice to this person.

[drug-bot]

methadone really helped swim out, its the only thing that relieved his obsession for heroin. swim thinks its not about a high dose or low dose but rather the right dose for the individual, swims at 80mg, the right dose should make the individual feel free from cravings and avoidance of withdrawls. good luck.

[Caitlin23]

Okay.. one more question. What will happen if I go into the methadone clinic for the first time with a bunch of methadone in my system. Like, will they deny me or what?

[Spare Chaynge]

Most methadone clinics say that you must be in withdrawl. Swim thinks the rules are a little different from clinic to clinic. At swims you had to test positive for opiates also but be in withdrawl. lol kind of weird and strict... swims dr was named dr.Roberts if you ever have listend to the beatles you would know how happy swim was to have this dr. Dr roberts seemed very run down and tired almost like he had no hope for addicts and he just sent swim on his way with in 30 mins swim dosed.

[drug-bot]

Originally Posted by Caitlin23

Okay.. one more question. What will happen if I go into the methadone clinic for the first time with a bunch of methadone in my system. Like, will they deny me or what?

at swims clinic they said they wouldnt dose him if he had methadone or benzodiazapams in his system at his intake, dont know if its just his clincs policy or if its a universal thing.

[Spare Chaynge]

swims clinic they said they wouldnt dose him if he had methadone or benzodiazapams in his system at his intake


seems reasonable.. swim only had cocaine and opiates in his system. at time of intake

[Caitlin23]

Swim found out today that there is a state program that pays for the program and the doses are $35.00 a month co-pay.The con is that you have to get on a waiting list. But so what. It something swim should have done years ago. In Wisconsin its called WISER CHOICE but it could be different in other states. SWIM is very happy that there is some hope. All of the $ i've spent and i will have. I will be free. SwIM is on the methadone waiting list and you should be to.

[Spare Chaynge]

swims clinic was something like 100 dollars for dr visit and 8 dollars a dose after wards... not that much. Dr visit was only a one time thing.

[beena]

SWIM guesses she is very lucky living in the UK then because her methadone is provided completely free through the NHS and there was no waiting lists at the drug clinic where SWIM goes every day to receive her dose (supervised consumption).

SWIM has been on methadone for one month now: she stabilised on quite a low dose of 40mls but then stupidly relapsed and used on top of her methadone which has meant that her dose has had to be increased to 50mls....but now she's determined to stay clean and stabilise on that dose (SWIM doesn't want to end up on a really high dose of methadone...although of course it is necessary for some people).

Everything Spare Chaynge says is true and basically very good advice....SWIY will probably need to use illegal drugs on top of SWIY's daily dose to begin with as they have to start SWIY on a low dose and gradually build it up until they find the right dose for SWIY. Treat methadone with respect though and don't do what SWIM did and use on top once SWIY has stabilised as otherwise SWIY will end up with an even worse addiction....

SWIY will need to turn up to the clinic with opiates of some description in SWIY's system as they will probably test SWIY before giving that first dose of methadone to make sure SWIY really is an addict and not just trying to con them out of methadone (it does happen apparently). Most places ask for SWIY to turn up with mild withdrawals but really as long as SWIY doesn't tell them that SWIY's just used, then everything should be ok...

SWIM agrees totally with what Spare Chaynge says about not associating with other addicts at the clinic where SWIY will go to get methadone....unfortunately there are a lot of people who are on methadone and are not really clean - some people just use it to maintain themselves on the days when they can't get/afford heroin. Don't let anyone mess up your recovery - look after SWIY'self first and foremost.

At the clinic where SWIM goes they run a maintanence programme, so addicts can decide when they feel ready to reduce/come off methadone and are not pressured into it.....usually they reduce it by just a couple of mls at a time until it gets down to about 20mls and then they switch you over to subutex which is a partial opiate agonist (and that is why it is not suitable for most addicts to go on straight away). Subutex also acts as a blocker so if SWIY uses on top of it nothing will happen (ie SWIY wouldn't feel the effects of the drug). Most clinics will therefore recommend methadone as a first option/solution.

SWIM has to go every day to the clinic to take her methadone in front of the pharmicist (this is called daily supervised consumption). The clinic where SWIM goes is a 30 minute walk from SWIM's house and this daily trip is getting SWIM out of the house and providing her with some much-needed stability in her life.

Finally, SWIM hopes methadone will be a positive experience for SWIY too...

Reputation Comments on this post:

good advice

[Spyder]

swiS pretty much agrees with all of the above, and just wanted to add one thing.

The doctor at swiS's intake said something that really made him think long and hard...he was VERY nice (a 60+ yr. old doc, that spent his life working w/ addicts)...Anyway, he said:

"Our goal really isn't to make you "Drug Free", but rather to give you your life back"

Some addicts stay on the Meth for years, some use it, then reduce and gone, some back and forth on/off it. If swiy just get on a maintenance dose that is comfortable for swiYOU, and don't go using on top of it.....swiY will find swiYou life will come back to swiYou!.

Also, when people say, "Don't get on a high dose...blah blah", just keep in mind, swiYou are there to "Stabilize" so that dose is different for everyone......don't worry about what it is, only that swiYou are comfortable (don't over do it either!).

Good Luck.....S

PS: swiS is also in the U.S. (PA), and his clinic said he Must have Opiates in the system, but shouldn't have used in the last 24hr. Not sure about what would happen in benzo's, coke, metha, etc. was in the system?

Take care...good luck.....S

[beena]

SWIM is fairly sure it wouldn't matter if SWIY had cocaine in SWIY's system because it wouldn't effect them giving SWIY methadone in any way....the reason they like SWIY to be in mild withdrawal from opiates is so as they don't go and kill SWIY but that's why they will start SWIY on a low dose anyway, so it's not likely SWIY will overdose...don't worry.

[Spyder]

What swiB is saying is totally correct, they don't really care about the withdrawl, as much as just making sure they don't give a dose which would cause an OD, very unlikely......

Anyway, swiS just got back from his clinic and asked them a few things......When a patient goes thru intake and are give a urine sample, pretty much they can be on everything and anything as long as they don't appear to be "Intoxicated" (stumbling, slurred speach, eyes "dozing off", etc.) Even methadone in the system dosn't hurt ones chances of going into the program, as it is just another addictive drug to deal with....

When swiS started, he called on a Wednesday, had a physical Thursday, and took his first dose on Friday. He was a bit lucky as his state had just increased the patient # limits at the clinics. Whether there is a waiting list or not is dependent on each state and what their limitations are per clinic. They also need to have a certain # of counselors, nurses, etc. per patient.

At that time swiS was paying cash, but now has state support (only due to other med bill putting him in a heap of debt, so now he qualifies).

The "Free" Methadone clinics obviously have quite a waiting list, and one would still need to qualify financially.

Another thought is look into private insurance. Some people swiS knows bought a policy for like 250 per month, which covers their 400/mo methadone. Not ideal, but saves a bit......

Hope it goes well? The OP should post an update after the Intake????

Best regards....S

[Caitlin23]

Well, first off, thank you to everyone for the support & advice. Swim needs all the help she can get! Swim went to her initial intake appointment, not with the methadone clinic, but with a state intake/AODA worker and was accepted into the free methadone program. There is a $35/month co-pay, however where swim lives methadone costs $400/month and the initial appt is $150. The income limitation is $2800/month in Wisconsin. So now Swim can get her methadone without first having a stroke or/and landing herself in the hospital while waiting on her first dose. There is a waiting list, so Swim won't have her actually first appt with the methadone clinic for about 2 1/2 months. Believe it or not, Swim is actually on the priority list to get on methadone and had she not been, it would have taken over a year! Well, thanks again to all who have responded. I have very high hopes for Swim and think everything should work out as planned. Swim considers herself very lucky to have such a great opportunity and just wants to live a semi-normal life. Take care and good luck to all.

Caitlin23 added 6 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

Well, for some reason I can't edit my post, but in regards to the poster who suggested insurance, the Wisconsin methadone program is so backwards because it rewards irresponsibility. If you receive title 19 while on dope, then I believe the total cost is covered as soon as you walk into the methadone clinic. There are also options out there for those who are pregant and hooked on dope and for those who receive other forms of government assistance. But if you are a working, tax paying citizen, even if you have private out-of-pocket insurance, you still have to pay full cost at the clinic.

[drug-bot]

Originally Posted by Caitlin23

Well, for some reason I can't edit my post, but in regards to the poster who suggested insurance, the Wisconsin methadone program is so backwards because it rewards irresponsibility. If you receive title 19 while on dope, then I believe the total cost is covered as soon as you walk into the methadone clinic. There are also options out there for those who are pregant and hooked on dope and for those who receive other forms of government assistance. But if you are a working, tax paying citizen, even if you have private out-of-pocket insurance, you still have to pay full cost at the clinic.

swim knows, he works part time and has insurance through his job (blue cross), he had to hid this from his methadone clinic because if he didnt he'd have to pay $15 a day!!!!, but since the clinics not aware of his insurance he only pays $15 a week and the department of public health in his state picks up the tab for the rest. its wicked fucked up.