Methadone clinic....placebo?

[youdontknow]

Ok so ive been going to a methadone clinic now for two weeks. This will be my third. Everything was going completely fine until about two days ago. I was supposed to get dosed at 50 mgs. And it seemed like 45 mgs did more for me than the 50! Its been 3 days now and it still feels not right. Ive got the big circles under my eyes and cant seem to stay awake thoughout the day. Somethings up. Anyone else ever had any experience like this?

[chillinwill]

Could tolerance possibly be building to the methadone and thus you have to keep upping the dose? How many days has it been like this that you feel 45mg was better than 50mg?

[youdontknow]

it was the very first day that i could tell. I dont know its really wierd.

[Dickon]

If you're having trouble staying awake on 50mg, perhaps it's too high a dose. Paradoxically, a higher dose of methadone can make one feel worse, in the sense of being more likely to use or want to use on top of the already increased methadone dose. I came across this phenomenon on-line, and was somewhat perplexed by it, but on one level it makes sense. My cat found higher doses of methadone than a "normal" daily dose, often led to wanting even more later on. This time round he started on 45mg a day, and ended up with an official script of 115mg a day, but was actually taking 200-400mg a day or occasionally more. He always found lower doses easier for stability, although I think this goes against the "conventional wisdom". Maybe (someone who isn't) you and my cat are alike.

I suppose the question we need an answer to to figure this out is why did you increase from 45mg?

OK, one final thought, not something me or cat have experience of (Moda's animal of choice I think has some expertise here if I remember right) is that there are "fast metabolizers" of methadone. This would be consistent with 45mg not being enough in that 24 hours later you'd feel sick, but that 50mg would, at least initially produce strong symptoms (sleepiness is usually seen as a symptom of too high a dose), although, again 24 hours later, you might be starting to w.d.

Just some thoughts. But, I'd like to have a bit more information. I hope you get the dose sorted out soon

Dickon