About to get on methadone

[Probing Tranquility]

Swim just got on badgercare and has set up his first appointment at a methadone clinic. Swim has to go in next week to see the doctor there. Hes hoping that this will allow him to stop shooting up and taking ungodly amounts of vics/percs. Wish swim luck.

[Dickon]

Good luck P.Q. Let us know how you find it, the good and the bad. It would be a very useful thread to have some day to day experiences of someone on a methadone programme.

I hope it goes well for you

Dickon

[Davidb711]

Hello, SWIM is on the M.A.R. here in Canada ... Methadone Assitant Recovery program is the name. SWIM did lots of opiate drugs, all in pill form for years and the last year SWIM started IV'ing them ... from mainly Dilly's to Oxy's and whenever they were'nt around MS Contin or A.K.A. greys ... So to make a long story short SWIM tried quiting all the pills cold turkey and only lasted 5 days before lossing SWIM lost motivation to do it cold turkey cause it was too much of a bitch for SWIM. SWIM made the choise to get a hold of Methadone first from the streets at a low daily dose till SWIM got to see a Dr. ... SWIM got on the MAR program at has worked his way to a stable dose of 80mg of methadone a day. This has kept SWIM clean for over 4 amazing months of needle free sobrity. SWIM tried to IV some down a couple months in to the program and by God as a witness the meth really blocks the pills from working. It has SWIM thanking the program for saving his life.

As of month 4 on it now SWIM is going to minus 5mg from his dose every 2 to 4 weeks to ween off the methadone. SWIM has been through many years of trying to quit drugs and swears that this program along with A.A. and some addiction counsoling has kept him clean and sober longer than any other treatment program in the past 10 years he has been through.

SWIM advice is don't listen to all the negative hype people say about Methadone, read all the positive stuff about it and try it out, because it work!

[mickey_bee]

Hey man,
Good luck, I too am on methadone.
Important thing is to define what it is you are hoping to get out of methadone treatment before you start, and then stick with it.
It's good at pretty much eliminating acute withdrawal symptoms(if it's at the right dose), but the cravings will still very much be there, so if your intention is to use methadone to get clean, then be aware that you'll have to stay strong through these cravings, particularly in the first few weeks.

No matter what though, it should definetly make your life easier, the fear of getting horribly sick will no longer be there, and subsequently the need to score will be reduced to mental issues.

Good luck, and if your aim is to use it to become completely opiate free; stay strong!

It will take a few days, (for me it's about 5-7 days), for the methadone to reach it's full effectiveness, so if things seem too hard at first, just stick with it for a week, as it will be better by then.
If you're trying to get completely clean using methadone then I would say this;
-Don't rush it! Although you may want to get off drugs and get clean as quickly as possible, in many cases performing too rapid a reduction is simply setting yourself up for failure.
While you may be able to bear significant discomfort for a while, it becomes much harder after weeks of feeling rough. It normally really pays to take your time with the reduction, and will dramatically decrease negative symptoms.

-Before you start reducing the dose, make sure you are comfortable and stable on a steady dose! If you aren't stable at the start of the reduction, things are only going to get worse, much worse. -And subsequently, much harder to complete.
This period is basically about getting your body used to a stable dose of methadone, and getting your head used to not going out and scoring drugs off shady people in overcoats, and then injecting those drugs into whatever vein you can find. I.e.-returning your life to a more 'normal' sort of existence.

It really is very important that you are stable before you start reducing, it will help a great deal, both physically and mentally.

Anyway bro, good luck, and remember to give it a few days at first before you decide you need to up the dose!

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Good advise on what to expect from the first few days of dosing.
	great advice on methadone treatment
	thanks thats exactly what swim needed to know as this swim has also just started methadone!

[Probing Tranquility]

Swim thanks everyone for the positive comments and will keep updating this thread to let other swimmers know swim's status.

[ex-junkie]

yeah best wishes. if swiy reaches a stable dose without using other opiates, it will be easiest to break the habit. remember that using other opiates on top of the methadone will result in a huge tolerance, and the methadone wont hold swiy for the full 24 hours. swiy doesnt want that, its a bitch.

maybe for the first couple weeks, smoke a joint to increase its effect (only if swiys a dope smoker- wouldnt recommend it to someone whos not!). might help to keep focused on not using other opiates.

[Probing Tranquility]

Allright, swim went in for his first appointment on wednesday. It was alot of paperwork and talking to the dude that was there. The guy said hes gotta take my paperwork to the doctor they have and that they'd be getting back to swim soon. Rough estimate of next week for a start date on the methadone.

[ex-junkie]

christ. sounds like a proper headfuck to get onto the program! where swim is from, you just go to the doctor and get a script that day.

[Methclinic]

SwiMC likes to keep his posts short and sweet.Having said that SwiMC has been on MMT for 4 years.Remember this "in the long term" you will feel better and stay healthier keeping your dose as low as you can.At first youll need it higher but in time you should be able to slowly lower it.Also MMT is a long term program.Some people stay on the juice for life and some dont.It depends on what you want outta yer life.Anyway if you feel like your dose isnt holding you particularly in the summer when you sweat it out.Take half when you wake up and half before you go to bed.Anyother questions shoot me a message i would be glad to help out.You can use MMT to get high or better yourself in your case i believe your looking to improve and SwiMC wishes you luck.




MC

[Denny007]

SWIM asked me to pass on this note...

yay on ur decision with methadone..im on the methadone program too..its been 5months now..first 2week u will feel nausea along with your adjusting dose,and the next 2 weeks u will sweat a lot,hard to poop and ur dick hardly(almost never) will get up as ussual.
but after first 2months..u will feel fine...remember never try methadone with other benzo drugs..stay clean..and play safe..

Reputation Comments on this post:

Importand advise to not mix M. with Benzodiazepam!

[Probing Tranquility]

Swim has to go in tomarrow and fill out the intake paperwork, and then on friday he will be seeing the doc and hopefully getting his dose. Swim will update tomarrow on how it goes.

[op8fan]

good luck p. tranquility, SWIM has been trying to get in his local methadone clinic to no avail for 2 weeks now but is intent on getting in. SWIM called them and they said he has to do a phone consultation before seeing the doc for a consultation, but they haven't called yet. This worries SWIM since his friend is doing the same and has been trying for a month now and hasn't gotten the call yet. Even though, SWIM and his friend are persistent and will continue to try since they have both been bad daily users for a few years now and sincerely want some help. So, good luck to u and all else who are trying to get help with their opiate addiction.

[Probing Tranquility]

First dose is friday. Swim has to be there bright and early so swim will update later that day. Swim also needs to get a metal lock box for his sunday dose but he's sure all will work out. His counsler there told swim today that "today is the last day that you'll be doing illegal opiates" swim hopes thats true. Swim is feeling hopefull about the future now just knowing that he wont have to worry about getting his fix or being sick or spending all his money on shit. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel, swim will find out.

[Methclinic]

Originally Posted by Probing Tranquility

First dose is friday. Swim has to be there bright and early so swim will update later that day.

SwiMC wanted to say something else abot getting on the juice.
This holds true both to male and females.Watch your diet when you start
out.Not only does Methadone change your metabolism a bit but it
changes your taste buds also.Nearly everyone that SwiMC has talked too
has mentioned an huge increase in there desire for sugar and sweets.
Swimc has seen many a female start on the program having pretty decent figures and 6 or 8 months later whammy they have balloned out.
SwiMC started MMT wieghing 240 lbs and now wieghs 275 lbs
So just keep in mind when starting out your gonna be sleeping alot and your appetite is gonna changeAlso constipation is something alot of people have problems with also.
Having said all that all these side effects seem better than chasing that buzz and all the other problems that go along with being a junkie.

Methclinic

[ex-junkie]

^yep, swim put on weight whilst on methadone, but when she quit she lost that ten kilos in less than 2 weeks.

[Probing Tranquility]

Alright, swim has been clean on the methadone for eleven days now. He was started out at 20mg and had to go up 5mg every 5 days until the benzos were out of his system then he could go up 5mg a day. The last benzo swim took was diazapam on the 24th of May and he just tested negative for it today, swim had a test on the 5th and it came up positive. Swim is happy that he gets to go up 5mg a day now, it'll be nice to get to where swim needs to be as far as his dose is concerned. Swim was upped to 30mg today. Swim notices increased fluid consumption, constipation, and being tired as the most noticable side effects. The being tired could also be caused from getting up very early which swim isn't use to and even though swim gets up early he doesn't go to bed that much earlier, but swims working on it, he likes to get to bed around tenish so he can get up at six thirty. Swim hasn't noticed any weight gaid yet, swim has always had a very fast metabolism and been tall and skinny all his life. When swim started the program he weighed 155-160, so after a month swim is gonna weigh himself again and post the results. Alright swim needs to get to bed, he will update after he has to meet with his counsler to go above 55mg.

[ex-junkie]

ezy PT, sounds like things are going to plan. methadones great for getting on top of things. it gets a lot of negative rep, but remember if swiy doesnt go on a huge dose then he will be make it easier for himself when it becomes swiys time to stop.

40-60mg isnt a huge dose to quit.

100mg+ however, would be the ultimate headfuck.

[Probing Tranquility]

Hey guys, Swim meant to update sooner but has been busy with life and stuff. Swim met with his counsler a week and a half ago and the decision was made to let swim go up to 100mg a day. Swim is currently at 90mg a day and will be at 100mg by wednesday. Swim will have to talk to his counsler again to go above 100mg a day. Swim feels like he is getting close to his optimal dose and would guess that he'll be at it in a couple weeks. Swim has started eating foods with alot of fiber to combat the constipation. If swim doesn't get a good nights sleep a nap is almost mandatory to get through the day but the tiredness isn't so much that swim cant operate if he doesn't get one. Swim has been waking up during the night alot and sweats alot if its warm out. Swim's family and friends have noticed a positive change in me. They say swim seems alot happier and swim is more outgoing. Swim feels happier and he has a more positive outlook on life. Swim doesn't think he'll have to go above 150mg so when it comes time to stop he should be able to relatively easy. Swim will update with his weight and his counsler meeting later this week.
Peace...

[Probing Tranquility]

Hey everybody, swim is at 100mg a day now. He has been on that dose for a few weeks now. Swim still thinks he needs to go up but he wont have to go up alot more. Swim guesses his optimal dose somewhere between 100 and 150. Swim has not done any opiates since he has started the methadone. Swim has also not done any benzos, or alcohol. Swim smokes weed occaisionally but never buys it, and when he smokes he only takes a couple hits to get a buzz instead of smoking bowl after bowl and getting super baked. Swim likes this because he feels in control. Swim would still trip and roll. Swim has to have a blood draw on the 22nd and then meet with the doctor to try and go up. Swim will update then. Later