Hi, I'm a mom of a heroin addict, and I have a question to those of you who are staying off the stuff. My son has started going to a methadone clinic and the first day he was just messed totally up. He looked like he had a major buzz with his eyes half open and stumpling around. The second day he was more like a zompie, just nodding off and couldn't focus his eyes. I told him they were giving him way too much and he said he saw doctors and did lab test and talked to counselors, but he would have them down the dose. The third day I came home and found him in my bed knocked out cold. I could wake him up, but all I got out of him was that he had been throwing up and had a severe headache. Later, his breathing slowed way down and he told me to make sure he didn't die. I slept with him to make sure he kept breathing and was almost ready to call 911. He didn't go today and I'm afraid for him to ever go back. What the heck kind of treatment is this? Is this what is normal? He said he would not go for a couple of days and then go back for a couple of days. I think it is seriously dangerous!
Any advice or knowledge from those of you with methadone clinic experience would be appreciated.
Thanks!
..Clueless..
..Do you know wot dosage he is on..all the methadone clinics i know in london)tolerence test ya..start you on a small dose and up it if you need more..they don,t just whack you up to a high dosage..is your son taking anything on top..valium,sleeping tabs..its seriously dangerous to give a patient methadone without testing his tolerance first..Robbie..
..Do you know wot dosage he is on..all the methadone clinics i know in london)tolerence test ya..start you on a small dose and up it if you need more..they don,t just whack you up to a high dosage..is your son taking anything on top..valium,sleeping tabs..its seriously dangerous to give a patient methadone without testing his tolerance first..Robbie..
He says they did lab test - but I don't know what kinds. They gave him 35mg each day. He is 5ft 8inches and weighs 110 pounds. He is tiny. He said some people take 120 mg. But, he has been known to tell stories. I do believe it even scared him last night. Oh, and I don't think he has any benzo's. The clinic does test for other drugs.
..Clueless..
..35mls ain,t a lot to a heroin addict..but if he is the way he is on that dosage..maybe he needs to have a word with his key worker..yep addicts can be prescribed large amounts..up and over 120mls.it depends how much heroin they used in a day..Robbie..
..35mls ain,t a lot to a heroin addict..but if he is the way he is on that dosage..maybe he needs to have a word with his key worker..yep addicts can be prescribed large amounts..up and over 120mls.it depends how much heroin they used in a day..Robbie..
OK. He told me that he had been off heroin for a while (don't know what that is) and had only took lortabs. Then he went on a binge with heroin. I don't think he could have been taking much as he was functioning pretty well with his job and all. And, as I mentioned, he is very tiny. I think it is just too much. He said he was going to tell them when he goes back.
I just hope he doesn't get addicted to methadone. His experience with this drug has not been good.
Thanks Robbie for responding! It is a really scary experience.
I just hope he doesn't get addicted to methadone. His experience with this drug has not been good.
Thanks Robbie for responding! It is a really scary experience.
Been on mdone for many years- - what you describe is not normal. No clinic would give anyone enough in the beginning to do any damage. True, people do get built up over time- but only 5 mg at a time and they are usually watched for an hour by a medical staff before allowed to leave.
Either he had a very small habit and doesnt need even 35 mg of mdone or maybe he is using something on top.
Mdone is a strong,unforgiving drug (let alone controversial treatment)- be careful,ask medical personal at the clinic for answears.
peace,
jack
Either he had a very small habit and doesnt need even 35 mg of mdone or maybe he is using something on top.
Mdone is a strong,unforgiving drug (let alone controversial treatment)- be careful,ask medical personal at the clinic for answears.
peace,
jack
Thanks Jack! I will give them a call and explain what happened. I don't think he was using on top, but I can never be sure. He says they do a drug screen before they give you a dose. He didn't go yesterday or today. Yesterday he seemed just fine. He hasn't gotten up yet today, but he never gets up early.
I wish you guys a lot of luck with your own battles. Watching my son, I know it isn't easy for you or for us who love you.
I wish you guys a lot of luck with your own battles. Watching my son, I know it isn't easy for you or for us who love you.
Quess I should explain that he told me last week he wasn't going Saturday or Sunday. He plans to go Monday and Wednesday. Some quick detox thing he has worked out.
..so wass he gonna do for the days hes missin his treatment..?...Robbie..
Dear Clueless,
I've been told by a few people that methadone clinics often want to put you up on a higher dose than you need. I was TOLD by my son that his girlfriend quit the methadone because they wanted to up hers more than she felt comfortable with. I'm not sure if it was the truth or not.
The slow breathing bothers me!
God bless!
Susan
I've been told by a few people that methadone clinics often want to put you up on a higher dose than you need. I was TOLD by my son that his girlfriend quit the methadone because they wanted to up hers more than she felt comfortable with. I'm not sure if it was the truth or not.
The slow breathing bothers me!
God bless!
Susan
I dont know where you are but most clinics will detox you right off if you miss 3 days in a row. Some wont even let you back in the building if you dont show up for 72 hours- be careful with that.
jack
jack
I have a strong belife that methadone should be a LAST OPTION for cronic addicts. My brother used on top of his methadone and had recations like your saying. The clinics I know of, have a STRICT policy of NEVER missing days and they will detox you out after 3 missed days in a row. To be effective you need it everyday. I was on methadone for 8 months. I started at 30 hardley felt it at all. You could up 5mg twice in the 1st few weeks. Then you could up10mg at once after you were over 60mg. I got up to 130mg before detoxing down at 10mg a week they tell you to do 2mg a week detox. Never threw up they but, I did nod out after 60mg. The clinic I was in "EITC east indiana treatment center" tops off at 200mg but, in ohio they top off at 80mg, so that depends on where you are. Your son probley "dose not" need 35mg it sounds like he did not have a high tolerence to opieds if a person takes methadone who is not a drug user 35mg could make them ill, the clinic should have tested him. Methadone is hard to get off of with long withdraw period. I had withdraws for about a month after stoping the clinic "stoped going at 25mg", took 17 days to sleep right. I would say it's a very bad ideal to go off and on to a clinic. There are other meds that may help him with addication.
Robbie, he didn't do anything. I know many of the physical signs, and I saw none. He was so messed up Friday night, that he was still in a blurr most of Saturday. Sunday, he was just a little off. Monday he went and they gave him 30 mg. He said he told the doctor the situation. Today they gave him 25mg. He seemed ok yesterday, just a little off. Today, he seemed fine. I literally watched him get worse and worse each day he went last week until by Friday, he puked and slept and then almost stopped breathing (5 times a minute). He isn't going on certain days because that is his way to keep from getting addicted to methadone. He said up front that was the plan because he is solidly afraid of exchanging addictions. It is possible he is lying about the amounts to keep me from being scared. I don't think so though. He said he got this idea from someone at the clinic? He says he is not going tomorrow, but will go Thursday. It is all a little strange to me.
Susan, thanks for the info. I don't believe that they test you as well as they say and are as careful as they suggest either. This was not my idea though, so I am allowing him to choose his tools for battle. I just don't want to go around with my finger set to hit the 911 quick dial button.
Zerogirl, thanks! As I said, he could be not honest about the dosage. However, he might. I think he is though.
Susan, thanks for the info. I don't believe that they test you as well as they say and are as careful as they suggest either. This was not my idea though, so I am allowing him to choose his tools for battle. I just don't want to go around with my finger set to hit the 911 quick dial button.
Zerogirl, thanks! As I said, he could be not honest about the dosage. However, he might. I think he is though.
..Clueless..
..Yeah i hear wot your saying about him not using..and its wise of him not to use on top..because it will create 2 addictions aswell as being dangerous..if he has a plan..then good luck to him..it must of been so frightening for you to see him go thru that at the weekend..i hope everything works out for him and for you aswell..so you can get your son back minus the heroin addiction..anytime you need to ask anything or just need to talk or vent..don,t hesitate to post us..take care of yourself also..some people don,t realise the devastating effect addiction has on the families of the addict..once again..good luck to you all..Robbie..
..Yeah i hear wot your saying about him not using..and its wise of him not to use on top..because it will create 2 addictions aswell as being dangerous..if he has a plan..then good luck to him..it must of been so frightening for you to see him go thru that at the weekend..i hope everything works out for him and for you aswell..so you can get your son back minus the heroin addiction..anytime you need to ask anything or just need to talk or vent..don,t hesitate to post us..take care of yourself also..some people don,t realise the devastating effect addiction has on the families of the addict..once again..good luck to you all..Robbie..
Be very very leery about this Methadone. The Nazis invented it to wean Herman Goering off morphine. If yr son thinks he wont get addicted by skipping days he's sadly mistaken.It hangs about in yr system 24-48 hrs sometimes-yr son's not a large person. I think they either have him on too high, WAY too high a dose, or he is pillin out, or using too. No one should nearly stop breathing on this stuff!! IF he stays on it, he will become addicted. When I stopped using it I had to score dope just to be able to function.-like, stand up,talk, etc. He should try another substance to help him kick.There is a lot of stuff out there better than Done. 20+yrs battling;I know whereof I speak. Good luck!
just a thought. if he is on 25ml then he can swap for suboxone which is said by most users to be the better of the 2 .(meth-sub). your son can't use on top and is easier to taper from. hope this post isn't to late for u to read. take care.
Thanks Alaska! I think he could be put on clonidine and that might work better. He says he went up to 45mg last week and is on 20mg now. He didn't act wigged out after going yesterday. He is also functioning better than when on heroin. I am starting to calm down a little. I don't know if a regular doctor can prescribe clonidine or if he needs to see a psych. I will have to find out for him.
Herman, I know there are risk. I don't like that. I am trying not to control his life, but at the same time, I love him and was afraid for his life. I will offer him most any support getting off drugs. And I can encourage him to see a regular doctor to get on something that isn't addictive like clonipin. He was on suboxone before. It was hard getting a doc to prescribe it as only 2 or 3 in this area can and they have to be begged to take on those cases. Besides that, my son didn't like how it made him feel and went through withdrawal when he came off of it.
Thanks for all the kind words of support and good suggestions!
Herman, I know there are risk. I don't like that. I am trying not to control his life, but at the same time, I love him and was afraid for his life. I will offer him most any support getting off drugs. And I can encourage him to see a regular doctor to get on something that isn't addictive like clonipin. He was on suboxone before. It was hard getting a doc to prescribe it as only 2 or 3 in this area can and they have to be begged to take on those cases. Besides that, my son didn't like how it made him feel and went through withdrawal when he came off of it.
Thanks for all the kind words of support and good suggestions!
Clueless, you r mighty welcome, & as I've told someone else on this site, if yr. parent is in yr corner, u got an Army behind you.Bless u for being helpful to yr son & not judging him. There is a huge stigma attached to this drug,which I feel is ridiculous, when u concider how many folks out there are users. Bless u for yr compassion, & keep posting.Good luck!!
maybe he should try going Cold Turkey.
in all actuality, it really is the only thing that works.
and if he is freaking out over such a low dose
of methadone, he probably isn't addicted to the point
of needing medication for help.
plus, coming off of methadone is a HELL of a withdrawal.
it can kill you. kicking heroin is a walk in the park
compared to methadone.
not to sound mean, but
it sounds to me as if he's going there for a
cheap, legal high.
i used self-help.
it seems ridiculous to use DRUGS
to get off of DRUGS. you just got to
make up your mind one day and tell
yourself NO!
in all actuality, it really is the only thing that works.
and if he is freaking out over such a low dose
of methadone, he probably isn't addicted to the point
of needing medication for help.
plus, coming off of methadone is a HELL of a withdrawal.
it can kill you. kicking heroin is a walk in the park
compared to methadone.
not to sound mean, but
it sounds to me as if he's going there for a
cheap, legal high.
i used self-help.
it seems ridiculous to use DRUGS
to get off of DRUGS. you just got to
make up your mind one day and tell
yourself NO!
Dear Clueless,
Are you sure he is only on 35mg and not lieing to you and them just to get high? he may have told them he was useing much more herion a day than he was.or he could be still using on top of it.he might be telling them that it wasnt working to get a larger dose.i would contact the clinic and see what dose they are actully giving him.if he is taking days off and not going through withdraw then he is on opiates on those days.also it is not good to stop doing methadone without them cutting down the dosage slowly because it can cause seizures.it is actully worse than herion if used long term.it should be used to wein you off herion not as a perment substitute.remember methadone is an opiate too.
Are you sure he is only on 35mg and not lieing to you and them just to get high? he may have told them he was useing much more herion a day than he was.or he could be still using on top of it.he might be telling them that it wasnt working to get a larger dose.i would contact the clinic and see what dose they are actully giving him.if he is taking days off and not going through withdraw then he is on opiates on those days.also it is not good to stop doing methadone without them cutting down the dosage slowly because it can cause seizures.it is actully worse than herion if used long term.it should be used to wein you off herion not as a perment substitute.remember methadone is an opiate too.
