I was on methadone for 2 1/2 years. They started me on 35mg. and I went up to 90mg at my highest point. I had a counselor at the clinic that I had to see every other week. Never once during that time did my counselor ever ask me if I was ready to start tapering. In fact, a couple of times, I would mention that I wasn't feeling good and she would ask me if I wanted to go up 10mg. I know we are responsible for ourselves, but I feel like the clinics should warn people about going up to high on their dose, and they should from time to time talk to their patients about tapering. Has anyone else experienced this at their clinic?
Shelly
hello Shelly,have been on a meth.clinic for 6yrs.i have to go once every 2nd week,give my urine,take my supervised dose[70ml]&walk out with 13 days takeaway.I was given this leval of trust as i work shifts&care for my 7yr old daughter most of the time&a few other factors.But i only see my doc.if ive given a dirty urine&that was 6mnths ago,i can go to conselling,but the clinic&counseller are not linked,so basically i can carry on getting the meth.for a long time.my doc mentioned a taper bout 3yrs back i said i wasnt ready&that was the end of that.at least he is not offering to up my dose for whatever reason.I do agree that there should be some fair time limit to how long someone can remain on a clinic/maintenance.As Jackohartz said on a recent post you can become comfortable&taking m.done can&will become a part of life,its become part of mine&to tell the truth i would be v.frightend to come off.....all the what ifs??? ,all the best Davey
Hi People
I think in all the years Ive been on mdone ,not 1 counsler has ever asked if I want to go up or down. I guess they leave it to you to bring it up.
Over here they are state workers,so they really arent going to do too much more then they have to.
I go once a week ,leave a sample once a month, & pay them 55 $ a week- if all is well , I wont have to see anyone until the yearly physical.
They might call you in once in awhile to sign a treatment plan- which is a generic form saying all is good. If you do want to make any move ,that is the time.
When you go in to go over this treatment plan thats the time to air any grievences,plans to go up or down and why & any problems you may be having .
The Doctor- he comes in at 730am-so if you work its tough to see the guy.
It is real easy to fall into a rut. You get comfortable just drinking your dose and moving on. If you get take homes its even easier to get lax.
If you really want to get off the stuff,you have to be the one to bring it up, and then you have to push for it. You have to make the appointments with the counslers,nurses,doctor..etc.. no-one there is going to ask you if your ready.
Most people ,by the time they get on, have been thru so much street schit ,that they are happy to just drink -& not have to hussle up cash or worry about being sick.
The problem starts when what began as a treatment- - becomes your life style.
Everyday starts with that drink- and you take it from there.
So before that happens,be aware that you must be the one to get things moving- dont count on any clinic workers to start the process
Still tryin
jack
I think in all the years Ive been on mdone ,not 1 counsler has ever asked if I want to go up or down. I guess they leave it to you to bring it up.
Over here they are state workers,so they really arent going to do too much more then they have to.
I go once a week ,leave a sample once a month, & pay them 55 $ a week- if all is well , I wont have to see anyone until the yearly physical.
They might call you in once in awhile to sign a treatment plan- which is a generic form saying all is good. If you do want to make any move ,that is the time.
When you go in to go over this treatment plan thats the time to air any grievences,plans to go up or down and why & any problems you may be having .
The Doctor- he comes in at 730am-so if you work its tough to see the guy.
It is real easy to fall into a rut. You get comfortable just drinking your dose and moving on. If you get take homes its even easier to get lax.
If you really want to get off the stuff,you have to be the one to bring it up, and then you have to push for it. You have to make the appointments with the counslers,nurses,doctor..etc.. no-one there is going to ask you if your ready.
Most people ,by the time they get on, have been thru so much street schit ,that they are happy to just drink -& not have to hussle up cash or worry about being sick.
The problem starts when what began as a treatment- - becomes your life style.
Everyday starts with that drink- and you take it from there.
So before that happens,be aware that you must be the one to get things moving- dont count on any clinic workers to start the process
Still tryin
jack
Hello Shelly:
First off,WELCOME to a fantastic place....
Over here in Montreal,Quebec,Canada,all you have to do is call your doctor(if it's a long way to your next appointment)or when you see him for your appointment all you have to say is I want to increase or decrease,ofcourse with an explanation but it realy isn't that hard.I got on the program a little over 11yrs and we all start on 30mg's and go up untill the dose your comfortable with then you stay there untill otherwise.I was comfortable at 85mg's all through my first two pregnancies then I got pregnant with my 3rd and last baby and I was ok but when he started to get bigger my son was taking more and more meth so I needed to increase cause he wasen't leaving nothing for me.I got up to 110mg's until I gave birth to my little munchkin,after he was born the first couple of days were ok then I started knodding all over the place,I was soo high on the meth that I was having a hard time feeding the baby,walking,I was realy out of it,so I called my Dr.and asked him to put me down right away to 85mg's,he said we couldn't go down that fast cause I would realy feel the diffrence so he suggested to go down 10mg's the first week and if I wanted then just keep going down till I'm comfortable.Well I got down to where I am now (85mg's) and this fall I will start going down untill I get off it completely.I'm realy,realy tiered being on this stuff,the bad thing's that come from useing meth is what I hate,like the mood swing's,gaining weight,insomnia,no sexual feeling's,no emotional feeling's,and alot more,I would realy like to finally be able to control my feeling's and body by myself for once before I die witout any cemicals in my system.
I realy enjoyed visiting with you,hope to see you around some more...
Always a friend for someone in need....Teena...
First off,WELCOME to a fantastic place....
Over here in Montreal,Quebec,Canada,all you have to do is call your doctor(if it's a long way to your next appointment)or when you see him for your appointment all you have to say is I want to increase or decrease,ofcourse with an explanation but it realy isn't that hard.I got on the program a little over 11yrs and we all start on 30mg's and go up untill the dose your comfortable with then you stay there untill otherwise.I was comfortable at 85mg's all through my first two pregnancies then I got pregnant with my 3rd and last baby and I was ok but when he started to get bigger my son was taking more and more meth so I needed to increase cause he wasen't leaving nothing for me.I got up to 110mg's until I gave birth to my little munchkin,after he was born the first couple of days were ok then I started knodding all over the place,I was soo high on the meth that I was having a hard time feeding the baby,walking,I was realy out of it,so I called my Dr.and asked him to put me down right away to 85mg's,he said we couldn't go down that fast cause I would realy feel the diffrence so he suggested to go down 10mg's the first week and if I wanted then just keep going down till I'm comfortable.Well I got down to where I am now (85mg's) and this fall I will start going down untill I get off it completely.I'm realy,realy tiered being on this stuff,the bad thing's that come from useing meth is what I hate,like the mood swing's,gaining weight,insomnia,no sexual feeling's,no emotional feeling's,and alot more,I would realy like to finally be able to control my feeling's and body by myself for once before I die witout any cemicals in my system.
I realy enjoyed visiting with you,hope to see you around some more...
Always a friend for someone in need....Teena...
my boyfriend has been on methadone for nearly 2 years and wants to reduce his dose but his doctor isnt keen
he also hates all the sides effects of it..the sweating weight gain lack of sexual desire etc but he doesnt talk much about the emotional side effects....wot do peopl etend to suffer from? i have only known him when he has been on methadone..is there a chance he could chance reducing it and hopefully eventually stopping??
he also hates all the sides effects of it..the sweating weight gain lack of sexual desire etc but he doesnt talk much about the emotional side effects....wot do peopl etend to suffer from? i have only known him when he has been on methadone..is there a chance he could chance reducing it and hopefully eventually stopping??
Alright..,Sash,first a few things how much is he on?,has he been clean for those 2yrs&is there any reason why his doc.aint into the idea of reduction.Ive been on meth.6yrs[70ml]&get all the above mentioned side effects.ON the emotional side i honestly cant say coz im still on it ,but im off smack&benzos for 7wk.wow yes i know,but i can geuss depending how the reduction is done,..that he will deff.have a few anxious,sleepless nights,maybe 3 to 6 mnths worth,that seems more or less the norm from what ive read on this good board.on the chance of him getting off ...christ why not,if hes asked his doc for some reduction thats a good sign..eh..a bit more info might answaer yer QS? better,but yep if hes willing theres no reason why he cant reduce.by the way does he get takeouts,if so why doesnt he think of tyring a lil reduction himself at home.Anyhow all the best .......Davey
first of all the meth is worst than heroin,better off doing a rattle straight off the gear..most people go on meth so they can carry on taking heroin..99% of people carry on taking heroin when the first start on meth..doctor's wont advise you to come off or down...there earning to much $$$,.it's down to the addict to reduce there selfs and get clean,.and the quicker the better.,after being on the meth longer than 1 year.,your chances of going back to heroin is 85%.,
Dave,...each to his own&all that.i agree about yer point on the docs.but i think yer generalizing with the % you mentioned,have alook about the H board&you might find some stories/attitudes that may differ from the 99% you mentioned.take it eze...Davey1
75% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
As is 100% of bulls***...all the best ....Davey
yeah davey1 i shudnt of wrote it that way ,sorry im going by my own experience's and the addict's who i no take meth.
Dave mate,no probs,were all in the same boat ,more or less.ive been on meth. for 6yrs.&yep took gear for a lot of that time&had a benzo habit on top so i aint one to preach etc.Am off smack&Benzos for nearly 2mnth.but yeh i abused the system,but as you know there diff.strokes for diff.folks.Anyway mate off to work ,glad you posted back ...all the best ...Davey
hi davey, he started off more or less clean but then in march he had a relapse and then just a month ago another one, now in the past 3 weeks i think he has only using cocaine once a week (he said he cant get hold of any heroin..we live in a smallish place and there has been a big crack down on heroin recently so its hard to find..well according to him)
he was on 50 i think, but then after the relapse they put him up to 60.
he is on home takeways and goes twice a week to give urine samples and once every two weeks to have a counselling session, the centre want to him to enter their programme..i dont exactly know wot this is...groups with other addicts and stuff but he isnt keen.. he wants to try and do it himeslef
a few years ago he was on methadone for a about a year and then reduced down to 1 but the cetnre wouldnt let him do halfs and stopped giving him the methadone and he says he then relapsed big stlye (this is all b4 i knew him)
he is also laready hooked on sleeping tablets ..prescribed by his doctor. but still doesnt sleep very well.
he is out at the moment..for "work" im a bit worried to be honest as he got paid and so has money which is never good but as i onyl ofund out his addiction recently i am in compete paranoid stage and so suspicious all the time. so hope that he isnt lying to me
he was on 50 i think, but then after the relapse they put him up to 60.
he is on home takeways and goes twice a week to give urine samples and once every two weeks to have a counselling session, the centre want to him to enter their programme..i dont exactly know wot this is...groups with other addicts and stuff but he isnt keen.. he wants to try and do it himeslef
a few years ago he was on methadone for a about a year and then reduced down to 1 but the cetnre wouldnt let him do halfs and stopped giving him the methadone and he says he then relapsed big stlye (this is all b4 i knew him)
he is also laready hooked on sleeping tablets ..prescribed by his doctor. but still doesnt sleep very well.
he is out at the moment..for "work" im a bit worried to be honest as he got paid and so has money which is never good but as i onyl ofund out his addiction recently i am in compete paranoid stage and so suspicious all the time. so hope that he isnt lying to me
alright ,..Sash,maybe im wrong but is yer b/f just taking the coke coz he cant score gear?.Also with twice wkly.urines the cokes gonna come up&his doc.might not be to happy about that ,also the relapses although not massive is gonna make his doc. think twice about a reduction.The sleepers arnt working coz he probobly has a tolerance to them by now.Moneywise is always gonna be a temptation to get drugs,if yer an addict,just a lil treat after a hard weeks work eh?.Yer fella gets takeaways so thats a good thing,has he ever thought about reducing at home?.For me the meth. is a safety net,coz to be true i would be v.aware i might get a habit after coming off,if i ever do..maybe yer b/f feels the same,but as you said he wants to reduce so maybe the do it at home with a bit of help from yerself version might be a step forward.As for the paronoia it goes with the territory of having a relationship with a recovering addict ,but dont let it do yer head in,it sounds like he does want some change.Anyhow Sashb all the best&post back if you have any other Qs? theres plenty of good people on here...take care ...Davey
thanks for replying,
on the subject of his urine tests i have a confession that i think i am so ashamed about and so confused as to whether i have done the right thing
when he told me all about the problems, etc he has bascially been telling me everything, one thing being that he had been using someone elses urine for the samples that he had to give..a kid of one of his drug friends, so i have ended up giving my urine for him to give at the clinic
the reasoning that i have given or the reasoning his has given is that one, he doesnt want to worry his parents..we live wiht them and they have helped him time and time again (15 years of constant help) and they now are older and weary and both are not in the best of health and his mother suffers from nervous disorder and suffers really bad when he is suing drugs. so for the clinic not to tell them i decidied to give my urine. have given it for the past three weeks but the other day i told him was the last time and i really hope that it will be as he hasnt used anything for over a two weeks now (as far as i am aware)
two weeks clean is this enough time for him to give a clear result? i gave him the urin as he was going to use someone elses anyway and i would rather he didnt go to his drug friends etc plus the idea of him using this kids urine made me feel a bit sick
so the doctors dont know about the latest relapse and i have been saying to him that maybe he should wait b4 reducing the methadone until he is in a more tranquil state.
i am not sure if i have been utterly stupid or wot?! am so new to this whole drug world that i just dont know
anyway yesterday i am pretty sure that he didnt use which is a good thing
i really really do beleive him that he wants to change and stop using this time, he has already changed his whole life so much..he doesnt see any of his old drug friend socially any more, he has got himslef a good job in a franchasing firm and opened his own office this year, and has bascially chancged his out look on life and really wants to change and for this i beleive him and want to help him and love him so want to stay with him.
on the subject of his urine tests i have a confession that i think i am so ashamed about and so confused as to whether i have done the right thing
when he told me all about the problems, etc he has bascially been telling me everything, one thing being that he had been using someone elses urine for the samples that he had to give..a kid of one of his drug friends, so i have ended up giving my urine for him to give at the clinic
the reasoning that i have given or the reasoning his has given is that one, he doesnt want to worry his parents..we live wiht them and they have helped him time and time again (15 years of constant help) and they now are older and weary and both are not in the best of health and his mother suffers from nervous disorder and suffers really bad when he is suing drugs. so for the clinic not to tell them i decidied to give my urine. have given it for the past three weeks but the other day i told him was the last time and i really hope that it will be as he hasnt used anything for over a two weeks now (as far as i am aware)
two weeks clean is this enough time for him to give a clear result? i gave him the urin as he was going to use someone elses anyway and i would rather he didnt go to his drug friends etc plus the idea of him using this kids urine made me feel a bit sick
so the doctors dont know about the latest relapse and i have been saying to him that maybe he should wait b4 reducing the methadone until he is in a more tranquil state.
i am not sure if i have been utterly stupid or wot?! am so new to this whole drug world that i just dont know
anyway yesterday i am pretty sure that he didnt use which is a good thing
i really really do beleive him that he wants to change and stop using this time, he has already changed his whole life so much..he doesnt see any of his old drug friend socially any more, he has got himslef a good job in a franchasing firm and opened his own office this year, and has bascially chancged his out look on life and really wants to change and for this i beleive him and want to help him and love him so want to stay with him.
Alright .Sash thanks for the big up on the alcohol post,but there are lots of good folks on this board who have really helped me out,so its just a case of wot goes around etc.Dont be ashamed of giving yer man the urines,ive had opiate free mates do it for me in the past as im sure many others have,i suppose it doesnt sound pleasent,but sometimes we do things like that,the lesser of two evils&all that,better than getting the kid to do it i suppose.Also sounds like yer b/f has got his head screwed on ,work wise,coz us addicts need goals to keep us on the straight and narrow,ive got my 7yr.old daughter,hes got his work&you,so keep positive...all the best ...Davey
Sorry ..Sash shouldve answered yer Q?s on the last post.two weeks is loads of time for him to give a clean sample,heroin is usually out of the system within 3/5 days depending on the person.About you giving him the urines maybe it was o.k for the few wks.mentioned,but i would leave it at that,coz it may just be an easy excuse to use&get away with it at the clinic.At the clinic i attend if yer caught giving dicky urines they look at it as the worst thing,more so than giving a dirty honest one,i know coz i gave a mates sample,but forgot to add a ml.of meth.&my doc.called me up&said Mr.Davey how come your last urine was as clean as the driven snow,well i had to come clean with him[literally]&say i gave a dud,he hit the roof&i nearly got kicked off.So live and learn eh..again Sash ..take care ..Davey
Hey Sash and Davey:
Hope both of you's are doing well this morning,I'm doing a whole lot better than the last couple of day's.Took the three kids to Mc Donalds last night and had a blast watching them play in the big toy's,your kids don't look that bad when your surrounded by other munchkins worst off than yours,loll,loll.
Anyways back to the subject at hand,you guy's can pee in a bottle and give it to the clinic,wow,we don't have it that easy,we have to pee over there in their bathroom while they look at you,until they know that your ok and after a yr or so they cut your tests but surprise you at random so you don't know when they will ask so you have no warning.I find that is better,for me anyways,cause you have no choise but to realy stick with your sobriety.
Davey you say clinic,do you go in the clinic and wait like you would like going to see a Dr.?
Over here we don't get our meth from a clinic we go to pharmacies,where I go,it's a big known pharmacy and it has a private side entrance that we ring a bell wait till they look through the camera and buzz us in,then we wait till they buzz the second door leading into the counter area where they give us our juice,while eveyone else waits in the waiting area.I like getting it there cause they give it to you pure not diluted with orange Tang,the ones we get to go home are diluted with Tang.
Over here we are only allowed to get 4 bottles at a time so we have to go to the place 2x a week,only if your doing very well and then you realy have to prove it that you are,can you,maybe,get to take your bottles for 6 days and only go once a week,like I do.I like my pharmacy better cause we go in with our people that know what's going on,when I use to go to the other pharmacies where we have to wait in the pharmacy with the "NORMAL" people they look at you like your sum kind of scum,with some kind of sickness that they can get by just standing beside you,so I like it more when it's private.
Davey tell me how your system works,please.
Sash,don't worryabout the pee thing we always do what we think is right for the person we love at the time,until later we think about our actions and realize it wasn't such a good idea after all.Don't beat yourself up about it your only humain sweetie.
Lots of love,always a friend Teena
Hope both of you's are doing well this morning,I'm doing a whole lot better than the last couple of day's.Took the three kids to Mc Donalds last night and had a blast watching them play in the big toy's,your kids don't look that bad when your surrounded by other munchkins worst off than yours,loll,loll.
Anyways back to the subject at hand,you guy's can pee in a bottle and give it to the clinic,wow,we don't have it that easy,we have to pee over there in their bathroom while they look at you,until they know that your ok and after a yr or so they cut your tests but surprise you at random so you don't know when they will ask so you have no warning.I find that is better,for me anyways,cause you have no choise but to realy stick with your sobriety.
Davey you say clinic,do you go in the clinic and wait like you would like going to see a Dr.?
Over here we don't get our meth from a clinic we go to pharmacies,where I go,it's a big known pharmacy and it has a private side entrance that we ring a bell wait till they look through the camera and buzz us in,then we wait till they buzz the second door leading into the counter area where they give us our juice,while eveyone else waits in the waiting area.I like getting it there cause they give it to you pure not diluted with orange Tang,the ones we get to go home are diluted with Tang.
Over here we are only allowed to get 4 bottles at a time so we have to go to the place 2x a week,only if your doing very well and then you realy have to prove it that you are,can you,maybe,get to take your bottles for 6 days and only go once a week,like I do.I like my pharmacy better cause we go in with our people that know what's going on,when I use to go to the other pharmacies where we have to wait in the pharmacy with the "NORMAL" people they look at you like your sum kind of scum,with some kind of sickness that they can get by just standing beside you,so I like it more when it's private.
Davey tell me how your system works,please.
Sash,don't worryabout the pee thing we always do what we think is right for the person we love at the time,until later we think about our actions and realize it wasn't such a good idea after all.Don't beat yourself up about it your only humain sweetie.
Lots of love,always a friend Teena
Hello ..Teena,glad you&the nippers had a good one @mcds.As for my clinic im aloud a lot of leeway,as long as my urines are clean&they do come into the toilet to watch,but thers always ways&means to give the odd dud.ive been on the clinic 6yrs.for the 1st.3yr.i had to go weekly&give a sample then take one supervised dose&then in the clinic they would give me 6 days takeout i.e 420ml.in the one bottle.After that 3yr. i came to an agreement with my doc.that i could go once every 2wks.do all the stuff mentioned but walk out with 13days of meth,some of the factors of this were that as you know i have my daughter full time but also work f/t on a alternate shift basis[this set up is not the norm]&i had to give clean samples always,but the temptation to use&still get my meth. was there&i did use for a few days then clean up for my sample,but i was just giving myself two habits really.Also the clinic would sometimes be quite lax,my doc.only ever sees me if theres some change in policy or whatever which is v.infrequent.So thats more or less it i will explain a bit more later as ive got lil Sian ready for her bedtime story.sorry if my storey sounded a bit jumbled,will talk later o.k.....as ever Teena take care&all the best Davey
Dearest Davey;
Well boy you have it easy,we don't get our meth for 6 days,all in one bottle,we get them in 6 bottles with our daily dose in them.For me it was realy hard cause with my daughter's I use to put them in a small shoe box and put it in the fridge,wraped tight with tape and elastic,so they won't get into them,and they never touched my box.But then my little Tasmainian Devil was born and grew up to fast so I had to go find a little one of those safes,that people get for the home to keep a bit of money or jewlery in.It's not bigger than a shoe box,well that is what I got to fit my bottles in and keep it safely out of little Taz's reach.It would have been easier to hide one bottle than six.
I'll let you go for now cause it's 2:24am here and I'm bushed,had a hard day,I took off and sanded all my kitchen cabinets,so they will be ready for primeing and painting tomorrow.With three kids in the house I paint every year the most traffic parts of the appartment.
Good-night,sweet dreams and have a good one tomorrow,always a friend TEENA...............Give your little one an extra hug,from someone who cares.
Well boy you have it easy,we don't get our meth for 6 days,all in one bottle,we get them in 6 bottles with our daily dose in them.For me it was realy hard cause with my daughter's I use to put them in a small shoe box and put it in the fridge,wraped tight with tape and elastic,so they won't get into them,and they never touched my box.But then my little Tasmainian Devil was born and grew up to fast so I had to go find a little one of those safes,that people get for the home to keep a bit of money or jewlery in.It's not bigger than a shoe box,well that is what I got to fit my bottles in and keep it safely out of little Taz's reach.It would have been easier to hide one bottle than six.
I'll let you go for now cause it's 2:24am here and I'm bushed,had a hard day,I took off and sanded all my kitchen cabinets,so they will be ready for primeing and painting tomorrow.With three kids in the house I paint every year the most traffic parts of the appartment.
Good-night,sweet dreams and have a good one tomorrow,always a friend TEENA...............Give your little one an extra hug,from someone who cares.
