Methadone

Testing exists to ensure that methadone patients are actually taking their medication and not selling it on the black market.

I'd like to elaborate on the above answer. Testing for Methadone assures that patients are taking their medications because most people that are taking Methadone are on a previous medication that is causing the withdrawal alot of Methadone users will sell the drug to get their drug of choice. Also they want to make sure the user is not abusing the drug by taking too much.

no it can't methadone is a water soluble drug goes out the urinal track

i go to the methadone clinic & people who work outside in the heat sometimes have to take higher doses of methadone because sweating causes the methadone to leave your system faster.

As a high-dose opiate patient for many years (Duragesic, Percocet, Demerol,etc.), I've had to raise and lower my dosages many times, and withdrawals are a daily part of life. I spent 8 months of steady withdrawals and 1 month of hard withdrawals to finally stop using Duragesic after 10 years, though I know I'll need to go back to it at some point in the future. It won't take you that long of course, but mental as well as physical preparation are important. I never did it until I felt that I was both mentally and physically ready to do it.

The keys to tapered withdrawals are:

1. Time - Make sure you have time to do it (no work, school, activities, etc.). It helps to have a family member or close friend around. Depending on how long you've been taking it, and the dosage, it typically takes longer to taper off. The dose combination you're on isn't that much, but of course everyone is different. If you can't take time off, start on a long weekend or holiday, as the first few days and the last couple of days are the worst.

The reason you should have someone around is that in the beginning you typically are pretty weak, and about the only thing you feel like doing is heading to the bathroom & back to bed. Warn family and friends that your mood is going to be less than pleasant also, and not to take anything personally. Usually friends and family are pretty supportive when they know what you're doing, so explain it to them ahead of time what you're doing and what to expect as you progress.

2. Hydration - As you've already discovered, you sweat buckets when you're withdrawing. Water and Gatorade are my fluids of choice, as Gatorade replaces the electrolytes you're losing, and help with your cramps as well. If cramping gets real bad, eat a couple of bananas to boost your potassium levels.

3. Heat - Opiates are vasodilators, which mean they open the blood vessels. When you stop taking your normal dose, the vessels constrict, and that's why you get so cold. I used to do mine during warm months, but anything to keep you warm helps. Expect to change clothes a few times too, and keep the air in your room circulating with a small fan to help keep you dry.

4. Mental distraction - There's a good reason I have a large movie and game collection; they take your mind off the pain and discomfort. Computer work, anything that keeps your mind focused on something other than the discomfort. Gaming has actually been sanctioned pain therapy for me for about 12 years. If I could figure a way to deduct it on my taxes, I'd be set.

5. Music - Personally, David Gilmour's BD at the Royal Albert Hall is my favorite for withdrawals, but any favorite music you have that calms you mentally is a real help. Have a good selection handy and ready to go.

6. Sedation - When things get really bad, I'll take something to knock me out for a while.

In tapered dose reduction, what you do is cut the pill in half or in quarters. First try taking half your normal prescribed dose, and see how you deal with the withdrawals. If it's too strong, then start with only a 1/4 reduction in dosage. Stretch the time between doses a little more each time. Take it for a week (or until you feel you can drop further), then drop another 1/4. If the withdrawals are too strong still, then stay at 1/4 dose reduction for another week, then try again. When you can tolerate the withdrawal, then reduce by another 1/4, and repeat the weekly process. Keep doing it until you're completely off of the drug.

It also helps to take an OTC med to compensate and ease the withdrawal pain. Two of my favorites are Tylenol Rapid Release Gel-tabs, and Bayer Back and Body Aspirin. I also use prescription strength Naproxen, which is available OTC as Aleve. 500mg is prescription strength.

The OTC meds will help compensate for some of the withdrawal pain you'll experience, and they do help. The other thing you might consider is asking your regular doctor for an anti-anxiety med and an anti-nausea med. An anti-anxiety drug will help you get through some of the rough patches, and an anti-nausea drug helps during the last push before you're through. Most doctors are happy to help, knowing that you're taking steps to withdraw from opiates.

You're also going to feel weak through the process, and after the final push when you drop the last dose. It'll take a few days for your body to regain its strength.

The time it takes may be sooner or longer, as everyone is different. Keep in mind also to be aware of any pain not associated with withdrawals as you taper down, as the pain med will mask it. One of the reasons for my last major withdrawal period was that I needed to assess my true pain after my 3rd spinal operation, and you can't do that while on higher doses of opiates.

The whole process is similar to a bad case of the flu that won't go away, with the additional discomfort of shaking and anxiety. But as I said, if you first prepare yourself and know what to expect, it's not as hard as it seems. Uncomfortable as hell, yes; impossible, no.

If you have any specific questions, message me at my Supervisor address (top of my profile page).

Both of these medications have a potential to cause kidney issues. You should check with your doctor if you have concerns, and definitely let them know if you have already been diagnosed with kidney disease.

Most areas have treatment facilities that will allow you to sign in on your own, subject to whatever payment requirements they may have. Call your local Mental Health Association for suggestions if you are unable to pay.

There have been cases of people using certain ones and the test showing a false positive.. Before any type of drug test you must tell the person administering the test what medications you are using so they can make a note of them on the release form that goes to the lab

Methadone is prescribed to people who are addicted to opiates and is also used for pain management in some cases.

All doctors do drug testing sometimes, but pain management doctors have to be especially careful because they prescribe lots of narcotics and they have to be sure what the patients are on to prevent a bad interaction, or possible overdose.

Kirk Fisher writes: Depends on the stuff you get. The good stuff will only result in minor seizures. The bad stuff that rots out your tooth will result in more violent epsiodes.

yes it will it be like you never took lortab yes it will it be like you never took lortab my friend tried it DPO his name and he couldn't fell the lortab it was funny.

Medically, it is not prescribed as a pain killer. It is a stimulant. It's prescribed medical uses are typically for treatment-resistent cases of ADHD, weight loss, and narcolepsy. However, since the 1980s methamphetamine use broadened especially among high risk groups that cannot obtain pain medication from healthcare providers concerned with their own safety from relentless drug policy that was stepped up to prohibition with the "war on drugs" during the Nixon administration.

During the early years of the AIDS pandemic, the drug was used to quell the depression brought on by HIV. At higher doses, methamphetamine can increase depression when the user is coming down from the drug. By chance, many lives may have been saved by methamphetamine because the drug tends to spike the production of CD4 T-Cells that are the principal targets of HIV and necessary to support a healthy immune system.

By the beginning of the 21st century, methamphetamine HCI (Desoxyn) and the street version, crystal methamphetamine (CMA) have become favored by those who cannot obtain proper pain medication as the drug tends to mask pain or even the symptoms of a cold. Since the pro-positive benefits of the drug have not been fully explored, further research might just reveal that this drug is being used for much more than its well-documented euphoric effects.

Gicomeng

DrugUseEducation.org

Y Actually, there isn't a 25mg methadone pill. They come in 5, 10, and 40mg tablets and also liquid form. If someone is telling you there is a 25mg tablet of methadone, it is either not methadone, or a different milligram. Now of course this is by FDA standards. If you actually find a 25mg methadone pill, it is not regulated by the FDA and therefore you should be very cautious before taking anything that is not approved by the FDA.

Nod off no. You will be lucky to even sleep or even sit still for that matter. You are goin to go through the worst syptoms u have ever experienced. I'm sorry to say that to you but your in for a very long time of misery.

Death

Some clinics do require you to make an appointment and others do not. Just call the clinic you plan to attend and they will give you all the information you need to know.

Methadone, by far. Methadone is one of the strongest and longest acting opiates. Although it does not give the most intense "high" do not let that fool you, because it is powerful. 20mg's of methadone for a person who has never done it can last up to 2 days. Many people think because they have other opiate tolerance that they can take a high dose of methadone, but this is not the case. I have had friend die from methadone intoxication when he took about 60mg's on his first try.

they can't tell. the only way you can measure the levels of methadone currently flowing through your system would be a blood test. they just make sure that you're taking your methadone - not how much.

Well it is very difficult to clean methadone out of your system quickly because it is a deep tissue chemical opiate. Depending on how much methadone you have taken and the duration it will take at least 1-2 weeks for lower doses and durations, but as long as 1-2 months for high doses and durations and the effects of methadone mentally and physically can lasst years. But the quickest way to rid your body of methadone(and most other chemicals) is to just drink alot of water and urinate frequently. There are many body detoxifying remedies at your local GNC but, trustme, it is not a pleasant thing to detoxify your body. Even if you use these remedies there is no guarantee that the methadone will be out of your system in under a week, but that is your best bet.

80 mg of methadone is the average nationally..... its not a high dose and its not a low dose its the ....... average dose. im on 55 and i am feeling great.

It depends on the delivery method.years ago you could literaly walk in a [pharmacy and obtain a product called paragoric for babies that was teething.The parents would take a bit on their finger and rub on a babies gums to ease pain from teething.It was taken of the market a an over the counter medication years ago for the junkies were separating the morphine out of it and injecting it. So your answer would be, as young as a baby that is starting to tooth out..but in small doses

Morphine shows up as opiates. In the body, all opiates besides morphine are actually prodrugs--drugs that turn into something else, and what they turn into is morphine.

It is not dangerous to take Tylenol and Morphine together because only one of them are narcotic pain relievers. This is why it is safe. Use care when taking Morphine as it depresses the respiratory system (breathing). Be careful with Tylenol too, as it can cause severe liver damage or even liver failure.

Dr. Jacob M. Deese, MD

I was a vicodin addict , and I took 4-5 three times a day.

I was fine on 30 mg of methadone, and then stailized at 40 mg.

I was taking vic's through the night too. And it was hard taking methadone once a day. That's probably why I needed 40 mg of meth.

On the flip side, I should of tried subutex for withdrawl, although its expensive it would of been less of an addiction.

Now I have been taking meth for 5 years, because I enjoy it. Its really NOT good.

Think twice before switching, if you want to be addicted worse then be my guest!

Ozzie

yes, but methadone fills the neural receptors for opiates in the brain mush stronger than smack. If you are on 20mgs. or more of methadone, you are wasteing your time.

10mg of methadone is equal to 80 mg of oxycontin