hi everyone !! :)
this one actually isnt for me, its for my husband.....
a little background; we've been seperated for 6 years (wow !! i just realized how long its been when i typed it !!!) the reason we seperated in the first place is because when i got sober the first time (almost there again !!!) he didnt get sober with me, so i left. over the years we've become good friends again, but still havent gotten back together.
anyway, about three years ago he was accepted into the methadone program here and; after screwing up quite a few times, he finally got it right. he goes to the clinic every morning and gets his dose. it's all good: no more copping dope in the hood, no more arrests, etc. etc. )
what i am wondering, and he too, is if it is feasible for him to switch over to suboxone? he would like to do this for several reasons; first off he wouldnt have to go downtown to the clinic b/f work every day. second, he would be able to go out of town to see his sisters. (he cant do that now b/c he's only allowed one take home dose, and they live out of state) its also possible that it might be cheaper for him to do the sub thing because he does have fairly good med insurance. the meth clinic doesnt take insurance and he pays 350 a month to go there.
he's heard that he would still go through the meth w/d... is that true?
what do you guys think? has anyone ever made this switch?

thanks in advance for any input you might have. i've got to say that i lurk here quite a bit (every day, at least 2 or 3 times a day) and this board and all the support has helped me quite a bit to taper from the sub that im on. its great to see and hear from people who are experiencing the sames things you are and making it!!! not that i want anyone to have any pain... its just good to go through it together... thank you

m:wave:

Your story sounds alot like mine....My husband and I split mainly bc we new we wouldnt get clean together. Hes off finding himself and I guess I am doing the same. Someday we will end up back together again, I know in my heart....that and bc we deceided that this wasnt an opportunity to meet new people but to find who we are clean and sober the people we were when we first started to date. But, my husband switched over from methadone to suboxone. He weened down to 20mg and switched over. Wasnt a good idea. He went through some sever w/d from the meth. The suboxone wasnt helping at all. This went on for about 2 weeks, but till he actually began to feel normal it was more like a month. Now myself I never took that much meth, maybe 5mg so when I switched over to suboxone it was nothing for me. So I think (im not 100% this is just what I went through) the lower you can get on your dose of methadone the easier it is going to be. Good luck and keep me posted on how everything is going. God bless you both.

My husband is just about to make the switch, in UK we call it Subutex but think it is the same thing. He will need to go 24 hours with nothing so he will have withdrawels. If he doesn't go this length of time without using, either heroin or methodone he will be thrown into very heavy withdrawels.
I take it he has had his bloods done etc to check his suitability?
Also, just a word of warning. I def think Subutex is 'better' then methodone but last year my husband went on it and he was already quite 'low'. He became very depressed and almost suicidal. Apparently this can be a side affect of the drug.
Hopefully he wont have it this time.
Good luck.
;)

Hi NC!

Well, I hope the Sub does your husband better than the Meth.

I took meth for about 11 days and quit it 4days ago and had to go back to taking pain meds. Meth made me fell horrible too. It made me very gripey, and depressed feeling too. And sooo sleepy. I really hated it. So I understand.

I really don't know anything about Sub, except for what is posted here. Were you saying in your post that if you don't w/d before going on it that when you take the Sub you will automatically be thrown into bad w/d's?
Can Sub be used to come off pills too?

I really don't know anything about it and no one has posted on it in a while, so I can't remember.
Best of Luck to you!
Shay
:cool:

well, now thats kind of scary. he's on 120mg of meth per day. the clinic has not started to wean him down, and although he's requested to taper a few times, they have not done it. there are people going to that clinic that have been going for many many years. it sure sounds like if he does make the switch he's gonna go through a lot of w/d. i know him well, and know that he wont make it through the w/d. he coulndt do it before which is why he went to the clinic in the first place. when i finally got sober i actually weaned myself off of heroin. i wanted him to do it with me so badly !!! i had to do it w/in a month. it went really well and i did not experience w/d symptoms that were really horrible. my experience and choices back then had to do with the fact that i found out i was 28 weeks pregnant and didnt even know it b/c i was so drugged up on heroin every day. at that time i was using at least 15 - 20 bags per day, so it was bad !!! when i found out i was pregnant (i went to the doctors office and requested a test b/c i just KNEW it, i had felt somehting inside of me) i broke down and told my doctor that i was a heroin addict. so my choices at that point were either the methadone clinic (which the doctor preferred) or to be weened off. it was a very delicate situation b/c if you go into heavy withdrawls while you are pregnant it could result in a spontaneous abortion of the fetus. it was scary, but i was completely clean in a month from the time i found out i was pregnant. by the way, i had a boy, he is 5 now, and he is absolutely beautiful, healthy and happy. God truly blessed me. i stayed sober until last month when i hurt my back and self medicated with oxycontin 80's (i chewed them) so now im on suboxone and weaning from that. it really kills me that under the circumstances of how i got sober the first time, and how blessed i was to actually GET sober; that i just forgot about all that and went ahead and used again. addiction is so horrible !! i just really wish that my hubby and i could be sober for once together !!! maybe we'll find that there really is something left of our marriage.....
now that ive posted a book (im sorry, i just go on and on !!!) i just want to thank everyone for your replies. i appreciate all your wonderful advice, your stories. its good to know we (my husband and i) are not alone.
by the way, what does DH stand for?

m

Hi Ohmy,

Maybe you should post a new thread asking about switching from the meth to the Sub....You might get clearer answers that way. I know nothing about it personally.

I wonder why the clinic won't start tapering your hubby? It would seem if a person is interested in getting off or tapering that they would be more helpful.

I belonged to another message board when I broke my leg and they used DH and it meant husband....or d*mn husband to be exact. I have always thought that's what it meant here. Maybe someone who has been around longer can verify that.

I sure hope everything looks up for you soon. Just remember to keep yourself in check first. Addiction is such a monster like you said.

Shay
:cool:

Hi Shay !!

i thought this thread was asking about switching from meth to sub? did i word it wrong? i know i havent gotten much response but the responses i did get were helpful.. like i said, scary but helpful !!! :) i really appreciate that you care enough to respond.. you seem like such a nice person... i have read a lot of your posts and your concern and care for others is wonderful !!!

about the clinic: i really think that its one more of those money things !!! you know, they dont want to bother with tapering anyone, just lining em up and giving them their doses !!! then collecting their cash. its sad to say, but i think its the rotten truth !!!

again, thanks for your response. God helps those who help others and He will surely be there for you !!!

Hey ohmy!

No, you had it right, I just thought maybe if you started a new one more people might respond, but I've noticed there's not a lot of action here the last couple of days. It just seems like when I first came here a lot of people were talking about Sub and not as many are now and was hoping you could get some more people to chime in with a new thread....I'm kinda repeating myself, it's been a long day....sorry!

Your sweet for your compliments. I do really care about everyone here because I see my own life in so many here...just about everyone. It's like my life written over and over by different people! I just know exactly, I mean exactly what everyone is going through here cuz I've really been there...alot. I wouldn't wish the kind of pain, lonliness, confusion, loss, etc..that addiction causes on anyone. I always knew I was not unique in this, but have only witnessed it in my own circle of friends and their friends and people in rehab...It just amazes me how widespread this is. I knew it was, it's just overwhelming to actually see here on the board.
I hurt for everyone here. Because I know. And not one person here asked for this, or means to be this way....and can really help the fact they were born this way.

I could go on and on....but when I read these stories,each one puts me right into some certain moment in my own life and I know all the fear and helplessness that everyone feels.

Anyway, my own post is depressing me, so I guess I should shut up now! :)

It's funny what you said about the clinics because I was actually thinking the very same thing when I was writting that post, but decided to keep my mouth shut because I didn't want to seem pessimisstic....but you are dead on! I have a friend (actually former friend) who has been on meth for around 7 years. To hear her talk about the clinic I question how much concern they actually have for these people. They not only have her on methadone, but on about 6 (easily) other narcotics. It's rediculous! Do you think your hubby really wants to quit? If so, maybe he should demand to be tapered. I don't know the answer.

I'm really on a soap box...the gov't is so blind to really how bad this is and it makes me so mad that I see people come here that have no idea where to turn. People who want help that cant' get it cause they have no idea where to start. The only reason I even knew what to do without insurance is because my mother is in social work and deals with alot of addicts. Otherwise I could easily be dead right now.

Anyway, better calm down now! HaHa!

I'm glad for you though....keep up the good work! Hopefully hubby will follow one day....just take care of #1 and the rest will fall in line.
Shay

Hello,

I am brand new to this site and would just like to share my experience with suboxone. I have been an addict for about 6 years now and about 2 years ago I started the Methadone program. It worked great at first but after a while I started getting my take homes, 2 weeks at a time. Whenever that happened I started really abuising the meth. Well to make a long story short. I weened myself down from 90 mgs to 50mgs. I had to W.D for about 6 hours before I could take my dose. About a day later, after the suboxone took affe4ct, I have felt GREAT!!. I've been on the suboxone for 3 weeks now and I love it. It gives me no buzz, only makes me feel normal. Which is a good thing.
I hope your husband takes advantage of the opportunity with Suboxone. Good luck to you and him!!

Jay

thanks jay for your reply. looks like there might be hope after all !!! if he could possibly ween himself down from 120mg to about 50 you think? how long did it take you to ween down from 90 to 50?

thanks again,

m

Hey ohmy,

How's it going? How's the hubby?

Any new news?

Just thought I'd pop in and say....HEY! :wave:

"See" ya soon I hope!
Shay
:cool:

So is methdone the stuff anna nicole was takin? If so why would she take that unless she had been on herion... just curious...

Take care... Dave!

hey shay,
no nothing new yet. i told him what ive learned. i think he should just call a sub doc and see what he can find out there..... since the clinic has no interest in losing him as a client.... ill keep you posted, thanks for asking!!
how r u doing? im looking forward to reading your post - the whole story one i saw mentioned on another thread. you know, as with most people, we just get bits and pieces on diff. threads... i would love to read your whole story.. you sound like an intresting person :)

crooked;
im not sure if she was on heroin - i think you can take meth for many reasons. im pretty sure shay can help with that a little, (yes, shay?) b/c i believe she was put on it for an entirely diff reason.

m

Hello,

I am brand new to this site and would just like to share my experience with suboxone. I have been an addict for about 6 years now and about 2 years ago I started the Methadone program. It worked great at first but after a while I started getting my take homes, 2 weeks at a time. Whenever that happened I started really abuising the meth. Well to make a long story short. I weened myself down from 90 mgs to 50mgs. I had to W.D for about 6 hours before I could take my dose. About a day later, after the suboxone took affe4ct, I have felt GREAT!!. I've been on the suboxone for 3 weeks now and I love it. It gives me no buzz, only makes me feel normal. Which is a good thing.
I hope your husband takes advantage of the opportunity with Suboxone. Good luck to you and him!!

Jay
I'm going on withdraw from methadone tomorrow, from 35 mgs to 0. Can I ask what suboxone is? I'm concerned, 10 yrs methadone program, they offer no help getting off whatsoever...I've tried the slow withdrawel b4 but its torture. I'd rather get it over with if possible.

suboxone supresses symptoms of w/d and decreases cravings. its also blocks the effects of any other opoid you might use. i have found that i am having trouble dropping from the only 2mg dose im on right now. i feel w/d symptoms coming on when i dont take it for too long and im scared to go through it.... yikes !!!
my husband is on a lot of morph; i believe 125mg. dont know how sub will affect him or you. the person that you quoted seems to have had success with it. i think my husband is going to try it. but ween down a little from the meth first.

hope that helps... some :)

m

suboxone supresses symptoms of w/d and decreases cravings. its also blocks the effects of any other opoid you might use. i have found that i am having trouble dropping from the only 2mg dose im on right now. i feel w/d symptoms coming on when i dont take it for too long and im scared to go through it.... yikes !!!
my husband is on a lot of morph; i believe 125mg. dont know how sub will affect him or you. the person that you quoted seems to have had success with it. i think my husband is going to try it. but ween down a little from the meth first.

hope that helps... some :)

m
thanks, I appreciate hearing from someone. Day 1 is ok, only prob so far too much reality. lucky i can just sleep...when you say 2 mgs is that the suboxone? I had cut down to 35 mgs of methadone, my husbands at 120 so I thought i was down far enough? i'm frustrated with our local clinic, their only advice is to stay on the meth program. after 10 yrs clean i think i'd like to get away from the ball&chain aspect of it.

im on suboxone. never been on methadone. but my husband is. read the thread about "say no to long term sub" there are two other members on there who have had two completely different experiences with the sub. it will be helpful for you. ill keep checking back to see how your doing !!! take care.
m :)

the methadone did work for us, I dont want to run it down. I really wish your husband the best. Mine has a strong faith and is finally doing really well, he won't be quitting the program. health struggles etc & I'm just happy he can actually work again etc. we quit when our son was 4 and he's 17 and an honor student. but the meth seemed to start working against me - weight gain, memory loss, and I hate driving an hour for tests etc. anyhow. I don't post much I just related to you because of your husband too. best wishes. I can't believe how easy day 1 has been. I expected a lot worse but we'll see what day 2 brings, suboxone is maybe not necessary for me?. thanks again.

i wish you all the best. let me know how you're doing. my husband has had a lot of weight gain with the meth (he's been on for over 3 years now) and its really playing hell with his teeth !!! lots of dental work. thank God we havent spent up all the money on dope and he can afford to keep seeing his dentist.... believe me, there was a time we counted change for milk !!! :(
but nevertheless, its still an issue and i hate to see him go through it all.

best,

m

I switched from meth to suboxone. I was only on 6mg--it was a cakewalk. My doctor wanted me to display withdrawal symptoms, but after 2 days all I could come up with was a bit of the sweats and occasional goosebumps.

The suboxone kicked right in. Unfortunately I get the impression it will be as hard to kick as the meth. I'm only on 1-2 mg, but I get uncomfortable after 25 or so hours (with meth I could go 30 between doses). Also, I am frequently depressed until I take my dose.

if you didnt get any w/d symptoms off the meth, why did you start the sub anyway? just wondering.

m

p.s. im having trouble with the sub and coming off it too. im on 2mg and trying to drop to 1. having a hell of a time with it though !!!

hi everyone !! :)
this one actually isnt for me, its for my husband.....
a little background; we've been seperated for 6 years (wow !! i just realized how long its been when i typed it !!!) the reason we seperated in the first place is because when i got sober the first time (almost there again !!!) he didnt get sober with me, so i left. over the years we've become good friends again, but still havent gotten back together.
anyway, about three years ago he was accepted into the methadone program here and; after screwing up quite a few times, he finally got it right. he goes to the clinic every morning and gets his dose. it's all good: no more copping dope in the hood, no more arrests, etc. etc. )
what i am wondering, and he too, is if it is feasible for him to switch over to suboxone? he would like to do this for several reasons; first off he wouldnt have to go downtown to the clinic b/f work every day. second, he would be able to go out of town to see his sisters. (he cant do that now b/c he's only allowed one take home dose, and they live out of state) its also possible that it might be cheaper for him to do the sub thing because he does have fairly good med insurance. the meth clinic doesnt take insurance and he pays 350 a month to go there.
he's heard that he would still go through the meth w/d... is that true?
what do you guys think? has anyone ever made this switch?

thanks in advance for any input you might have. i've got to say that i lurk here quite a bit (every day, at least 2 or 3 times a day) and this board and all the support has helped me quite a bit to taper from the sub that im on. its great to see and hear from people who are experiencing the sames things you are and making it!!! not that i want anyone to have any pain... its just good to go through it together... thank you

m:wave:

I'm been on suboxone for three months now, and it worked great, once I found out that you had to be into the w/d stage, and don't take it for at least 24 to 36 hrs, since your last painkiller. And don't swallow the drug while it's under your tounge, it doesn't help, going down your throat.
The first time I tried suboxone was about 1yr and a couple months ago, without getting the right instructions for the drug. It was one of the worst experiences that I ever felt. Major w/d's. The taste in my mouth from the sub for at least 1 and a half weeks.
I have read many of web pages on sub, and I'm pretty sure, (not positive), that I have read, it will take care of the withdrawls from meth also.
Good luck!