Hydrocodone & Methadone - Help for Wife

[windysan]

Oh. She's already on the methadone. Gotcha. If she's a taperer and isn't prone to addictive behaviors then she should get through it. It will probably be difficult but she should be okay. Watch out for that Xanax....that stuff is evil. The Xanax could be the most worrisome component. Make sure she uses the Xanax only for a very short time.

[aNewman]

Thanks Alice,

Good Luck with your methadone program. This somewhat blows me away that you were started on 30mg and increased up to 105mg!! Do they do blood tests or urinalysis to determine where you need to be?? Is there talk of an "end" when you'll be taken off of the methadone? If so, I'd love to know how they'll go about it!

As far as support groups, I think they are great. Being able to see and hear someone with the same or worse issues should be comforting. My wife would love to just sit in a room full of people that have come through this, hearing that "it can be done." Regarding your thoughts, you may want to just sit and listen to a few meetings. When you do decide to share, don't hide anything!! Drug Free is Drug Free. There would be no benefit in you leaving the meeting with a guilty conscience!

It truly hurts me to hear you think of meds as your "best friend." They are your worst enemy, robbing you (and those around you) of a much happier life!! Are you familiar with the song, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" -- now there's a true friend, forever!
My wife and I were both raised Southern Baptist churches. She has stopped going, but I go every week -- usually with the kids. There is not a sermon that goes by that I fail to hear something I feel would be inspirational to her. Anyway, my point is that church can be good therapy, good socially, and a place to develop a Friend (that will not let you down) for eternity!

Keep us posted on you progress!!

aNewman

[aNewman]

Well, I'm afraid you touched on two of the problems:

1. She IS prone to addictive behavior.

2. She's used Xanax for a long time.

We had never really discussed addictive behaviors until recently. She has stated that it's a good thing that she doesn't like alcohol or else she'd be an alcoholic. I guess she knows herself better than anyone, so at least she's not in denial about that. Do you see that as something that would prohibit a weaning process? She claims to be too much of a wimp to attempt cold turkey!

As far as Xanax, she has always had some available to stave off the "hits of anxiety" whenever the Prozac wasn't dealing with it. There was a time when she was on a good bit of it and her dr weaned her off without any problems. In the last few months, she has been taking one only at night to help her sleep. Last night, she took a few because I think she's very anxious about running out of Methodone and Propoxyphene at the same time -- so she just wants to sleep through this ordeal.

[ReggaeKy]

It sounds to me like she's doing really good. I am on methadone, now weaning off and at 67 mg. I was started at 30 and went up to 80 and stopped at 80 mg for one year. I've been on methadone a total of 3 years and started weaning a few months ago. My problem started with 3 herniated discs and degenerative disc disease, trying to put off surgery as long as I could and ended up taking up to 10-15 hydrocodone 10 mg tablets per day. I knew I needed help and started the Methadone Program. It saved me. There's always going to be others worse off and better off, so try not to compare her with anybody else. Different things work better for different people, so it's very different for everybody. But as far as the drugs themselves, there are clinical studies made using clinical trials and most drugs are studied very thoroughly and the experts know how they should work for most people. But your wife sounds like she's got a plan and she's sticking to it. Without us addictive type behavior people in this world, it sure would be a dull place, wouldn't it!!!???? LOL. Yes, I know it would! The world would stop turning! LOL. We make it very interesting, to say the least. IMHO. Have a great day.

[windysan]

The Xanax can be a huge problem if you let it. It is best to do without that crap because, as with other dope, it eventually stops working. She'll hit tolerance and the current dose will have little to no effect. If you find she's cheating with her "taper" then the best bet would be to let her cold turkey in a detox where she'll be safe and it will be fairly smooth. There will be some pain but the detox professionals will not let her get too uncomfortable.