I need your opinions

[karebear02]

I am married to a drug addict. He is addicted to primarily Methadone. But anything else that will alter him as well. He takes Zyprexa (Dr. says to help his anti-depressant work and help him sleep) He takes it and will sleep for days. Topomax (for headaches I guess) Lexapro (He quit taking this because he says he isn't depressed.) and of course the Methadone, anywhere from 60 to 250 Mg a day, depending on his availability.

My first question is how can I tell if he is dying.

Sounds awful I know, but I can't get him to quit. He doesn't see the hurt he is causing himself and since he does this cycle irregularly he thinks it's not a problem.

Please give me advice on any or all of these medications as far as abusing them and death.

Thankyou

[Allycat]

Hi--I dont know what to tell you. As far as Meth goes, well, a couple of people here inorder to keep them in recovery..I don't know what to tell you when somebody is using it to get high. I honestly didnt think you could get high/buzz from Meth...but anyway. Does he get it legally? As far as all the other meds mentioned...well, you would have to talk to his Doc or a Doc to get all the info on what they do. I wasnt much help but maybe others on the board will respond that can contribute more than I did. Ally

Originally Posted by karebear02

I am married to a drug addict. He is addicted to primarily Methadone. But anything else that will alter him as well. He takes Zyprexa (Dr. says to help his anti-depressant work and help him sleep) He takes it and will sleep for days. Topomax (for headaches I guess) Lexapro (He quit taking this because he says he isn't depressed.) and of course the Methadone, anywhere from 60 to 250 Mg a day, depending on his availability.

My first question is how can I tell if he is dying.

Sounds awful I know, but I can't get him to quit. He doesn't see the hurt he is causing himself and since he does this cycle irregularly he thinks it's not a problem.

Please give me advice on any or all of these medications as far as abusing them and death.

Thankyou

[kennyseven]

As far as the Zeprexia or Topomax are concerned I really dont know anything about them but I have been on methadone for more than 30 years. He is obviously getting the methadone from the steets. Methadone is only used for two things. It is primarily a narcotic medication used to treat people who are addicted to opiates. Its other purpose is as a pain reliever. Your husband obviously has a problem. Why does he take the methadone? Maybe you should try and talk him into getting into REAL methadone treatment. At least then his life would be stabilized, and he could work on his addiction issues. As far as overdose goes, If he takes too much he will get really sleepy, so sleepy you wont be able to wake him up, and he will die from respitory failure. But hopefully you wont have to worry about that. Try to get him to consider going to a clinic. Methadone saved my life, but it has to taken under the proper circumstances. The clinic could be the best thing that ever happened to the both of you. It could save your marriage and make him a resposible husband again. Honest.
kennyseven

[karebear02]

I should have given a little background... I appoligize.

He has a history of illegal drug use years before we met. Then,
He was on Vicodin for a year, some was recreational, some was medically necessary for his back pain. After his immunity built up to the Vicodin he found a Dr. that put him on the Meth. Instead of taking it 80 mgs a day as directed he takes 120 - 240 mgs for a couple weeks, then drops down to 60 or 40 a day so as not to run out and cold turkey detox until his next appointment, which has happened 3 times in less than a year! He says he gets a high from them on high doses and that is why he takes large amounts when he has restocked. He feels motivated to help around the house, he is VERY affectionate, he interacts with the kids more, etc. He doesn't obtain Meth off the street, although if he knew where, or perhaps if I allowed him to spend $ on it he would find it.

From his past drug and alcohol use he has been through 2 rehab programs, DUI school, and AA. All of which he thinks is a crock of **** and that it's all a mind set you need within yourself. Obviously he doesn't have it, huh?!

[LaynesADDICTI0N]

ok, as far as the Zyprexa and the Lexapro go they are very new medications. Zyprexa is an "atypical" antipsychotic drug. It's a combination antipsychotic drug like "orap" anti-depressant and hypnotic drug like "valium". It's in it's own class called "thienobenzodiazepines" This drug is commonly used for manic depression and schizophrenia. If he is prescribed this just for insomnia I would look at other options. If you look on the internet you'll find that this drug could cause hypoglycemia causing diabetes and in fact killing people who are already diabetics. Now that Lilly has settled a class action lawsuit because of this drug, people are stopping the drug abruptly and having symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal which is the worst. I was on this drug and ill be happy to tell you more about it.

I just have one question, he must have not admitted to drug abuse because there is no way he would be giving methadone w/o a clinic.

Opiates, People say no but in fact methadone can be and is abused. He is quite classic actually, opiates stop working after a while and you actually have to cut back or detox to regain less tolerence. This is infact very dangerous because without the tolerence there is a better chance of respiratory depression leading to arrest. I would read up and gain a lot of knowledge about the drugs and have a sit down with him. Then maybe you both can come to a conclusion to help him get better.