OK...I feel I must STRONGLY encourage anyone considering this treatment to consider that people DIE from Rapid Detox. Methadone patients (whether for pain or on Methadone Maintenance Treatment) are advised to put a medical alert on their driver's licenses to NOT be administered Narcan as it causes acute withdrawal syndrome that can be fatal. Rapid detox is not the "cure" for getting off methadone. I strongly suspect the 60% effectiveness statistic hasn't been properly evaluated for a long period of time. As with any person physically addicted to narctics, the BEST way to detox AND STAY OFF OPIATES (if that is the goal) is to titrate downward.

MY EXPERIENCE:
I suffered from debilitating migraines from age 14. I was given Demerol (in varying potencies) from then until age 21, when my doctor of the day proclaimed me an "addict" and left me hanging. I HAD NO IDEA I HAD BECOME ADDICTED AND I NEVER SOUGHT THE DRUG FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. I even went to a psychiatrist thinking I was suffering from anxiety (which was actually opiate withdrawal) and was given Ativan AND Klonopin (which, of course, did not alleviate my symptoms and left me so zombified that I could not function at all!!!) When that treatment failed, and I learned I had been "blacklisted" by the ER, I began to resort to just about any method of obtaining opiates for my headaches and withdrawal that I could concoct. Some would call me a "drug seeker" for such, but it is important to note that my understanding of addiction was very limited at that time and I had 2 young children by 22. I NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION. My health started to fail in other areas with multiple bone surgeries, 3 abdominal surgeries, cancer and urinary tract problems (including kidney stones) which always kept the opiate monster alive when I would find the means to beat it.

Finally, after completing a residential treatment program for opiate addiction, and once more geeting addicted (physically) to pain medications due to surgery, etc., I made the decision to enroll in the methadone maintenance program. It was a HUGE relief to me and I was again a functional member of society.

After 7 years on MMT, at 100mgs/day, I began to feel unhappy with my dependence on this program and the physical ramifications to my body because of it. Doctors automatically assumed I was a heroin addict and didn't take the time to LISTEN, and under-prescribed for verified pain issues. I received no help from the methadone program (as this is a for-profit BUSINESS and you pay cash or you don't dose. $12/day--no matter what dose you are on.) You better hope you aren't in legal trouble as jails do not dose you here--or at least they didn't at the time. You also better hope you don't need surgery as almost no doctor will give you adequate pain relief. I suffered through the post-surgical pain of an abdominal hysterectomy with a whopping 5 mgs of morphine given every 6 hours IV. This was absolutely POINTLESS. So, I decided it was time to wean myself off the methadone.

I was on 100mgs as of January 2002. It has taken nearly TWO YEARS to get down to 4mgs/day. I stopped attending the methadone program and started getting prescriptions from my doctor in December last year when I got down to 20mgs. Remember, I paid $12/day for methadone on the program, but it costs me $6.00 for a 100mgs at a pharmacy. 100mgs now lasts me nearly a month. As far as the withdrawal, I have had few problems (I dropped 5mgs approximately every 3-4 weeks until 20 mgs, where I have dropped about 2.5 mgs every month) until recently.

I was fine on 5mgs (just a bit of bone pain, light insomnia and anorexia--I have lost 60 lbs since my detox started--and I have never been "large") but the past 2 weeks have been hell on earth dropping .5mg/week. I can barely tolerate the bone pain. It gets so severe that I can't do much but practice the breathing exercises I used while in labor. IF I sleep, it is fitful and nightmarish. I can't eat, have diarrhea, nausea/vomiting and sweat when it's 40* outside and freeze when it's 80*! I'm terrified of breaking my "schedule" as I don't want my doctor to stop prescribing for me as my options will then be grim--and I certainly don't want to get back on the MMT. So, I am right now despairing of EVER getting off this medication!

The worst part is, once I hit ZERO, I'll have weeks of withdrawal to look forward to. I should also note that I attempted to cold-turkey from 30mgs and the withdrawal is no better from 4mgs. My blood pressure skyrocketed when I attempted the CT, making it impossible. I don't think there is any "quick fix" for methadone addiction. It's a slow and agonizing process and for someone who will have NINE YEARS on it in November, it seems nearly impossible.

I REALLY wish I had never heard of methadone!

night_shade

PS- This is a VERY general overview of my methadone history. Please do not judge me based on this account alone!