Methadone addiction
It is a painful struggle to overcome methadone addiction. Methadone, often used to break opiate addiction or to be more precise for the most part heroin addiction. Methadone is very addictive itself, both mentally and physically. Patients sometimes find themselves in the untenable situation of having lost one addiction, and get saddled with another unwanted situation called methadone addiction Medical treatment is necessary for a methadone.
It is inadvisable for those addicted to methadone not to try quitting the drug on their own. Quitting methadone cold turkey is dangerous and can result in convulsions and seizures.
Methadone withdrawal is a very agonizing withdrawal. People who have been addicted to both heroin and methadone say that methadone withdrawal is far more painful than quitting heroin is.
A methadone rehabilitation center is the best and safest hope for some successful opioid addiction help. The first step is a desire to quit and the realization that it can’t be done alone. Entering rehab also gets the addict out of the situation that may be fueling the addiction and around other people like themselves who are trying to kick methadone.
Once in treatment, there are different approaches to breaking the addiction. The patient must first be detoxed. The actual methadone detox is done under medical supervision. It may be as simple as gradually weaning the person off the drug in a methadone clinic. The weaning process can take a month or longer. I would personally recommend the 14 day methadone detox to stop using methadone.
Overcome methadone by getting through
Methadone withdrawal
Another way is a rapid detox where the patient is kept in an unconscious state during the methadone withdrawal period. This however can be dangerous because some patients have died during this treatment from staying under too long.
How to beat methadone withdrawal
Methadone withdrawal is fairly similar to coming off other street drugs or prescription medication, although the process should only be undertaken under expert medical supervision. One of the best places to practice methadone detox would be in a hospital or other methadone rehab facility, especially one that specializes in drug withdrawal treatment.
Physical symptoms of methadone withdrawal
There are usually some physical symptoms associated with methadone withdrawal, such as chills, vomiting, nausea and general pain, the extent of which can vary from person to person. The symptoms are reportedly similar to suffering from the flu or a bad cold and many addicts point out that it is difficult to withdraw from methadone, as the feeling of nausea is the same as when you are withdrawing from other drugs bought on the street.
There are also mental symptoms present with most addicts and typically include agitation, anxiety and paranoia and withdrawing under medical supervision will ensure that an addict cannot harm themselves or others while undergoing the process. Medical supervision also ensures that any health issues or concerns that arise during the detox process can be fully addressed.
NA can help you overcome an addiction to methadone and get through a nasty withdrawal from methadone
If you are experiencing methadone detox for the first time, you are also advised to maintain a balanced diet and participating in some kind of support group may also be beneficial. There are various support options available for methadone addicts, although one of the best and most respected of these groups is Narcotics Anonymous.
I have been attending NA off and on for at least 25 yrs and it works if you follow the program as it was suggested by our processors. I know it has kept me clean and is keeping me clean every day.
One good thing about it is that it is free and the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using. This program can be found in many countries all around the world. If you are addicted to this drug and are worried about how to stay clean and not have to withdraw from methadone again then I suggest that you give NA a chance it could very well be the recovery tool that changes your life.
Methadone treatment
The last option is going to methadone treatment where you will be detoxed from methadone medically. There you will use prescription medications like subutex and suboxone to help ease the discomfort that will be caused by methadone withdrawal. These medications are much easier to come off of. For the most part while there your needs will be met by a trained medical staff who will attempt to make you as comfortable as possible during your stay.
Only after the drug is completely out of the system can therapy begin. To be successful, the person needs a support system of understanding friends to adjust to living without the bonds of methadone dependence.
Good luck
Heroin Addiction Help Guide » The best Solutions how to beat methadone and make it through Methadone Withdrawal Says:
[...] the withdrawal medicines given to such patients are typically ineffective if the person with the methadone addiction is taking greater than 40 mg a day of the [...]
Nina Says:
I was originally placed on methadone as a substitute for the Percocet and Hydrocodone 10/500 that I had become addicted to after an injury to the brachial nerve plexus in my right shoulder. The methadone left me able to function on a daily basis without the euphoric high and drowsiness but I found myself emotionally numb as well as free of the chronic pain. During this time I suffered the deaths of my father, eldest son and baby brother all within 5 months. I started taking more and more methadone as it helped me avoid feeling the grief and loss. Eventually I was taking up to 200 mg a day. I decided 8 months later that I had to stop. I decided to try to go “cold turkey”. I almost died during seizures from the acute severe withdrawal. My husband found a clinic that would help me. They started me off at 50 mg a day and took me up to a “comfortable” level of 120 mg over 3 months. At that time my assigned counselor helped me to find a good psychiatrist to help me deal with my grief and loss and start to work on the PTSD which was a huge contributing factor to my use to begin with. During this time I was diagnosed with breast cancer and while my use did not increase my forward momentum sort of stopped. I was 3 years into treatment before I made the real effort to decrease my dosage and really start the process of clearing my body of the drug now that my mind was more clear. The first few months were a breeze. I hardly noticed the decreases. The last 20 mg however have been incredibly difficult. I feel every single mg that I decrease and I have started only going down by 1 mg per week. However I will state unreservedly that without the mental and emotional base support BEFORE the medication decreases I would not have any real chance at living my life drug free. The psychological treatment is as important as the physical.