2007-08-02 03:56:59 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
The most significant risk is respiratory depression. Otherwise the best advice is to stop the methadone. Some providers will tell you to decrease at 5 mg per day but this only drags out the withdrawal symptoms. The best way to withdraw is with medical assistance. You have a risk (even when tapering off) of high blood pressure, stroke, seizures and other severe withdrawal side effects. It is actually the most miserable most people ever feel. I took methadone for 5 years at a reasonably high dose for chronic pain. As I got the pain under control I decided I didn't want to take the medication anymore. I tapered down over the course of 1 1/2 months and then when I stopped I had withdrawal symptoms for 15 days. I had several seizures, and lost a significant amount of weight becuase I could not keep food down. I had medications to help control the blood pressure so I didn't have problems with that, But the pain kept me from sleeping for days then I would pass out from exhaustion.
Methadone has an extremely long half life and 72 hours after taking the medication the body produces a metabolite from the methadone which boost the effect and thereby causes the effect to last longer. These effectsa are what makes methadone an extremely reliable and effective pain medication. It also makes it the hardest to get off.
Suboxone is a good medicine for opiate addiction. But should not be taken with the opiates. If you are taking both at the same time seek medical attention.
Also you should see the addiction physician who precribed the suboxone and discuss your issues.
It is actually recommended that persons placed on suboxone be dispensed their dose daily for a time before giving them a home prescription. They should also have a contract with you that ensures the accepted behaviors.
Seek professional help.
If you are noticing any unusual symptoms or trouble breathing call 911.
2007-08-02 04:55:58 · answer #1 · answered by US_DR_JD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not mix them you will be ill. Have a couple of days to get as much out your system as possible methodone takes quite a while to leave your body, so cut yourself down to a low amout, idealy 5mls, then have a couple of days in the kip before you start , maybe you should ask you gp for sleeping tablets for the first two days to take the edge off while your going through it good luck
2007-08-02 11:10:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do me a favor, throw out the bottles of medicine that you don't know what contain, and buy a lava lamp. Thanks.
2007-08-02 10:59:48 · answer #3 · answered by Peanut to the rescue! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋