Supervised opiate detoxification - where?

Question

I am trying to get off prescribed Morphine and struggling to do it on my own. My GP's answer to this particularly problem is to suggest referring me to Drug Services for Methadone, which I have categorically refused. Surely there must be some sort of rehab facility that I can go into in order to get off this evil medication?

The drug rehab facilities don't want to treat me because I have chronic pain. As to the Priory, I have the ten grand alright but I'm not spending my own money on drug detox when it was my own GP that put me in this position and denied me long term physiotherapy, suggesting that Morphine was cheaper!

US_DR - are you out of pain now? And thanks for the info you're totally right about my GP!

Answer 1

I wish I could help with this. I do not know of any detox centers in the UK.

Your GP is a jerk!!!

Seek a good center with a strong counseling base and I would recommend a holistic system for withdrawal.

As discussed earlier I have been there and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

But you will be happier if you can get off the drugs and find other ways to deal with this pain.

If when you are off, you continue with the pain, see a pain medicine specialist and express your desire to avoid or minimize any narcotic therapies, they can help you!!

Bless you!

And don't listen to Sabretooth, methadone is harder to withdraw from than oramorph.

Methadone should only be used for psychological addiction to opiates not physiologic dependence. Remember withdrawal from oramorph 6-10 days withdrawal from methadone about 15 days.

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Special Note to Beautifulirishgirl
Glad the methadone worked for you, as a Pain Medicine Specialist I have used methadone for many patients, because it doesn't have the euphoria side effects and often becuase it is very cheap and many of my patients could not afford the more expensive drugs. I provided the funding for the methadone for many of my indigent patients.

I also was in severe chronic pain for over 5 years and on the advice of my pain specialist took methadone. I found the withdrawals severe, and due to the long halflife of methadone and the metabolites it took about 3 weeks to clear my system. Yes I do know where I am talking from here!!!!

EDITXXX

I use a lot of biofeedback, and have through a lot of experimentation found a prophylactic medication which decreases the incidence of pain. In managing pain in patients you have to find the correct treatment for each patient; sometimes that takes some time.

Answer 2

I would suggest you use the methadone. It is a great drug; it stops withdrawal symptoms but doesn't give you a buzz at all. It is very easy to wean off of. to the gp...have you used methadone? I am a chronic pain patient (cancer) and I have taken it.

Answer 3

Where do you live? Lifeline might be able to help, there are a few places about: http://www.lifeline.org.uk/

You could always call them and see if they know of anywhere in your area that offer a similar service or counselling.

Otherwise, it's 10 grand and a trip to the Priory...but I doubt you have the 10 grand :-)

The most important thing is the willingness to give up, and you have that :-) Good luck, be strong :-)

Answer 4

Methadone is a temporary drug designed to make it easier to come off of morphine.

Otherwise you will get more severe withdraw effects and possibily threatening health effects.

It is due to neurotransmitter biuld up compensatory machinisms in the brain.

This is probably the only method that you can use.

Answer 5

Any drug rehabilitation clinic is going to be able to help you detoxify off of this drug. Check through the yellow pages and start calling various clinics. If they don't do it perhaps they can recommend a clinic that would be best for you.