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What Are The Side Effects Of Methadone?
Question: I have been on Percocet for years! I AM READY TO STOP ASAP! I have some Methodone Pills (10mg) and took my first 2 this morning(20mg). I want to know how many of the 10mg Methodone pills do I continue to take per day and for how long?? **I have a friend that tried the same program and after being on heavy amounts of Percocet for 10 years..He got enough Methodone pills(10Mg) and took them for about 2 weeks(long enough to help with withdrawals but short enough to not get addicted to the Methodone) Of course you don't want to trade one addiction for another! My friend started with 30 mgs of Methodone the first 3 days, then 40mg for the next 3 days...then after that he tapered down from day 7 to day 14!!
CAN ONE OF YOU FINE DOCTORS HELP ME WITH A PLAN.
Thank you!! XXXXXXX
CAN ONE OF YOU FINE DOCTORS HELP ME WITH A PLAN.
Thank you!! XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
methadone is quite dangerous
Detailed Answer:
it has the least difference between the effecitve doe and the dose that is going to kill you. Even with medical supervision, it has been relatively risky compared to all the other narcotics (except, perhaps, heroin). You'd want to get into a program, or methadone clinic, or even an ER or regular doctor. methadone should not be played around with.
methadone is quite dangerous
Detailed Answer:
it has the least difference between the effecitve doe and the dose that is going to kill you. Even with medical supervision, it has been relatively risky compared to all the other narcotics (except, perhaps, heroin). You'd want to get into a program, or methadone clinic, or even an ER or regular doctor. methadone should not be played around with.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If i chose to continue taking the Methodone AT MY OWN RISK (so i can kick this terrible Percocet addiction) How long can i take the Methodone without becoming addicted to it?
Doc MY GOAL IS TO JUST TAKE THE METHADONE SO I CAN GET OFF THE PERCOCET!! ..ONLY TAKING THE METHADONE FOR A SHORT TIME IN SMALL DOSES..JUST UNTIL THE WITHDRAWALS QUIT FROM BEING ON THE PERKS!
HOW LONG DO WITHDRAWALS USUALLY LAST FROM PERCOCET ABUSE? That info would help a lot as well!
THANKS DOC XXXXXXX
Doc MY GOAL IS TO JUST TAKE THE METHADONE SO I CAN GET OFF THE PERCOCET!! ..ONLY TAKING THE METHADONE FOR A SHORT TIME IN SMALL DOSES..JUST UNTIL THE WITHDRAWALS QUIT FROM BEING ON THE PERKS!
HOW LONG DO WITHDRAWALS USUALLY LAST FROM PERCOCET ABUSE? That info would help a lot as well!
THANKS DOC XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
withdrawing is supposed to lower risk
Detailed Answer:
taking a riskier drug (methadone). It accumulates. It has a low safety margin
equivalence is difficult to say in that case and...
5 mg of oxycodone 4 times a day (low risk) is like 10 mg ONCE a day of methadone (low risk).
three times higher of oxycodone.. is still not very high risk, but it's right at the limit of what a non-specialist should EVER prescribe of methadone (30 mg a day.. 10 three times a day is the absolute limit).
You're above the safety range for non-specialists. Methadone, being a long acting drug makes withdrwal WORSE.. you still have to come off of it.
5 -10 mg of methadone ONCE is not risky
Withdrawal of percocet feels bad for maybe a week. double for methadone.
AND... the whole concept is wrong because you still have to deal wtih addiction issues of triggers, aberant behavior, doing behaviors that get you in trouble, etc.
Needs addiction specialist.
withdrawing is supposed to lower risk
Detailed Answer:
taking a riskier drug (methadone). It accumulates. It has a low safety margin
equivalence is difficult to say in that case and...
5 mg of oxycodone 4 times a day (low risk) is like 10 mg ONCE a day of methadone (low risk).
three times higher of oxycodone.. is still not very high risk, but it's right at the limit of what a non-specialist should EVER prescribe of methadone (30 mg a day.. 10 three times a day is the absolute limit).
You're above the safety range for non-specialists. Methadone, being a long acting drug makes withdrwal WORSE.. you still have to come off of it.
5 -10 mg of methadone ONCE is not risky
Withdrawal of percocet feels bad for maybe a week. double for methadone.
AND... the whole concept is wrong because you still have to deal wtih addiction issues of triggers, aberant behavior, doing behaviors that get you in trouble, etc.
Needs addiction specialist.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doc my plan is to take the methadone for just a (week to 10 days) so I can combat coming off the percocet!! The methadone is helping big time with my withdrawals today(DAY 1) so far!!
I'd like to continue to take it for several more days which will be at the height of the my withdrawal stage(7 to 10 days) - after that I will most definitely stop the Methadone use all together! ***My thinking is: to take the the Methadone(20mg to 30mg per day) for 7 to 10 days (when my withdrawals from the percocet are at its worse) That way I would not be on the Methadone but for a SHORT WHILE and not become addicted to the that!! Just taking the meth to help with the initial week of bad percocet withdrawals!! That's it!
So in summary, I just want to take the Methadone during the first week to 10 days that the Percocet withdrawals would be at their worse. but in doing so, being very careful with my Methadone dosage each day!! then after the initial 10 days are over and day #11 comes.. My body(brain) has been use to no percocet! (That would be no percocet for 10 FULL days) which will be a lot better then if i had just stopped the percocet on day 1 cold turkey! On that day # 11 still shouldn't be long enough to make me addicted to the Methadone and hopefully I can continue on either from then on!! ..Escaping the terrible withdrawals the first 10 days using the methadone!
your thoughts... and again..how long do withdrawals last usually last?
thanks Doc
I'd like to continue to take it for several more days which will be at the height of the my withdrawal stage(7 to 10 days) - after that I will most definitely stop the Methadone use all together! ***My thinking is: to take the the Methadone(20mg to 30mg per day) for 7 to 10 days (when my withdrawals from the percocet are at its worse) That way I would not be on the Methadone but for a SHORT WHILE and not become addicted to the that!! Just taking the meth to help with the initial week of bad percocet withdrawals!! That's it!
So in summary, I just want to take the Methadone during the first week to 10 days that the Percocet withdrawals would be at their worse. but in doing so, being very careful with my Methadone dosage each day!! then after the initial 10 days are over and day #11 comes.. My body(brain) has been use to no percocet! (That would be no percocet for 10 FULL days) which will be a lot better then if i had just stopped the percocet on day 1 cold turkey! On that day # 11 still shouldn't be long enough to make me addicted to the Methadone and hopefully I can continue on either from then on!! ..Escaping the terrible withdrawals the first 10 days using the methadone!
your thoughts... and again..how long do withdrawals last usually last?
thanks Doc
Brief Answer:
withdrawal is longer with methadone
Detailed Answer:
30-40 mg of methadone is low to moderate. But as it is a long acting narcotic the duration of the withdrawal is considerably longer in general than with percocet (1-2 wk with percocet with peak at 3-5 days). Their is a disconnect between what the internet says on duration of methadone withdrawal (upwards of a month?) and what the textbooks say... a bit more toward 2 weeks.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000
severity is worse with methadone withdrawal.
and... everyone is in pretty good agreement than unlike alcohol wtihdrawal, methadone withdrawal is only symptoms not life threatening and many drugs could help the symptoms.
withdrawal is longer with methadone
Detailed Answer:
30-40 mg of methadone is low to moderate. But as it is a long acting narcotic the duration of the withdrawal is considerably longer in general than with percocet (1-2 wk with percocet with peak at 3-5 days). Their is a disconnect between what the internet says on duration of methadone withdrawal (upwards of a month?) and what the textbooks say... a bit more toward 2 weeks.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000
severity is worse with methadone withdrawal.
and... everyone is in pretty good agreement than unlike alcohol wtihdrawal, methadone withdrawal is only symptoms not life threatening and many drugs could help the symptoms.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doc my question doesn't seem to be getting answered totally. but here goes again!
I first game up here a few days ago and wanted some answers about what I could do to help get off of percocet, etc.. I have been taking percocet everyday for 3 years! I usually take about (2) 10mg pills at a time /6 times per day(120 mg per day). I came up here to quit totally.. which i have done!!!! Today (Saturday) is my 5th day clean. I have been taking Methodone 10 mg three times each day the last 5 days with great success to help me get off the percocet! currently as I write this..I have no withdrawal symptoms and can't believe how well i feel and can function without any of the terrible withdrawals! I know about all the withdrawal symptoms because i have experienced them when i tried to quit years ago. They were so bad, that is why i ended up going back on the percocet because it got so bad after 3-4 days. I didn't know about methadone when I tried to get off the "perks" the first time! DAMN, I WISHED I'D KNOWN THEN!!!
So here I am today-5 days clean and very proud of myself. MY QUESTION DOC IS: How long can i or should I take the Methadone?? It's been 5 days now. I've been taking (3 10mg methadone pills per day/30 mg) the last 5 days. Today(Day 5) I started cutting back the Methadone, I only took 20mg today and plan to keep reducing the next few days!! Doc i don't believe taking the Methadone for just a week or so would make me addicted to it! AGAIN, I'M ONLY TAKING THE METHADONE FOR A SHORT WHILE TO BLOCK THE PERCOCET ADDICTION!!! But I'd like to know how to take the rest of my methadone from day 6(tomorrow) until maybe day 14. My plan is to take the methadone for another few days to a week and be done with the Methadone completely, but more importantly be done with the percocet totally as well..which I've XXXXXXX addicted to for years!!!
SO PLEASE HELP ME WITH A EXIT PLAN FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO..OR A SUGGESTION HOW TO TAPER THE METHADONE! I WANT JUST YOUR SUGGESTIONS and what I should look out for or maybe experience the next week or 2!? HOW LONG WILL I EXPERIENCE WITHDRAWALS OR WILL I AT ALL?
THANKS DOC!!
I first game up here a few days ago and wanted some answers about what I could do to help get off of percocet, etc.. I have been taking percocet everyday for 3 years! I usually take about (2) 10mg pills at a time /6 times per day(120 mg per day). I came up here to quit totally.. which i have done!!!! Today (Saturday) is my 5th day clean. I have been taking Methodone 10 mg three times each day the last 5 days with great success to help me get off the percocet! currently as I write this..I have no withdrawal symptoms and can't believe how well i feel and can function without any of the terrible withdrawals! I know about all the withdrawal symptoms because i have experienced them when i tried to quit years ago. They were so bad, that is why i ended up going back on the percocet because it got so bad after 3-4 days. I didn't know about methadone when I tried to get off the "perks" the first time! DAMN, I WISHED I'D KNOWN THEN!!!
So here I am today-5 days clean and very proud of myself. MY QUESTION DOC IS: How long can i or should I take the Methadone?? It's been 5 days now. I've been taking (3 10mg methadone pills per day/30 mg) the last 5 days. Today(Day 5) I started cutting back the Methadone, I only took 20mg today and plan to keep reducing the next few days!! Doc i don't believe taking the Methadone for just a week or so would make me addicted to it! AGAIN, I'M ONLY TAKING THE METHADONE FOR A SHORT WHILE TO BLOCK THE PERCOCET ADDICTION!!! But I'd like to know how to take the rest of my methadone from day 6(tomorrow) until maybe day 14. My plan is to take the methadone for another few days to a week and be done with the Methadone completely, but more importantly be done with the percocet totally as well..which I've XXXXXXX addicted to for years!!!
SO PLEASE HELP ME WITH A EXIT PLAN FOR THE NEXT WEEK OR SO..OR A SUGGESTION HOW TO TAPER THE METHADONE! I WANT JUST YOUR SUGGESTIONS and what I should look out for or maybe experience the next week or 2!? HOW LONG WILL I EXPERIENCE WITHDRAWALS OR WILL I AT ALL?
THANKS DOC!!
Brief Answer:
CROSS TOLERANCE
Detailed Answer:
this is the medically proven concept that things that work the same way on the same part of the brain and do the same things will substitute one addiction for another. If you are addicted to percocet and take methadone (or heroin) you don't become UN-addicted, you don't avoid withdrawal as much as put it off until later. You can have a lot of withdrawal fast (cold turkey) or somewhat less withdrawal over a longer period of time--which is what you are selecting. Methadone has a longer withdrawal period... from 1-2 week of peak with perc's to 3 week plus with methadone. Being "clean" while on methadone is self-deception. If you are taking a narcotic, you are taking a narcotic and dependent upon narcotic and will have narcotic withdrawal with the severity and extent depending on how much of what kind for total time of ALL narcotics NOT just the most recent one.
Methadone isn't stopped cold turkey. On the other hand. 150 mg of percocet is a larger equivalent dose than 20 mg per day of methadone. Methadone adjustments might not trigger a consequence in 1 day, since it takes time for it to get out of you, the new lower dose doesn't get there for a while. Seeing how each step goes before making another step is the way tapering is done. In methadone that would be at least waiting a week between steps. Often methadone clinics take a month for each decrease but that is based more on the philosophy of methadone clinics than upon the pharmacology. Rapid detox methods do NOT generally use methadone. They are becoming increasingly based on suboxone as one component BUT other prescription drugs to handle the symptoms of withdrawal are the main part of it (muscle relaxers, anti-shake medicines, anti-nausea medicines... anti-craving medicines are experimental at best but non-toxic, and putting people onto behavioral and pharmacologic RELAPSE PREVENTION is also part of it).
I cannot prescribe/advise/treat someone I do not see, but I can give the general medical information. The other obvious thing, is that if I want to drive somewhere I do NOT point the car in the direction, put on autospeed control and hop in the back seat and read; I make adjustments to stay on the road. Likewise with addiction, primarily it is a psycho-social issue with the pharmacology (the drug doses) playing only a small role. Getting advise, treatment, counseling IN A SOCIAL MILIEU with frequent adjustments of ...well....adjustments of everything, is the best course of action.
CROSS TOLERANCE
Detailed Answer:
this is the medically proven concept that things that work the same way on the same part of the brain and do the same things will substitute one addiction for another. If you are addicted to percocet and take methadone (or heroin) you don't become UN-addicted, you don't avoid withdrawal as much as put it off until later. You can have a lot of withdrawal fast (cold turkey) or somewhat less withdrawal over a longer period of time--which is what you are selecting. Methadone has a longer withdrawal period... from 1-2 week of peak with perc's to 3 week plus with methadone. Being "clean" while on methadone is self-deception. If you are taking a narcotic, you are taking a narcotic and dependent upon narcotic and will have narcotic withdrawal with the severity and extent depending on how much of what kind for total time of ALL narcotics NOT just the most recent one.
Methadone isn't stopped cold turkey. On the other hand. 150 mg of percocet is a larger equivalent dose than 20 mg per day of methadone. Methadone adjustments might not trigger a consequence in 1 day, since it takes time for it to get out of you, the new lower dose doesn't get there for a while. Seeing how each step goes before making another step is the way tapering is done. In methadone that would be at least waiting a week between steps. Often methadone clinics take a month for each decrease but that is based more on the philosophy of methadone clinics than upon the pharmacology. Rapid detox methods do NOT generally use methadone. They are becoming increasingly based on suboxone as one component BUT other prescription drugs to handle the symptoms of withdrawal are the main part of it (muscle relaxers, anti-shake medicines, anti-nausea medicines... anti-craving medicines are experimental at best but non-toxic, and putting people onto behavioral and pharmacologic RELAPSE PREVENTION is also part of it).
I cannot prescribe/advise/treat someone I do not see, but I can give the general medical information. The other obvious thing, is that if I want to drive somewhere I do NOT point the car in the direction, put on autospeed control and hop in the back seat and read; I make adjustments to stay on the road. Likewise with addiction, primarily it is a psycho-social issue with the pharmacology (the drug doses) playing only a small role. Getting advise, treatment, counseling IN A SOCIAL MILIEU with frequent adjustments of ...well....adjustments of everything, is the best course of action.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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