I used methadone to kick my habit.... used it for about 6 months and weaned myself down to taking nothing... been clean for about 18 years now, thanks to my wife and God I have been sober since getting clean!
I take methadone daily. I've been in it for almost 9 yrs now. My highest dose was 135mgs. It's taken me 3 yrs to get down to 65mgs. I never got high from it though. I've used Suboxen but only during detox at a rehab center & only for 2 weeks. I kept relapsing so I got on methadone. Back then they didn't prescribe it like they do now. If I had a choice I think I'd like the Vivitrol shot cuz it's a once a month thing. I gotta admit methadone saved my life. I work the program..going to counseling...staying clean & seeing the Dr about 4 times a yr. Whatever you choose to get & keep you sober is ok by me!!! As long as the end result is sobriety. I love your videos Dr. B!! You explain things so even us junkies can understand.
@@wangson that energy boost seems to be a true sign of someone with an affinity for opiate addiction, myself included. Many people, like my wife, hate how opiates make them feel and are definitely not energized by them.
@@sniper1444 Oh absolutely! I've always enjoyed how it has made me feel - same with the Oxy that I originally started with. Beyond that, I too am familiar with people who don't react to opiates with a sense of euphoria or a sense of contentedness but rather, have told me that any time they've taken an opiate, they've simply been made to fall asleep. They literally have the exact opposite reaction as I do to opiates.
Since starting methadone I haven’t relapsed and 100% am able to participate in all daily life activities that I couldn’t in active addiction. Only times I’ve messed up is when I stoped taking methadone
Suboxone never really "satisfied" my brain's need for opioids because of its partial agonism traits. METHADONE on the other hand is ALREADY putting me in positive recovery after only 2 DAYS on it! I have already dropped 50-60% of my illicit fentanyl use and I see me dropping it all as soon as I am able to move up in dosage. Methadone is a lifesaver! I never thought I'd be able to get off other opioids so this is all new to me.
I had to be on methadone for several years before I could swap to suboxone for the same reasons, but when I finally got on subs and was ready my life improved by leaps and bounds! My income tripled, own property, married, with a stable bank account with emergency fund, suboxone made this possible with a little want to
Yeah I've been on Methadone for 13 years. I want to try to switch over to Suboxone but if what you're saying is right, I probably wouldn't like it. Anyway, I'm glad it has helped u and I wish you good luck with your recovery!
I did the methadone route. I got up to 250 mg a day, ended up tapering and stopping at 4mg three years after starting it. That was a miserable first month but now I'm over 3 years off methadone and going on 7 years off heroin. I don't believe methadone should be the first option, but it's still better than getting street drugs.
I can't believe this man actually said he doesn't hear people saying it's hard to get off methadone.... Because I personally ALWAYS hear about it. ANYONE who's been on it for over 6months is going to have to take at least another 6months or more to slowly reduce the dosage. And will probably relapse along the way because we want to rush... I could go on but I'm just shocked to hear a supposed professional in this field say he never heard it's hard to come off methadone..... personally I don't know 1 person who said it WASN'T hard
@@jrambo7495there’s no real way to wean without feeling withdrawal. You have to wean very very slowly over s long period of time. Take the pills whole so it doesn’t mess up the time release.
@@jrambo7495 I feel ya bro I'm the exact same been on methadone for about 20 years I found it easy at 1st to tapper but now I'm moving up 5ml every 6 month because my system gets use to it quick I'm on 100ml at the moment I use to worry bout it bro I'm 46 now I give up if I need to be put up so I feel fine then so be it I'm sick of worrying about it how many ml are you on ?
Listen you have to take your time to low your dose i was in methadone for 19 years i drop 1 mg a week and was brutal the whitdraws then i take the jump at 5 mg and my good Lord almost to years later i still feel like shit, super tired ,can't sleep well ,chills, diarrheas, but not everybody will be like that depend your dose ,forlong you are on it your age and health i am in the 50s so take your time ok.
Methadone saved my life. I have been on methadone on and off for 17 years. I've been on this program since 2-2016. It definitely helped me change my life around. I got a job, a car and an apartment because of a program I follow daily and the methadone medication. I am so thankful 🙏
Congradulations, I started Methadone in Feb 2001, I got clean from dope on July 1, 2002. I go to the clinic once a month, and my life is great. I knew Methadone was going to be a life long commitment because I started at 46 years old. I am 69 now. Keep up the good work💜
I was on methadone for 22yrs, its a hard kick even at low doses... Everything thing i hear you saying is spot on. I generally dont like getting advice from someone who hasn't been there, but after watching many of your videos now you are the truth Dr.B
Hey Dr B! I just found your channel and am so happy. I was your patient for over 4 years. I had been wondering how you're doing. Anyways, I love all your content! Please keep it up as your knowledge on opioid & Benzo addiction and recovery is Top tier! Take Care - Richard Taylor
220mg daily methadone user. 160/60 split due to metabolic and bad liver function. 35 year old male. 20 year addiction. I tried Suboxone when they had the swords in the pill way back when. Not sure if I wasnt ready to get off back then but Methadone has worked far better. I already know I will be a lifer on Methadone but video did seem a little bias. I honestly dont mind if an addict uses Suboxone or Methadone as long as hes off hard opiates.
I’ve been on suboxone for 12 years and it turned my life around , yes it’s going to be tough to get off of but I know it won’t be as bad as heroin, oxy, ect, and I can take it as long as doctor allows. I have a disease and am being treated for it with suboxone and insurance pays mostly, I’m in way better shape than looking for pills on the street , withdrawing every other week , a miserable life , this channel is extremely informative, can’t believe I never saw it before
Go down to the smallest dose u can...I did a cold turkey off 20 mg...I would equate it to 70% of a full agonist detox but it lasts a fuck of a lot longer
I had a friend who started using street drugs at an early age. She started taking Methadone and I met her after she got off it. I had been prescribed methadone and she warned me that getting off of methadone was extremely hard. She told me it took her a year to two years of being sick before she started feeling better. I agree with you that getting off of Methadone is very, very difficult. When I started tapering off Methadone, it was horrible! I was miserable but I did it. My new doctor started me on a low dose of Buprenorphine and I feel well with it. I am still taking a very low dose of Buprenorphine. I have been sober from both alcohol and drugs for 8 years. I want to get off the Buprenorphine and wish that I didn't have to take antidepressants or a very low dose of a benzo but I have dual diagnosis with PTSD. Thank you for the valuable information. Edit: sentence
I have had a pretty good experience with methadone. I was able to KNOW I could go get something that helps me not withdraw and try to start getting a routine again. I would just lay around all day waiting on my guy to meet up with his connect feeling sick and lethargic. It was a every day hustle since I wasn't working a few months before starting methadone. Highest mg I've been was 84mg and I'm at 58 now, I've been going down 4mg every month or every other month (Thankfully, I've been good and only have to go once a month now). I'd really like to get off eventually, but just going at my own pace. I hope it can continue to help, because I've seen so many different classes of people and know addiction can affect anyone. Much love to those struggling. If you really want help, you're going to have to do it yourself first.
Thank you for taking the time to provide amazing, un-biased information regarding these opiates. I just stumbled upon you after a quick youtube search, and I'm glad I did. Take care doctor!
Dr D, ive been on and off methadone for 30 years, currently 13 years. Highest dose 190, sat on 140 for a long time, reduced to 35 but felt uncomfortable, back up at 80 and feeling good again. Thanks doc
You did a wonderful job explaining all of this. I've been on Methadone for about 12 years and yes it has saved my life. Haven't been in trouble with the law since I got on it. I would love to dose down and get off eventually but I'm worried about the withdraws.
@@Mustang1984 I share this because it took me years to learn. It felt as soon as I was stable, my family pressured me to get off the meds and I relapsed every time. I finally just decided my recovery was between me and God. Best of luck to you and I'm proud of you. Thank you for sharing.
The longer you stay on the meth the longer it stays in the BODY...So tell you what in order to understand the reality of the best way to get off it would have to be done while your not aware of the drop in your dosage...So tell them to slowly drop you off and NOT let YOU know how MUCH until you achieve a platform of which has removed you from the situation without your knowledge...And to understand the reality of the mental infection of knowing is if you are not aware of the move you will never feel a THING.... Been there done that...
So agree with this Dr. I'm currently on methadone, I tried suboxone and was the 1% that went back to methadone because the subixone just wasn't doing it for me at all. I gave it a good 2 weeks and begged to go back to methadone. I've 49 years old been on methadone over 20 years. If your ready for change it does work. It has completely helped with keeping me stable to do the work needed to change my life around. Thanks for the ininformation you've put forth . It has been life saving in my case.
Dr B , Drs like you are so hard to find. I've been blessed with a Dr like you and there is no doubt the good Lord has annointed you to help people. You are a good man and have helped so many including me, God Bless you sir, you are amazing. Thank you so much
@amodernalchemist578, OK KAREN, THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION. DO YOU ALWAYS FEEL THE NEED TO CORRECT PEOPLE ALL THE TIME? IF SO THATS A BIG SOCIAL PROBLEM FOR YOU!!
@@kelliborden249oh, and you're one to talk about social problems? Little miss all caps scream typer...triggered much!? That's a perfect example of a having *social problem!* Go take a xanax ffs and you call me Karen? Go look up the definition of a Karen and you'll find a portrait of yourself!
I've been on methadone, in Australia, for a quarter of a century now and these 'liquid handcuffs' aren't going to release me any time soon. The withdrawals, even when slowly decreasing one's dose, is quite noticeable and difficult to deal with. It's kept me as I am, addicted to methadone and I can't see any end in sight to the situation. The only good thing about the stuff is that I don't have to chase a dollar then a dealer, rather I pick up twice a week and get my takeaways for the other days. It could be worse, but I really wish that I had the inner fortitude to have withdrawn from the gear (heroin) and stayed clean, but after many years of trying to do just that prior to going on m'done I failed every time so as I said, things could be worse. At least in Australia, where I am just north of Sydney, we're treated as patients at a Pharmacy and doctor's surgery rather than 'junkies' as is so often the case in other countries such as the U.S. At least that's the experience that I have. Things could always be worse.
I went from methadone to Suboxone and it was so much better and you can take it 24 hrs after last methadone dose you just can take methadone after Suboxone or you'll wish you was dead
Good on ya mate. (Did I say that right?) :) I tried that route 5x back in the 90s but didn't want to up my dose, so I kept using H on top of it. Ended up doing a hard detox in rehab. They gave clonadine BP medication, if I remember correctly. 3 weeks of hell before I felt normal. Anyway, I was talking with someone the other day, and thinking how horrible it would be these days trying to cop on the street and having no idea if there was fentynal in it, or worse, tranq. Fknell, what a nightmare. It was bad enough 20+ yrs. ago chasing around some of the lovely hoods in Chicago. Hell, I don't even know if one can find 'just" H out there. Well, at least you don't have to worry about that. And you're treated like a human being. Not here. It's all pretty shady feeling. Take homes are limited to Sunday until one has gone through the process of showing up every morning early within a narrow timeframe. At least we're still around.
@@stringlarson1247 You're right in your last sentence. "At least you're still around" - But, though I have no personal love for the U.S. I feel for you, and can't believe that the same people who bring this evil situation down still claim a Christian piety, All the best, (Truly, be as well as you can be,) Mark.
@@stringlarson1247 I'm writing a second reply as I feel the first was a tad short. No, I haven't tried Clonidine but YES you got the "Good on yer mate". I think most of us still come out with that one regularly haha. I genuinely hope that you can find a system with which you can live, like a person, there and not an animal under arrest, always waiting for the hammer to drop. I truly think that the old days are gone and unless it's prescribed and 'forever available' it's not right to get addicted - If you know what I mean. Be well and happy. All the best - - Mark.
Many people don’t understand heroin is WAY easier to come off of then any opioid. The first time I detoxed in jail was of opioids and it was complete hell for 2 weeks and over a month before I felt somewhat better. The second time in jail I was only detoxing from just heroin and I was eating by the 4th day and felt “normal” around the 2 week mark! If I had to detox cold turkey today I would switch to heroin for a couple months then detox that.
I take methadone and no he is wrong about the euphoria. If your on a maintenance dose you won’t feel high at all. Your body just gets used to it. I’m on methadone maintenance, so I know first hand. I’m on 100mgs and I’m totally fine everyday. Has def helped me stay away from heroin/fentanyl. Saved my life. I almost died like twice. Woke up in the icu one time. It’s no joke
For me it’s not hard cutting my dose I’m prescribed 125 but routinely take less than half, I take 1 dose and stretch it 3 days. I think when you get down to less than 20-15 mg is when it gets harder.
How much fent were you using daily ? I've recently started methadone and I'm up to 75 mgs as of today and it just hasn't worked for me. I'll go around noon and by 5pm I'm in heavy withdrawal again
Well done. 6 mg. You can stop that in a few days. I went into detox in Manchester as I was on 40mg and Oramorph, zomorphs, the lot. Anyway day one 40mg then 30-22-18-12-10-8-6-4-2. Last dose got Covid. Stayed in an extra week so 4 instead of 3. When you get down to six they give you summat else , in U.K. anyway if that’s where you’re from? It’s called Clonidine. It’s not an opiate but helps with opioid and alcohol withdrawals. Take that for about 7-10 days and they taper you off that. I still felt a bit shit but this was last May and not touched the shit since. Have been doing benzos and tramadol and zopiclone still but that’s for another day. Keep going but you can piss it getting off 6mg love. You’re there almost but it’s the anxiety of being “ normal” again with me that was my fear. I didn’t know any different for 34 years since I started smoking hash at 13 and trips at 15 , then the dance scene 89-94 then gear , Meth and so on.
@@livvyscott8549 Thank you. Yes been off a year. Last May. Ten day detox and 3 weeks at Chapman Barker Unit in Manchester. From 40mg then drops each day to 30-22-18-12-10-8-6-4-2. So a ten day detox but was also smashing street Oramorph and zomorphs. Pregabs and zopiclone. Get a script for diazepam and stopping on that. You could smash that 21 in a week easily. I was the shit for 28 years with odd break here and there and a go on subutex but I abused them and ended up snorting 16-20 mg a day. As I say you’ll piss 21mg in 10 days. They give you Clonidine for last 6 mg or so and continue for a week just to prevent any residual withdrawals. Took months to feel right and still take zopiclone as I love the things but only at night. All the best and keep me posted please. You’ll do it.
Started methadone treatment 9 years ago. It's has saved my life . Started out at 140mgs. I am now at 4 mgs. I'll be tapering out of the program within a year. Gratitude. Infinite Gratitude
When a person says getting off Subs was a Nightmare, my initial thought Is always ,"This person never slammed dope"( metaphorically speaking) My concise ,non-medical opinion from Experience- My time on Suboxen- Life Improved , No Cravings , Stayed Clean My time on Methadone - Felt Guilty, Relapsed constantly , Nodded out on the toilet at my Gf's apt ( and never even notice it!!!!!) Conclusion ; I don't care what anyone says, but getting off Methadone is Hell compared to getting off Subs. Getting off Suboxen was a cakewalk; and in my experience 15 times easier than getting of Methadone Another Great One Doc! I honestly think You see the best Assisted Treatment Doctor In the country. Take care !
ABSOLUTELY. I thought I'd die trying to get off methadone. Nodded out constantly. No euphoria with suboxone, no horrible withdrawel ( although it's tough if you rub out ) like with methadone. Suboxone is so easy to get off of compared to methadone..
Im glad I went the suboxone route I only went on 2mg I just wanted help with cravings don’t plan on going higher than 2 mg and only plan on being on for a year don’t wanna be dependent on it for long it’s all mental really people wanna stay on methadone and suboxone for years because they aren’t ready to give up being dependent on something but it’s possible you just got too be mentally strong
@@craiglyles4755 honestly I'm baffled about the misinformation on the internet concerning sub withdrawal. Like any withdrawal, if you're not doing anything but focusing on it , yeah you're gonna get depressed. My best suggestion is find ways to make yourself happy again. If you've managed to get off any opiates and you're not using other drugs, that in itself should feel like a major accomplishment , and you should be proud of yourself. If you're really struggling go see a professional or a psychiatrist, but don't look for answers on the internet. If you've been hooked on opiates for along time, the initial thought of cessation or permanent abstinence can be scary as hell, but if you look keep your eye on the big picture , you've just managed to get your life back , and that in itself kept me motivated for awhile. I can't answer that question for you. Everybody's experience is different. I remember when I was going into sub withdrawal and I did my research on suboxen withdrawal on the internet ; it kinda freaked me out. But looking back in retrospect it was honestly mostly based on ' FEAR' and ' LIES'. That's why I like dr b's channel. I can't Answer that question for you. All I have is my experience. But I guarantee DR B has a more conclusive answer. I will say one thing. I F$@$8ing slept the entire time. That was unheard of for me in any opiate withdrawal. I'll leave it at that. Why would it be unbearable? It wasn't for me. Sounds like you're already making yourself feel unbearable before you've accepted that you did something that only makes you stronger unless you're not ready
Especially since your primary means of relief through a doctor (Suboxone) will make you sick as sht if you try to take it anywhere before 3 days of withdrawal. Kratom probably won't even touch that either
I've never been high on Methadone, and I did try ONCE. My boyfriend at the time gave me enough for a week, well I took all of it. I was so sick I wanted to die. But it certainly didn't get me high. At my clinic we can take Benzo as look as we are prescribed it. During COVID, I had monthly take home, In Feb they cut us all down to 2 weeks take homes, which isn't too bad. If I go on vacation I get exceptions. I have been on Methadone since Feb 1, 2001, and I stopped Heroin for good on July 2, 2002. My highest dose was 165mg. When I got to be 65 years old I cut down to 130mg. My dose is perfect for me, I have mental health issues and I take an anti depressent, and I take 1 Klonopin a day for my panic disorder. I don't consider Methadone liquid handcuffs, and I am a lifer, yes I get grief from people, but I ignore them. This is what I do to stay clean
@@angelategos7217 You too.. It's a lifesaver, without it, I doubt I would be alive today. I am glass you're doing good on it too. It feels so good to wake up every morning and not being sick. Not worrying about where the next one is coming from. Keep it up too💜💜
I have been on Suboxone for nearly 15 years and I started at 10 mg . I’m now at 2 mg films under the tongue twice a day. The only problem I have is staying awake. You can’t sit down or drive or do anything without falling asleep. Except when you want to asleep, it’s next to impossible, so how can I get off the stuff? Excellent video just the same. It has made me change my plans completely. I hope for the better. Thanks for sharing this information.
I'm a recovering addict and have almost 2 years clean, and I'm currently on 1 suboxone film a day, but really it's all just trading 1 drug for another, because now I'm a slave to my suboxone every day, I'm trying to wean myself off completely now
I was on Methadone for a long time and it is hard and rough to get off of methadone and to me it was more addicted cause I just wanted more and more lucky I was getting my from my Dr. I was taking the pills methadone. Thanks for the video Dr.B love your teaching
I was on Methadone for years for MS pain. I got monthly scripts from my pain management doctor. I had to switch back to Morphine and Oxycodone after repeated EKGs. Even with high doses of both, I still had horrible withdrawal. Great video, Dr. B!
Methadone for me was horrid. Or my dose was too high. For about 3 years, I just drifted through life, sleeping all the time. I think I was on 90mgs. I’m on Suboxone now, and I don’t have any side effects. It just helps with the pain.
Thank you so much for all the info. I just started suboxone for chronic back pain today and I'm hoping for the best. You really seem like a great truly caring Dr.
hi..i just want to ask you how ur pain is now and if you feel that Suboxin is Really a pain relief for you...as im being introduced to it myself. pls and ty
@@user-cm6qg4lj3n It's helped me alot, it replaced both main meds of morphine for round the clock pain and oxycodone for breakthrough pain)But they had to keep upping the dose to get it right, I'm on zubsolv 5.7mg. 3/day ( but I break them in half so I can take it every 4 hrs. 6/day) zubsolv is the same med but in tablet that doesn't taste as bad as the suboxone. I hope that helps z nd hope it works out for you. May the Lord Jesus bless you and keep you and yours.
Methadone seriously saved my life. I went from that to Suboxone. But coming off of methadone was the hardest thing I think I've ever done. I was sick for so so long! That's the issue and I even came down as doctor recommended. I came down a couple milligrams a week something like that. I was on 140 a day for about 18 years. And it was a rough road. Thank God I wasn't using when all this nasty stuff is out here fentanyl and the stuff that eat your body up. But methadone really does work truly.
Watching this with suboxone under my tongue.. I quit all drugs in 2016 and got on suboxone. My biggest problem is that I need to quit it but I'm kind of scared to quit.
Been on methadone since 2006. Its 2023. I wont state my dose. But it's a lot more than normal. It has saved my life. Want to get off someday but scared.
I am day 12 cold turkey Went to clinic for 15 yrs 150 ml a day. Still feel it but day 5-6 are the worst. If u can take 2 weeks off will help w the worst of it. Good luck
Suboxone SAVED MY LIFE!! Plain and simple. I was spiraling down in a pit of despair, depression, and addiction. I cannot even begin to tell you the horrible things I did to make that withdrawal go away, I was doctor shopping, ER shopping, among other things and life was looking pretty bleak for me, and I knew this situation wasn't sustainable, yet no matter how badly I wanted to stop, I just could NOT deal with the withdrawal. I was thrown a life raft when I was given a prescription for Suboxone. A LOT of people give me grief and say I just traded one drug for another, and that may be true, but Subs have undeniably given me my life back! I've been taking them for about 7 years and my doctor has given me full control of how and when I dose down. I'm on such a small dose now, and who knows, I may stay there for another 7 years, but it's MY choice! This is MY journey to take, and right now it's working for me and my family!
And that's all that matters you and your family..You didn't trade one for another you probably saved your life wishing you the best stay strong and blessings to you and your family..
Your videos is very helpful! I start metadone 5 days ago. First 20 mg /day , working wery well but after 14 hours start my withdrawal. Now i start 30 mg/day.
I totally agree it’s not trading one addiction for another by going on a medication like Suboxone or methadone I’ve seen people get there life back from getting in to treatment with these medications I’ve also seen where people say they prefer Suboxone over methadone because methadone made them use more or want to use
This was a great video and very insightful. My only complaint with Suboxone is the expense. Even the generic is so expensive. It has however absolutely saved my life so it’s definitely worth it. Thank you Dr B
Fortunately in the U.K. we’ve got the national health service. Don’t pay for any drugs , well we do because we pay national insurance. Smallish amount though. They are absolute stars NHS workers. Saved me from very close death when I’d had pneumonia then forgot 4 days. Couldn’t walk , hold things. My wife ( now separated) just thought I was off my nut on tablets. She usually just threw cold water over me and I’d come round but I didn’t. Got blue lighted to hospital and it was Sepsis. I was intubated in resus O2 saturations down in my boots at 51%. Don’t know how my brain wasn’t effected. Well I am very forgetful. Put me in an induced coma , then a paralysing drug so Couldn’t try and pull the tube out. Then a tracheostomy. A month in intensive care and 2 weeks on a respiratory ward. They were outstanding. Anyway sorry to bang on!
@neilmoore5387 ehh I've heard some opposing views when it comes to your health care system. Simple procedures can take months or even a year. Huge waiting periods. The USA is definetly a broken system as well, but the NIH is not perfect either. Not to mention they are bleeding money because it's free, and that's basically why your taxes are like 70 plus percent.
@@analogueoverdigital929 I don’t pay tax pal I’m a lazy bastard on the dole. No I had to retire due to medical reasons in 2019. They’ve been life savers for me and not cost me a penny apart from when I used to pay National Insurance. A night in intensive care works out at about £1900 a full day what with one / two to one nursing. All staff that include EN and T. Speech and Language. Assistants. Surgeon. Consultants. Drs. Registrars. Nurses , catering , radiographers. That’s before the drugs , care, it soon adds up. I was in 30 nights so you do the “math”s. Imagine having to fork that out. I only spoke out as I saw someone your side of pond pays so much for subbies. It may be a failed system but it does what it can and saves bare number of lives. Say for example you had to stay in intensive care for 5 days in USA and you’ve no insurance what would you’re bill be like? Ball park figure. Tax from here and your own country most of it goes on weapons.
Thanks! I watched your first video and it motivated me to change clinics so I could finally get a peak and trough done. Today was the day so I'm hoping the results prove I'm not well 24hrs a day.
Merah one saved my life. It allowed me to have enough stability to work and get my life together. That being said Very very hard to get off of. Stayed on 5 years came off slow. But still had no energy and over all felt like shit. Started taking suboxine which is much easier to trapper off
Methadone is a much longer detox than Suboxone. I’ve been on each of them over the last two decades, for multiple years, multiple times, with multiple cold turkey detoxes in the hoosegow. Now 37 with 7 years sober and 2 years off Suboxone.
I was taking 150 mlg of liquid methadone at a local clinic and was given my last dose and told that I had to find another clinic due to a physical fight with a staff member being a security person and I had to go cold turkey because I am so sick and even suboxone isn't helping much I'm still having severe withdrawals and haven't been able to leave the house but once and I am so drained I was so ready go back and get in the bed & I've been taking couple subs a day and still weak as water and hot and cold aches and muscle spasms, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, diarrhea etc. And I have access to 2 or 3 subs a day and I've taken 3 and still sickly feeling ... ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ???😢
What is the old chemotherapy drug you mentioned, that you said you'd compare to methadone? I'm asking as someone who's very interested in the pharmacology, chemistry, etc.
The only draw back to suboxone is you have to be in withdrawals or the antagonist in suboxone will put you into precipitated withdrawals. I was on pain management from a pain clinic and in about 2017 when the fda came down on dr.s they cut my methadone quickly and started me on suboxone to quickly & the precipitated withdrawals put me in a suicidal state. Thank God the clinic took my insurance & I was able to quickly get bk on methadone! I've been on it for 20 yrs & have no plans of coming off!! It did take 3 yrs per protocol of clean ua's to get 2 wk take homes, but it works for me. I really enjoy your videos!! Thanks for making them!! I
Here in Canada when you start a methadone traitement you have to take your dose daily in front of the methadone dispenser (pharmacist, nurse,etc ..) for the first 3 month. After the 3 months probation you get 1 privilege a week every month until max 6 privilege so you don't have to go every day at the clinic or pharmacy. But if you take metadol for pain they will serve you up to a week depending what your doctor decided...
@@JhelleMies Good decision, don't worry it will be alright. Maybe for the first couple of days you mignt need some ajustement of the dose but when you are on the right dose you will feel better with more energy. Good luck and be proud of yourself.
As a patient who has started being prescribed painkillers at age 11 to 18. I have been on both methadone and suboxone. While on suboxone I relapsed many times and even resorted to drinking alcohol. That's not to say suboxone doesn't work. In many cases it does work. However, in people who have been on stronger painkillers at higher doses for a longer time, Methadone has been better. Since I've been on methadone I have stopped using everything including recreational thc here and there. Since I stopped all drug use I now get 2 weeks supply of Methadone. So with some people Methadone works a lot better. It really is a matter of regulations. Most people don't know that in some countries, heroin replacement theorophy is used. So it has everything to do with the culture.
@@DrB360official I am on Suboxone. I was am in a treatment program. And I see the dr and the councilor monthly. I like to smoke pot. For 8 years my quarterly drug test is always negative and the medication that is prescribed is in my system at the right level, however recently my dr been on me about thc. It was never a issue for 8-9 years. And now my state is recreational. I just tested positive for thc and she’s warning me about the contract I signed for treatment. Litterally a decade ago. I don’t want to get thrown out. But thc got me away from benzodiazepines. Did a law change or is it my dr
Yeah-I started heroin as a teen. Methadone has had me living a normal life, out of the streets for about 20 years now. I do take a celexa and a klonopin a day, too. This combo has kept me on the straight and narrow for as I said, almost half of my life now.
It's amazing in 1940s, Germany, Chemists decided let's make a human "body-Ketone" with same chemical function but let's add 2 benzenes so it can land on a mu receptor and of course, a Morphine "Nucleus" in it as well too.
If using SUBOXONE as prescribed, do you ever advise patient who suffer from severe constipation to spit out their saliva and the naloxone that remains in it out so that no opiate is in their digestive tract? I was told to do this by my subscribing physician and it has helped me dramatically.Especially coming over to SUBOXONE from 20 years of 200 mgs of Methadone.
That's interesting, I never heard of that. The naloxone is supposed to not have an effect at that level orally. Buprenorphine alone causes constipation too. Did you notice any withdrawal or feeling like you decreased your dose?
My ex was on Suboxone and the Dr told him to do the same thing, let it dissolve and then spit it out, I think the reason was because of heart burn and sometimes nausea and that sometimes led to vommitting. Dr said most patients wouldn't even try, thought they would be spitting out the medicine. Can't say that I blame them because of the cost. He just started taking prilosec for his heart burn. Dr's that could prescribe them were fairly new, and I was afraid his dose was too high or something.
@@FitzSchlitz I'm doing really well. I simply cannot get off the last few mg that I am on. I was very young when I started taking tramadol for an injury as time went on I did not abuse the medication but I had been on it so long I had pretty bad withdrawal so I went to the hospital as I was pretty naive and did not know I could become dependent on a non narcotic. Well the hospital sent me to a methadone clinic and they insisted on raising my dose and over time I would raise when I decided $350 a month is outrageous. I want off this medication but I cannot afford a rehab. I believe I just need to find the right info or doctor that can help guide me. I'm yo the point that I'd give my right arm to be free of this stuff.
I have a question. I started methadone yesterday, as a short term detox plan from 1 year IM heroin addiction. Before going into methadone, I already tried cold turkey 3 times, but failed at around 40 hours mark, scored, but I'm sure my tolerance dropped quite a bit. So my starting dose is 10ml/day methadone, it holds withdrawal at bay 80%, my aim is to quit totally, not for maintenance. How do you suggest I should go about this plan? What dosage reduction and timeline should I follow? Thank you.
This was also my plan- to get off it as soon as possible but what I’ve actually learned is that you need be on it for at least 6 months. The receptors in your brain need time to heal themselves after being overdrive for so long from the drug addiction. My advice is what my plan for myself currently is. Maintain on the lowest dose possible, then at around d the 6 month mark my Dr is going to start to wean me.. and the best part is that I’m in control, I can wean 1-5 mg at a time but have the ability to also bump it back up if I need to. My clinic also requires us to meet with a counselor each week and it’s really helped more than I thought i would. I’m very optimistic. .. but yea I just wanted to be off it sooner than their plan but now that I understand the actual science behind it, I’m good with it. Best of luck to you
Methadone saved my life, I developed an alergy to Buorenorphine after trying to get clean the 4th time, I was having seizures from it. I went from 25mg to 70mg over the course of 6 months, stayed there a year and started going down 1mg every one or two weeks and the withdrawals are minimum, I run my own business now, own a home without payments, own two vehicles, pay my bills, take care of family and dont have any cravings at 7mg.
Dr. B, could you please make a video on the androgenic side effects of opiates, specifically with regards to bupe? The more detailed the better -- Thanks!
I've been on liquid handcuffs for almost 20 years on 130 mgs. I want to get off. I'm tired. I started due to addiction to pain killers given to me for pain from Lyme disease and back pain. Methadone has been wonderful for me. I haven't touched a painkiller in 20 years. I believe I would be successful if I came off. The thing that stops me is the withdrawal stories. I'm terrified. But I'm just tired of being dependent on it. Sigh...do you think I should jump to suboxone? I just found your channel and am a new subscriber. Thanks for the concise and knowledgeable information.
Great vid Dr. To you out there: THERE IS HOPE & HELP to get better! I was over 100mg day with methadone and was very resistant to switching to buprenorphine because of the stories like you mentioned. I ended up dropping 3mg/day to 30mg then jumped over from methadone to buprenorphine. Best thing I’ve done. I got my life & freedom back. My spinal pain, after 3 failed surgeries, is managed without being or feeling high at all. I have my sobriety and clean head with amazing memory now. And to any who really want it and apply effort; its yours also. ༄
the problem with methadone in the U.S. is that they give the patient 100mg everyday , so when it's time to detox you have way too much in the body, and they detox people up to mg every 3 days. I've never met someone who truly was successful in getting off of methadone.
I have detoxed on both methadone and Subutex also Suboxone. I totally agree that Methadone is alot harder to come of than the Subutex and Suboxone. Love from UK.Great channel.💯👍🏼🙏🏽🙏🥊☮️❤️
Hello Doctor. Just i have a question about Subutex. If I use protein powder 4 days a week 30 grams a day with 250 ml of water (all doing sports to increase muscle mass) skipping in the meantime I am taking buprenorphine 8 mg daily. So the question is .... Does that protein powder seriously affect my health in combination with buprenorphine ??? Thanks. Tony
Hello doctor,i have a question about after how much time that i stopped using methadone can I use Suboxone that i don't get precipitated withdrawal? please answer my question
Everyone says the same for Methadone that it is harder to get off of than oxy or heroine or Suboxone. I'm dropping ,10mg of methadone every 3 days so I will be on ,70mg tomorrow I'm 270lbs and 36 years old. Wish me luck. Any suggestions Dr B?
I like your info doc but I'm in the UK England watch all your blogs your not a bad doctor ha ha very understanding but I reckon expensive . In England this type of care is free keep up the blogs an I will keep watching Phil from liverpool England UK
Clean 4 years thanks to methadone. It's so so worth the time to build your dose to the theraputic level. Truly my prayers were answered with this treatment.
How long does that take? I was started at 40 mg and going up 5mg a day for the first 2 weeks I'm at 75 as of now and it feels like I'm going for no reason
Going to the clinic for about 2 yrs now and methadone saved my life and me for knowing I was going to die if I didn't do something about it. No craving or withdrawal. Now I do relate to the liquid handcuffs cause it does predict a lot you can't do when your on it. Now my clinic doesn't mind weed but a big one they don't like is benzos. And that isn't a good approach to it I agree on that.
Not in the beginning it takes time to build in your system plus they also start on a low dose and up you 5 mgs a day (sone places don't do that much) for the first 2 weeks. If it's not enough to last the full 24 hours by that point you can go up an additional 10mg a week from there.
I have had enough experience with Heroin, Morphine, Methadone to know they are all just as addictive as all major opiates. I personally don't believe Heroin is any more addictive than Opium Dilaudid etc. Some are more euphoric than others. That's about it.
I remember mentally it was so tough being on methadone. Not to mention the weight gain, the rediculous sweating, sleeping long hours. Made some changes with my Doc, life is way better. Be careful with this sh*t people. Life is beautiful
Same i am 300 lb now from methadone on 12 years 80 mg and i hear of u only take 30 mg you might not gain weight bit i lost l l y lteeth all of them and got very week u e me To Walk
@@ggsjunkjournaltime9784 Get on subs. They suck in comparison, but it's better being in the 150s versus 220s I was at. Going once a month is pretty good too if you don't smoke weed. I watched countless people start on methadone as skinny people, and gradually become huge. With methadone you feel good on it if you have enough, so it takes some drive to get down to 50mg or less. With subs you never really feel good, so it's easier to take less. You just feel good enough to get by. Methadone is basically impossible to get off of also. I tried dropping off at like 15, and had been at 25 or less for some time. Literally almost died. People die in jail from detox, but they don't let it out. Got on subs or I would have wanted to jump off a bridge after 10 day and hadn't even been able to remotely think about eating. Their test still showed positive for methadone. Subs are a lot easier to cut down and get off of.
@@ggsjunkjournaltime9784 BTW I didn't have the issue of doing other stuff like some people do with methadone, but with subs it doesn't work well anyway so problem solved.
I agree. The lower the dose the better. I had every side effect you mentioned when my dose was above 70 mgs. I'm at 60 now and feel great, and plan on getting off completely by 2024, by tapering 2mgs twice a month. Methadone is no joke, and when you finally jump off you need a plan.
I started out on suboxone but didn't find it helpful. I've been on methadone for a while and have found it very effective. I've been clean of illicit drugs for 5 years now.
I really enjoyed listening to you. Thank you for educating me on this topic. I'm new on methadone on 90mgs a day. I've had issues in the beginning with my dose not lasting the entire day , my doctor split my dose to 45mgs every 12 hrs which really works for me. A friend of mine is also on methadone, his bottle reads: Methadose and my bottle reads Methadone Hcl ( odan). Cant find much online about it but I was just wonderimg if there was a difference? I will be subscribing and watching more of your content to learn all that I can. Thanks again and god bless.
@@christopherwilliams7905 funny enough methadose seems to not hold folks for 24 hours the stuff made by odan or the metadol-d by paladin labs are way better in terms of lasting 24 hours. There is clinical reports that support this.
hello io am also on 45mg twice a day and wow it's like night and day compared to just dosing every 24 hours. I think a lot more people need the split dosing than they think.
I was taking Dilaudid for severe slipped disc and it did work but when I would wake up from sleeping, I would be in such pain I could not even walk to go to the bathroom. I have no symptoms of withdrawal. The only symptoms I had was perhaps diarrhea maybe some anxiety but no cold sweats or cold turkey as I would suspect and the VA weaned me off very successfully and very easily. I did not get addicted. I also had been on Vicodin for a broken arm and I never got addicted like others. I guess I do not have the gene for addiction in my body. My brothers were into a lot of substance abuse and only one of them never quite kicked it and later on he got aids from needles. I was told that many soldiers were given narcotics so they could fight fiercely and not feel pain. When someone is on heroin, it is so obvious they always look half asleep. They always seem to be talking out of their nose. Sometimes they even walk a little hunched over like a caveman. My brother did a lot of nasty things because of his addiction. He stole 6:056:12 everybody blind. Two of my brothers were able to kick the habit, but not the other one and the other one was a major jerk. But one of my other brothers was addicted to LSD and destroyed his brain. All of these drugs, destroy personality.
Why can’t I get Oxycodone to get off H? I only started because doc got shut down and no other doctors would give me 4 30mgs a day... Methadone and Suboxone are long acting which I can’t take....I’m menopausal and can’t do hormone replacement so I’m not to take any extended release anything....fentanyl already sucked my adrenals dry and Oxycodone is really good for thyroid so why can’t I have it? If opiates had the same news releases and interest as cannabis this country wouldn’t be a mess! We should have opiate dispensaries and be able to discuss our needs with a rep instead of treating opiate like it’s a bad word
Methadone was a nightmare to get off of. I took 30mg per day for chronic migraine. Forced off after 15 years. I almost died. I was off in one month. Suffered horribly. That was 2016
You are fantastic,I'm in the UK and I've been on methadone for 22 yrs,it doesn't make me dozey or gouch out,it makes me energetic,confident whereas I'm normally anxious and socially withdrawn....when I used to take speed it made me withdrawn and quiet...opposite to the usual...I suspect I have aspergers but back to my methadone use,plenty of drs have tried to help me off it,I've failed every time not just as I cannot put up with the withdrawal but my anxiety etc comes back,all in all I function better on opiates than I do or did when wasn't using it. never used heroin,I got addicted to dyhydrocodeine after years of nursing,I hold down a job and everyone always says....wow...had no idea you were on this.....till I told them. I'm very interested in your thoughts doc....as of now I'm content on it....tho do worry if chemist doesn't have it on puck up day which is weekly...25ml daily
In the prison system we got high off of Suboxone every day they would cut 1 strip into 16 pieces and sell them for 20 bucks a pop all day and no doubt it got us high
Methadone withdrawal is horrible. I am on day 4 and it's so hard. Unfortunately being honest, I am going back to the clinic tomorrow because I am weak and couldn't handle it🥺😒 liquid handcuffs are going back on...
Day 4: You should be able to switch to Subutex. I hope you made this decision and for that, it has been offered to you. Good luck. U know we're all different, but we do have quite a lot 'general commons.'
Wow that's the most addictive thing I ever done! Took me years to quit and to start feeling better and I still don't feel normal! I would suggest that no one would ever do it! Just my experience and option!
Been on methadone 8yrs went to jail on 120mg back in 2015 cold turkey was sick for 2,3 months methadone withdrawal definate most brutal drawn out torture there is
Yea it is fucking terrible, I was on 90 mg and went cold turkey and was worthless for a month. By 3 months it was manageable but I wondered if id ever feel normal again.
I was on 100mg of methodone 5 yrs.ago I got off of it and now I am on 16mg getting off of it cold turkey and have been sick for a month, have not slept or eat good.
Same. From 80mg. Could not believe how long it lasted. Im back to being to addicted to street drugs again cause im a fucking idiot. But I will not go back to methadone. I mean maybe if I get too sick I don't know. I'm gonna try weening off
bad thing about going to the methadone clinic is finding out you have a random pee test that day and forgot to drink water on the way. methadone retains water by nature and already makes it hard to pee sometimes. so i would either have to get in trouble for being late to work or have to skip my dose and have w/d's at work
I might get on Suboxone and then taper from it if it gets too hard for me or sublocade. Thank you for keeping it real. I did try Suboxone but it made me nauseous. But I will consider what you said and might try Suboxone again and the taper from it if I run. Into trouble. Excellent video
@@KARL_SHROOMS..ON.I.G It may be the naloxone (sp?) part of suboxone -- Nalaxone makes you nauseated for 7-10days if you have recently used any opiates In The last week+.
Wouldn't methadone be considered an opioid since it isn't made from the poppy plant? I've always read that opiates are derived from opium and anything else that excites those same receptors is an opioid.
I used methadone to kick my habit.... used it for about 6 months and weaned myself down to taking nothing... been clean for about 18 years now, thanks to my wife and God I have been sober since getting clean!
Friggin awesome
Lucky you never got hooked on Fent dope like all the people now.
@@dlife7427 ya i was blessed that wasnt around when i messed up cuz ida been another stat probably
Well done pal 👍🏼
@@MrNorthphoenix well glad your doing better my friend. One day at a time brother! You got this
I take methadone daily. I've been in it for almost 9 yrs now. My highest dose was 135mgs. It's taken me 3 yrs to get down to 65mgs. I never got high from it though. I've used Suboxen but only during detox at a rehab center & only for 2 weeks. I kept relapsing so I got on methadone. Back then they didn't prescribe it like they do now. If I had a choice I think I'd like the Vivitrol shot cuz it's a once a month thing. I gotta admit methadone saved my life. I work the program..going to counseling...staying clean & seeing the Dr about 4 times a yr. Whatever you choose to get & keep you sober is ok by me!!! As long as the end result is sobriety. I love your videos Dr. B!! You explain things so even us junkies can understand.
@@wangson that energy boost seems to be a true sign of someone with an affinity for opiate addiction, myself included. Many people, like my wife, hate how opiates make them feel and are definitely not energized by them.
@@sniper1444 Oh absolutely! I've always enjoyed how it has made me feel - same with the Oxy that I originally started with. Beyond that, I too am familiar with people who don't react to opiates with a sense of euphoria or a sense of contentedness but rather, have told me that any time they've taken an opiate, they've simply been made to fall asleep. They literally have the exact opposite reaction as I do to opiates.
Not all junkies are illiterate so definitely don’t say us maybe you
I took methadone for years if anyone says they dont get high from it they are lieing
Never got high from it ok i believe you
Since starting methadone I haven’t relapsed and 100% am able to participate in all daily life activities that I couldn’t in active addiction. Only times I’ve messed up is when I stoped taking methadone
Suboxone never really "satisfied" my brain's need for opioids because of its partial agonism traits. METHADONE on the other hand is ALREADY putting me in positive recovery after only 2 DAYS on it! I have already dropped 50-60% of my illicit fentanyl use and I see me dropping it all as soon as I am able to move up in dosage. Methadone is a lifesaver! I never thought I'd be able to get off other opioids so this is all new to me.
I had to be on methadone for several years before I could swap to suboxone for the same reasons, but when I finally got on subs and was ready my life improved by leaps and bounds! My income tripled, own property, married, with a stable bank account with emergency fund, suboxone made this possible with a little want to
Yeah I've been on Methadone for 13 years. I want to try to switch over to Suboxone but if what you're saying is right, I probably wouldn't like it. Anyway, I'm glad it has helped u and I wish you good luck with your recovery!
@@Mustang1984 you can always switch back to the methadone if it doesn't work out or if you don't like it. Just sayin'.
@@cjgames4378 why ? What was the difference
Switching from MD to Suboxone is not easy and can’t be rushed though so please do it safely whoever may try.
I did the methadone route. I got up to 250 mg a day, ended up tapering and stopping at 4mg three years after starting it. That was a miserable first month but now I'm over 3 years off methadone and going on 7 years off heroin. I don't believe methadone should be the first option, but it's still better than getting street drugs.
I can't believe this man actually said he doesn't hear people saying it's hard to get off methadone.... Because I personally ALWAYS hear about it. ANYONE who's been on it for over 6months is going to have to take at least another 6months or more to slowly reduce the dosage. And will probably relapse along the way because we want to rush... I could go on but I'm just shocked to hear a supposed professional in this field say he never heard it's hard to come off methadone..... personally I don't know 1 person who said it WASN'T hard
Help! I want off of it too! If I try to taper, even just 5 milligrams, my dose won't last 24 hours. I want off of this ,it's like being in prison.
@@jrambo7495there’s no real way to wean without feeling withdrawal. You have to wean very very slowly over s long period of time. Take the pills whole so it doesn’t mess up the time release.
How to come off methadone
@@jrambo7495 I feel ya bro I'm the exact same been on methadone for about 20 years I found it easy at 1st to tapper but now I'm moving up 5ml every 6 month because my system gets use to it quick I'm on 100ml at the moment I use to worry bout it bro I'm 46 now I give up if I need to be put up so I feel fine then so be it I'm sick of worrying about it how many ml are you on ?
I'm 65 and have been on methadone for 33 years I find it almost impossible to get off but that's OK. I only go to the clinic once every two weeks
Shake hands,me too,now back on 20 mg,brrrr
How long you been on man? Mines 12 years on 105mg now on 30
Listen you have to take your time to low your dose i was in methadone for 19 years i drop 1 mg a week and was brutal the whitdraws then i take the jump at 5 mg and my good Lord almost to years later i still feel like shit, super tired ,can't sleep well ,chills, diarrheas, but not everybody will be like that depend your dose ,forlong you are on it your age and health i am in the 50s so take your time ok.
Bro u been on this longer than I’ve been alive omg
Great Question! I am glad you are discussing this!!!
Awesome.
Methadone saved my life. I have been on methadone on and off for 17 years. I've been on this program since 2-2016. It definitely helped me change my life around. I got a job, a car and an apartment because of a program I follow daily and the methadone medication. I am so thankful 🙏
Congradulations, I started Methadone in Feb 2001, I got clean from dope on July 1, 2002. I go to the clinic once a month, and my life is great. I knew Methadone was going to be a life long commitment because I started at 46 years old. I am 69 now. Keep up the good work💜
I was on methadone for 22yrs, its a hard kick even at low doses... Everything thing i hear you saying is spot on. I generally dont like getting advice from someone who hasn't been there, but after watching many of your videos now you are the truth Dr.B
Here, here. 25+ yrs here, it'll kill me, but as an addict I can't get pain relief for spinal injury. It's all I got..
@@chrisharding5447 yer around 15 years this time round, been on and off methadone for around 30 years.
How low of a dose are you talking about kicking from?
@@markmansfieldsbwc4674 i quite at about 8mgs..it would have benefited me to go lower but it just wasn't in the cards.
Hey Dr B! I just found your channel and am so happy. I was your patient for over 4 years. I had been wondering how you're doing. Anyways, I love all your content! Please keep it up as your knowledge on opioid & Benzo addiction and recovery is Top tier! Take Care - Richard Taylor
220mg daily methadone user. 160/60 split due to metabolic and bad liver function. 35 year old male. 20 year addiction. I tried Suboxone when they had the swords in the pill way back when. Not sure if I wasnt ready to get off back then but Methadone has worked far better. I already know I will be a lifer on Methadone but video did seem a little bias. I honestly dont mind if an addict uses Suboxone or Methadone as long as hes off hard opiates.
youre a mage?
@@gristamshackleford2102 yup mage... lol *male duh
35 years 20 year in drugs 🤣🤣🤣 yea right !
@@jmr6117 started at 15? Math is hard lol
@jmr6117 you're an idiot,for a better lack of words.
I’ve been on suboxone for 12 years and it turned my life around , yes it’s going to be tough to get off of but I know it won’t be as bad as heroin, oxy, ect, and I can take it as long as doctor allows. I have a disease and am being treated for it with suboxone and insurance pays mostly, I’m in way better shape than looking for pills on the street , withdrawing every other week , a miserable life , this channel is extremely informative, can’t believe I never saw it before
Go down to the smallest dose u can...I did a cold turkey off 20 mg...I would equate it to 70% of a full agonist detox but it lasts a fuck of a lot longer
I'm sorry to say but subotex it's ten times harder to kick than heroin
@@AV-sq3jb I’m sure u are correct, I was trying to psych myself out
@@AV-sq3jb it's mostly the mindf..k I can deal with pain , but no sleep and anxiety plus the craving is unbelievable
@@mellopez1859 man same here I’m currently detoxing from suboxone and I’m on day 3. Sucks to think about how long this will last
I had a friend who started using street drugs at an early age. She started taking Methadone and I met her after she got off it. I had been prescribed methadone and she warned me that getting off of methadone was extremely hard. She told me it took her a year to two years of being sick before she started feeling better. I agree with you that getting off of Methadone is very, very difficult. When I started tapering off Methadone, it was horrible! I was miserable but I did it. My new doctor started me on a low dose of Buprenorphine and I feel well with it. I am still taking a very low dose of Buprenorphine. I have been sober from both alcohol and drugs for 8 years. I want to get off the Buprenorphine and wish that I didn't have to take antidepressants or a very low dose of a benzo but I have dual diagnosis with PTSD. Thank you for the valuable information.
Edit: sentence
I have had a pretty good experience with methadone. I was able to KNOW I could go get something that helps me not withdraw and try to start getting a routine again. I would just lay around all day waiting on my guy to meet up with his connect feeling sick and lethargic. It was a every day hustle since I wasn't working a few months before starting methadone. Highest mg I've been was 84mg and I'm at 58 now, I've been going down 4mg every month or every other month (Thankfully, I've been good and only have to go once a month now). I'd really like to get off eventually, but just going at my own pace. I hope it can continue to help, because I've seen so many different classes of people and know addiction can affect anyone. Much love to those struggling. If you really want help, you're going to have to do it yourself first.
Thank you for taking the time to provide amazing, un-biased information regarding these opiates. I just stumbled upon you after a quick youtube search, and I'm glad I did. Take care doctor!
Dr D, ive been on and off methadone for 30 years, currently 13 years. Highest dose 190, sat on 140 for a long time, reduced to 35 but felt uncomfortable, back up at 80 and feeling good again.
Thanks doc
What a life thank God i beat this Denon ,17 months clean its possible
You did a wonderful job explaining all of this. I've been on Methadone for about 12 years and yes it has saved my life. Haven't been in trouble with the law since I got on it. I would love to dose down and get off eventually but I'm worried about the withdraws.
Don't rush your recovery 🙏
@@BrandyinIndy Yeah I won't and thanks for the comment! :)
@@Mustang1984 I share this because it took me years to learn. It felt as soon as I was stable, my family pressured me to get off the meds and I relapsed every time. I finally just decided my recovery was between me and God. Best of luck to you and I'm proud of you. Thank you for sharing.
@@BrandyinIndy Thank you and God bless you as well!🙏
The longer you stay on the meth the longer it stays in the BODY...So tell you what in order to understand the reality of the best way to get off it would have to be done while your not aware of the drop in your dosage...So tell them to slowly drop you off and NOT let YOU know how MUCH until you achieve a platform of which has removed you from the situation without your knowledge...And to understand the reality of the mental infection of knowing is if you are not aware of the move you will never feel a THING....
Been there done that...
So agree with this Dr. I'm currently on methadone, I tried suboxone and was the 1% that went back to methadone because the subixone just wasn't doing it for me at all. I gave it a good 2 weeks and begged to go back to methadone. I've 49 years old been on methadone over 20 years. If your ready for change it does work. It has completely helped with keeping me stable to do the work needed to change my life around.
Thanks for the ininformation you've put forth . It has been life saving in my case.
Dr B , Drs like you are so hard to find. I've been blessed with a Dr like you and there is no doubt the good Lord has annointed you to help people. You are a good man and have helped so many including me, God Bless you sir, you are amazing. Thank you so much
me too brother amen God bless you and to be honest I didn't look at your name so apologies if I misgendered
Too bad he is only in Cali , be nice to find a duplicate of this Dr ,, he feels for his patients , most Drs will let u actually die ....
The good lord!? There is no such thing as a *"good lord!!"*
@amodernalchemist578, OK KAREN, THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION. DO YOU ALWAYS FEEL THE NEED TO CORRECT PEOPLE ALL THE TIME? IF SO THATS A BIG SOCIAL PROBLEM FOR YOU!!
@@kelliborden249oh, and you're one to talk about social problems? Little miss all caps scream typer...triggered much!? That's a perfect example of a having *social problem!* Go take a xanax ffs and you call me Karen? Go look up the definition of a Karen and you'll find a portrait of yourself!
Being Addicted Is Just Like Groundhogs Day. Nice way to describe it.
I been stuck at 8mg of suboxone for years now without being able to lower my dose but still better then using oxycodone and heroin
I've been on methadone, in Australia, for a quarter of a century now and these 'liquid handcuffs' aren't going to release me any time soon. The withdrawals, even when slowly decreasing one's dose, is quite noticeable and difficult to deal with. It's kept me as I am, addicted to methadone and I can't see any end in sight to the situation. The only good thing about the stuff is that I don't have to chase a dollar then a dealer, rather I pick up twice a week and get my takeaways for the other days. It could be worse, but I really wish that I had the inner fortitude to have withdrawn from the gear (heroin) and stayed clean, but after many years of trying to do just that prior to going on m'done I failed every time so as I said, things could be worse. At least in Australia, where I am just north of Sydney, we're treated as patients at a Pharmacy and doctor's surgery rather than 'junkies' as is so often the case in other countries such as the U.S. At least that's the experience that I have. Things could always be worse.
I went from methadone to Suboxone and it was so much better and you can take it 24 hrs after last methadone dose you just can take methadone after Suboxone or you'll wish you was dead
Good on ya mate. (Did I say that right?) :)
I tried that route 5x back in the 90s but didn't want to up my dose, so I kept using H on top of it.
Ended up doing a hard detox in rehab. They gave clonadine BP medication, if I remember correctly. 3 weeks of hell before I felt normal.
Anyway, I was talking with someone the other day, and thinking how horrible it would be these days trying to cop on the street and having no idea if there was fentynal in it, or worse, tranq.
Fknell, what a nightmare. It was bad enough 20+ yrs. ago chasing around some of the lovely hoods in Chicago. Hell, I don't even know if one can find 'just" H out there.
Well, at least you don't have to worry about that. And you're treated like a human being. Not here. It's all pretty shady feeling. Take homes are limited to Sunday until one has gone through the process of showing up every morning early within a narrow timeframe.
At least we're still around.
@@stringlarson1247 You're right in your last sentence. "At least you're still around"
- But, though I have no personal love for the U.S. I feel for you, and can't believe that the same people who bring this evil situation down still claim a Christian piety,
All the best, (Truly, be as well as you can be,)
Mark.
@@stringlarson1247 I'm writing a second reply as I feel the first was a tad short. No, I haven't tried Clonidine but YES you got the
"Good on yer mate". I think most of us still come out with that one regularly haha. I genuinely hope that you can find a system with which you can live, like a person, there and not an animal under arrest, always waiting for the hammer to drop. I truly think that the old days are gone and unless it's prescribed and 'forever available' it's not right to get addicted - If you know what I mean. Be well and happy. All the best -
- Mark.
Many people don’t understand heroin is WAY easier to come off of then any opioid. The first time I detoxed in jail was of opioids and it was complete hell for 2 weeks and over a month before I felt somewhat better. The second time in jail I was only detoxing from just heroin and I was eating by the 4th day and felt “normal” around the 2 week mark! If I had to detox cold turkey today I would switch to heroin for a couple months then detox that.
I take methadone and no he is wrong about the euphoria. If your on a maintenance dose you won’t feel high at all. Your body just gets used to it. I’m on methadone maintenance, so I know first hand. I’m on 100mgs and I’m totally fine everyday. Has def helped me stay away from heroin/fentanyl. Saved my life. I almost died like twice. Woke up in the icu one time. It’s no joke
100 mgs is still a high dose. Try your best to reduce 5 milligrams every 6 months until you get to 25 mgs daily
For me it’s not hard cutting my dose I’m prescribed 125 but routinely take less than half, I take 1 dose and stretch it 3 days. I think when you get down to less than 20-15 mg is when it gets harder.
How much fent were you using daily ? I've recently started methadone and I'm up to 75 mgs as of today and it just hasn't worked for me. I'll go around noon and by 5pm I'm in heavy withdrawal again
I was at 165mgs at my highest methadone dose and as of right now I’m at 6mgs!!!! Started December 2017, it’s been quite the journey!
Well done. 6 mg. You can stop that in a few days. I went into detox in Manchester as I was on 40mg and Oramorph, zomorphs, the lot. Anyway day one 40mg then 30-22-18-12-10-8-6-4-2. Last dose got Covid. Stayed in an extra week so 4 instead of 3. When you get down to six they give you summat else , in U.K. anyway if that’s where you’re from? It’s called Clonidine. It’s not an opiate but helps with opioid and alcohol withdrawals. Take that for about 7-10 days and they taper you off that. I still felt a bit shit but this was last May and not touched the shit since. Have been doing benzos and tramadol and zopiclone still but that’s for another day. Keep going but you can piss it getting off 6mg love. You’re there almost but it’s the anxiety of being “ normal” again with me that was my fear. I didn’t know any different for 34 years since I started smoking hash at 13 and trips at 15 , then the dance scene 89-94 then gear , Meth and so on.
Congrats!! Are you off it yet? 95mg was my highest. Currently at 21mg and tapering.
@@livvyscott8549 Thank you. Yes been off a year. Last May. Ten day detox and 3 weeks at Chapman Barker Unit in Manchester. From 40mg then drops each day to 30-22-18-12-10-8-6-4-2. So a ten day detox but was also smashing street Oramorph and zomorphs. Pregabs and zopiclone. Get a script for diazepam and stopping on that. You could smash that 21 in a week easily. I was the shit for 28 years with odd break here and there and a go on subutex but I abused them and ended up snorting 16-20 mg a day.
As I say you’ll piss 21mg in 10 days. They give you Clonidine for last 6 mg or so and continue for a week just to prevent any residual withdrawals. Took months to feel right and still take zopiclone as I love the things but only at night.
All the best and keep me posted please. You’ll do it.
@@livvyscott8549My highest was one day 1050mg. Than i went down till 150mg. Atm im at 110mg. My goal is to reach 60mg.
Sick brother! 120 down to 30
Started methadone treatment 9 years ago. It's has saved my life . Started out at 140mgs. I am now at 4 mgs. I'll be tapering out of the program within a year.
Gratitude. Infinite Gratitude
When a person says getting off Subs was a Nightmare, my initial thought Is always ,"This person never slammed dope"( metaphorically speaking)
My concise ,non-medical opinion from Experience-
My time on Suboxen- Life Improved , No Cravings , Stayed Clean
My time on Methadone - Felt Guilty, Relapsed constantly , Nodded out on the toilet at my Gf's apt ( and never even notice it!!!!!)
Conclusion ;
I don't care what anyone says, but getting off Methadone is Hell compared to getting off Subs. Getting off Suboxen was a cakewalk; and in my experience 15 times easier than getting of Methadone
Another Great One Doc! I honestly think
You see the best Assisted Treatment Doctor In the country. Take care !
RAPH MATIC Hi Raph. You nailed it and I agree. As for the compliment, I agree but I’m delusional😁🙏. Thanks for support, means so much.
ABSOLUTELY. I thought I'd die trying to get off methadone. Nodded out constantly. No euphoria with suboxone, no horrible withdrawel ( although it's tough if you rub out ) like with methadone. Suboxone is so easy to get off of compared to methadone..
Im glad I went the suboxone route I only went on 2mg I just wanted help with cravings don’t plan on going higher than 2 mg and only plan on being on for a year don’t wanna be dependent on it for long it’s all mental really people wanna stay on methadone and suboxone for years because they aren’t ready to give up being dependent on something but it’s possible you just got too be mentally strong
Agree. Metbadone was hell for me until subs
@@craiglyles4755 honestly I'm baffled about the misinformation on the internet concerning sub withdrawal. Like any withdrawal, if you're not doing anything but focusing on it , yeah you're gonna get depressed. My best suggestion is find ways to make yourself happy again. If you've managed to get off any opiates and you're not using other drugs, that in itself should feel like a major accomplishment , and you should be proud of yourself. If you're really struggling go see a professional or a psychiatrist, but don't look for answers on the internet. If you've been hooked on opiates for along time, the initial thought of cessation or permanent abstinence can be scary as hell, but if you look keep your eye on the big picture , you've just managed to get your life back , and that in itself kept me motivated for awhile. I can't answer that question for you. Everybody's experience is different. I remember when I was going into sub withdrawal and I did my research on suboxen withdrawal on the internet ; it kinda freaked me out. But looking back in retrospect it was honestly mostly based on ' FEAR' and ' LIES'. That's why I like dr b's channel. I can't Answer that question for you. All I have is my experience. But I guarantee DR B has a more conclusive answer. I will say one thing. I F$@$8ing slept the entire time. That was unheard of for me in any opiate withdrawal. I'll leave it at that. Why would it be unbearable? It wasn't for me. Sounds like you're already making yourself feel unbearable before you've accepted that you did something that only makes you stronger unless you're not ready
Methadone is a beast to withdrawal from. Suboxone is tricky because cutting down isn't horrible but those last couple mg's are extremely brutal.
Especially since your primary means of relief through a doctor (Suboxone) will make you sick as sht if you try to take it anywhere before 3 days of withdrawal. Kratom probably won't even touch that either
Jesus and Methadone saved my life
Why are you not taking suboxon???
@@peternorthrup6274 it gave me horrible anxiety
@@peternorthrup6274 that stuff made me feel so horrible. I've tried it 3 times.
They are saving mine. ❤❤
@@TheRealOman you sure you didn't take it too early and weren't in acute withdrawal from it?
Thank you for the breakdown dr. You are great at what you do sir
I've never been high on Methadone, and I did try ONCE. My boyfriend at the time gave me enough for a week, well I took all of it. I was so sick I wanted to die. But it certainly didn't get me high. At my clinic we can take Benzo as look as we are prescribed it. During COVID, I had monthly take home, In Feb they cut us all down to 2 weeks take homes, which isn't too bad. If I go on vacation I get exceptions. I have been on Methadone since Feb 1, 2001, and I stopped Heroin for good on July 2, 2002. My highest dose was 165mg. When I got to be 65 years old I cut down to 130mg. My dose is perfect for me, I have mental health issues and I take an anti depressent, and I take 1 Klonopin a day for my panic disorder. I don't consider Methadone liquid handcuffs, and I am a lifer, yes I get grief from people, but I ignore them. This is what I do to stay clean
good for you! keep it up! methadone is fantastic and not obsessing over pills has completely turned my life around!
@@angelategos7217 You too.. It's a lifesaver, without it, I doubt I would be alive today. I am glass you're doing good on it too. It feels so good to wake up every morning and not being sick. Not worrying about where the next one is coming from. Keep it up too💜💜
I have been on Suboxone for nearly 15 years and I started at 10 mg . I’m now at 2 mg films under the tongue twice a day. The only problem I have is staying awake. You can’t sit down or drive or do anything without falling asleep. Except when you want to asleep, it’s next to impossible, so how can I get off the stuff? Excellent video just the same. It has made me change my plans completely. I hope for the better. Thanks for sharing this information.
I'm a recovering addict and have almost 2 years clean, and I'm currently on 1 suboxone film a day, but really it's all just trading 1 drug for another, because now I'm a slave to my suboxone every day, I'm trying to wean myself off completely now
The orange strips help so much with my overall anxiety in general. Just to be able to go do daily errands without this burden of anxiety is great.
You the man Dr. B. Thanks for everything you do🙏
I was on Methadone for a long time and it is hard and rough to get off of methadone and to me it was more addicted cause I just wanted more and more lucky I was getting my from my Dr. I was taking the pills methadone. Thanks for the video Dr.B love your teaching
I was on Methadone for years for MS pain. I got monthly scripts from my pain management doctor. I had to switch back to Morphine and Oxycodone after repeated EKGs. Even with high doses of both, I still had horrible withdrawal. Great video, Dr. B!
Li’Maren Kudaibergen thanks for sharing. I have an MS patient on subs.
Dr. B Addiction Recovery, I’m on Suboxone now.
Methadone for me was horrid. Or my dose was too high. For about 3 years, I just drifted through life, sleeping all the time. I think I was on 90mgs. I’m on Suboxone now, and I don’t have any side effects. It just helps with the pain.
Li’Maren Kudaibergen perfect
Li’Maren Kudaibergen perfect
Dr b ,always giving the straight facts.
Melissa Cunningham thank you for supporting us M
Thank you so much for all the info. I just started suboxone for chronic back pain today and I'm hoping for the best. You really seem like a great truly caring Dr.
hi..i just want to ask you how ur pain is now and if you feel that Suboxin is Really a pain relief for you...as im being introduced to it myself. pls and ty
@@user-cm6qg4lj3n It's helped me alot, it replaced both main meds of morphine for round the clock pain and oxycodone for breakthrough pain)But they had to keep upping the dose to get it right, I'm on zubsolv 5.7mg. 3/day ( but I break them in half so I can take it every 4 hrs. 6/day) zubsolv is the same med but in tablet that doesn't taste as bad as the suboxone. I hope that helps z nd hope it works out for you. May the Lord Jesus bless you and keep you and yours.
@@shelley8461 Bless you..ty so much for responding. Very helpful. Ty
@@user-cm6qg4lj3n Your very welcome 🤗
Run from it take kratom instead
Methadone seriously saved my life. I went from that to Suboxone. But coming off of methadone was the hardest thing I think I've ever done. I was sick for so so long! That's the issue and I even came down as doctor recommended. I came down a couple milligrams a week something like that. I was on 140 a day for about 18 years. And it was a rough road. Thank God I wasn't using when all this nasty stuff is out here fentanyl and the stuff that eat your body up. But methadone really does work truly.
are you off now?
Me to I kicked for a solid 28 days and was miserable the kick from Suboxone was waaaay easier
Watching this with suboxone under my tongue.. I quit all drugs in 2016 and got on suboxone. My biggest problem is that I need to quit it but I'm kind of scared to quit.
Been on methadone since 2006. Its 2023. I wont state my dose. But it's a lot more than normal. It has saved my life. Want to get off someday but scared.
Im wearing the same shoes in that aspect. I hate it but yes it saved my life.
I am day 12 cold turkey Went to clinic for 15 yrs 150 ml a day. Still feel it but day 5-6 are the worst. If u can take 2 weeks off will help w the worst of it. Good luck
It saved my life too
Iv got alot of personal experience with heroine and methadone and suboxin
And Evrything this guys saying about it is absolutely true 🙏
Another great video. Thanks Dr B 👍
Suboxone SAVED MY LIFE!! Plain and simple. I was spiraling down in a pit of despair, depression, and addiction. I cannot even begin to tell you the horrible things I did to make that withdrawal go away, I was doctor shopping, ER shopping, among other things and life was looking pretty bleak for me, and I knew this situation wasn't sustainable, yet no matter how badly I wanted to stop, I just could NOT deal with the withdrawal. I was thrown a life raft when I was given a prescription for Suboxone. A LOT of people give me grief and say I just traded one drug for another, and that may be true, but Subs have undeniably given me my life back! I've been taking them for about 7 years and my doctor has given me full control of how and when I dose down. I'm on such a small dose now, and who knows, I may stay there for another 7 years, but it's MY choice! This is MY journey to take, and right now it's working for me and my family!
I been on Suboxone for a long time it saved my life also
And that's all that matters you and your family..You didn't trade one for another you probably saved your life wishing you the best stay strong and blessings to you and your family..
@@Mckenna12502 That is such a wonderful thing to say, thank you so much, it really does mean a lot to hear. I AM living my best life NOW.
Your videos is very helpful! I start metadone 5 days ago. First 20 mg /day , working wery well but after 14 hours start my withdrawal. Now i start 30 mg/day.
Oh in UK,Methadone is renowned as the *worst* opioid to come off from {after a long time on it} Buprenorphine is considered *easy* by comparison.
I totally agree it’s not trading one addiction for another by going on a medication like Suboxone or methadone I’ve seen people get there life back from getting in to treatment with these medications I’ve also seen where people say they prefer Suboxone over methadone because methadone made them use more or want to use
This was a great video and very insightful. My only complaint with Suboxone is the expense. Even the generic is so expensive. It has however absolutely saved my life so it’s definitely worth it. Thank you Dr B
Same here !!
Fortunately in the U.K. we’ve got the national health service. Don’t pay for any drugs , well we do because we pay national insurance. Smallish amount though. They are absolute stars NHS workers. Saved me from very close death when I’d had pneumonia then forgot 4 days. Couldn’t walk , hold things. My wife ( now separated) just thought I was off my nut on tablets. She usually just threw cold water over me and I’d come round but I didn’t. Got blue lighted to hospital and it was Sepsis. I was intubated in resus O2 saturations down in my boots at 51%. Don’t know how my brain wasn’t effected. Well I am very forgetful. Put me in an induced coma , then a paralysing drug so
Couldn’t try and pull the tube out. Then a tracheostomy. A month in intensive care and 2 weeks on a respiratory ward. They were outstanding. Anyway sorry to bang on!
@neilmoore5387 ehh I've heard some opposing views when it comes to your health care system. Simple procedures can take months or even a year. Huge waiting periods. The USA is definetly a broken system as well, but the NIH is not perfect either. Not to mention they are bleeding money because it's free, and that's basically why your taxes are like 70 plus percent.
@@analogueoverdigital929 I don’t pay tax pal I’m a lazy bastard on the dole. No I had to retire due to medical reasons in 2019. They’ve been life savers for me and not cost me a penny apart from when I used to pay National Insurance. A night in intensive care works out at about £1900 a full day what with one / two to one nursing. All staff that include EN and T. Speech and Language. Assistants. Surgeon. Consultants. Drs. Registrars. Nurses , catering , radiographers. That’s before the drugs , care, it soon adds up. I was in 30 nights so you do the “math”s. Imagine having to fork that out. I only spoke out as I saw someone your side of pond pays so much for subbies. It may be a failed system but it does what it can and saves bare number of lives. Say for example you had to stay in intensive care for 5 days in USA and you’ve no insurance what would you’re bill be like? Ball park figure. Tax from here and your own country most of it goes on weapons.
Forgot to mention the Anaesthetists , most important staff member there!
Thanks! I watched your first video and it motivated me to change clinics so I could finally get a peak and trough done. Today was the day so I'm hoping the results prove I'm not well 24hrs a day.
Merah one saved my life. It allowed me to have enough stability to work and get my life together. That being said Very very hard to get off of. Stayed on 5 years came off slow. But still had no energy and over all felt like shit. Started taking suboxine which is much easier to trapper off
Methadone is a much longer detox than Suboxone.
I’ve been on each of them over the last two decades, for multiple years, multiple times, with multiple cold turkey detoxes in the hoosegow.
Now 37 with 7 years sober and 2 years off Suboxone.
I was taking 150 mlg of liquid methadone at a local clinic and was given my last dose and told that I had to find another clinic due to a physical fight with a staff member being a security person and I had to go cold turkey because I am so sick and even suboxone isn't helping much I'm still having severe withdrawals and haven't been able to leave the house but once and I am so drained I was so ready go back and get in the bed & I've been taking couple subs a day and still weak as water and hot and cold aches and muscle spasms, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, diarrhea etc. And I have access to 2 or 3 subs a day and I've taken 3 and still sickly feeling ...
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ???😢
Yeah don't fight the people that were helping u
Thank you so much for making this video. You absolutely nailed it 100%. You know exactly what you're talking about you should run for president!!
What is the old chemotherapy drug you mentioned, that you said you'd compare to methadone? I'm asking as someone who's very interested in the pharmacology, chemistry, etc.
The only draw back to suboxone is you have to be in withdrawals or the antagonist in suboxone will put you into precipitated withdrawals. I was on pain management from a pain clinic and in about 2017 when the fda came down on dr.s they cut my methadone quickly and started me on suboxone to quickly & the precipitated withdrawals put me in a suicidal state. Thank God the clinic took my insurance & I was able to quickly get bk on methadone! I've been on it for 20 yrs & have no plans of coming off!! It did take 3 yrs per protocol of clean ua's to get 2 wk take homes, but it works for me.
I really enjoy your videos!! Thanks for making them!!
I
Here in Canada when you start a methadone traitement you have to take your dose daily in front of the methadone dispenser (pharmacist, nurse,etc ..) for the first 3 month. After the 3 months probation you get 1 privilege a week every month until max 6 privilege so you don't have to go every day at the clinic or pharmacy. But if you take metadol for pain they will serve you up to a week depending what your doctor decided...
Its exactly same here in Finland, 3 months and then u get 1 bottle home, my treatment starts tomorrow im so damn scared
@@JhelleMies Good decision, don't worry it will be alright. Maybe for the first couple of days you mignt need some ajustement of the dose but when you are on the right dose you will feel better with more energy. Good luck and be proud of yourself.
As a patient who has started being prescribed painkillers at age 11 to 18. I have been on both methadone and suboxone. While on suboxone I relapsed many times and even resorted to drinking alcohol. That's not to say suboxone doesn't work. In many cases it does work. However, in people who have been on stronger painkillers at higher doses for a longer time, Methadone has been better. Since I've been on methadone I have stopped using everything including recreational thc here and there. Since I stopped all drug use I now get 2 weeks supply of Methadone. So with some people Methadone works a lot better. It really is a matter of regulations. Most people don't know that in some countries, heroin replacement theorophy is used. So it has everything to do with the culture.
Agree on every point and thank you for input. You seem to be doing great
@@DrB360official I am on Suboxone. I was am in a treatment program. And I see the dr and the councilor monthly. I like to smoke pot. For 8 years my quarterly drug test is always negative and the medication that is prescribed is in my system at the right level, however recently my dr been on me about thc. It was never a issue for 8-9 years. And now my state is recreational. I just tested positive for thc and she’s warning me about the contract I signed for treatment. Litterally a decade ago. I don’t want to get thrown out. But thc got me away from benzodiazepines. Did a law change or is it my dr
Yeah-I started heroin as a teen. Methadone has had me living a normal life, out of the streets for about 20 years now. I do take a celexa and a klonopin a day, too. This combo has kept me on the straight and narrow for as I said, almost half of my life now.
It's amazing in 1940s, Germany, Chemists decided let's make a human "body-Ketone" with same chemical function but let's add 2 benzenes so it can land on a mu receptor and of course, a Morphine "Nucleus" in it as well too.
I wish he was my doctor for my chronic pain 👍😎
If using SUBOXONE as prescribed, do you ever advise patient who suffer from severe constipation to spit out their saliva and the naloxone that remains in it out so that no opiate is in their digestive tract? I was told to do this by my subscribing physician and it has helped me dramatically.Especially coming over to SUBOXONE from 20 years of 200 mgs of Methadone.
That's interesting, I never heard of that. The naloxone is supposed to not have an effect at that level orally. Buprenorphine alone causes constipation too. Did you notice any withdrawal or feeling like you decreased your dose?
My ex was on Suboxone and the Dr told him to do the same thing, let it dissolve and then spit it out, I think the reason was because of heart burn and sometimes nausea and that sometimes led to vommitting. Dr said most patients wouldn't even try, thought they would be spitting out the medicine. Can't say that I blame them because of the cost. He just started taking prilosec for his heart burn. Dr's that could prescribe them were fairly new, and I was afraid his dose was too high or something.
Suboxone was a way better fit for me as methadone made me very constipated and the sweating was unbearable on methadone
You are such an amazing and smart doctor. I'm 'addicted' to your videos. 😎
I've gone from 100mg of methadone down to about 5mg daily. It's taken about 7 yrs but I cannot get passed the last 5mg. Any suggestions
@samanthahicks3333. How are you doing today? Lmk as I may have some information through my methadone detox. I’m about two years methadone free now👍
@@FitzSchlitz I'm doing really well. I simply cannot get off the last few mg that I am on. I was very young when I started taking tramadol for an injury as time went on I did not abuse the medication but I had been on it so long I had pretty bad withdrawal so I went to the hospital as I was pretty naive and did not know I could become dependent on a non narcotic. Well the hospital sent me to a methadone clinic and they insisted on raising my dose and over time I would raise when I decided $350 a month is outrageous. I want off this medication but I cannot afford a rehab. I believe I just need to find the right info or doctor that can help guide me. I'm yo the point that I'd give my right arm to be free of this stuff.
@@samanthahicks3333
I can understand
@@yolyrom7233 how did u get off the methadone? At what mg did u finally just stop
I have a question. I started methadone yesterday, as a short term detox plan from 1 year IM heroin addiction. Before going into methadone, I already tried cold turkey 3 times, but failed at around 40 hours mark, scored, but I'm sure my tolerance dropped quite a bit. So my starting dose is 10ml/day methadone, it holds withdrawal at bay 80%, my aim is to quit totally, not for maintenance. How do you suggest I should go about this plan? What dosage reduction and timeline should I follow? Thank you.
Here in Hong Kong, only methadone is available, no suboxone
This was also my plan- to get off it as soon as possible but what I’ve actually learned is that you need be on it for at least 6 months. The receptors in your brain need time to heal themselves after being overdrive for so long from the drug addiction. My advice is what my plan for myself currently is. Maintain on the lowest dose possible, then at around d the 6 month mark my Dr is going to start to wean me.. and the best part is that I’m in control, I can wean 1-5 mg at a time but have the ability to also bump it back up if I need to. My clinic also requires us to meet with a counselor each week and it’s really helped more than I thought i would. I’m very optimistic. .. but yea I just wanted to be off it sooner than their plan but now that I understand the actual science behind it, I’m good with it. Best of luck to you
@@kelcieritenour7165 Hey! I hope you are doing well, I am just getting started on Methodone, I was wondering how you are doing with it now.
Methadone saved my life, I developed an alergy to Buorenorphine after trying to get clean the 4th time, I was having seizures from it. I went from 25mg to 70mg over the course of 6 months, stayed there a year and started going down 1mg every one or two weeks and the withdrawals are minimum, I run my own business now, own a home without payments, own two vehicles, pay my bills, take care of family and dont have any cravings at 7mg.
Dr. B, could you please make a video on the androgenic side effects of opiates, specifically with regards to bupe? The more detailed the better -- Thanks!
Sir i tried subaxone ,I was on 5mg but it gave really big depression. Now i am shifting to methadone is it good idea
Thx doc. You deliver the whole story concisely.
I've been on liquid handcuffs for almost 20 years on 130 mgs. I want to get off. I'm tired. I started due to addiction to pain killers given to me for pain from Lyme disease and back pain. Methadone has been wonderful for me. I haven't touched a painkiller in 20 years. I believe I would be successful if I came off. The thing that stops me is the withdrawal stories. I'm terrified. But I'm just tired of being dependent on it. Sigh...do you think I should jump to suboxone? I just found your channel and am a new subscriber. Thanks for the concise and knowledgeable information.
Is there any findings of Methadone affecting Testosterone levels
Methadone is horrible on our hormones-order some Vitadone to take with it
@@shockawha9 does it reallly help ?
Great vid Dr.
To you out there:
THERE IS HOPE & HELP to get better!
I was over 100mg day with methadone and was very resistant to switching to buprenorphine because of the stories like you mentioned. I ended up dropping 3mg/day to 30mg then jumped over from methadone to buprenorphine. Best thing I’ve done. I got my life & freedom back. My spinal pain, after 3 failed surgeries, is managed without being or feeling high at all. I have my sobriety and clean head with amazing memory now. And to any who really want it and apply effort; its yours also.
༄
the problem with methadone in the U.S. is that they give the patient 100mg everyday , so when it's time to detox you have way too much in the body, and they detox people up to mg every 3 days. I've never met someone who truly was successful in getting off of methadone.
A true leader.
I have detoxed on both methadone and Subutex also Suboxone. I totally agree that Methadone is alot harder to come of than the Subutex and Suboxone. Love from UK.Great channel.💯👍🏼🙏🏽🙏🥊☮️❤️
congratulations.
Yeah it's definitely tough to get off but I'd rather be on methadone than heroin or fentanyl. I know methadone won't ever kill me at my dose.
Detoxing off subz much easier. Only took me a week. Haven't tried detox from the dome yet tho.
@@philipsmi-lenguyen8155 God bless you when you do. It took me 31 days to hold down anything solid.
How long does it take from methadone (20 mg a day) to Subutex?
Hello Doctor.
Just i have a question about Subutex.
If I use protein powder 4 days a week 30 grams a day with 250 ml of water (all doing sports to increase muscle mass) skipping in the meantime I am taking buprenorphine 8 mg daily. So the question is .... Does that protein powder seriously affect my health in combination with buprenorphine ???
Thanks.
Tony
Amazing video Dr B!
Dave Sobilo thank you D. Thanks for support.
Hello doctor,i have a question about after how much time that i stopped using methadone can I use Suboxone that i don't get precipitated withdrawal? please answer my question
Been on methadone for 19 years 150mgs..I know everything about methadone.
And?
Who cares ?
Everyone says the same for Methadone that it is harder to get off of than oxy or heroine or Suboxone. I'm dropping ,10mg of methadone every 3 days so I will be on ,70mg tomorrow I'm 270lbs and 36 years old. Wish me luck. Any suggestions Dr B?
Slowdown take a slower reduction approach
I like your info doc but I'm in the UK England watch all your blogs your not a bad doctor ha ha very understanding but I reckon expensive . In England this type of care is free keep up the blogs an I will keep watching Phil from liverpool England UK
Clean 4 years thanks to methadone. It's so so worth the time to build your dose to the theraputic level. Truly my prayers were answered with this treatment.
How long does that take? I was started at 40 mg and going up 5mg a day for the first 2 weeks I'm at 75 as of now and it feels like I'm going for no reason
Going to the clinic for about 2 yrs now and methadone saved my life and me for knowing I was going to die if I didn't do something about it. No craving or withdrawal. Now I do relate to the liquid handcuffs cause it does predict a lot you can't do when your on it. Now my clinic doesn't mind weed but a big one they don't like is benzos. And that isn't a good approach to it I agree on that.
What state
Does it stop withdrawals? Pleasee tell meeeee omg I'm so sick I neeed something
Not in the beginning it takes time to build in your system plus they also start on a low dose and up you 5 mgs a day (sone places don't do that much) for the first 2 weeks. If it's not enough to last the full 24 hours by that point you can go up an additional 10mg a week from there.
I have had enough experience with Heroin, Morphine, Methadone to know they are all just as addictive as all major opiates. I personally don't believe Heroin is any more addictive than Opium Dilaudid etc. Some are more euphoric than others. That's about it.
Great and informative video love ya dr b
Cindy Briggs Cindy please stay safe
I remember mentally it was so tough being on methadone. Not to mention the weight gain, the rediculous sweating, sleeping long hours. Made some changes with my Doc, life is way better. Be careful with this sh*t people. Life is beautiful
What changes did you make?
Same i am 300 lb now from methadone on 12 years 80 mg and i hear of u only take 30 mg you might not gain weight bit i lost l l y lteeth all of them and got very week u e
me To
Walk
@@ggsjunkjournaltime9784 Get on subs. They suck in comparison, but it's better being in the 150s versus 220s I was at. Going once a month is pretty good too if you don't smoke weed. I watched countless people start on methadone as skinny people, and gradually become huge. With methadone you feel good on it if you have enough, so it takes some drive to get down to 50mg or less. With subs you never really feel good, so it's easier to take less. You just feel good enough to get by. Methadone is basically impossible to get off of also. I tried dropping off at like 15, and had been at 25 or less for some time. Literally almost died. People die in jail from detox, but they don't let it out. Got on subs or I would have wanted to jump off a bridge after 10 day and hadn't even been able to remotely think about eating. Their test still showed positive for methadone. Subs are a lot easier to cut down and get off of.
@@ggsjunkjournaltime9784 BTW I didn't have the issue of doing other stuff like some people do with methadone, but with subs it doesn't work well anyway so problem solved.
I agree. The lower the dose the better. I had every side effect you mentioned when my dose was above 70 mgs. I'm at 60 now and feel great, and plan on getting off completely by 2024, by tapering 2mgs twice a month.
Methadone is no joke, and when you finally jump off you need a plan.
I started out on suboxone but didn't find it helpful. I've been on methadone for a while and have found it very effective. I've been clean of illicit drugs for 5 years now.
I really enjoyed listening to you. Thank you for educating me on this topic. I'm new on methadone on 90mgs a day. I've had issues in the beginning with my dose not lasting the entire day , my doctor split my dose to 45mgs every 12 hrs which really works for me. A friend of mine is also on methadone, his bottle reads: Methadose and my bottle reads Methadone Hcl ( odan). Cant find much online about it but I was just wonderimg if there was a difference? I will be subscribing and watching more of your content to learn all that I can. Thanks again and god bless.
Thank you!
Methadose is just a generic brand name of methadone. Other than that there is no difference.
@@christopherwilliams7905 Thank you for the reply.
@@christopherwilliams7905 funny enough methadose seems to not hold folks for 24 hours the stuff made by odan or the metadol-d by paladin labs are way better in terms of lasting 24 hours. There is clinical reports that support this.
hello io am also on 45mg twice a day and wow it's like night and day compared to just dosing every 24 hours. I think a lot more people need the split dosing than they think.
I was taking Dilaudid for severe slipped disc and it did work but when I would wake up from sleeping, I would be in such pain I could not even walk to go to the bathroom. I have no symptoms of withdrawal. The only symptoms I had was perhaps diarrhea maybe some anxiety but no cold sweats or cold turkey as I would suspect and the VA weaned me off very successfully and very easily. I did not get addicted. I also had been on Vicodin for a broken arm and I never got addicted like others. I guess I do not have the gene for addiction in my body. My brothers were into a lot of substance abuse and only one of them never quite kicked it and later on he got aids from needles. I was told that many soldiers were given narcotics so they could fight fiercely and not feel pain. When someone is on heroin, it is so obvious they always look half asleep. They always seem to be talking out of their nose. Sometimes they even walk a little hunched over like a caveman. My brother did a lot of nasty things because of his addiction. He stole 6:05 6:12 everybody blind. Two of my brothers were able to kick the habit, but not the other one and the other one was a major jerk. But one of my other brothers was addicted to LSD and destroyed his brain. All of these drugs, destroy personality.
Why can’t I get Oxycodone to get off H? I only started because doc got shut down and no other doctors would give me 4 30mgs a day... Methadone and Suboxone are long acting which I can’t take....I’m menopausal and can’t do hormone replacement so I’m not to take any extended release anything....fentanyl already sucked my adrenals dry and Oxycodone is really good for thyroid so why can’t I have it? If opiates had the same news releases and interest as cannabis this country wouldn’t be a mess! We should have opiate dispensaries and be able to discuss our needs with a rep instead of treating opiate like it’s a bad word
Methadone was a nightmare to get off of. I took 30mg per day for chronic migraine. Forced off after 15 years. I almost died. I was off in one month. Suffered horribly. That was 2016
You are fantastic,I'm in the UK and I've been on methadone for 22 yrs,it doesn't make me dozey or gouch out,it makes me energetic,confident whereas I'm normally anxious and socially withdrawn....when I used to take speed it made me withdrawn and quiet...opposite to the usual...I suspect I have aspergers but back to my methadone use,plenty of drs have tried to help me off it,I've failed every time not just as I cannot put up with the withdrawal but my anxiety etc comes back,all in all I function better on opiates than I do or did when wasn't using it. never used heroin,I got addicted to dyhydrocodeine after years of nursing,I hold down a job and everyone always says....wow...had no idea you were on this.....till I told them. I'm very interested in your thoughts doc....as of now I'm content on it....tho do worry if chemist doesn't have it on puck up day which is weekly...25ml daily
In the prison system we got high off of Suboxone every day they would cut 1 strip into 16 pieces and sell them for 20 bucks a pop all day and no doubt it got us high
I'm convict and 16 strips out of 1 strip for 20 dollars don't sound right to me because in North Carolina prison you get a whole sub 60$
@@cray-z7404 sell a whole sub for 250 all day and 400 to the dudes in ccu or shu
Is the heart problem cause by high doses only?
Methadone withdrawal is horrible. I am on day 4 and it's so hard. Unfortunately being honest, I am going back to the clinic tomorrow because I am weak and couldn't handle it🥺😒 liquid handcuffs are going back on...
Day 4: You should be able to switch to Subutex. I hope you made this decision and for that, it has been offered to you. Good luck. U know we're all different, but we do have quite a lot 'general commons.'
Im scared to try n get off the shit.
Wow that's the most addictive thing I ever done! Took me years to quit and to start feeling better and I still don't feel normal! I would suggest that no one would ever do it! Just my experience and option!
Been on methadone 8yrs went to jail on 120mg back in 2015 cold turkey was sick for 2,3 months methadone withdrawal definate most brutal drawn out torture there is
Yea it is fucking terrible, I was on 90 mg and went cold turkey and was worthless for a month. By 3 months it was manageable but I wondered if id ever feel normal again.
I was on 100mg of methodone 5 yrs.ago I got off of it and now I am on 16mg getting off of it cold turkey and have been sick for a month, have not slept or eat good.
Same. From 80mg. Could not believe how long it lasted. Im back to being to addicted to street drugs again cause im a fucking idiot. But I will not go back to methadone. I mean maybe if I get too sick I don't know. I'm gonna try weening off
@@jeffreypeck7429 👆👆look up that handle, he ships swiftly, and he got shrooms, Dmt, lsd, mmda, psilocybin, chocolate bars, he's got a lot.. 🍄 💊🍄🍫💯🔌
@@icepick859 I 👆👆look up that handle, he ships swiftly, and he got shrooms, Dmt, lsd, mmda, psilocybin, chocolate bars, he's got a lot.. 🍄 💊🍄🍫💯🔌
bad thing about going to the methadone clinic is finding out you have a random pee test that day and forgot to drink water on the way. methadone retains water by nature and already makes it hard to pee sometimes. so i would either have to get in trouble for being late to work or have to skip my dose and have w/d's at work
I might get on Suboxone and then taper from it if it gets too hard for me or sublocade. Thank you for keeping it real. I did try Suboxone but it made me nauseous. But I will consider what you said and might try Suboxone again and the taper from it if I run. Into trouble. Excellent video
Stay away from subox unless u really need it ... Or do more research ...
Hit up ⬆️🔝the handle he ships safely 🍄💊🍫
@@KARL_SHROOMS..ON.I.G It may be the naloxone (sp?) part of suboxone -- Nalaxone makes you nauseated for 7-10days if you have recently used any opiates In The last week+.
Wouldn't methadone be considered an opioid since it isn't made from the poppy plant? I've always read that opiates are derived from opium and anything else that excites those same receptors is an opioid.