I have been diagnosed as being a dual diagnosis case. Seven years ago I got on legally prescribed Suboxone and after the seventh year, I decided I was on it long enough and tapered it down to a 2mg. piece(of an 8mg. tablet). Thinking I was not gong to suffer any really bad withdrawals from such a small dose and I stopped taking it, I was wrong. I never knew about brain receptors and them being still 50% covered even at 2mg. By that time my suboxone doctor had closed out my file and I could no longer go back to her. I went to my family doctor and explained the situation and she said that the best that she could do was to prescribe a low dose, 30mgs., of Methadone a day to help. That was about seven months ago. The doctor had written the prescription to be one 10mg. tablet every eight hours, but at that dose it wasn't helping at all so I started taking all three tablets at one time and that seemed to help. Now I need to get off of the Methadone because between that and the major depression I've been struggling with for 25 years it's making me crazy. I just want to be free of all this c**p. I'm 58 years old and have been through withdrawals from just about everything except this methadone. I need some good, current advice on how to stop taking this methadone and then I can get the help with the depression. I live alone and have been for the seven years since I got out of prison. The loneliness and isolation I feel all the time night and day have left me questioning whether it's even worth it to keep going like this. So Please, can anyone help me on what to do or how to do it? I actually feel that the methadone is making me feel worse than I have ever felt before. Is my dose at 30mgs. a day low enough where I won't have a lot of trouble? Any help will be greatly appreciated and Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
Hi Scorpio023 I can relate to being alone and trying to kick this habit. I am 56 and just tried to get off of Klonopin, and Effexor XR. I went 9 days and it was ruff then 10th day my stomach was distended and I could not breath and I had a stroke before. I went to ER and Dr. said I have to stay on. I really wanted to quit them. I will try another time. Do not know if you have insurance I do not. The best is to go some place where someone can be with you and get you through it. I really respect you are trying to do this. I do not think you should do on your own. Please do not do anything bad you are back here in this world and can now make a difference in some way. So no I do not have the answer for you but I know really ruff by yourself. Try and get someone to help you through this. Ether it is friend, family or a rehab place. Good luck to you.
I can sympathise with many of the things you are saying. I am younger than you, but I am also dual diagnoses. I developed my heroin addiction when I was estranged from my family, living in a new city and battling PTSD. After 5 years of addiction I sought help. I sorted things out with my family. I went in and out of rehab over a 5 year period, never seeming to be able to stay clean for more than 6 months before going off the rails with my bipolar and PTSD. I've gone through a lot of lonely times where I felt I had no one to turn to and believe me that makes things a lot harder for you. I suggest throughly that you seek out the help of drug counsellors (free). Every major city has a rehab place that employ these kind of people. They can give you good support and advice. Also, when the drugs are out of your life you find you've got a lot of time on your hands. You can get very lonely and depressed. Try to find local groups of something that you're interested in so that you can meet likeminded people. I don't know if you are a man or a woman, but if you're a man I know they have those "men's sheds" projects to help lonely bored men give purpose to their lives and most importantly make friends, build a support network. I personally have always liked writing and have joined a creative writing class. I've been involved for 6 months now, so I'm getting to know people socially in the group and it gives me something positive to focus on. Also, of course, if you are dual diagnosis, you should absolutely be seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. I have a psychiatrist, he bulk bills me and is great. If you find a GP listed on the beyond blue website, they have GPs offices with psychocologists that you can see for free. So definitely get some help professionally for the psychological issues you are experiencing. I wish you luck in your journey. If you want any more info from me, just reply. I am on suboxone at the moment and it has kept me sober for years. I don't really know how or what is the best way to deal with that. I've "heard" that methadone is quite horrible to try and get off. This is where a drug counsellor's help will really come in handy. Also, you know that you can get back into the proper program if you want to. Just asked to be referred to a clinic that does methadone/suboxone etc.
Hello, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for replying to my post. I was on Effexor XR myself before and I was able to kick that with the help of another psych med and I know how hard that is to kick. I didn't mention it in my post but early on in my life I had contracted Hep C which has now progressed in to cirrhosis of my liver and they won't give me treatment for that because of the depression and I just got turned down for a dual diagnosis facility because they won't run the risk of something happening to my liver while there. I know it doesn't make much sense. I wish you well in your struggle also and God bless.
Two people I have never met before have taken the time out of their busy lives and responded to my plea and it brings tears to my eyes when I hurriedly opened my e-mail this morning and I had received a reply to what I had posted last night. Thank you also for your reply. You, too know what the loneliness and isolation can do to someone. I am a guy, but I've never heard of the "men's sheds" you referred to in your post, but I would be happy to hear about them if you want to take additional time to respond. I only wish now that I wouldn't have gotten on this Methadone and just struck it out with the suboxone withdrawals seven months ago and hopefully I would be someplace now getting help with this crippling depression. Good Luck with your continued journey and Peace
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