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Methadone will not cure your heroin addiction. It will only keep you from going through withdrawal if you continue taking it. Once you stop taking the methadone, you will start going into withdrawal.
Methadone, as well as Suboxone, are opiate antagonists. They feed your physical dependence on opiates, and they block an opiate high, so even if you relapse and start using heroin again, you won't get high on it. Heroin, Suboxone, methadone, opium, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, codeine, etc...these are all opiate drugs (made from the opium poppy). Methadone (as well as Suboxone) is just an opiate that won't get you high. It helps you quit getting high, but it does not cure or get rid of your physical dependence on opiates.
When you are ready to stop taking Suboxone, you wean yourself off of it very slowly, usually over a period of several months. I would assume the same is true of methadone, but I have never taken methadone, so I don't know too much about it.
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How long will methadone block out the effects of heroin?
I am on methadone and have been for years. I am also taking college courses, one being Psych Substance Abuse and Addiction. The answer is until the methadone is out of your system. It may take days, weeks, or months. For me, it would take months, but if you took methadone but you're not used to taking it, probably a few days or so. Methadone does block the effects of heroin, which is why a lot of people use the methadone maintenance treatment programs. If I were to try to use heroin tomorrow, it would just be a waste of time and money because I wouldn't even feel it, and I would hella pissed, which is the purpose of it blocking the heroin. The withdrawal from methadone can take weeks or months, and it's more intense than heroin.
What is a cure for heroin?
There is no cure heroin addiction you have to go cold turkey without heroin for 7-10 days which is arguably the most hardest thing anyone will do in there life or you can take methadone which acts on the dopamine receptors which gives the feeling of pleasure like heroin but after your not addicted to heroin anymore the chances are you will be addicted to methadone which trying to stop that addiction takes months of pain and agony, so just don't do it hope this helped
What is withdrawal from heroin like?
It's a lot like a horrible, horrible flu that lasts for weeks, even months: nausea, vomiting, hot flashes and then chills, extreme fatigue coupled with extreme restlessness, body aches.
Can you die from heroin withdrawal?
Contrary to what "Wiki User" says, no, you cannot die from heroin withdrawals on its own. If you are weaning yourself off of a benzo, or alcohol, you'd be in a potentially life-threatening situation; but that's not because of the heroin withdrawal symptoms (which, by all accounts are horrific, but not life threatening).
Why does an alcoholic go through detoxification when trying to become sober?
Because alcohol is addictive - just like any other drug. The patient's body craves a 'fix' of alcohol, and if they don't get it, they get withdrawal symptoms - just as a heroin addict would without their fix. A Detox unit would gradually wean the patient off alcohol under supervision - over a period of weeks - perhaps months. The alcohol is replaced with supervised medication to reduce the effects of withdrawal, and 'trick' the body into thinking it's still getting the alcohol. Medication is gradually reduced until the patient is alcohol free.
How long will methadone block out the effects of heroin?
I am on methadone and have been for years. I am also taking college courses, one being Psych Substance Abuse and Addiction. The answer is until the methadone is out of your system. It may take days, weeks, or months. For me, it would take months, but if you took methadone but you're not used to taking it, probably a few days or so. Methadone does block the effects of heroin, which is why a lot of people use the methadone maintenance treatment programs. If I were to try to use heroin tomorrow, it would just be a waste of time and money because I wouldn't even feel it, and I would hella pissed, which is the purpose of it blocking the heroin. The withdrawal from methadone can take weeks or months, and it's more intense than heroin.
Is there any advice about methadone maintenance?
If at all possible, try suboxone or kratom instead. Methadone is even harder to quit than heroin, with withdrawal effects that can last months or years. You may be on it your whole life, and there may be times when you can't get it for whatever reason -- in which case you will suffer greatly.
How long does methadone withdrawal last?
The half life of methadone is very long so the withdrawal period is prolonged. In many cases it can last for months. The acute phase is usually from 2 - 4 weeks.
What can you do to ease the withdrawal symptoms from suboxones and how long will this suffering last?
There's nothing you can do, except take more opiates. And the withdrawal will last for a long time, at least a couple of weeks, and maybe a few months. Sorry. At least it's not as bad as methadone, though. Withdrawal from methadone is even more painful, and can take 6 months or more.
What if you stop taking methadone?
You will go into opiate withdrawals for 1-4 months. The reason it is so long is because of the half life methadone has. It is a horrible drug I suggest a one week suboxone taper then it will be about 8 days of Suck but manageable. A big factor in withdrawal from methadone is the amount of time you have been on it. If you have been on it for several days or weeks the withdrawal should not be much worse than a heroin withdrawal. If you are on the methadone for several years, than you are in for a real challenge! Difficulty with sleeping is one long term symptom of withdrawal from methadone after a long time on it. After the initial withdrawals begin to wear off, often difficulty with sleeping is a big problem. The next big factor is the dose you were on. If you are on methadone for maintenance treatment, today the methadone programs often allow very high doses of meth. Sometimes in excess of 200mg. To get off a dose like this, especially if you were on it for a dose, a very slow detox, and taper, especially when reaching less than 10 mg is optimum. When dropping off to nothing, sometime clonidine, a blood pressure med, is given. It seems to help with withdrawal. If you weren't on meth for a long time, maybe several weeks, a couple of months, a detox from the dosage you were on is suggested. Actually, if you were not on methadone for a long time, and the dose you were on was not too high, the withdrawals seen with heroin will occur; restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, craving for methadone, chills, fever, no appetite, sneezing. These are the most common. It may take a couple of days more than heroin for the withdrawals to pass, 7days, maybe 10 for the symptoms to fully subside. I have heard, that the flu like symptoms with methadone is actually a bit less than a heroin withdrawal. The bottom line is it can be done! I have done it myself after being on it for years. It is difficult, but It is possible to obtain abstinence, even prolonged. I am not a big fan of methadone, there are other treatment modalities using heroin to treat that addiction, but that is another story!
How long does it take for methadone to expire?
I have been taking methadone for 2 months, and it takes about 36-72 to leave my system. I once tried taking suboxone 12 hours after taking 60mg methadone and it sent me into "precipitated withdrawal." It was honestly the worst hell I've ever been through in my life. I wish I would have had a gun; I would have killed myself. The withdrawal was insane and the worst of my life. I would say quitting methadone is 10x harder than quitting oxycontin. The withdrawal is unreal. Talk to a doctor before stopping your methadone use or else you're in for the bad, bad pain.
What is a cure for heroin?
There is no cure heroin addiction you have to go cold turkey without heroin for 7-10 days which is arguably the most hardest thing anyone will do in there life or you can take methadone which acts on the dopamine receptors which gives the feeling of pleasure like heroin but after your not addicted to heroin anymore the chances are you will be addicted to methadone which trying to stop that addiction takes months of pain and agony, so just don't do it hope this helped
Do you have any withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking Methadone?
Oh wow! THat is an easy answer, absolutely yes! The severity of the withdrawals symptoms depends on how long you have been taking the methadone. If you have just taken it once, (which is highly dangerous, deadly even) then you should not have any withdrawals that you notice from the methadone. However, if you had been using heroin and then used methadone for one time, you will still have another day or two, depending again on how long you have been taking the other opiate such as heroin, of withdrawals. Now, if you have been on methadone for an extended period of time, say two weeks to a month, you will have withdrawals that are a bit stronger than heroin. However, if you have been taking methadone, either prescribed or otherwise, for longer than 2-3 months, you can guarantee that you are going to go through some horrid withdrawals. If you know what its like to come off of heroin or the strong pain pills, this withdrawal is about ten times that. It is way longer and way more intense. Let me give you my example, I was on methadone while I was pregnant, about 6 months, and then I got off of it about 2 months after he was born, so a total of 8 months, approximately. I even detoxed in 30 days from 65 mgs. I did not feel like myself again for at least 6 months after, and at first I could not eat or sleep, I lay there staring at the ceiling, but I couldn't stay still because it felt like my nerves were being tickled at all times. THat was the torturous part about it, the nerves. I puked and had diarrhea for the first couple weeks, and about a month into it the worst of it lessened. However, the nerves part of it and depression, so many things held me down. It was really bad, and I hated every second of it. I am on methadone maintenance again, and I am so scared of the time I will get off it. It has been a blessing for me this time, though, because I haven't used in 2 years and I started working toward my degree a little over a year ago and I'm still going strong. I have a muich better relationship with my kids and my family now, and Im looking for a job now that I know I can hold one. Methadone Maintenance can be a blessing for the right people.
Is it better to take suboxone or methadone for getting off opiates?
This could be a matter of personal preference, but Methadone is generally considered much more effective than Suboxone when treating an addiction to Heroin. Suboxone contains an opiate antagonist called naltrexone, this is the drug that they give to people who have overdosed on an opiate when they are taken to the hospital, it can cause intense agony to the person who has overdosed. An "opiate blocker" - meaning if you lapse and take Heroin whilst being treated with Suboxone you will go into a state of severe withdrawal (precipitated withdrawal). This can be looked at in two ways:- (1) Knowing that if you take Heroin you will be very ill can prevent the individual from using it through fear... or... (2) Whilst in recovery the chance of a "one-time only" lapse is very high as the rehabilitation process can be drawn out and complicated - if you enter a stage of severe withdrawal whilst in this vulnerable state you are much more likely to relapse completely. In addition to this, from first-hand experience, Suboxone is almost completely ineffective at staving off withdrawal symptoms in my opinion. But it has been proven in over 75 out of 100 patients that took a clinical trial that it takes away cravings, so it may be the drug for your addiction. Methadone is the preferred choice when treating an addiction to Heroin as there is more scope for error, and it is remarkably effective at covering the withdrawal symptoms. If you relapse the dose can be increased to match your tolerance and precipitated withdrawals are not an issue. Methadone is an extremely powerful drug, so use of any other drugs whilst on a Methadone prescription is very dangerous - overdoses and deaths are common in these instances, especially when mixed with Benzo's or Alcohol. But despite its risks, both drug addicts and professionals in the field of substance abuse alike agree that Methadone is the most effective drug for treating Heroin addiction in my opinion but if one should get addicted to methadone it's withdrawal symptoms last for months instead of 7 to 14 days like heroin so one has to take that into account when deciding with their doctor what is best for them. On the other hand if you have an addiction to a less potent opiate - Codeine for example - Suboxone would be more appropriate for the reasons outlined above (less risk involved and the withdrawal symptoms for Codeine are not so severe). Although it must be noted - if you were addicted to prescription Codeine the chances of you then being prescribed Suboxone as a substitute are remote. Your Doctor would probably just gradually taper you off the Codeine.
Is it harder to get off methadone?
Yes, coming from a person who has went through methadone withdrawal before I was prescribed to it, it is the hardest drug to get off of therefore I wouldn't recommend going on it unless you are REALLY BAD hooked on opiates or unable to get off drugs on your own. Methadone should be a last resort, because it is much, MUCH easier to get off opiates then methadone. Actually, I would consider opiates like Oxycontin and Morphine a joke considered to methadone withdrawal. I wish I could go back and quit Oxycontin cold turkey rather then starting to take methadone. I see kids around here that take opiates like Oxycontin for a few months, then go get prescribed to methadone. They have no idea what they are getting into and are basically ruining their life because they are getting addicted to the most intense and hardest drug to get off of bar none. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise, methadone withdrawal is the worst, period. The hardest drug to get off of, period. Unless you are slowly weened off it by a professional, but even then it still is not fun. I would not wish methadone withdrawal on my worst enemy, that's how bad it is. So if you have a choice to go on a methadone maintenance program if you are hooked on opiates, I would try to go to a detoxification in a hospital and try to get off them cold turkey before going to methadone, because it will take a lot longer and be a lot more painful and harder to get off methadone. Guaranteed. Take the advice from six years of experience on methadone and ten years experience on opiates.
How much methadone do you need to take to kick heroin addiction?
I used one to two grams a day to stay well injected. I am on 120mg a day. I live a normal life again. I have been clean for 3 months.
How long is the withdrawel period from opiates?
It depends on the opiate and how much is being used. Acute withdrawal can vary from a few days in the case of low doses of some drugs to as long as five weeks for heavy methadone users. Post-acute withdrawal -- the period when the brain is recovering -- can continue for as long as 18 months.
