How Is Prescribing Methadone To Treat Opiate Addiction Effective?!

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i know someone who is taking methadone. at first it was to help his addiction but now he just takes it to get high. i don't really see the point in it. i think it is suppose to just narrow you down to one pill instead of several, but i don't think it works the way that it is suppose to. don't get me wrong it may help you. this is just my OPINION on it because a lot of people will buy methadone "on the streets" to get high. best of luck to you!

Do NOT get put on Methadone. It is way more addictive than any of the other narcotic painkillers. Suboxone, or Subutex, are the best drugs to use to get weaned off of opiates because they have a "ceiling effect." Addicts are put on Suboxone(buprenorphine and naloxone mixed together) to treat cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is unable to be abused because if it is crushed up and injected into a vein it activates the naloxone and puts the user straight into major withdrawals. It is way more effective than that Methadone sh*t.

I have had to take Methadone for quite a while now. I thought it was helping, but found out it was making me worse. I have cut down to almost nothing and feel wonderful (compared to how I felt before).
What I am trying to say is, getting on Methadone to help curb another addiction is fine. It will take care of the withdrawals from whatever you are addicted to. But, then you need to curb yourself off of the Methadone also. You do not want to spend the rest of your life on Methadone. As long as you realize that it is just a temporary medication and that the purpose of it is to help stop the withdrawals from 'whatever' and then you need to eventually stop the Methadone. I think you will do fine with this process.

Me, myself and I.

Well if you want off meds and you havent been on them for years and years then yes tapering down then quitting all forms of opiates is best. However, if you have tried everything else to get off them, methadone at least can stabilize you. It a long acting opiate and works with your natural endorphins and receptors rather than destroy them. (Like oxy and codeine you mentioned abusing) Either way you have to make a choice that is right for you.

Methadone for this purpose is attainable thru a clinic you go to everyday, which after you have proved yourself you may be allowed a few take home doses so you dont have to go back everyday. They usually do this for people who pee clean (besides methadone) and its as few as three days worth up to two weeks. So after a year of "good behavior" you would go there twice a month and get your doses and do a urine test.

They basically keep you loaded so you wont abuse street drugs or go anywhere else. I know a guy who has been on it for 30 years and he is on 550mg per day. You would think that would kill someone but he is fine. Most people take anywhere from 10-90mg per day.

hth

many years of opiate abuse, recovery and relapse.

I know a heroine addict who uses it like a drug. It must have some kind of pleasant effect or she wouldn't do that. it makes as much sense to me as using a nicotine patch to quit smoking. i think to quit an addiction you just have to quit.