I am on methadone. I started taking it about 3 weeks ago. I know this was such a stupid thing to do. I read all the posts on here and researched it for months and finally just did it. let me try to explain why. Four years ago I was a heroin addict and I moved across country to get away from it and be clean. it was the worst withdrawals ever. I swore I would never go through anything like that again. anyway about 3 years ago my dr. started to prescribe percocet for tmj pain. the tmj got worst and so did the pill habit. throughout the years several other medical problems came about and more pills were prescribed being a former addict I knew to take breaks so I wouldn't get hooked. until my grandmother died last year. since then I have been taking 40-50 norco/percocet a day. I felt the addiction coming on strong but I continued to screw up my life. I have been trying to come off these pills since may but something always happens (I'll get another flare up or my period will come, etc.). well anyway I found out I cant sleep through the night without them. It was a familiar and scary feeling (heroin). so I started methadone. They started me on 30mgs and then upped me to 50mgs. I refused to go higher then that. I complained to my counselor about being tired and not feeling right. So she made me see the dr. who put my up to 60mgs. that was Friday. now for the past 4 days my legs, knees and ankles are all swelled up. My ankles look like there are tennis balls on the sides of them and I cant even walk. I asked the nurses at the clinic on Monday if this had anything to do w/ the methadone. they assured me it didn't and said I should see my regular doctor about it. After a few days I did some research and found out this is a rare side affect of methadone. I am so mad that they lied to me. and I am scared the wont detox me off. Can I just quit after 3 weeks? has anyone had this happen to them? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for any info.

Wow, sounds like you have been through alot. I don't know much about Methadone, sorry.

I do want to say that with the side effects that your having that I wouldn't take any chances and I would go right to the Emergency Room. NOW!!!!! Seriously, you don't want to take any chances!!!!!

I have read that heart problems cause swelling of the legs and ankels and feet. due to poor circulation- you really should get this checked out. Good luck to you, and bless you, Monday

actually not meaning to scare you -I know that you have enough to deal with- I heard that it may go hand in hand with heart failure. Please call your E.R. and ask them, they will tell you if you should come in right away or not.

You better read this thread!!!!!!

Thread!!!!!

This is terrible methadone? and after a heroin addiction they should not have put you on that should they? ..Not being a dr I can't make a judgement about the percocet . But I would say if lortabs would have been enough to stop the pain they should have stuck to that..the swelling sounds like your kidneys aren't working a frequent side effect of lortabs. Of course the remedy is get off the lortabs for awhile and your sweling should go down. My ankels swell on lortabs sometimes..I can't suggest anything about methadone except I think thats the cause of the swelling...I would go to a addiction specialist and just tell him what you've told us..

Goodluck,
al

You need to be careful with methadone clinics. It is common practice for doctors to reply to any request with an increased dosage. You do not need to take this dosage.

When you go to the dosing line, tell the nurse that it is too much and you are too drowsy to function and you want a reduction. If the doctor refuses, drink half the dose (or 3/4, ...) and leave. It will take a few days before the doctor will speak to you. Then discuss your situation and demand a lower dose. He will listen, but you must be forceful and confident. If you cannot do that, then go to the emergency room and beg for help. Do not let the clinic push your dose up so high. If you were fine at 30mg, then go back to it. There is nothing wrong with staying there.

Also remeber that transfering to buprenorphine is most difficult from methadone. I know, I did it. You must get down to less than 30mg, then go without for two days until you are very sick. If you are thinking about that route, then you must reduce your methadone dose.

thank you sooo much for all your help during this very stressfull time. you have helped me so much and i really appreciate your concern. I called the local er ask a nurse line. they said to keep my feet elevated for the night and see a doctor, er whatever first thing tomorrow. They said i definatley need a second opinion. I really cant stress how much i appreciate your support and guidance.

and big mark, if i do continue to go to the clinic, i will do exactly what you said. It scares me, these doctors. they have all the control and I dont stand up to them well, but I will. I dont want these people to kill me.

Thank you again. You dont know how much it means to me. I know I have already said it. But I'm scared and you guys have general concern for me, I wish a damn doctor did.

Thanks so much.

Your are more than welcome. I am glad that you called the ER and spoke to someone. i realize that lortabs can make you swell, but I thought that you were off of the pain meds and just on the methadone, that is why I was so concerned. Try not to take in too much sodium right now. but dont try and not have any sodium at all either. I have know people that stop certian meds and their body has a build up of toxins and that can cause swelling, and that in itself becomes painful, and in my case has made my blood pressure rise. If you can try with cranberry juice that is low sodium and keep the fluids flowing. At least until you vist the ER or your doctor. If you start to feel tingly or your tongue feels big-please- go to the ER. Fluid retention puts pressure on your veins and arteries and is not good.

One other thing that I forgot--soaking in a luke warm tub, helps with swelling--the pressure of the water help push out the fluid build up. sounds weird but it works!

thanx again for all the feedback. i wanted to keep you updated i didnt go to the clinic this morning. i am planning to go to the er sometime today but i am very scared. i also wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, i am not on pain pills just methadone.

whatever, while I have no experiance with methadone I wish you the best of luck! Stay strong, possitive and keep posting on this board, its like a family and support is always hear!
Good luck!

If you are worried about confronting the nurses and doctors, try writing down what you are going to say. Then practice it. Think of their likely responses, and write your answers. Debate yourself over and over again under each scenario. It will build your confidence.

These people are not really intimidating. They are overworked like everyone else, it's just that their jobs actually matter. You have the right to go to that clinic and demand tests to see what is wrong with you. You can take less or no methadone if you chose to. You are empowered.

Just remember, you are on 60mg of methadone and that is too high to go cold turkey. If you have weekend take-home doses, try to not use them. See if you can go one or two days without a dose. When I was on methadone I went every Sunday without a dose with minimal discomfort.

Furthermore, your liver might not be processing the methadone properly. If that is the case, then you must stop taking any more. How long can you go without dosing? I would try skipping this Sunday's dose to see. Hopefully it will be 50mg or less. Click below for more information.

http://www.pharmacywatchers.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=withdrawals&Number=29689&Forum=All_Forums&Words=2416&Match=Username&Searchpage=3&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=19754&Search=true#Post29689

Sorry about the late response, but let me tell you about my experience with methadone. There is nothing good about being on meth maintainance for they want you on it for life and that's it!! Every time you come up dirty they will up your dose by ten mills until you get to the point where they will administratively detox you ...and I'm talking 6 weeks or so and God be with you. In my day they wouldn't dose you higher then 100 mg but what I hear now they got people on 200 mg plus which is totally insane. You are smart to stay on as low a dose as possible but let me warn you the longer you're on it the more your body becomes saturated with the drug and the detox is hell on earth. I was on it for 3 yrs. (80 mg /da) and it took months for me to get right after coming off. In short I ended up with a 3 bundle a day habbit after all before I finally got sober. So if you have a chance to get off(slowly) I would do it now. God Bless You.

Viejo < !--color-->

i agree that meth stinks-used it as a chronic pain med after oc's were too expensive-but took me forever and a day and the worst detox to get off them -even if docs tell u its a great long term pain relief solution, dont do it-it makes u do stupid things and feel like a numb zombie
id rather chop off my own foot without so much as a tylenol then ever ever take methadone again\
just my 2cents

Detoxing 0ff methadone when only haven taken it for three weeks should be no problem,at least it never was for me after a month of taking 40 to 60 mg a day.If you stay on yhis drug the sleepiness and all that will go away,great drug for pain,best i have ever been on and am on it now,but withdrawls are horrible if taken for a period of months or years.Should you decide it is not right for you have them slowly detox you immediately before you get enough in your system to where it's hell to come off of,ask if you can try a drug called temgesic to use while detoxing.Just my two cents.