Author: Ironic
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:18 pm
Wow. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I’ve heard a lot of stories about patients switching from done to Sub and having precipitated withdrawals. Honestly, after all I’ve read I would never do it..it can be 4-5 days without methadone before it’s safe to dose Sub.
You asked about ways to avoid this? I don’t think there is an easy one. On my part, I keep a card in my wallet (from RB, I just crossed out the part about naloxone and switched the -oxone to -Tex). That way if I ever need paramedics, they’ll know.
I tapered as fast as I could (I’m now settling in at 1 mg/day. I’ve been on sub 15 months but I got below 8 mg after 2 months) so that if I ever need pain meds for a legitimate reason, there is a possibility of receiving a dose that actually touches the pain. Also, I’ve read that under 4 mg, since your receptors aren’t covered completely, they downregulate, which is basically your brain healing. I’d love to read more about that. Personally, I felt better at 2-4 mg/day than I ever did at 8 mg/day.
Finally, it’s very important, like you said, to be personally knowledgeable about precipitated withdrawal. Thanks to forums like these, many of us will never have to experience the pain you did. Thank you for sharing your story.
