Expert: Caroline West - 4/30/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Anna I have been an Methadone for about a year and a half. I
went from 90mg to currently 10mg, I want to know how to detox myself
starting next week. I would like to ask you what meds can ease the pain full
symptoms of this process. I have no insurance so it is hard for me to keep
running to the doctor, so I was hoping that you can tell me the names of
meds that can help me. I just want to be completely drug free including
prescription ones.Despretly in need, pleas help me.

Answer
Hello Anna luv,

HUGE congratulations on making it this far-really good on you!

If you cut it down like how you have by yourself,I take my hat off to you! (OK enough of the praising-but you do get my drift!!)

Its so not fair in America with all this insurance BS,not everyone can afford it and to be denied treatment because there is no 'Insurance' it pisses me right off. So well done on getting this far alone.

OK-there are 2 drugs I know about. Ones called 'Subutex' and the other 'Suboxone'. Over here in the UK,Subutex is the drug which is used and I think Suboxone is more of a US drug. (to make it easier for me to explain I will just refer to it as the Subutex). What usually happens is that a reduction on Methadone is started until the client gets down to a minimum of 30ml though through personal experience,and others,getting down to 20ml is more ideal. Now,Subutex is used because it is more effective in detoxing than doing it just with the Meth. Friends and acquaintances have pretty much all said the same that its the last 10ml thats the killer and has stumbled a lot of people. So they bought in the Subutex as its a lot easier to come off.

Try to contact a Dr if you can just for help on how to do the detox and then go away and do it as outlined and then you won't need to keep seeing him/her. OR...phone a National Drug Service Line and get advice from them. OR...Have a one off visit to your local Drug n Alcohol Advisory Centre for assistance. OR...have a look on the Internet, only on reputable sites and they may have a safe way on detoxing off the Subutex.

I am not a Dr but I would suggest you do a 10-14 day detox on the Subutex but unfortunately I can't give you the amounts to take and the duration so you must somehow get advice from someone in the field. These are the best advice I can give you and I hope I have been able to help you and make things on what to do next a bit clearer.

If you would like any other advice then feel totally free to write in again. You are doing great and should be very proud of yourself. You'll make it,Peace n good health, Caroline