Methadone

Welcome!

Can you explain, so that others may understand and identify, why your friend needs to take Methadone, how Methadone facilitates recovery, and what methadone is according to your understanding?

Since this is a dual diagnosed (bipolar with addiction) support group, we all assume that your friend also has a mood affective condition such as bipolar disease. Although that may not be the case, you may nonetheless be able to see parallels between the symptoms of your friend's addiction and the symptoms of bipolar disease.

http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar/articles/bipolar-dual- diagnosed--identifiers

With both diseases, it appears that a period of relative mood and emotional stability is required first before the underlying issues in the diseases may receive effective treatment. For this reason alone many doctors will first seek to moderate the mood swings and other prominent barriers to treatment with medication or, as in your case, a surrogate substance such as methadone. These medications, as I understand it, do NOT apply to other pathologies or diseases caused by bipolar or addiction. If it were me, I would see perhaps an internist or even a neurologist in order to be on the safe side.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/research/methadone.cfm

http://www.heroin-dependence.com/

http://www.detox-narconon.org/heroin-detox.html

Please keep coming back!

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/health-forums/addiction- and-recovery

Thanks!

Jim

To make a very long story short, my boyfriend is an opiate addict (in recovery) and yes, also diagnosed with Bipolar I.

To make the short story longer now (hope I don't bore anybody), he was diagnosed at 14 with Bipolar, and he was feeling really lousy, making everybody around him miserable as well. He had three suicide attempts, and you can't find a single inch of skin on his arms and legs uncarved. He described that period as "his thoughts and moods being his worst enemies". Finally, what made him feel better were not the meds, but the alcohol. I met him when we were both 15 and a half. He was practically drunk all the time. I felt sorry for him, but also saw the beauty of his persona. As a combination of both, despite all good advice, I decided to help him, to stand by him. I also love him very much. It was terrible, it was worse and worse, he would drink a bottle of vodka like I drink a glass of Cola, he started to get drunk from even a sip of beer, everything was out of control, he was expelled from school... And one day, bam! Sober. Stayed sober for days. Weeks. It was a miracle. Then I discovered the empty syringe wrappings in the bathroom bin. I didn't even catch it in the sniffing period. He was already doing speedballs. His parents kicked him out, they really don't understand that he needs the most help right now. It's not the son of their dreams, but he can get better, if only they helped, or, at least, understood. I can relate to them and their feelings, though, I don't really blame them, and neither does he. My parents accepted him, he lives with us now.

He finally agreed to go to a detox clinic, and he's been there for 2 months.

They put him on methadone. Since you asked, the methadone, as I see it, is a substitute for the crap he was injecting, that helps him carry on but, as I see, only substituded an addiction to another. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see him getting better, and he's still addicted. As I see his addictions, it's just that these substances put him in a better mood and avoid getting in the manic-depressive mood.

He likes the highs, he's miserable during the lows. With the methadone, he gets them very strong. He's a rapid cycler, very rapid - minutes. He says it's such a carousel in his mind, that only coke was able to slow it down, not even alcohol lately. But now nothing holds him together. He's in such pain, and he is so messed up.

He's not on any Bipolar medication right now, since he didn't feel any improvement with his past meds and he didn't go see a doctor in a long, long time.

The methadone dose is so high, and it's not helping him, it's just solving the addiction, but the reason for which he got the addiction it doesn't solve. His mood swings are worse than ever. When he predicts a major episode, he kicks me out of the room. It's so painful for me too.

I'm pregnant also, and want to terminate the pregnancy. He is not there for me, as he can't be... he barely can hold it together (yeah, barely...) himself. I can't burden my parents with this too, it would be too much on our family. So I'm just leaving myself aside, hoping to make him better somehow right now, this is the only priority.

I feel I'm losing my mind as well.

I wanted to delete the last part, it's just venting. But I'll leave it, so you can have the full picture...

We're 17, we're just some kids .

Thank you!

You've given a thorough description of how the diseases reach beyond the person to destroy families, friendships, schooling, and perhaps even new life.

You wrote, "When he predicts a major episode, he kicks me out of the room. It's so painful for me too."

THAT is a good sign! He has started to recognize the onset of his symptoms. If we are to manage these symptoms we MUST be able to recognize them in ourselves.

I would say that's real progress, and something which should give you a measure of hope. The trick for you is, perhaps, to find a way to tolerate the pain of those episodes so that he does not always have to isolate when he experiences them. My wife has shown me that it is possible for her to cope with those mood swings, and her presence and quiet attention (without reacting) eases my own pain. She doesn't give me any sympathy though, and she does not hide her anger (that would be superhuman); but she does however remind me with her physical presence that she is there. Of course I feel as though I WANT to be alone, but isolation only makes things worse. ...go figure!

On the other hand, he needs someone outside the family circle as well. No one person is dependable enough to offer 100% support. It takes a group of likeminded people working together to give that kind of support to the recovering addict and also, I believe, to the recovering bipolar.

In the matter of your child, it seems to me that he may have invested in you some of the best of himself, as you have seen it. Perhaps you may honor your care for him by keeping and nurturing that new life. (No, I am not a pro-life guy.) Keep your options open. You only BELIEVE that you can't handle it, but beliefs can change.

It would be far better for both of you if he himself could participate in this discussion.

While you are remembering the goodness you saw in him in the past, remember also (and remind him) that it took a long time for things to get so bad; therefore, it is wise to allow plenty of time for things to get better. Remember that relapse, although dangerous, may be a vital part of recovery--teaching us more about our disease and reinforcing our desire to get better. He must know, whenever he is able to "kick it", that he has a place to go where he will always be welcome. You and your family may not always be able to provide that, so don't set yourself up for disappointment. Rather, help him find a group, a counselor, a sponsor, a mentor or someone like him (maybe even a halfway house or group home)--someone who is, as he is, seeking to get better--someone whose recovery includes a pledge to help people like your boyfriend. It just works better when he understands that you are not his primary refuge.

Take care!

With kindest regards,

Jim

Congratulations to you, you and your family are doing a superb gesture.

http://www.atforum.com/newsletters/2007spring.php#pointers

Opinions onn methadone vary widely and it would be wise to become aware of its historical benefit and how it works. It is difficult for someone who chooses this well proven route to explain themselves in the face of critical judgements rather than support.

http://www.indro-online.de/letter.htm

When someone is on his optimal dose you would not know he or she is taking methadone. It has properties that are far different from the typical fast acting opiates used for pain or for getting high.

Please do a little more research at www.armmat.org

By the way, tapering is different from being stabelizes on the optimal maintenance dose.

My very best to the young man who made a solid choice in seeking help from his addiction. People on MAT Medically Assisted Treatment need support.

MMF Methadoone Maintenance Friendly Dual Diagnosis Friendly MMF DDF http://hometown.aol.com/varnua/page43.html