October 28, 2007 - 12:51pm
my wife is currently in rehab for using methadone, which she was not getting from a doctor. she also is Rx'd lexapro which she says is because she is depressed, but she doesn't take it regularly. i've heard that people will mix methadone and lexapro to get high, and i was wondering if that is true. to be honest, i don't believe that she is depressed. thanks for any help you can give me.
October 28, 2007 - 6:34pm
#2
Lexapro should not enhance
Lexapro should not enhance the euphoric effect of methadone. A large percentage of people addicted to narcotic are also depressed, but because of the drug abuse it is sometimes hard to tell what thoughts and behavior are from the drug abuse and what are from depression. Sometimes depression presents as angry or irritable mood or as an anxious mood. For Lexapro to be effective it should be taken just about every day, and may take 4-6 weeks to start working.
December 11, 2007 - 8:07am
#3
methadone and lexapro
I'm currently on Methadone (prescribed) and lexapro (prescribed). First I'd like to say that Methadone simply blocks Narcotics...you just don't crave the narcotics because it's blocking the receptors in your brain.
Also, Lexapro is a anti-depressent and therefore it does not produce a high effect either nor does the combination of the two.
Methadone SAVED MY LIFE! Although I'm currently Detoxing from it.... I wouldn't think twice about doing it again! So if your wife takes Methadone in lieu of Narcotics..... try a different approach. Try supporting her decision.
(edited)
December 11, 2007 - 1:33pm
#4
You TAKE METHADONE
You TAKE METHADONE PRESCRIBED, this person takes it non-prescribed. I'm all for supporting Methadone users but it should be legit. If the lady wants to get her life on track and get methadone from a clinic or doctor that would be great, but don't tell someone they aren't supportive by not wanting a family member breaking the law by possessing a schedule II controlled substance.
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
December 11, 2007 - 2:27pm
#5
Im pretty sure I read today
Im pretty sure I read today that Daniel Smith (the son of Anna Nicole) that died of a mixture of drugs, was said to have Methadone and Lexapro both in his system when he died. Not saying you can't mix the two, but please be careful when doing so. I made the mistake of mixing Tramadol with Flexeril 2 years ago and woke up after having a Grand Mal seizure that scared my family half to death. Thats what you get when you're forced to go to Urgent Care in between switching pain centers though I suppose, that and my ignorance at the time.
December 11, 2007 - 2:37pm
#6
I think the death of Anna
I think the death of Anna Nicoles kid had more to do with the methadone and benzos (xanax i believe) that he was on and little to do with the lexapro as everyone knows strong opiates when combined with benzos in the right dose will cause respiratory failure.
December 11, 2007 - 2:49pm
#7
You may be right, and I
You may be right, and I didn't post that to scare anyone, just to make them aware, as I found it odd that I read that story on the same day I saw a post on here with the same two drugs in it. I know Lexapro was mentioned along with one other named drug, but I didn't think it was a benzo. It was on Foxnews, Im trying to relocate the article now. Edit: Found it heres the link
Lexapro and Zoloft along with the Methadone was what they reported finding. I didn't know those two were considered benzo's but then again I don't have the experience with them that I do other medications. That report specifically states that the dr's determined that it was the combo of Methadone, Lexapro, and Zoloft that provided the lethal combination within 5 hours of ingestion.
(edited to fix link)
December 11, 2007 - 4:06pm
#8
zoloft and lexapro are not
zoloft and lexapro are not benzos
Check with a licensed MD before you take any suggestions!
December 11, 2007 - 6:41pm
#9
I may be wrong but I could
I may be wrong but I could have sworn when it first happened I seen a news report saying it was a mixture of an antidepressant, methadone, and xanax. But I could have been mistaken.
December 12, 2007 - 3:00pm
#10
Lexapro and Methadone
I take Lexapro, 20 mg each day and I'm also on Methadone, 60 mg TID or 180 mg per day. I have experience no problems with this combination and I also take 2 mg of Klonopin at bedtime.
December 12, 2007 - 3:18pm
#11
Im glad that you don't have
Im glad that you don't have a problem with it Director, I just mainly posted that for people to see that they can interact badly. I wonder just how much the addition of the Zoloft with the other two affected it.
As far as thinking xanax was involved as well, I think when he first passed, they DID mention Xanax because he had a script for it, but I don't think they actually found that in the toxicology results.
December 12, 2007 - 7:46pm
#12
Zoloft and Lexapro can cause
Zoloft and Lexapro can cause hyponatremia, low sodium in the blood, which can be fatal if not detected and treated. I am not sure if there is a relationship with methadone causing hyponatremia as well.
December 13, 2007 - 12:24am
#13
is it true that methadone
is it true that methadone will block other narcotics? i've heard this a few times here but if i recall correctly there are people taking methadone and another narcotic like lortab for breakthru pain.
December 13, 2007 - 8:17am
#14
WOW
I am a recovering addict and was on Methadone and xanax for over 4 years. Methadone is the worse drug in the world i allmost died when i got off of it.I was sick for 3 months and had about 25 seazures.I am now on Suboxone and it works wonders.I can work while taking the medicine,as before when i was on meathadone alls i did was sleep.I use to fall alseep on the way home from the methadone clinic all the time.I got life flighted once and allmost died from a head on collision.I would fall asleep smoking and burn holes on everything clothes,carpet,beds,pillows.Ive had about 15 people i know die from mixing Methadone and Xanax.Either wrecking there car from nodding off of just oding.It does block any other narcotic.It does a good job at that.But if you get on it stay on a low dose under 100mgs or even 75mgs.Because the higher you go the longer it takes to get off of it.I hope this may be able to help you out in anyway.Good luck!
(edited by TeamPharmer)
May 7, 2008 - 9:21pm
#15
question
Hi, I hope you don't mind if I ask you a question.
I have been taking Methadone for chronic migranes and
headaches since last August. I take 10mg/3 times a day. I have
noticed in the past couple months is hasn't been working as well. I
figured that I must be developing a tollerance. I have taken pain
medication for over 7 years for this condition so I understand how
things like this work. But my Dr. is constantly fighting me about increasing my dosage. From what I have read I am on a fairly low
dose, so I can't imagin what increasing can hurt.
My question is about your dosage; is it something you worked up to? or
any suggestions on how I might handle this?
Thank you
May 8, 2008 - 8:42am
#16
livenlearn...
i can tell u from experience, 30 mgs a day isnt a high dose at all. your dr probably doesnt want to increase it because of the chance of addiction, and the higher u go the longer it takes to get off, like someone else said up there. BUT if you ween yourself down slowly, when u are completely off of it, u will feel a little crappy for a few days but after that u should feel ok. if u stop it abruptly, THEN you really feel it, and it takes a couple months to get off of it, depending on the dose. as for the clinic, you do work up to your stable dose. my clinic outside boston, started me at 30mgs for day1. then for the next like 4 or 5 days they upped it 10mgs a day. once i hit i thinkit was 80, you have to ask at the window for an increase if u still feel like &*&?. you just tell them your symptoms and they raise you 5mgs, and maybe theyll throw a 10mg day in there, but they increase you every 3 days. once u get to i believe it was over like 120mgs /day you have to ask your counselor (every patient is assigned a counselor) for a dose increase, and IT has to be approved by the nursing staff or the dr. And yes it does block other opiates once you get up to like 80 or 100mgs. the person up there that said he was falling asleep all the time and burning holes in stuff, well his dose was probably too high for his weight. because im on almost 200mgs a day and i dont fall asleep at all. i just feel normal, and dont have any cravings most of the time. And taking benzos with it is ok as long as you dont overdo it. im on klonopin too and still dont fall asleep and act like a zombie. but if u abuse the benzos with the 'done, that can kill u in a heartbeat. as for the anti depressants with 'done, i really dont know about that. i havent heard anything bad about it, but i dont have any experience with them so i dont know.
May 8, 2008 - 1:31pm
#17
methadone for pain
I should have stated in my previous post that I was put on methadone for chronic migranes and headaches. I have had this problem for years and have tried pretty much all the usual headache meds.
I get my methadone from a GP that works in pain management mainly. Maybe that is why she is reluctant to increase my dosage. I receive my medication on a monthly basis. I see her once a month and get my methadone in pill form and it's up to me to take the meds approciately and make the 90 pills last a month. She is very strict about not allowing refills early. I understand why she does this to control "drug seekers" and reduce problems, but it is very frustrating.
Please don't think I am bashing addiction, I have been there myself. It's just that when they put me on methadone it was to control my headaches, which were due to head trauma.
I guess I am just trying to find a way to get through to her that I need my dosage increased, as it is not working like I feel it should.
Also I was wondering, if I do increase my dosage am I beginning a cycle that I will have to continue forever until it no longer works.
Any advice or information regard dosages or long term use of methadone for pain is very helpful and welcome.
Your wife may be self medicating her depression with Methadone.
I'm not qualified to give advice, just an opinion.
As to the combination you speak of, I do not know whether or not that is common. I don't care to read too much into drug abuse/misuse, unless someone is asking for help.
gtrplayer