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Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms Of Methamphetamine

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Posted on Mon, 8 Aug 2016
Question: Hi, I’m a Meth Addict; I am trying so hard to get clean. I have used every day for the past 5 years, smoking and snorting only. I had been clean for 14 days and was doing OK except for no energy or won’t to. I have to work so Rehab is out. So, I thought maybe the Medical profession might be able to help me. I went to the Dr. and was completely honest with the nurses and the Dr. I was not asking for a narcotic just something to help me function in everyday life. After talking to the nurse she said they wanted to prescribe Zubsolv 8.6-2.1 Mg two times a day and Diazepam 2mg three times a day. She told me that she would give me the first dose in the Dr.s office and watch me for a little while to make sure there were no side effects. I am a small person, 5’1 and 94lbs completely dressed. She gave me the first dose and waited 15 minutes and checked on me. I could feel it but was OK. Then she gave me a second dose. When another 15 minutes was up she came to check on me, I told her I could definitely feel it. She told me that I could go; I got up to leave and had to sit back down for a couple of minutes to regain my composer. Then I got in my truck and started home. About 10 miles into my 25 mile drive I guess it really kicked in. I knew I was driving but it was like I was in a fog, I had to slap myself in the face several times to make sure I knew where I was and what I was doing and I prayed just to get home. Well I made it home and to my bed. I called a friend and tried to tell them what had happened. My friend couldn’t understand what I was trying to tell them but knew that I had been to the Dr. and why I had gone. It took him about 45 minutes to get to me. In that 45 minutes I had woke myself up at least twice gasping for air. For the next 2 days I couldn’t keep anything on my stomach, I had to be helped to the bathroom and my family could barely understand me when I tried to talk. I missed a week of work. When I finally got to talk to the nurse at the Dr. Office she told me all of the above problems I had after them giving me the Zubsolv was me having withdrawal’s from the Meth. She said she was going to change my prescription to Suboxone and increase the dose.
Is this the usually withdrawal from Meth, or side effects of the drug? Needless to say I’m scared to death to try any of it now. All I wanted was something to give me a little energy and get me back to being able to function in everyday life. Is there such a drug that a Dr. can prescribe?
Thank You
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
this makes no sense

Detailed Answer:
Methamphetamine is a stress hormone (amphetamine)
suboxone, zubsolve is in the same group of drugs as heroin (opiates, narcotics).
Giving heroin to someone to get off of meth....that make any sense?......

Ok, coming off of stimulants causes one to be very very blah. Without energy, sleepy, etc. Essentially all meth addicts have experienced withdrawal because the drug's effects do not last that long and the withdrawal is a trigger to use more. While this overlaps with the sedation of narcotics, I am unaware of a direct interaction between narcotic action and amphetamine/stimulant withdrawal. I doubt that they add up to fatal sedation but it certainly is never tried by a medical professional and is not very common in the addict population because they would either try to be high or go off of a drug but not mix the low / withdrawal of one with getting high with the other.

Certainly narcotics can cause sedation and confusion. Certainly they cause stomach upset directly and also through withdrawal. Suboxone and zubsolv are thought to have less risk of fatality than other narcotics because they are both not as potent and have a blocker (naloxone) with them. However, certainly someone could overdose on it and it is far, far more likely to cause sedation than fatality.

Cannot say in your particular case, but narcotics are never given as a treatment for meth withdrawal. There really isn't much that can be given for it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (17 hours later)
Ok, Thank You, I understand more about what happened to me. I do have another question: Is two doses of the Zubsolv 8.6-2.1 Mg given in a 15 minute time span a dose that would be recommended for an Opiate Addict? Why would a Dr. give this to a Meth Addict? When I woke myself up gasping for breath I remember thinking you have got to stay awake or you may not wake up again but couldn't. I understand now that more than likely it wasn't going to kill me but at that time I truly thought I was simply going to stop breathing. I will never put either of these in my body again.

Thank You
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
no, just no.

Detailed Answer:
wow, so many odd features so little time.....
Ok, The key point about a partial agonist is that there is a cap on how much effect it produces.
see pretty picture.
http://www.naabt.org/education/technical_explanation_buprenorphine.cfm

Give two.. give four....
"This article confirms prior reports that accidental oral BPN exposure is relatively safe when compared with the serious consequences of morphine or methadone ingestion in children"
http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2009/01000/Buprenorphine__Toxicity_and_Overdose.6.aspx
There is a cap on its effect and giving more than 6 mg is not likley to do more and it also does not increase it's duration of action.
It is relatively safe from fatality. It also won't do more with a higher dose. Furthermore it has no place in amphetamine addiction.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Withdrawal Symptoms Of Methamphetamine

Brief Answer: this makes no sense Detailed Answer: Methamphetamine is a stress hormone (amphetamine) suboxone, zubsolve is in the same group of drugs as heroin (opiates, narcotics). Giving heroin to someone to get off of meth....that make any sense?...... Ok, coming off of stimulants causes one to be very very blah. Without energy, sleepy, etc. Essentially all meth addicts have experienced withdrawal because the drug's effects do not last that long and the withdrawal is a trigger to use more. While this overlaps with the sedation of narcotics, I am unaware of a direct interaction between narcotic action and amphetamine/stimulant withdrawal. I doubt that they add up to fatal sedation but it certainly is never tried by a medical professional and is not very common in the addict population because they would either try to be high or go off of a drug but not mix the low / withdrawal of one with getting high with the other. Certainly narcotics can cause sedation and confusion. Certainly they cause stomach upset directly and also through withdrawal. Suboxone and zubsolv are thought to have less risk of fatality than other narcotics because they are both not as potent and have a blocker (naloxone) with them. However, certainly someone could overdose on it and it is far, far more likely to cause sedation than fatality. Cannot say in your particular case, but narcotics are never given as a treatment for meth withdrawal. There really isn't much that can be given for it.