Permanent Take Homes?

[Beefmang]

Hey everybody. I'm going to begin methadone maintenance in a couple days after being on suboxone for a while and really not responding to it in the sense of craving reduction and normalcy and all that. And after much research, I still have a couple of questions concerning some things in the MMT world. Now I understand that take homes are achieved by going through a certain period of time, like 30 or 90 days, with clean urines and showing up everyday etc...but when someone says that they got one take home day for 90 days of compliance...do they mean just one single day to take medication home, or one day a week from there on out? Because if it means one day a week it would be nice to be compliant for a year or so and only have to go once a week...which would be a couple times a month and sure beat the hell out of every day.

Also another quick inquiry, how long do most of you usually wait when you go everyday to the clinic? Are you sitting (or standing outside, for that matter) for a long time before you get your dose? Or are you in and out pretty quick? Is it better to go just as they're opening or later on after the crowd subsides?

Thanks in advance for all responses, you all have helped me in so many ways in the past.

[Chipper]

One day a week. There are limits, though - Here in Sydney, Australia the most takeaways you can get are 5 a week.

I used to wait from 5 to 30 minutes to get dosed, depending on the time and day of the week. Going in late is not a good idea because you could get delayed and miss your dose. I found the weekends were the best time for me.

[Duckfeet]

My place, gives u no take-homes for 90 days, then *one* take-home, so I didn't have to go in *sundays* after that, then ninety days later, I got *another* take-home, which I chose--like many--*saturday* so now I had *two* takehomes, which meant weekends off, the daily drive, and another ninety days, you get *three* take-homes, etc., etc....most clinics I've been at, have something like that set up,,,, *unless* you have some *good* reason, like "medical" or "aging parents (the one I used, which happens to be true, hell *I'm* aging, for crying out loud)...but yeah, when you see your counselor--if you think you might have a legit, or legit *sounding* excuse not to be able to attend clinic regularly, ask her what you need to do: I had to write a letter, explaining why I couldn't come in weekends, cuz I actually got my takehomes early...but I clean up good...if I wear a long sleeve shirt, that is, I look just like santa claus

In other words, if yer planning on wanting more takehomes, than the amount of time you have, don't go in with no shirt on, a quart of beer in one hand, and dripping blood off yer "ditch": give's'em a bad impression...

So I think you get the picture: sometimes after a year--of no missing days, and no "positive" piss tests, you can get even better, like *two* weeks takehomes, etc...when people talk about "weekend take-homes (two days) or "weekly takehomes" they usually mean they *don't* have to go in those days....

Hell, I'm down to 5mg daily, and just got my two takehomes: I have been here long enough to get another day, but why bother, I should be off in another week or so, and I think it gives me just a bit of psychological comfort just to drive down there, tho I'm at the point now, where I have to remind myself to go, and am bodysurfing and having daily bowel movements, and eating right, and doing yoga, and all the other crap that I *didn't/couldn't* do on methadone....but that's just me, some people *thrive* on it, and are miserable off all opiates...I'm kind of "in between" I'm usually miserable off'em, for a while, then sort of get used to it, then--unless I pay attention--find myself cheerful, even not thinking about it all the fucking time...

Best wishes, tho, methadone, if used correctly, can be a lifesaver: it saved mine, no matter if I dis it or not...I know that...

[rockbottom]

like he said^^^ i got as high as 4 take homes-----i've seen up to 14 ---my problem was every time i'd switch clincs they'ed start me at daily dosing again-----the bastards

[Hoss]

Just out of plain curiousity, and this probably sounds like a really dumb question, but for MMT take homes - is it always in liquid form? Reason I ask is that my sister and her BF are both going to the same clinic and my sis just got her first take home privileges last week, and someone was telling her that they get take homes but in pill form.

Speaking of such, does Lilly still make the wafers? Haven't seen one in a little while.

[ZodiacKiller]

Originally Posted by Hoss

Speaking of such, does Lilly still make the wafers? Haven't seen one in a little while.

I'd heard that these were pulled not that long ago. Only what I remember, so don't quote me on that. But those fucking wafers caused me some horrific WD a few years ago. Like the worst ever.......I'm just sayin'.


ZK

[Duckfeet]

Yeah, wafers used to be the most common form for clinics, then--when they snapped we were selling'em, buying'em, fixing'em, etc., they pretty much quit it, and put all us reprobates on the koolaid, which we all know and love...every once in a while, over on the methadone site, somebody will say or hear of wafers being perscibed...or injectable methadone--the holy grail of methadonians in U.S.A....
me, I don't know: I found the pills somehow more "like dope" and harder to manage, and not always be cheating on...while the koolaid is more, like, "yawn..."

Originally Posted by ZodiacKiller

I'd heard that these were pulled not that long ago. Only what I remember, so don't quote me on that. But those fucking wafers caused me some horrific WD a few years ago. Like the worst ever.......I'm just sayin'.


ZK

[Beefmang]

Well thats a relief, I figured I wouldn't put it past some of these clinics to give you one day to take home your meds for 90 days of compliance and just as quick make you come back every day after all the hard work you did.

Now, do most of you have to do the classic "standing in line outside the clinic" or do some of you have actual waiting rooms to sit in like a more traditional doctors office-style?

[Pandora]

Originally Posted by Duckfeet

Hell, I'm down to 5mg daily, and just got my two takehomes: I have been here long enough to get another day, but why bother, I should be off in another week or so, and I think it gives me just a bit of psychological comfort just to drive down there, tho I'm at the point now, where I have to remind myself to go, and am bodysurfing and having daily bowel movements, and eating right, and doing yoga, and all the other crap that I *didn't/couldn't* do on methadone

Damn, DF, good for you, man! 5 mgs.? That is awesome! I'm proud of you! Keep it up, I know you can do this. You are an inspiration to all of us trying to quit.

Love,
Pan

[red26]

yes, its one take home a week. As far as finding the lull time at the clinic, you gotta figure theres the initial rush for the door opening, and thers gunna be some back-up before work time. Id ask the receptionist when you go and just always be polite. Sometimes theres alotta knuckleheads that give those ppl so much shit its unreal. BUT!!! If some asshole has the balls to jump yer space in line dont even flinch to tell the prick exactly how you feel and then some. I had to tell some dude we were gunna be stepping outback if he pulled that shit again cuz I seen him do it 3 or 4 times. Everybody there needs thier fix just as bad as he does.