weekend schedule.. does it prevent any option for mmt?

[Cap10ronguines]

I unfortunately work 3-4am-noonish on weekends (currently in school and will ultimately be part of my schedule after i graduate). Im pretty much 100% sure i cant do MMT. any stories to the contrary? Its unfortunate as I've been trying to quit opiates for 5 years now and bupe is not an option due to how it makes me feel. The career field i am going into unfortunately will require night shifts for the rest of my life. Maybe my status as a doctoral program student will play to my advantage in finding a sympathetic doctor? Is it possible to get a script written for like one or two take homes a week? Also my status as a medical MJ user (with script) probably wont help me get take homes either, although this is a medical state.

Likely news is i'll have to continue failing to get off opiates on my own.

If i'm willing to go into the clinic every other day of the week, will they be pissed off if i miss a day every week or use pods once a week to make up for it?

Unfortunately, and not to brag or upset anyone here, but i have an AMAZING job that is going to lead to a pretty amazing career when i get out of school, but it will involve such types of shifts on and off forever, so just to pre-empt any suggestions to quit .. i cannot quit this job, especially not in this economy and with such a great future ahead.

[OpiateQueen]

The clinics i went to were open for longer than that on weekends... And yeah if you could prove you were working and not using other opiates you'd have a good chance of getting take homes for weekends.

Why dont you ring up your local mdone clinics and ask them their opening hours??? ie. dosing hours on weekends etc??? most would hv an arvo shift also. Thats here anyway

[Chipper]

I work 12 hour shifts around the clock and I've just started on another MMT/taper.

This makes it very hard for me to see a doc. weekly and get dosed, all whilst trying to sleep in the daytime. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage but I know I have to.

That means dosing in the morning one day and in the evening the next - the only way I can cope is to acquire some illicit methadone to hold me past the 24 hour mark.

They certainly make it bloody awkward for shift workers. I feel your concern.

Try to discuss the problem with your doctor ... they won't accomodate me but they may make an exception in your case ... one can only try.

[Cap10ronguines]

thanks for your suggestions! I also discovered LAAM just now, maybe that is an option? Doesnt seem to be very common though so availability may be an issue.

One good thing is the clinic next to my apartment is run by academics who may sympathize with my situation being in the same healthcare field as they are.

Another bonus is that i am a slow metabolizer. I suspect a single dose (methadone wise) would last me for at least a couple of days. So maybe i could arrange to skip weekend dosing and do urinalysis to prove i am not taking other shit during the weekends. or maybe have a higher dose on friday or something.. who knows

[b00ty_m4n]

Originally Posted by Cap10ronguines

thanks for your suggestions! I also discovered LAAM just now, maybe that is an option? Doesnt seem to be very common though so availability may be an issue. Luckily the clinic next to my apartment is run by academics who may sympathize with my situation being in the same healthcare field as they are.

One good thing is that i am a slow metabolizer. I suspect a single dose would last me for at least a couple of days. So maybe i could arrange to skip weekend dosing and do urinalysis to prove i am not taking other shit during the weekends. or maybe have a higher dose on friday or something.. who knows

I dont think LAAM is available in the US anymore due to causing some kinda stuff with ya heart but dont take my word on it but I think I saw something to this nature about it!

[Cap10ronguines]

One other thing which luckily may help my case is that i *usually* only work either saturday OR sunday. So maybe if I get lucky, i could start off with a single weekend takehome and just do it one of the two days instead of the other.

[duck]

I tried to accommodate something like this and two MD clinics quickly denied me...best of luck.

[Cap10ronguines]

Originally Posted by duck

I tried to accommodate something like this and two MD clinics quickly denied me...best of luck.

what did you try?

[chopstix]

I'd talk to the clinics, especially the private ones, they may very well be able to work with you.

If you can get set up so you only work Sunday you should be golden, I'm only on for a month now and they give me a carry for Sundays.. You could also try a doc, I know several people in CA that are prescribed 10mg pills for MMT.

[Cap10ronguines]

Originally Posted by chopstix

I'd talk to the clinics, especially the private ones, they may very well be able to work with you.

If you can get set up so you only work Sunday you should be golden, I'm only on for a month now and they give me a carry for Sundays.. You could also try a doc, I know several people in CA that are prescribed 10mg pills for MMT.

Most likely i will only be able to work saturdays, but i will look into this sunday thing. if that was the case i would indeed be golden. unfortunately i'm in colorado and not california. But i think if i look into talking to an addiction doctor, maybe they will take pity on me as a fellow medical professional. Unfortunately my insurance sucks for such things.

Theres only one clinic i can reasonably go to, but im willing to drive if i have to. Unfortunaetly i dont have the money for a private clinic (public here is only $40 a week, and my current opiate hookup has spoiled me with low prices).

I'm gonna call a couple clinics tommorow morning. I've been waiting for this for so long. Ive been telling myself im gonna get on 'done for years now. Feels like a pretty big relief to finally be considering it.

[simfromstoke]

did anyone see matfields pics of the needle vending machines they have in germany
well they ought to have methadone vending machines and place them in safe places like hospital/doctors reception areas/lobby
they could give mmt patients chip and pins
and thats it.sorted.no more docs/nurses having to deal with scumbags like us who they detest having to deal with on a daily basis and patients could pick-up at any hour to suit their personal schedule

now to a normal, rational person these vending machines would work a treat
but i suspect to the average god-fearing american the thought of junkies being able to just walk in off the street and get their "dope" from a vending machine at any hour they choose is the work of satan
the pavements would be awash, covered in bodies of strung-out junkies with needles hanging out of their arms, just looking for the next person that they can mug so that they can get another fix



-sim

[simfromstoke]

Originally Posted by chopstix

I'd talk to the clinics, especially the private ones, they may very well be able to work with you.

If you can get set up so you only work Sunday you should be golden, I'm only on for a month now and they give me a carry for Sundays.. You could also try a doc, I know several people in CA that are prescribed 10mg pills for MMT.

if you were discussing the pills idea with your doc, in england they are called pethidine tablets (also 10mg)


-sim