Methadone Withdrawal... Please help!

[Jen]

Please help me...... Im on 40 mg a day and insurance dropped me it looks like i will have to go cold turkey.... I have been on for a couple of years i was on 180 over the years got down to 40.. I have experienced withdrawals b 4 and am soo scared. I know I will does valium or anything else i can take while going through withdrawal help? What can I do?

[Maximilian]

Ok Jen, I just saw your post and put up the best damn detox thread for you, so when you get this, just look below for the thread I listed the detox I used for you on the last post. Get a Dr. that specializes in addiction to get approval for the detox, as if he approves you will need some prescriptions as well. Did you lose all insurance because there are other alternatives as well. Get support from positive people, family friends AA, NA, here. Withdrawals are scary, its what keeps us from doing it in the first place. Check out the thread and give us some more info on your situation ie; insurance, support and we can probably be more helpful. When do you have to stop?

[Maximilian]

Jen wrote:

Please help me...... Im on 40 mg a day and insurance dropped me it looks like i will have to go cold turkey.... I have been on for a couple of years i was on 180 over the years got down to 40.. I have experienced withdrawals b 4 and am soo scared. I know I will does valium or anything else i can take while going through withdrawal help? What can I do?

Sorry I should have posted you in reply in the first place so you know someone answered your message. Max

[Jen]

Today i have had none..... I took 6 vicodins so it would help a little... I have medi-cal but found out no doctor there will prescribe methadone.... I just got some valium in the ER, they offered me 3 methadones and i turned them down, that would of just make things worse for the next days...
Ive withdrawn off oxys before it was horrible.. The doctor says the w/d of methadone will only last 5 days... Yeah right huh?? If i do this cold turkey how long should i dedicate to this withdraw time? Thank you soo much for responding!!!!!!!

[Rose]

I am trying to help a loved one quite methadone cold turkey 90mg. It has been 7 days and he is still very ill, chills, aches, aggitatied, complain his bones hurt. Is there any thing that can ease the withdrawls or cleanse his body faster?

[mike]

Rose, have you talked to a dr. about maybe getting something to help him? Also, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "best damn detox website to kick methadone drug..." There are some things on there that people have posted that helped them when they were suffering like your loved one.

[Jen]

will soma help withdrawls if i can keep them down??????? Valium barely touches me, and actually for some reason no medication helps me any more unless i take a zillion of them, does any one no why?

[Jen]

MAX i went to the thread and im not sure where to go after that..... im new at this, im a methadone forum virgin hahahh

[vini]

Jen wrote:

Today i have had none..... I took 6 vicodins so it would help a little... I have medi-cal but found out no doctor there will prescribe methadone.... I just got some valium in the ER, they offered me 3 methadones and i turned them down, that would of just make things worse for the next days...
Ive withdrawn off oxys before it was horrible.. The doctor says the w/d of methadone will only last 5 days... Yeah right huh?? If i do this cold turkey how long should i dedicate to this withdraw time? Thank you soo much for responding!!!!!!!

if you are going cold turkey you should expect 3-5 weeks withdrawl time,but the hard part is finding the energy to keep busy and not focus on your withdrawls.max has a great link that i think is the best 7 pages on the subject.you should start the aminos asap and change your diet.i started a juice fast and that has given me energy.GOOD LUCK AND GODS BLESS.

[Maximilian]

Jen wrote:

MAX i went to the thread and im not sure where to go after that..... im new at this, im a methadone forum virgin hahahh

lol jen, a lot of us went for the dpeg site which i placed for you I'll check to make sure its posted right before you scroll down for instructions, I saw Vini instruct you and he's right. You may also have the option of suboxone, contact the company by putting a www dot in front of it and dot com after it. The good thing is, it stops withdrawal, the bad thing is you remain addicted, but without euphoria, the other negative is it is expensive, but call the company today they give you their number, tell them your situation and they will refer you to a Dr in your area that has been trained, and be able to tell you if the medications is covered. The most important thing to consider before taking this is, once again, it's a narcotic though it has naloxone in it. If you don't seek other help as well, you will never address the issues that got you addicted in the first place, and may continue to search for that ever elusive high. remember also, people eventually have to detox off it, and like methadone it is very long acting so the withdrawal is long though I'm told not as severe, I was told that about methadone too, if that wasn't severe, I don't know what is. Regardless of what you choose sweet Jen, Please get help however, a 12 step program, family members that want you to get through this, there are many here that would love to be your support as well, as we held each other up through withdrawal. Good Luck God Bless and please let us know what happens, sorry I didn't answer sooner, but I go to bed early and wake up earlier Your friend Max, Oh and for the vicodin, as long as that methadone or suboxone is in your system those lortab will be blocked. Both those drugs hog the receptor sites to keep you from using anything else. Your Friend Max

[Maximilian]

Jen wrote:

will soma help withdrawls if i can keep them down??????? Valium barely touches me, and actually for some reason no medication helps me any more unless i take a zillion of them, does any one no why?

What ever anyone tells you, soma is dangerous, talk about a respiratory depressant, especially if you still have methadone in yours system it not only affects some muscles it affects the respiratory muscles, and we lost many at the clinic using that cocktail. See a regular Doc or one that specializes in addiction and tell him your problem with sleep, The detox site may help, the clonodine helped with the sweats, the vistaril and melatonin helped for sleep but admit it was short lived, I also found the vistaril and clonodine helpful in anxiety but monitor your B/P. I agree, sleep is very important when withdrawing, but get a Dr's approval on what you should take. Remember you lost a lot of the natural chemicals our own brain makes ie; seratonin, GABA, dopamine, endorphins, all necessary to assist us in anxiety, and sleep as well as happiness, get them back with the detox system, but as I said get a Dr.s approval first. And know it takes time, patience and support

[Jen]

Methadone has never gave me a euphoric effect. I had to take these for chronic migraines.... Either way im here and having to w/d.. No matter what i have to do this cold turkey.... Its been 51 hours from my last dose of 40 mg, and allready feel tired and sore..... Im so scared, should my withdrawls be as bad as someone on a higher dose?

[Jen]

I cant believe someone wrote that people who take methadone are selfish and just chasing a high of opiates........ My situation was for chronic pain, and i realized that at the end its like im a drug addict i have to go through the same shit others do........

[WITHDRAWLS]

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DESCRIBE TO MY FAMILY WHAT W/D FROM METHADONE FEEL LIKE..... THEY HAVE NO CLUE MAYBE SOME ONE CAN PUT IT IN A WAY WHERE THEY CAN SOMEWHAT GET A PICTURE!!!!!

[JEN]

THAT LAST POST WAS MINE. FORGOT TO PUT MY NAME

[beth c]

Jen, Please do not let other posts discourage you, everyone has different ideas about how people respond, I think that the majority of those here now do want to help you. Something else you can do is take frequent, HOT baths with epsom salts(sorry gang, don't meant to bore you all!!) This really helped me and others that I know. Were you seeing a pain management Dr.?? Would he be willing to taper you down, or treat you during this withdrawal? It is diffficult to think that a Dr. would just let you go through that, knowing what medications that he prescribed for you? Please be careful with the Soma, as Max said, you could be putting yourself into danger. A few other things that helped were sitting in a Sauna,(don't over do!!) and swimming or just floating in the water.

[pain patient]

Jen, one more thing, I have noticed while being on methadone that if I get a headache or some other pain (well lately fever pain because I have been so sick) is that MOTRIN in higher doses works well. But if you have any gastro problems please dont take it. I have to eat Prilosec when I take it because it really upsets me (hence why I am not on NSAIDs for pain) But if I need it once in a while it does work and seems to the best thru the methadone. Tylenol does not do a thing and if you have liver problems its not good for the liver at all. The dose I take usually is about 800mgs. Maybe your doctor can prescribe some for you in 800mgs tablets otherwise just use 4 otc pills.

****I AM NOT A PHYSICIAN, I AM GOING BY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE******

PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET.

[Maximilian]

I feel that is a completely untrue statement, there is not one person I know that is anti- methadone that thinks that people that take methadone for pain are selfish. Why don't you discuss your addiction problem first before discussing the pain problem. Because addiction is a disease of selfishness. An addiction specialist that I have consulted with has said what I have been saying since I arrived on this board. People that use methadone for chronic pain, are doing themselves a grave disservice, and often end up worse than the person addicted because they become so dependent on the drug, they fell they are helpless without it. These are things I also learned studying pain management, I just have someone with a MD and a PHd behind his name now to back it up. I have books with references that are still packed in boxes, but I will find them or order new ones. This Dr. mentions if you are 40 and in chronic pain and tolerance quickly builds up (and it does), what happens when your 41 and getting refills early, he feels this destroys the patient Dr relationship. Many are working with pain management Dr.s that have not done the research and in the end, people that treat their pain only with their magic pill will end up paying a terrible price, because one day the Dr will shake his head at 500mg of methadone and show you the door. Many pain syndromes actually become worse from long use of narcotics, and as people age and other diseases and aches and pains creep in there will not be enough medication in the world to treat your pain. This Dr, I consulted with actually believes there is a love relationship the pain patient has with their medicine as the feel they cannot live without it. While addicts actually have more of an understanding of what put them in the place there at in the first place. If you want more info I'll be happy to provide it. If you feel you have to whip out your e mail to comfort somebody on the board, and refer them to your websites, go for it. But as I have said before there are people on the board that have experienced the pain of withdrawal and are trying to help and have compassion for these people. So for someone with a history of addiction, and now stricken with illnesses caused by a poor immune system brought on by drugs, please be kind enough to tell people that, so they don't go on believing you know what they are going through. Also I find it misleading to act as though you have some sort of medical background, which other than being a pain patient, you don't, Sincerely Max

[Maximilian]

Oh and pain patient, thanks for finally letting people know you are not a physician. I was replying to you when you put that one up there

[mike]

beth c wrote:

Jen, Please do not let other posts discourage you, everyone has different ideas about how people respond, I think that the majority of those here now do want to help you. Something else you can do is take frequent, HOT baths with epsom salts(sorry gang, don't meant to bore you all!!) This really helped me and others that I know. Were you seeing a pain management Dr.?? Would he be willing to taper you down, or treat you during this withdrawal? It is diffficult to think that a Dr. would just let you go through that, knowing what medications that he prescribed for you? Please be careful with the Soma, as Max said, you could be putting yourself into danger. A few other things that helped were sitting in a Sauna,(don't over do!!) and swimming or just floating in the water.

Hi beth. I was hoping that you or someone who has been in her shoes would answer. All I can do is refer her to the detox thread, and I do that so much that I feel like I'm boring people also.

Jen. Please take her advice. She is one of the people here who have been there and done that, and knows what helped her to get through it. Good luck.