Methadone withdrawal- mental and physical problems

[ike]

my probation officer made me discontinue my methadone treatment. i was on 50 mg only for like 18 days though. before that though i've been on oxycontin for the past 6 years. i went 4 days of withdrawal, but did an oxy yesterday. this sucks, i feel super cold and of course the diarrhea and lack of sleep. i'm definitely going to heaven when i die because i've spent 6 years in hell already.

[almost there]

Take benadryl for sleep if you do not want to take any benzo's. I am feeling good and getting atleast 7 hours of slepp per night. MY armpits were sweaty as hell these last 2 weeks so I got that clinical strength gillette. It works wonders. Just another uncomfortable symptom gone.

[Beth]

We need the government to step up and take responsibility for the current state of the drug – addiction – drug cycle. We need change.I strongly support the entire concept of people becoming truly drug free and I believe that they need to be given that option and opportunity to make their own choice to do so

[withdrawal sucks]

yeah but what about people with for example my uncle has bone cancer and is perscribed methadone for pain. I feel you beth I'm pretty pissed because my 2 year battle with heroin all started with vicodin and a broken toe. Sounds pretty ridiculous but now i seriously think they need to be a lot more careful about who they give these things to. but not completelty take them away some people need them to feel more comfortable. If I was on my death bed and in pain i would give 2 shits wether i was addicted as long as it kept me from screaming in agony all the time. But i believe most opiates should only be given to irreversible pain symptoms. Now they are coming out with supposed non addictive morphine and other opiates such as avenza which is time released morphine you recieve no high and no pain. But still you will have to ween and you will withdrawal. I dont see how its any less addictive??? But I'm all better now today was my first day as me again except my legs still are in a lot of pain.

[ike]

i took some tylenol multi symptom allergy medicine for the withdrawal symptoms and i've gotta say they work great. i was up all night,heaving and sweating. this morning i was feeling very weak and searched the cabinet for something to subside the aches. that tylenol literally allowed me to get an hour and a half of sleep and took 80% of the symptoms away. instead of 2 tablets i took 4, but still that stuff worked like a charm.

[Capt Canada]

Hi
1st post: I am detoxing from MMT in Ontario Canada.....was up to 180mg....now at 7mg. SLow and sure wins the race. I am not without symptoms...but they are bearable (anxiety, aches, dry eyes, insomnia). I am tapering now 1 per week.......doing ok...feel great today (but it is early). Question...answers....both welcome.

[Rita]

Beth wrote:

We need the government to step up and take responsibility for the current state of the drug – addiction – drug cycle. We need change.I strongly support the entire concept of people becoming truly drug free and I believe that they need to be given that option and opportunity to make their own choice to do so

Beth, I am too curious here...are you an addict? Have you ever been on anything to help you with addiction? And I am wondering, if not, why are you on a Methadone Forum telling addicts that they need to give up their addiction with no drugs at all to help??(that is doing it drug-free) I'm just curious.
If I am misunderstanding what you are saying, I am sorry. But I don't understand.
Thanks.

[Rita]

Capt Canada wrote:

Hi
1st post: I am detoxing from MMT in Ontario Canada.....was up to 180mg....now at 7mg. SLow and sure wins the race. I am not without symptoms...but they are bearable (anxiety, aches, dry eyes, insomnia). I am tapering now 1 per week.......doing ok...feel great today (but it is early). Question...answers....both welcome.

Good For You!!!
It's exactly what we have been saying for years......S*L*O*W*L*Y....THE SLOWER, THE BETTER!
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF....
Rita

[valerie]

when i was in detox they gave me an antihistamine, visterill, i think it was called, for anxiety and to help with sleeping. It worked well at the end of detox but when i came home, i went right back into withdrawal (i think because i was only on suboxone for seven days). I still was positive, knowing the worst was over, but it was still hell. I have been off of methadone and roxycotin for 25 days now. I still have withdrawal symptoms. Mostly just anxiety and sneezing, nightmares and fatiuge. I also didn't eat much during withdrawal. I lost about 10 pounds in the first two weeks of withdrawal but it got better and now i eat A LOT. One day at a time and a lot of praying is the way i have been dealing with the withdrawal. I know that is truly the only thing that will make me feel better.

[Capt Canada]

Rita wrote:

<quoted text>
Good For You!!!
It's exactly what we have been saying for years......S*L*O*W*L*Y....THE SLOWER, THE BETTER!
YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF....
Rita

Rita,
I have 2 questoins (I am a newbie here, so pls bear with me:

1) Are u the person who has "withdrawal hints" (a list of do's and don'ts_...and if so, how might one get one confidentially.

2) Are there a lot of graduates here (people who actually got off MMt with little discomfort? One of my issues is fear.......I rad so many horro stories thatit is a little discouraging.

Thanks

The Captain

[almost there]

My opinion is that you will never get off methadone unless you are truley sick of it controlling you and your life. If you are that fed up with dones then you will go through anything to quit. It is only horrifying to the people that haven't went a couple weeks w/o.

Of course I was only on 30-40 mgs per day. I stopped from 20mg. I stll have some diarehha but that is probbly due to mountain dew. MY legs are a little achy below the knees. That is npothing though.

[Wntoffmetdne]

I am on Methadone for severe pain. I currently take 40mg 3 times a day (120mg daily). How did you cut down?

[Wntoffmetdne]

I don't think there is any trick to getting off Methadone, I believe it's just ones will power. I am currently on Methadone 120mg daily. The reason it takes so long Methadone soaks into the tissues of your body, and bones. I am talking a calcium supplement to build up my bones.

[Capt Canada]

almost there wrote:

My opinion is that you will never get off methadone unless you are truley sick of it controlling you and your life. If you are that fed up with dones then you will go through anything to quit. It is only horrifying to the people that haven't went a couple weeks w/o.
Of course I was only on 30-40 mgs per day. I stopped from 20mg. I stll have some diarehha but that is probbly due to mountain dew. MY legs are a little achy below the knees. That is npothing though.

Dude,
How long was it from your stop at 20...to feeling good?

[Rita]

Capt Canada wrote:

<quoted text>
Rita,
I have 2 questoins (I am a newbie here, so pls bear with me:
1) Are u the person who has "withdrawal hints" (a list of do's and don'ts_...and if so, how might one get one confidentially.
2) Are there a lot of graduates here (people who actually got off MMt with little discomfort? One of my issues is fear.......I rad so many horro stories thatit is a little discouraging.
Thanks
The Captain

Hello, Captain,
This is Rita / Reetz, and yes, I am the one who has written the brochure about the easiest ways to get through Methadone tapering. It simply tells do's, dont's, what to use to make withdrawals easier, etc. There is quite a bit on there, so hopefully you can get some good advice from it. I also have tried to be a support to those who are tapering/detoxing. I am not bragging, I promise you, but it's nice to have someone who understands while you are going through it.
I will guarantee anyone that withdrawal of Methadone is NOT only one's will power. Perhaps some of it is, but it has a lot more to it than that.
I have helped many people, and I can probably email some of them to write and tell you first hand what happens if that would help.
I truly believe that those who start out scared of what others say will have a hsrder time, because you already believe it in your mind.
Email me if you'r like, I would be very happy to help you. [e-mail] (or)
Rita.Director@MedicalAssistedT reatment.org

Much Love,
Rita

[Shellie]

okay-i've been off and on methadone for 4 years. Finally decided 2 get off that crap & i'm on the 3rd day right now and i have never fely shittier. I detoxed all the way down to 1 mg. I have never felt so depressed in my life. I'm scared to even think of life without it...i really wish that i never went on it in the 1st place. Cant sleep....can't eat...any suggestions?

[Capt Canada]

Shellie wrote:

okay-i've been off and on methadone for 4 years. Finally decided 2 get off that crap & i'm on the 3rd day right now and i have never fely shittier. I detoxed all the way down to 1 mg. I have never felt so depressed in my life. I'm scared to even think of life without it...i really wish that i never went on it in the 1st place. Cant sleep....can't eat...any suggestions?

Shellie......
Now these are the kind of stories that scare me (I am at 7mg). How fast did u detox.....what rate..example....1 mg per week...? Pls elaborate.

Maybe I should stor reading .
Capt

[Keith]

Ok, I have some questions that I just can't seem to find the answers to. I've been an opiate pain pill addict for four years now and am just seeking help for my ugly addiction. Towards the end, I was taking up to 50 pills a day of 5/500 vicodins. I'm now on methadone and have only been on it for about two months at 20mg twice a day. My question is if I quit now, what time period of withdrawls will I encounter? I tried to quit once a few weeks ago and went only four days. Day 3 and 4 were hell! I didn't sleep and was completly anxious and very panic like feeling. I'd have hot & cold sweats. etc. I just signed up to join a methadone clinic but I have to drive there everyday for 30 days until I'll get my take-homes and it's a 3 hour drive round trip. What should I do and if I just quit how long would those symptoms last? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

[Gram]

I am not from Troy,NY! I don't know why it says that!!

[MMTer]

Keith, if you were to quit now, even at 20mgs. you will get withdrawl effects..You have to taper very very slowly....
But one question...it has only been 2 months...have you thought about what you are going to do once you get off the methadone?..you will still have the cravings for the opiates!!..what are you going to do about that?
It is said that you need to be on an 'adequate' dose of methadone for at least a year, some even advocate 2 years, before tapering off....You have to get the education to STOP the drugs also, or you will go right back to using again.
You can email my good fried Reetz, she has devised a pamphlet for people like you who are wondering what to expect and how to help yourself with the withdrawls. Her email is
[e-mail]
Email her. She is fantastic, and I guarantee she will help you...she is such a great support person also.
Good luck.