2 days completley off methadone at 3mg

[AZ_Cards]

So long stroy short I am an opiate addict all types including herion, as we all progress needing the stronger opiates I hac\ve kicked on my own and while it sucked was able to be done. My last run was heavy pill use strong and large amounts. I then made as we all know a worse mistake than even getting addicted to opiates which was to go on Methadone. I thought this would help me get past the cravings stabalize and all that. Anyways we all know the story. I was on it fo 2.5 years and when as high as 116mgs. Luckly I did at least figure the game out quickly even  though the addict in me just kept going up. So the last 1.5 years I have been on withdrawl or taper. Of course the clinic has there very long drawn out process and while you may not feel much pain it is also money in their pocket. Anyways when I got down to 10mgs I just could not take it the time between decreases and went against medical advice so I could manage it on my own. The only reason I did not do this earlier is you lose your take homes and all that so you have to come in every day. So I did well pretty much went down 1mg a week and while you feel it I was ok with a little pain to be done with this. Once i got to 3mgs I had had it and decided to just get off since I was already slightly sick every week anyways. The week I was at 3 wen I went 2 thur, and 1 on both fri, sat. So now I am on my second day withouth anything. 48hours actually 50 I guess. It is pretty bad all the typical symptoms now what is strange is I felt worse Sunday and yesterday but I know at three days or 73 hours the real hell is going to kick in. So I do have some xanax to help sleep when needed. I take Celexa already, and I also have 9, 2mg suboxone and 1 half so another 1mg. Does anyone have any help or suggestions on a quick use of those just to get through the worst part of the methadone withdraw? I know it will last a long time but jus the worst part. I dont want to be on suboxone for any length of period at all so just want to use it to help me throught the first part. I have not taken any and wont until 73 hour mark if needed. Or should I just go the vitamin and sleep aid help route and no suboxone? From my research I know that not much suboxone is needed for what I want to do and that these drs usually induce people at way to high doeses I would not take more than 2mg and then start the taper 1 or 2 days later. Actually probably just take 1mg the next day. Also would go into the every other day of taking it quickly also. I see some good knowledge of peopole who have kicked the liquid handcufss and any advice inspiration would be appreciated. Even though I feel like **** I know I have more money in my pocket, and dont have the hassle of that depressing clinic. I did not want to be one of the dudes in line with their lock box, and have made the first step. Tapering was good I guess but **** I still feel like hell, and I expected that but hoped it would be less severe.

[HG_VTmom]

All these stories are very inspiring! I have been on methodone since November 2010 I began a taper from 80mg about 7 months ago I'm currently on 2mg (dropped this morning from 3mg) so I will stay at 2mg for 2 weeks and then drop to 1mg and then after 2 weeks at 1mg will be done, I'm getting more and more nervous as that day is getting closer! I'm a single mom of 2 and work full time in a job that has changed my life and given me my career, I'm so scared of the withdrawal and that my brain is gonna start thinking differently once I'm off the methodone, I'm assuming the methodone is why I've never had any cravings. So I just wanted to say that reading everyone's thoughts and journeys has helped ease my fear a little, I hope everyone is well and any advice is much appreciated! Vitamins? Or anything I can do to make it easier on my body I'm 28years old

[gnarly_1]

hey Meiguinas  im doing great...today I have a life second to none.....kicking methadone is always a monster to do  you just got to be in it for the long haul   I have said this a million times ''but you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile......recovery is always slow it took me a good 90 days to start to feel human again.....how long where you on it????  and at what dose  also age plays a roll in recovery  give us some more information and we can better help you
,,,>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GNARLY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Meiguinas]

Going off methadone now,third day last dose was 3 mg, just wanted to see how everyone is doing now?

[mialicious]

Hello! Thank you for keeping support of a log here about methadone detox. I hope you are doing much better bitty now. I've currently been detoxing since October 2012. While I didn't really notice any withdrawal symptoms until I got down to 10mg, I'm at 3mgs today (I dose down on the 3rd day). I have plenty of reserves because I've saved to help me kick. Today and yesterday I've felt no energy. Lack of motivation. I try to work out in the morning and have been doing supplements, protein shakes and benzos only when needed (not daily but about twice a week). Yesterday instead of doing in the morning I pushed it til 530 pm! Today I pushed it til 10:20 pm! Tomorrow I'm planning to push dosing until the following day to keep stretching out the time in hopes that it will make kicking easier. Has anyone been successful in doing this? What day should I do passing it (3...4)? There have been nights I've dipped my finger to help me sleep but I'm forcing myself to not do that again. Instead drinking tea, or melatonin & my last resort is xanax. Should I lower to 2 mgs or 1mg next time I dose? As I've said I've been lowering every 2nd or 3rd day. I really just want to be done with this awful poison but I'm realizing how long it actually metabolizes in our bodies, in fatty tissues & muscle. I'm dreading the  hell...Please help!

[AZ_Cards]

That is awsome you should be very proud. Glad you made the choice to get off all that stuff as it only gets harder the longer you go. At least you did not compound it by switching to methadone. That **** really gets its hooks into you and this w/d process is long and drawn out. Its like a battle of attrition of pain and time. Sorry just not to happy today since this is tough, but I am very happy for you!

[AZ_Cards]

Hey whats up... So day 11 off the methadone and been a steady time of feeling like ****. Can say it really has been any worse although the first 5 days and I include 2 of the days I was taking 1mg were the worst. When I jumped that Wed from 4mg just should of jumped completley, since those days at 1mg really were just as painful as having none and prolonged the process. Anyways I am hoping by day 14 off I am just not so sick, and maybe dont have a constant headache. I have just decided to be ok with not sleeping correctly for awhile. The engergy loss, and lack of motivation is really hard now especially at work. It is like moving the earth to get things done, and then when I get home to tired or no energy to do anything. This is why posts so spread out on this sight right now. But Hey gnarly coffee sounds good or tea for me now as my favorite coffee habit has died since it makes my symptoms worse, but I  will hit you up. Been to N/A and the one I use to go to is in Tempe outside though and 2 things for time being that keep me away heat, and smoke. They like to have it outside since it is big group and they can smoke. I really dont like cig smoke at all and especially now makes me sick to my stomach. This one is M-S at 5:30 its like College and MIll at a churgh I believe. I plan to start attending one again if not there somewhere just trying to get well right now. LIke you say just have to be ok with not being ok now. It ***** though like groundhog day of feeling like **** and not sleeping really hard, but when I need to be cheered up I think of being free. So I am staying strong just sick of being sick, but have a while to go now.

[littlebit010101]

Just wanted to say congrats....I too recently quit oxycontins, diluadid, oxycodone......and thought I would die....was on them for 8 years.......had no clue what I was in for when I decided to quit.....my Dr that put me on this crap never said oh yeah when u get tired of walking around dead and get off these ur gonna b one sick puppy and almost die......no he didn't tell me so I was not ready for what happened to me......but so glad I found this site at least now I can ask someone.....lol....congrats....keep it up....

[gnarly_1]

HEY DUDE GOOD TO SEE YOU was wounder about you got a lot of methadonainan how sliped out of sight sounds like we live in the same part of az im right in the old historical district me and my daugters go hiking in south mountian all the time when I had my motorcycle I would go up the corckscrew to the top off the sumit still do by car but its not the same......you need to put yourself on theose protein drinks its called whey protein shake mix and you can get it cheep at walmart a 2lb can is only 15 bucks the chocolate flavor is doable
its got the amino acids as well as vitamins and added protein all withch your brain needs to heal its also good for the body as far as working out so you will gain double from it we need to go out and have a cup of coffee if your here in phx  it wiuld be nice to get to know you as far as how your feeling you got to be in this for the long haul your doing everything right and it makes a huge difference just remember this stuff is cyclic for up to 2 mo you can be going along fin then bam your hit with it again keep doing wat your doing and you will help your recovery along I would like to see you get into a program N/Ais good its up at north mountan its fir nigh in the fall and winter dont nkow about the sumer therews a fire pit and everything its a good meeting stay in touch message me if you got time for coffee will set something up.........Gnarly

[AZ_Cards]

Hey gnarly, I had responded early the 20th but must of not posted due to computer connection, that ***** since it was a good response. Oh ya I am definatley still in wd's but it has not progressed or gotten worse. Best way to explain it is i has been like the movie ground hog day just the same every day of feeling like sh it or hell, but tolerable. To be honest I thought it would be worse. I have been forcing myself to workout for me that is riding my mtn bike. I usually lift weights also but just keeping it to riding the bike now. It does two things gives me a great cardio workout and I get in nature. We in AZ are lucky to have South Mountain and over 50 miles of trails to ride. Now I of course am weaker than normal and my rides are not as good but I push through it. What is great is I see alot of wildlife when out there early in the morning and I love it along with watching the sun come up over the mtn. We see wild havalijna (wild hogs), road runners (one of my fave cool birds, saw one with a lizard for a snack), quail, rabbits, lizards, and occasionaly coyotes although they are very stealth and hard to find sometimes. They dont like people or commotion. So very up lifiting to see all that helps with all this. Like I said dont feel great druing ride and dont have my usual mojo or strength but still did long ride on Saturday. So the exercise is helping for sure especially after. Main issue I have is eating but I force my self to eat healthy meals. I was and am very healthy eater anyways but been overloading on it for nutrition for the body. I am supplamenting via the Thomas recipie with some added vitamins and minerals of my own which I am sure is helping alot. I think I have hit the energy crash you speak of since biggest issue especially at work. Very hard to get things done and be motivated, Tryosine seems to help with that, and the sleep is horrible so spotty and wake up like every hour  when I do sleep combined with the most disturbing and wierd dreams of my life. Work has been a struggel and I am doing everything I can to be productive since I do hold an estabilished professional position that I cant jeapordize. I have not missed a day of work, but it has been hard to be motivated, energetic and keep the smile on my face. Been keeping busy like I said working out or riding my bike, working, and keeping up on task during weekend. Sometimes I do just have to veg out since I am sick and have no energy. Mainly symptoms are headache bad ones constant, backache, lack of appetite, slight chills, digestion issues LOL but the immoniam helps with that, but lack of energy, or motivation is the worst. Today Monday 7 days completley free I have felt better not great by any means but all symptoms a littel less severe. So like I said I am hoping it just gets better and there is not new wall of worse symptoms coming. I think the fact that I have a high metabolisim, very little fat if any, am in good shape, and only 35 helps. I was on the meth for 2.5 years but the last 1.5 was a taper. So I posed this question to you in one of upper posts about the taper. This may be a good thread to start by you gnarly since you are community leader and seem to be very knowledgable about all this plus been thorugh it. Oh btw so glad you told be not to take the suboxone I had since that sh it is 72 hour half life and is synthetic and I want no part of that even if it was just a week to help out.  Anyways is the taper worth it, and did it help me? I mean logically I understand that if you jump at a high dose of 120 or higher, or even like 80 it would be worse and more intense at least the wd's but seems the duration would be the same. My question and for everyones knowledge is what did the taper all the way down to 4mg for my buy me? Less severe wd's but seems the duration will be the same. I mean I know it is differant for everyone and feel my health, age, high metabalisim, and lack of fat has and will help me. I have read your theory about jumping at 5mg since it is just painful tapering down from 5mg-1mg and I agree. My taper when I got down from 10mg-4mg was painful but I was also going 1mg a week every Wed at that point and was sick all those weeks it would get better two days before I adjusted again but the Wed I went in to drop to 3mg I was like I am done so went 3mg on Thursday, 2mg on Friday, and 1mg on both Saturdy and Sunday. I was sick on Saturday and Sunday though felt the wd;s big time. Wow I wrote a long response, but interested what you think that I or anyone who did the taper bought ourselves going down to the lowe dose was it a wast of money and time, should I have jumped at 20mg or 10mg? So glad to have your knowledge and support. Guess what tomrrow 5am AZ time I will be 8 days free of the methadone! And that is awesome, and makes me so motivated to keep this going. I will be succseful and soon a member like you on the forum giving support saying I did it! Thx again gnarly, and methsux bad for all your support and guidance.

[gnarly_1]

Hey how you doing today it takes a wile for this sh it to hit are you ok or are you in withdrawals....expect a week of withdrawals once it hits then the energy crach and no sleep
it all part of the possess keep us posted on how its going god luck and God bless.......Gnarly

[AZ_Cards]

Still feeling the same pretty much day 5 now, alothough I definatley was in wd when I jumped from 4 to 3,2,1 in those three days. Should of just jumped that Wed when I was at 4 but anyways that is over. Ya sleep is spotty and man you are correct. I have the strangest dreams I have ever had in my life. They are crazy guess Im not alone with that LOL. The last one last nigh I was being driven around the airport by Dr. Phil wtf! I hate that guy think he is a quack.Yes taking supplaments and I am sure it is helping also seem to be eating ok except in morning. Thanks again for you support, and I have another day behind me!

[Methsuxbad]

hello!! glad to hear your getting out and feeling ok...as far as "something worse" being around the corner..it may it may not just try to enjoy the times you arent "sick" and just roll with it..sounds like you're doing good it was all I could do to take a shower at day 2! How are you sleeping?? I still have crazy dreams, last nite I got eaten by a wolf!!?? Sleep will improve over time, the energy crash will probley come on at some point, but just know it will fade with time..are you taking supplements? You sound like you're doing all the right things just have to be patient and let time heal you now!!!  Congrats on your clean days!!

[AZ_Cards]

Off to ride my mtn bike early in the morning. Wierd but I have been feeling better not great, wonder if it was my taper down to such a low dose or what. I do have high metabalism also and no real fat so maybe that is making it easier. Dont get me wrong I feel like **** but tolerable. I just hope something worse is not around the corner, but thinking positive and that i will be fine. Also when I do sleep the dreams are very strange now, one wierd occurence about it. Glad I did not use the little suboxone I had to try and calm the storm that **** seems like a nightmare in itself, really all synthetic opiates are bad news the get their hooks in deep!

[worried878]

Congrats..sounds like u r well on ur way!
There is a great article in the health pages about methadone withdrawal

hang tight and keep posting

[AZ_Cards]

Hey, good morning.... feeling about the same as yesterday headache seems a little worse than it has been, but so far obvioulsy I dont feel good. or really I feel ****** but since it is 72 hours does not seem to have gotten exponentialy worse or anything. I am not letting myself get worked up mentally about it and just focusing on the postive, as you have said. I am 35 and in good shape, but was on the meth for 2.5 years with 1.5 of that being medical withdrawl, and then against medical advice withdrawl when i wanted to go faster at the reduction of taper. So was dosing at a stable time for about a year. I also was not smart and we know how the clinic lets you go up at will so I did go as high as 116mg. I did well on the taper even at lower doeses although I did feel it. Wondering and the postive thining is that my body had begun to expell this **** already so I had a head start but reality is time to pay up and deal with it but stay postiive. Like you have, and I have said more money in my pocket and I dont have to see the whole lockbox crew at the clinic. Did Tryosine help you? I think you said you did the Thomas deal also. I will post how it keeps going for me. Thanks for the support!

[Methsuxbad]

Good morning how are you today??  As far as the tapering I think you did the right thing tapering down to one ( I jumped at 10 the clinic I was at didnt dispense below that) It might help the severity of the withdrawl, the dose you were on how long and age seem to play a factor as well.  Try to keep busy going to work maybe difficult but may be a good distraction. I found after the first week when I was doing things and my mind was occupied I did better, down time was harder. Exercise does help just do what you can I had to push myself even at week 3...As far as sleep goes I tried everything OTC have read others tried prescrition sleep aids with no luck as well but it does get better with time. You are doing great try not to over think and focus on the negative..attitude truly is everything!!!  Just think no more standing in the line at the clinic, all the money youll save, knowing youre not dependent on a drug to live..it really does get better sooo worth it good luck and keep posting!!!

[AZ_Cards]

I dont think I will take the suboxone and just be done with all this bs. I am just worried about work and lacking in production, dont want to compramise my job. It is a tuff job market out there, I was out of work for 2 years with 2 degrees bfr I got this job in 2009. I have been on the Thomas deal since Saturday when i began to feel alot of wd symptoms, although I did not get Tryosine until today and that is suppose to help with the lethargy and just lack of energy. Its hard to do anything at work currently and I dont want to call in sick. I guess big picture my life and health is more important than a job, but it is something I dont want to put in jeapordy. Also I dont want to inform them of this nasty little problem I have either. What is strange is my symptoms were less severe today although I am thinking that is just a calm before the storm since I will be at 72 hours around 5am my time tomorrow. The thing is I did go into pretty major wd's or had serious symptoms on Saturday. Like I said bfr I tapred at a steady pace and then when I got to 10mg went pretty aggresive or maybe not anyways 1mg a week went down on every Wed. I did feel it when lowering but my body adjusted bfr the next Wed. When I went to from 4mg and I was or not feeling bad to 3mg I decided it was time and I was done with it, why feel bad every week just be done with it. So i did 3mg on Wed, 2mg, on Thursday, and 1mg on both Sat, Sun. Mainly since I did not want the bastards to get my money without having to give me something lol, i should of just pulled the plug on Wed i guess, but the synic in me about the whole clinic money deal made me make a point I guess, anyways I digress. The point is on Saturday and Sunday I was hurting already so maybe that is why I feel better today, or maybe the Thomas deal working its magic. I do believe the mind is a powerful thing and I am looking at this as a postive even though i feel like **** I am in the process of being free, actually already am to a point dont have to deal with the clininc and have more money in my pocket also. i hope someone can answer the question of does taper do anything for the severity of wd's or is just a wast of time. Logically i have to think it does matter of course at a high dose but seems like when you get to 15mg maybe 20mg or for sure 10mg you can pull the plug and it will be as bad as 1mg. well i am done with the taper process anyways and free just need to let my body get back on track. I am going to force myself to ride my mtn bike, I am pretty serious rider and ride pretty hard so doubt I will be up to my usual rides but will do what I can even though the motivation is lacking. I hope the tryosine helps with that and from my research seems like it does. this forum is great though alot of info from people who been there did that and got the shirt. Thank you all for your insight and responses.

[AZ_Cards]

That is what I thought and why I have not taken the any sub. For one I was not going to take it bfr 72 hours and the other is I dont want to postpone any of the pain. I am really not one of these people trying to find the easy way out, I always say you make your bed you lie in it, and man am I in it now. So no looking for a get out of jail free card and was prepared and knew I was going to be very uncomfortable for quite a bit of time. This I can do and like I said I got myself into this mess so can take the pain. What concerns me is my job in which I need to be highly functional and not seeming like I am too out of it. The sleep deprevation would be a real problem combined with how I am feeling. I know the dangers of benzos also and am being careful just Valarian, melatonim, gaba all that dont seem to do much. Did you both have to work through this hell, and if so how did you stay fuctional? Also about the exercise I am an avid mtn biker and dont want to stop but alos dont feel so hot. Is it best just to push throught it and still workout or ride? With the sub I know I dont have much but it wont even get me past some of the worst part and then since I am not on it for more than a week or so not give me any issues not taking it especially if I just take .25 towards the end? I totally understand just deal with the meth wd is the right thing to do but just have some work stuff coming up that I dont want to seem like I am deathly ill or different for. I prob should  have planned this better with time of work or whatever but really it was time and I was done with the meth and the whole game/process. Also should I have just pulled the plug alot sooner? Did I even make this easier on myself or better by tapering down to such a low dose? Seems that no matter what you are going to fell horrible which I knew, but thought it would be less of an ordeal at lower dose. Was all that taper just a waste of my time and money?

[chuck385]

Hi - I detoxed from methadone, after a 5 year, 20 years ago. Like you, I went through a therapeutic detox down to 5mg. Although I was at a detox facility the first two days into sobriety, the next couple of days at home were challeging - not bc I was tempted to pick up but bc the withdrawal symptoms were intense. My wife was tremendously supportive but any support no matter where it comes from is important.  The fact is I was done, and once I reached that point there wasn't anything that wasn't going to drive me to pick up heroin or meth again - and HASN'T. Now, i'm into my 5th day from a vicodin withdrawal - on and off for about 4 years bc of a chronic arthritic condition - but similar to where i was 20 years ago I've had enough. Follow the advice on this discusison about how to maintain a healthy diet, lots of liquids, supplements, etc.  You're not alone.  Hang in there!!!

[gnarly_1]

HI i  agree with methsuxbad sooner or later your going to go threw withdrawals most that have tryied to induse sub themself with methadone have would up in participated withdrawals or the 7 level of hell sub should be given by a doctor especially with methadone the other problen is you dont have ebnough to beat the withdrawals your only going to postpone then
when the sub runs out your right back to square 1 many a member has tryied this with little success you best off just going threw the methadone withdrawals and getting it over with there is no get out of jail free card and sub is only going to prevent you from healing
the only use sub has with methadone is to bring you down from 20 to 0 then your on your own from 0 on it does not good but to postpone the withdrawal I wish it was otherwise but its the facts getiing off methadone is never any fun but adding sub to it will give you a false sence of security that will go south as soon as you quit taking the sub trust us here we have seen theis done b/4 and it dosent work ....I wish you all the best in your recovery time to just fase the pied piper and tuff it out the sooner you get started the sooner its over we do have some home remade s that will help let us know what your plans are good luck and God bless......Gnarly    

[Methsuxbad]

hello and congrats on 2 days clean...methadone is a ***** to get off of but you can do this!!  I detoxed off methadone and have been clean for 32 days today!  I did not use subox or benzos but others have, but be careful very easy to get cross addicted..there are some natural non addictive sleep aids but honestly they didnt help much the first couple weeks (have heard the same with the benzos) you could use the subox to get through the worst but at some point youre going to feel like hell and its just going to take some time for your body and mind to heal...they say youve just got to be ok with not being ok for a while.  In the bottom corner go to the health pages look up "thomas receipe' start supplements as soon as possible, hot baths seem to help, push fluids, also try to get some protein shake mix (walmart carries them like 12 bucks) drink 2 a day for the first month, exercise when you feel up to it even a short walk really helps.  None of this is a quick fix but will really help your body in the long run.  I've been told it takes 60-90 days to kick it completely you do get better slowly just know the worst will be over in a week or so...you can do this, keep posting and good luck!!