56 days off Methadone and Still....

[RRivers]

I am not sure what's going on here, but something just don't seem right.  I have been off methadone for 56 days now, and I am still having symptoms of withdrawal at some points, i.e.  I still wake up at 12-3:00 am with leg symptoms, and burning skin; I still have symptoms of burning skin during the day.  I can't believe that this is normal withdrawal but it may be, I know there are those of you that started your withdrawals about the same time as I did, and those that have been off even longer, what are/were your symptoms, and am I abnormal, or is this normal for this drug, and the withdrawals?  I was on methadone for years for pain, so it was extended use.  At one time I was up to 80 mgs a day, but tapered down to 5 when I quit on May 4th.

Your input is appreciated.

As Always, Bet of Luck, and Keep the Faith,
RRivers  

[Savas]

The good news is you're 2 months closer to PAWS being over. The bad news is you could be like this for up to 10 more months (hopefully not).

PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms) is what comes after the few weeks withdrawal of methadone. Getting the medications to treat it are hard. You have to be careful, check what your doctor prescribes, research it and make sure it isn't addictive.

You should consider a mild anti-depressant like Midrin, and klonidine should help with the weakness and racing heart. You're going to have to fight through it, though. As much as it hurts, try to start excercising. Take mega doses of vitamins as well. There's some great stuff you can get from GNC to help yourself out.

Don't give up and let therm put you back in the chemical handcuffs!!!

[[email protected]]

56 days thats great. My husband is on Methadone as well am I to. I will be getting off methadone soon Im hoping that it wont be to painfull. Im only on 30mg a day. I have tryed to take my self off, and I did allright for 2days then I started going threw KRAZY withdrawals.I would like to be methadone free. Can you give me some advise on how to get started? I would like to just go to detox but it cost to much.  

    mandy503....................
                                  

[awakan]

Ren I am sorry to hear that I hope you start feeling better soon, I am glad you can find the cause for why you feel bad. I have never heard of Chantix but sounds like a bad piece of medicine. As for myself I am hanging in their and still feeling like I am having withdrawal symptoms but it is not something that I can not live with, I just think back on what it was like last time and don't B.S. myself into thinking that this time will be any different. Don't get me wrong I am not trying to talk myself into thinking it will last a certain amount of time, but for me knowing what to expect helps that way at day 180, I won't give up or give in  it is what it is..Ren you hang in their it will get better and I really do hope it is different for you and you feel better in record time. I tell you what really helps me getting on my motorcycle and getting it up to speed, it takes my focus off of how lousy I feel. Also I supplement that with daily N.A. meetings and helping out where I can since at the present I am not working. Too much time on my hands is a dangerous thing for me, I am looking forward to going back to work. I wish I could still bang nails but I gotta be realistic about this and not push myself back into using just so I can do what I do best for an occupation, one thing I have slowly learned is if I don't use my head I will probably use drugs. I tend to jump into anything with both feet be it work or anything really, started working out and screwed myself up good behind that I overdo everything and suffer for it. Take it at a safe pace Ren and you will be fine you sound like you know where you want to go with this thing, that will carry you back to the top just takes time pal..Hang tough Ren ..a-wakan.  

[RRivers]

Hey, good to see you are still here.  This has been a hellish road I have been on.  I have been so sick for the last month and a half, that I haven't done more than read the news on the web.  I believe that my symptoms may have been elongated a possibly magnified by Chantix, the new quit smoking med.  I went on Chantix after I had been off Methadone for 32 days.  I have never had a med make me as sick as the Chantix did.
Three days after I started taking Chantix I got sick for the first time, just an upset stomach that wore off after a couple of hours, which I had been told was possible.  Nothing more seemed to happen till day seven, when I felt like I was taking taking the flu.  I never associated it with the Chantix, till about day 14 when I started reading on it, and realized that it could be the Chantix causing the sickness.  That was when I realizes that there was a problem with this med.  I mean I was so sick that I couldn't get out of bed, it was worse than day 8-10 of my Methadone withdrawal by at least 2 fold.  I had never hurt so bad in the last year since I had had surgery.  I felt like my feet were broke, I couldn't walk because the pain was so bad, and my hands felt like some one had taken a hammer and beat every one of my fingers.  I quit the Chantix on day 14, but am still not well.  Between the methadone withdrawals and the Chantix my last month has been a living hell.  

[justlikeyou]

me too, i still feel kinda cr@p after almost 90 days, better but often cr@p.

[mr.lucky66]

these symptoms can last for months and I know what you mean about the burning skin. You will be fine soon, trust me. No narcotic has as long of a  ABSTINANCE syndrom as methadone . all the best

[awakan]

Hey Ren how you doi'n brother? Well I guess that is kind of a dumb question since I just read your post ,buuut check this out and I am sure some folks would dis -agree but I remember all too clear the last time I stopped methadone. And heres what I remember I did not even begin to feel normal for about 6-8 months and that was not back all the way. I still could not believe that I felt like s**t for that long, even after that much time I still had times where I could swear I still had mild withdrawals. I hope this helps this time for me it has not been more than 35 -36 days for me and I have resigned myself to just accepting the fact that that's the way life is going to be for a while. It really can wear on you but you have gotten through the most intense part it's just that lingering spacy, no sleepin, sometimes chills, kinda weird still feeling lousy part that will be their for a while..But you will make it brother...Hang in their..a-wakan

[wdagain]

I have never been addicted to Methadone but from everything I have read and experience that has been shared to me by others that it can last for months, but everyone is different and you did taper down to a low dose.  The good thing for you is that the very worst is over and you never have to live the last 56 days over again.  Good luck to you.  Hopefully other people that have kicked meth will come on line to share their experience and hope.