Addicted to methadone

I have been addicted to methadone for a year now and I really want to quit, but I am scared of the withdrawls. I have tried to quit several times but cant get past the cold and hot sweats, the cant sleep my skin is crawling. Any kind of help would be very helpfull. Thank you.

[kiylen]

Hi...my name is Brandy.  I am currently tapering off methadone and have come down to 40 mgs and will probably be at 35 mgs when I drop off cold turkey in a couple of weeks.  I only went up to 70 mgs and have been at the clinic for six months.  But, I did get up to 240 mgs and went cold turkey at one point and it was something so horrible I can't even begin to describe.

What dose are you on and is it the pills?  If you really want to quit, try getting down to the lowest level you can without it starting to cause you major withdrawals.  Then you can either choose to stay there for a while and then try to go down again.  My psychiatrist, who is also an addictionologist, said once you get down to 50 mgs, you're going to have withdrawals every time you taper and there really is not much difference in the withdrawals from 40 or from zero.  You're going to hit bottom.  The bad thing is it stays in your system for so long you will be sick a little longer than most coming off opiates.  Once all of the horrible physical pains are gone (maybe 5-7 days), you have to watch out for serious depression and total lack of energy.  If you set your mind to it though, nothing will stop you.  And it may be A LOT easier than you expect and you may be a lot stronger than you thought.  But you just have to get your mind in place that this is the end of the road for this drug.  Once you do that, just know that pain is getting you to a better place, it's not doing something bad to you, it's cleansing you.  I know, easier said than done.  Talk to a psychiatrist or doctor and see if you can get on an anti-depressant ahead of time and there are things to help with energy.  Take vitamins and check out the Thomas recipe in the Health Pages at the top of the page.  

Just know it can be done.  I know a lot of other people will respond with positive feedback for you and these guys around here will be here for you no matter what.  Whether you choose to come off or not.  If you do choose, they will be there every step of the way.  I've only got two more weeks before I bite the bullet but I'm determined and if I can make it out of everybody in this world, you definitely can do it.  I am NOT one for pain and a terrible wuss.  Plus, I have kids to take care of too.  Please message me or send me a note anytime if you have any questions.  I'm here for you.

[Manda99207]

Thank you so much for the information, any kind of help and support I can get is greatly appriciated. I am on 60 mgs a day and have been for about 6 months now, I started out with hydrocodones and went to methodone and have been going up on my dose slowly. I really want to get off of them because like you I have a kid and really want to quit so that I can get my energy back and be myself again.

[kim715]

Kiylen gave you some good advice.I'm not going to lie to you,methadone is a rough detox,but it is doable.If I did it,trust me,you can too.I was on it for almost 2 years and I went c/t off of 25mgs.I have 625 days clean now and life is good.I don't know much about the proper tapering but there are plenty here that do.Keep posting and if I can help in any way,please just ask.All the best...Kim

[worried878]

dropping off methadone at 35 mgs..if on it for a while..would be tough..but like kim said..doable...as with sub tapers..people go down to halves a quarters of 5 mg pills of methadone and some even extend it into skipping days before total stopping,,there r some examples of methadone tapers in the health pages

was methadone ur original DOC?,,or was it oxy, hydro, heroin,,,ie another narcotic?  were u afraid of wd from ur DOC if methadone was not it?  if so..now u r on methadone and remain in fear of wd..wd is real..we feel it...fear can be constructive but when our fear leads into deeper doo doo to avoid wd/hence the fear...we can go round and round in circles,,and never get off the merry go round..in fact fear can make it spin faster and faster...fear can paralyze u

doing things to plan..like u r doing..posting here...seeking aftercare..making a plan..communicating with ur physuician...picking a quit day...educating urself on all u can about th\is process..knowledge can reduce stress levels//hence reducing fear

good luck..keep posting//lots of support here

[gnarly_1]

hi and welcome to the forum...you have come to a good place to look for help getting free of methadone...many here have done and are in the process of getting off the" liquid handcuffs" so your in a safe place to share your thoughts both good and bad..this forum was huge in helping me...there are lots of caring people here to encourage you with this journey...there are probably as many ways to get off methadone as there are opinions about it....no one is right or wrong ..just people sharing there experence with you ..so use your own judgment on the way you choose..we will support your decision...as for my experence with methadone...I was on it for 6 1/2 yrs for pain management..I started out at 40mg and over the years wound up at 150mg...about a yr ago it quit working for pain so all I was doing was feeding an addiction...got fed up with the whole thing and finely said enough is enough and decided to get off...it took me 8 1/2 mo to taper off...I followed a taper givien to me by a neo/natal nurse that brings babys off heroin,methadone,ext...the formula worked well for the most part it brings you off with the least discomfort possible it goes like this...10% drop every 72hrs...
but you have to be willing to stop for some "bumps in the road" along the way....sometimes it take a week or so for your body to adjust to a certain dose...let your body be the judge of when to taper..if your feeling withdrawals stop for a wile..your body will adjust with time..and keep in mind there will be some discomfort in anny way you choose to do this..you just have to get "ok without being ok' for a wile....I choose what I thought would be the most painless way possible..I to was tairafied  of withdrawals and let that fear keep me on the merry go round longer...I found out in the end that my worst fears where in vein...it was uncomfortable but very doable...If I had to do it over I think I would change one thing...
instead of going all the way down to 1 mg I would jump off at 5mg...the last 5mg brings a constant state of withdrawals
like every time I would drop...(1mg a week below 10mg) I would feel the withdrawal symptoms for 4 days ...its just not worth it in the end I put myself thew 6 weeks of that when in the end my final withdrawal was no more sever then the tapering at low doses..believe me when I say it...it is worst in your mind then it actually is ....dont let the fear of withdrawals stop you..there are many here that will show you it can be done...today I got 30 days clean..and although its been a grind..it has been so so worth it..you wont regret coming out of the methadone "fog" just go into it with a win win attitude and you will succeed in the end....and remember this is a race that the tortus wins...not the hare..take your time and you will be fine..good luck with whatever you choose ...myself as well as others will be here for you ..keep posting and read the forum ..it helps strengthen your resolve to quit...your already on your way if you have decided you want off... again..good luck and god bless...Gnarly              

[Manda99207]

Thank you so much for the information and support everyone is giving me. I hate waking up every day with methadone on my mind. I fell like I cant function with out it, and if I cant get methadone I will spend a freaking ridiculous amount of money on an oxycontin. Im just ready to stop the torture I am going through and start a new life.

[NoMoMeth4me]

I just want to encourage you both by telling you that this is 'SO DO ABLE' I know from experience as I'm now at 278 days with the liquid handcuffs as I so aptly call them.

I was presribed this stuff to help treat my severe CP and never for one moment thought I'd become addicted/dependent on it. I am still on an opiate (Fentanyl patch) but it's much milder than Methadone IMO, hence my user name!!

It tokk me three attempts to get off of it and it was third times a charm for me. It was 'NOT EASY' I was never on over 60mg a day but when youve been on it for any length of time it is very tough to get off of it.

I would suggest as long and as slow of a taper as you can reasonably manage, it will be easier for you this way.

People used to tell me how much Methadone has changed me and I could never see it but now I'm off it, I can look back and see the person I was when I was on it. I can tell you you will feel like a NEW being once you have come off it I promise you!!!

I wish you both the best, I will ne praying for the both of you.

Feel free to read some of earlier journals and posts about Methadone. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Warm regards.

Brian.

Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

    

[NoMoMeth4me]

I agree with gnarly_1 with reagrd to the taper. I do recommend tapering slowly and I did from 60mg down to 10mg. I was meant to taper at 1mg a week until I was at 0 and they even wanted me to taper by 0.5mg to make itr easier!!!

At 10mg I just said forget this, and I jumped off, I had a rough couple of weeks and the no-sleep for the first 10-11 days was the hardest thing I dealt with and almost got me to take it again, thank God I didn't though!

I had W/Ds at every step of the way and told myself I'd rather jsut face them at 10mg than everytime time I'd drop by 1mg if that makes sense?