At home methodone detox after 25 yrs

[jimmym321]

Hi I have been on methodone for over 25 yrs a model patient, never used more, not any other drugs, and I don't drink. I'm in very good health drink juices everyday, Greens drinks in the morning for many yrs. I'm 54 and was on 65 mg. My last takehome of a moth's supply was one month ago. I dropped 15 mg, then 10 mg, 10 mg to 35. Since then I'm dropping 5 mg a time. I'm spliting my dose. After a month I'm on 10 mg 2 x a day. I'm doing very well since I found out about drinking electrolytes - I drink a home made 1/2 gal batch a day. I started taking trace minerals - that also helped. I'm taking good 1 a day pack of vit pluse good cal/mag drink. I also take 3 x a day L-Glutamine 1000mg and L-Tyrosine 500mg. I take 5-HTP 200MG & Taurine 1000mg at night, along with a SAM-E 400mg. And fish oil 3000mg a day. These things helped a lot. I hardly feel withdrawels Sleep is not normal, but not bad. I also when need it take 3mg melatonine. My plan was originally to get low as I can then take Soboxone for no more than 3 weeks, and as low as I can. If anyone has thoughts on that? How low should I try. I'm going down every 5 days. I'd like this to be over longest in three months. Besides PWS. Does it make a lot of difference jumping at 7 mg or 5, or 1mg? Is it worth the draging out? Since I'm doing so well, what about just going as low as I can 1 mg or less, and then going cold turkey? Or even lower? The problem I worry about is splitting the meth correctly, especially when I get that low! It hasn't been that bad yet. At 10mg it feels like I'm drinking nothing! I can't imagine 1mg! Lastly any other advice with things to add to my program would be appreciated. I was amazed what just drinking eletrolytes did! Anyhow thanks!  

[hangetsu]

The plan you've set out sounds like a winner to me. Just don't drop too much too fast and give yourself a chance to stabilize at each dose before making the next drop. If you drop too fast you'll know it. I would get to as low a dose as possible before I jumped.

From what you're saying I bet you can get by without having to use Suboxone to detox if you take it slow enough. If you decide you need to just don't stay on it long enough to develop a habit.

I know you'll make it.

[jimmym321]

Thanks! Question when a person like me who seems to be doing so well on each drop, eapseically after taking these nutrients, say I get to 1 mg and I was ok from 2 - 1 mg when you finally drop off, or jump as you'all say, is that the most withdrawals people go through, or is it like I've been experaincing. One lady at a help site said it should keep going as is, constant step down, then finally you're receptors will thinks it's just one more step down. Another said NO! that last drop to 0 is hell. Any thoughts from anyone who went through this. I realize everyone's different. Thank you by the way I'm Jimmy

[hangetsu]

I was addicted to street Methadone for 10 years and there were several times during that period where my supply diminished and I had to taper myself off or go CT.

The first time it happened I asked my physician to assist me in tapering off and he did so but at a rate a lot faster than I found comfortable. It's against forum rules to be specific about taper schedules so I won't be. When I was able to taper at my own pace I did it on a schedule much the same as you outlined and never had to suffer too much. You were on it a lot longer than me so your experience coming off may vary from mine. The only time I had it bad was when I didn't have enough to work with and had to drop too fast.

I finally went on Suboxone so I could get away from that lifestyle and break old habits and cut old ties. I don't see that as a problem for you.

There's always the chance you'll go through PAWS, Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms, after stopping Methadone and that can last for months. Not everyone goes through it but it's a possibility since you were on it so long, hopefully not. You sound like you've got a good plan with the things you're taking to stay healthy. Check out the Thomas Recipe too.

Stay in touch and let us know how it goes.

[jimmym321]

Hi I'm down to 4 mg and my last dose will be Sat night. I'm going into a 3-5 day detox. I think that's all my insurance pays. They say they give Soboxone, not sure if it's only in there, or they give a few weeks supply. I could have gotten this from a Dr, but wanted to be monitored while I started in case anything happens. I'm doing very good... 4 mg holds me. I sneeze a lot and my blood pressure is alittle high, but that's not bad. I guess my hearts trying to pump the little I have in me harder. I'll stop Sat night and I go in Monday morning. I'll let you all know how I do. I'm confident this will work. I haven't gotten high in 25 yrs besides the methadone which I never took to get high.

[jimmym321]

PS I plan to be on that not long, at the most a dew weeks. The last thing I'd want is another habit.

[jimmym321]

meant Soboxone only for a few weeks

[weaver71]

You sound like you have a good plan. I used subs for 20 days to get off methadone. I avoided the acute withdrawal symptoms, then had methadone PAWS for a while. The PAWS where definitely tolerable. My doctor said that a physical withdrawal to subs will start developing if they are taken longer than three weeks. Good luck, and let us know how it works out.

[jimmym321]

Thanks!
I'm going in the morning to the detocx (hospitol) About 20 hrs from my last dose I feel ok, but I'm going to take some things to detox myself before tomorrow. When I use to take chlorella (it's a green type algea which really cleans your blood) When I use to take 3-5 they'fd eat up mu methadone. So, now that's the goal! I'll take a bunch tonightn & more in the morning before I leave. They should really help set the withdrawllw in motion and quicker. There's an amino acid also that does this called L-Methionine that also detox's your liver. . I'll post back as soon as I'm doing better.

[jimmym321]

Hi I stopped Sat night. 4 mg of methadone was the last dose. I started to get burning in my feet & legs at the 36 hr after last dose - Monday at 12 noon. It wasn't real bad, but I was in a 3 day detox and took 8 mg of soboxone. I was a bit a fraid I'd go into post acute withdrawals. Well, thank God it didn't happen. 8 mg one pill just about took the withdrawals away, they gave me 12 mg total that first day. I'm on day 3 = Thursday on 6 mg (2 + 2 + 2 mg soboxone doses throughout the day. I't just about holding me. I went to the Dr today and of course he wants me to take it very sloooow stopping Soboxone. I plan to stop no longer than a total of 3 weeks most likely down to 2 mg or 1 broken in 1/2 pill. I'll let you know how things go.

[weaver71]

I detoxed on a similar schedule as you are doing and can say, it was the easiest way I could have come off methadone. I believe that if more people used subs the way you are, there would be much less controversy around them. I have a friend that just finished a 60mg methadone addiction with a total of 80mg of subs. She's a week off subs and doing great. Low energy is her only symptom and that is what came back last for me. Thanks for keeping us posted. There more success stories the better. Can't wait to see your next update.

[jimmym321]

I'm one week off Methadone and 5 days on the lowest dose I can and feel ok, which is between 6 - 8 mg broken up through the day & night. Last night I actually got sick for the first time since I started suboxone. I took about 6 mg 2 + 2 + 2 thoughout the day and went to sleep and started to feel sick. Skin felt strange, jaw started to hurt, and a massive headache. So, I got up around 3 am and took a 4 mg pill and it helped. I woke up ok, but still with a headache. After taking another 2 mg 10 AM and a nuprine I'm ok. Hopefully I just had a bad night. I imagine all the methadones totally out of my body now. I want to try to stay as low as I can and then drop off as quickly as possible. I plan to start the decrees starting the 14th day of methadone, I'll drop up to day 21. Hopefully that'll be it.

[weaver71]

My doc recommended I take my sub multiple doses a day, but left it up to me. I settled on taking my dose all in the morning. Once I started taking it at the same dose at the same time everyday, my body seemed to stabilize. It seemed like experimenting, or taking irregular doses made me feel up and down. Once I wrote a schedule down and followed it exactly, after about 3 days, I felt pretty good all the time. I did feel a little sluggish by bed time, but I would count backwards from 100 over and over until I slept. I guess my point is, if you stick to a set schedule, whatever you chose, I believe you will adjust to the schedule, if you take extra or change schedule, I believe it confuses the body and brain chemistry. The brain begins to know what to expect, if you give it a treat, it will act up to get one. Of coarse this is only an opinion based on my experience. You're doing great.

[jimmym321]

Thanks!

[jimmym321]

I tried your once a day dose it worked yesterday. I'm trying to take 4 mg a day. I really want to be careful not to get addicted to the Soboxone. I realize even after 3 weeks you can have a small habit, so next Monday, which will be the 2nd week start I'll start really dropping that dose - if not sooner. I was told to try and miss a day, or better said every other day starting on the 2nd week. I felt ok when I woke up today, although I'm getting headaches. I usually don't get them, so I'm sure it's from the withdrawels. I'm praying this works well. But, I'm still confident it'll be totally over soon. Thanks for your input! By the way, how long ago did you stop everything? Are you ok now?

[jimmym321]

Little update. I'm now a total of 17 days off, and 14 says on Suboxone. I was taking 4 mg the last week once a day. Yesterday I felt clammy and cold also been having skin itch. almost as if I have fiberglass touching me at times. But since I'm 14 days in I have to lower the dose, so today I started splitting an 8 mg into 3 pcs, which equals about 2.70 mg I'l do this tomorrow also then bring it to two Mg one day and keep lowering till this Sunday which will be the end of three weeks. I should be over the methadone major withdrawals by now of shortly, and I want to stop before I get any addiction to the Suboxone, although I imagine it'll be a little of an addiction after 3 weeks. The Dr said a month, but I'd think 3 weeks one would have some sort of a small habit. I have some sleeping pills that are non-addictive also melatonine. By this Sunday I'm going to try to detox my blood with Green pills I take like Algee, and also L-Methionine & Glutathione reduced. They say these detox your blood and liver. Hopefully it'll clean up any methadone or Soboxone in my blood & liver & brain. To help I'm taking a lot of L-Tyrosine it helps heal the receptors in the brain. There's a few other amino acides that help like this. - Weaver71 how'd you feel when you stopped taking the Suboxone? Where you still sick at the 21 day mark, I believe you said you took it that long. If so, how long did it last? Thanks for your help & encouragement!

[weaver71]

I felt a little sick for about two days, tolerable. Then I felt okay except the insomnia. I could use a sleep aid one night and I built tolerance to it. I would switch from melatonin to Tylenol Pm and a friend gave me a few lunesta. I used the sleep aid about every 3 days, as I wanted my brain to heal. That went on for about 3 weeks. You where on a much lower dose of methadone than I was, but you where on it longer. It will take time for natural chemistry to return. At a month after subs, I was in a pretty good place, just low motivation and energy. The aminos in algae are easy for the body to assimilate and that helps. I too tried to go all natural, but I did need some sleep aid. Force yourself to walk, swim, or anything to bring the heart rate up a little. Saunas helped me detox and feel  better also. I don't think I was experiencing a real sub detox, it felt like a lingering methadone post acute withdrawal. Hang in there. You will start to feel it the low your sub dose gets, but keep tapering to make it more smooth. I went down to .5mg. Keep posting a lot during this phase, it will be over pretty soon.

[jimmym321]

Thanks weaver71! It helps me to read of your experience. I will keep writing.

[marycarmel]

Haven't posted but have been reading your updates.  Great to hear you're doing so good and that weaver is here to give you his experience.  Sounds like you're really doing great!

[weaver71]

Glad it helps, you can private message me if you want. Like your Sep 24 post, I must have had a busy day. I try to keep up with the open forum, but I always see my messages. You're doing great, you won't regret a thing.

[jimmym321]

I forget to mention this -  the day before I dropped from 4mg to 2.70 - which equals an 8 mg strip cut in three I felt the worse day yet, but when I dropped from 4 to 2.70 I actually felt better, and it's the same today. Hopefully I'm getting over the main methadone withdrawals. Tomorrow I'll cut the 2.70 mg pc in 1/2 and take that for 2 days. That'll be Friday. Sat I'll dropt to 1 mg - approx you never can get it exact - and then next .50 and the next .25. That'll be Monday my 3rd week on Soboxone. Hopefully I'll be fine. Thanks everyone!

[weaver71]

You should be fine, you will feel it though. The saying with subs is less is more. A lot of people take too much at first, and feel better when they drop. On a much higher dose of methadone, I started with 8mg subs and had to reduce it after 5 days. I felt weird, I a little high in a way I had never felt. The long half life of sub allows it to build up in your system. A friend at school asked me why the subs made her feel low energy. She told me she was on 16 mg a day. She dropped to 8 and felt much better. Anyway, your plan seems fine, maybe a little fast, but fine. You will be amazed at how much better life is without methadone. I had no idea, but my memory, emotions, thoughts, everything is clearer and more manageable. You can do this.

[jimmym321]

Thanks Weaver. I dropped today to 1.30 mg feel fine. I was almost going to stop today because I can really feel the main withdrawals of methadone are decreasing rapidly. I would wake up with a burning feeling even on 4 mg of Subs. Today it was there but almost non-existent. I took the 1/2 of the 2.70 I'll do the same tomorrow and then 1 mg on Sat and a .50 Monday. Monday is my 3 week start date and I don't want to go over that. It seems pretty easy to cut up those strips of Suboxone. They are 7/8 of an inch long. I used a ruler and made marks on a paper, and then cut the strip with a razor right on the paper. Much easier that the pills I had at first.
I hope all this info helps people just like us who'll do the same in the future. Thank God for people like you weaver71, and all the others I've learned how to make this as easy as possible. In the beginning I was having a terrible time without the electrolytes and good vitamins & amino acids. As soon as I started the water with salts in it I stopped sweating & got less annoyed with noises - which was irritating me. It was amazing the difference drinking the electrolytes mix made for me! I make a home brew. 1 1/2 gal of filtered water, an 1/8 tea spoon of baking soda, an 1/8 tsp of sea salt, an 1/8 tsp of  "No Salt" which is really Potassium chloride, a lemon a lime and a tsp of brown sugar. I drink 3 large classes as soon as I wake up. I will continue this for sure after this is over. It really taste great after getting use to drinking so much water when I hardly use to drink water at all! Also I take the L-Tyrosine 2 - 750 mg capsules along with a 1000 mg capsule L-Glutamine. It seems this is the best amino acid for balancing out your brain, speaking about the L-Tyrosine. I take a total 4 750 mg capsules a day.

Will keep you updated most likely not until Monday.

Thanks again my friends!

Jim
  

[jimmym321]

Sorry I forgot about Sunday .50 Sunday and .25 Monday of Suboxone.

[atthebeach]

hi jimmy,
i have been following your posts. you are doing awesome. your positive attitude is helping you immensely.
my husband was on 85mgs of methadone for 10 years.he was 56 at the time. he tapered for 5 months and he actually went cold turkey at 20mgs along with 6 mgs of xanax.he went into a detox at the hospital for 5 days and was given subs during his stay.
at the time i wasnt on this site and didnt know about the protein shakes,amino acids and supplements. he had acute physical withdrawal symptoms for a solid month,lost 30 lbs. couldnt hold anything down.
then began to drink ensure. it is amazing what the body can endure and recover from. he literally didnt sleep for 6 weeks. he has been clean and sober now for  2 years and 9 months and is doing awesome.

there is life after methadone. i am so happy for you and so proud of you that the  chains and bondage of addiction are being broken.
keep fighting the good fight.
debbie