Best Way to come off Methadone?

[AmandaF1982]

Hello everybody I have read some helpfull information on this site so thanks everyone for taking time to give your opions and help others! My situation is Im on methadone and have been since Oct 07. I started methadone after being tired of spending money on oxycotin or being broke and going through withdrawls cause I didnt have money to but oxy. My opiate addiction started in 2004 with a ear ache and a prescription for lortabs I loved them I felt like super mom cleaning house all night I was 22 and had 3 kids and a husband to take care of and they helped me get everything done easily. I like itching my nose too  for some weird reason. Then that prescription brought back my husbands old habit of pain killers (he had stopped b4 I met him) but he had a way to get them prescribed a back surgery and workers comp insurance. So it has been a roller coaster of pain meds since then once the lortabs were not strong enough he got methadone, then oxycotin we started snorting them I loved the energy I got from them but the withdrawls were a ***** ! So we thought methadone was the answer to no more withdrawls. Which I havent been through withdraws since I started methadone but the side effects of methadone are horrible.

First of all methadone is just an legal drug you get high on methadone too if you get your dose high enough. ExceptMethadonedosent give you energy like oxys. And the sweating is embarraasing and the cravings for sweets the weight gain is the worst I have gained about 50 pounds! So Im tired of being imprisioned by this stuff and want to quit. When I talked to my clinic about quiting they were not supportive she said if I have been on drugs since I was 14 how am I going to quit in 5 months but after 18 months on this program you have to start paying and I cant afford it.

So my questions what is the best way to taper off Im going to start at 5 mg a week and I will be through b4 I have to pay will i still go through withdraws? I have read some of you say it doesnt matter how you do it you will still withdraw. Has anyone quit and not had withdraws? I hav been thinking if Im going to go through withdraws at 5 mg a week then I might as well quit sooner so I can loose this weight sooner if Im gonna go through withdraws anyway. Has anyone gained weight and sucessfully lost it while still on methadone? How ? Anyone loose hair on methadone? Anyone not have a period on methadone? Anyone gain weight on methadone then loose it after quiting methadone? Thanks for your help and advice!!!

[SJR2015]

I feel your pain brother,...assuming you're a guy.  Last year I bounced around with 180 oxy 30's a month that eventually stopped working.  My tolerance went up. A friend (******* in retrospect) told me his methadone are way better and last longer.  He was right and I could continue doing sport equiptment  installations without the back pain and with the energy I had in college. Fast forward a year + later, I was able to get myself down to 40 mg a day from taking 80 to 100 mg a day.  I blew off visiting my parents this xmas because I had packed on 30 lbs and didn't want to have to buy 50  or 60 of them to make it through our visit. Felt horrible and kept bouncing from booze when i was out to the methadone,which felt like the miracle drug to get me feeling normal again.  Which is a big ******* lie.  I know i'm not normal on that **** and I know my Mom would see right through it. So, I've wanted to come off of this for a while, but fear from what people tell me about feeling like hell scared me. I wouldn't reccommend it, but since the hospitals and clinics in this Mormon state are cruel *************, I decided to enter into an EFT (Meridian Tapping Technique) natural clinic.  They are nice, not that expenseive, do lab testing at the dna level to find out where your brain chem levels are,,.....seratomin and dopamin,.etc.  and provide supplements, tapping techniqques, counseling, and other services.  They gave me a B12 shot in my *** and gave me 120 adrenal pills to take too get my body working normally again.  I was honest with them at every level.  I made the committment to myself to see my folks after my wds.,..and losing about 10 pounds.  So, I stopped at 40 Mg 6 days ago, Loaded up on zanex and about 50 or 60 norcos.  Believe me, without them, suicide sounded great.  I dropped the booze 4 days ago, took twice the levels of zanex just to get to sleep and had to get up at 3 in the morning and take 20 mg of norco just so my bones would ache,...as well as my back.  To shut my mind off,....half a zanex or whole.  To start my day,...40 mgs of norco and maybe 20 orr 30 later in the day.  It does not come close to the methadone wonder energy feeling, but it takes the dge off.  I can function and laugh a little.  Still get depressed for no reason, but have to remind myself i'm coming off a ******* elephant of a drug. I would try other things Ive read about concerning this issue, but I don't live in Mexico, Canada, or Amsterdam,...just a good old fashioned mormon state. So, my options a limited.  I just have a friend and her support. I'm not all the way through although my friend who has a more dangerous  problem says I am.  I hope,...and pray.  Eat smart,..salads, spinach,soups, take the whole range of vitamins, Sounds like you already execise. Take magnesium citrate to get your bowels loosened and spray out 5 pounds of ****.  Stay close to a toilet an hour after taking it, it comes in a small bottle in the laxative section and costs 2 bucks. Opiates make you constipated and it's better than giving birth every 3 days to a very large rock solid painful ****.  Also, give yourself goals just like in the gym.  On this day I am going to drop my amounts to ____.  I'm not a dr., but I know when I'm in pain and going nuts and when everything is copacetic. Good luck to you and wish me well, my cut off day is tomorrow on the norcos, but theres a 10 count reserve in case of an emergency,....then hopefully in a couple days after the norco drop I'll just be on a **** load of vitamins, supplements, exercise and something for sleeping.. At least that's my plan.  I could be totally unrealistic about this, but I'm going for it.   Pray a lot also.  All the best,
SJ

[SJR2015]

I feel your pain brother,...assuming you're a guy.  Last year I bounced around with 180 oxy 30's a month that eventually stopped working.  My tolerance went up. A friend (******* in retrospect) told me his methadone are way better and last longer.  He was right and I could continue doing sport equiptment  installations without the back pain and with the energy I had in college. Fast forward a year + later, I was able to get myself down to 40 mg a day from taking 80 to 100 mg a day.  I blew off visiting my parents this xmas because I had packed on 30 lbs and didn't want to have to buy 50  or 60 of them to make it through our visit. Felt horrible and kept bouncing from booze when i was out to the methadone,which felt like the miracle drug to get me feeling normal again.  Which is a big ******* lie.  I know i'm not normal on that **** and I know my Mom would see right through it. So, I've wanted to come off of this for a while, but fear from what people tell me about feeling like hell scared me. I wouldn't reccommend it, but since the hospitals and clinics in this Mormon state are cruel *************, I decided to enter into an EFT (Meridian Tapping Technique) natural clinic.  They are nice, not that expenseive, do lab testing at the dna level to find out where your brain chem levels are,,.....seratomin and dopamin,.etc.  and provide supplements, tapping techniqques, counseling, and other services.  They gave me a B12 shot in my *** and gave me 120 adrenal pills to take to get my body working normally again.  I was honest with them at every level.  I made the committment to myself to see my folks after my wds.,..and losing about 10 pounds.  So, I stopped at 40 Mg 6 days ago, Loaded up on zanex and about 50 or 60 norcos.  Believe me, without them, suicide sounded great.  I dropped the booze 4 days ago, took twice the levels of zanex just to get to sleep and had to get up at 3 in the morning and take 20 mg of norco just so my bones would ache a couple times,...as well as my back.  To shut my mind off,....half a zanex or whole.  To start my day,...40 mgs of norco and maybe 20 orr 30 later in the day.  It does not come close to the methadone wonder energy feeling, but it takes the edge off.  I can function and laugh a little.  Still get depressed for no reason, but have to remind myself i'm coming off a ******* elephant of a drug. I would try other things Ive read about concerning this issue, but I don't live in Mexico, Canada, or Amsterdam,...just a good old fashioned mormon state. So, my options a limited.  I just have a friend and her support. I'm not all the way through although my friend who has a more dangerous  problem says I am past the worst part.  I hope,...and pray.  Eat smart,..salads, spinach,soups,juice machine carrots, take the whole range of vitamins, Sounds like you already exercise. Take magnesium citrate to get your bowels loosened and spray out 5 pounds of ****.  Stay close to a toilet an hour after taking it, it comes in a small bottle in the laxative section and costs 2 bucks. Opiates make you constipated and it's better than giving birth every 3 days to a very large rock solid painful ****.  Also, give yourself goals just like in the gym.  On this day I am going to drop my amounts to ____.  I'm not a dr., but I know when I'm in pain and going nuts and when everything is copacetic. Good luck to you and wish me well, my cut off day is tomorrow on the norcos, but theres a 10 count reserve in case of an emergency,....then hopefully in a couple days after the norco drop I'll just be on a **** load of vitamins, supplements, exercise and something for sleeping.. At least that's my plan.  I could be totally unrealistic about this, but I'm going for it.   Pray a lot also.  All the best,
SJ

[lengths]

Me too I really need advice on how to come off meth,been left on it for 15 years 44 almost and don't want to die ,no info is given on side affects and its so frustrating

[Tarheelmom29]

Hi katred, I just read your post.  I know you posted this almost 2 years ago, but Im hoping you will see this.  i have been on methadone for about 5 years now.  I injured my back in a car accident.  I was pretty messed up.  My back is just crumbling away, and the pain runs down my leg and hurts so bad the nerves in my leg are dying and the numbness feeling and burning are so bad.  I really don't know how Im going to come off of this.  I have been taking 30mg 3 times a day, so a total of 90 mg daily.  I recently went in to see my Dr. and the government (such good people) are regulating it now and my prescription was cut back to 20mg 3 times a day, so a total of just 60 mg a day.  This has me very worried, I can see the day coming when I will no longer be able to get it at all.  So maybe now is the time to come off.  But how?? I am in my mid 40's I have 2 teenagers at home as well as a 3 year old little boy.  And there is no way I can be down and out for weeks.  I really don't know what the answer is.  I don't know how I can deal with the pain that I do have, and function in life.  Im hoping that you may have had some success with this and maybe can give me some tips.
Im wondering if I can taper myself over time  is better, or try going on something different.  I really hope you see this, because your story was very similar to mine.  Hoping to hear from you or anyone soon.
Thanks

[joeyMatrione]

Thanks for your insight.

[waterhouse74]

im taking 40 two times a day been on it a year

[katred7865]

I have been on methadone for about nine years now. Where to start, okay first, if your clinic has not supported your detox then you need to find a new clinic as they should always support you and all the positive things you will do in your lifetime. (That is just one of the many ways they should be supportive of you.) Second, you take methadone to not get high anymore; you do not take it to get high. It does not make you high. You are an *** if you take it to get high cause then; you have yet another drug to detox from and another painful withdrawal, worse than all the others, to deal with. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, you will feel some sort of withdrawal, no matter how you detox, even if it is 1mg a month, you feel pains of withdrawal in the lower doses. Think about it, you (in general) have been giving your body the drug for so long and then you take it away, it will surely react in some way or another. It is inevitable. You made the mistake of starting a nasty habit, just as I did, there has to be some sort of yin and yang, you can't just get away with harming your body and your body not reacting to it.  For every scrape, there is a scab. Once you come to terms with this, mentally, you will be ready, maybe. I personally do not think anyone is ever completely 100 percent ready to make a major change in their life without having any worries. You need to realize that as well. I wish I had the perfect answer for you to not feel withdrawal but you will feel it. Even if you start something else, you will then have to withdrawal from that, and probably the methadone still.

Regarding the weight, it is simple, if you eat more than you work off you will then gain weight. Since on methadone, I have stayed at a consistent weight, became even more of an avid runner running in 5k's, (something I never did on heroin), had a baby, lost the "healthy" baby weight (weight I should have gained because my baby needed it. So what if I gained a few pounds, it was for my beautiful boy who is now six and healthy thank God!)  Then, I lost the baby weight. Methadone weight gain is just an excuse, you have to work at it if you want to loose it, and it is possible. I have proven that twice over as I have both gained and lost weight. I have since gained weight but it is because of me not being as healthy as I used to be, not because of the methadone. Now, one thing I can tell you, for your liver to process a drug for such a long period of time that surely can not be good. You have to care for your inside before you outside. (Corny but true). My doctor has told me that I need to get off of methadone because of what it is doing to my liver, not to mention, my teeth have not been the same, I have actually had a lot of work done, very expensive which I do believe is from methadone as well. You can't just take something so harsh and expect it not to effect you in any way.

To be honest, I am really wanting to detox from Methadone, in fact why am I even starting it with a capitol M, what the hell, it does have a hold on me such as that I always have to make sure I have access to it, I have to see my clinic, doctor, and counselor one-a-month before work which is a pain, and last, I know it isn't good for my body over a long period of time. In the end, who knows if I would still be using diesel now though? Who knows if I would be able to be a great mom and have an even greater son? Who knows if I would even be alive?

You will come across mainly ignorant folks who will doubt your abilities if they find out you are taking methadone, I had to go through an awful custody battle and it surely was used against me, they tried, however, I gathered a lot of information on my own and from my clinic and was able to ease over it. It did leave an impression though. My son has never seen me on heroin, and NEVER will but the simple fact that I am on methadone, was enough to put doubt into the mind of the master. THAT IS BECAUSE OF IDIOTS WHO SAY THAT ALL PEOPLE USE METHADONE TO GET HIGH. That is SO NOT TRUE; a group of people ruin it for those of us who are really trying to do the right thing, with a little help.  There are so many uneducated misconceptions of methadone and it's users that it is really hard to get on in life without running into biased assholes every so often who feel they know all they need to about methadone. (**** if that is the case, invent a way for me to withdrawal without pain you biased *****...cause as I stated above, there is no such a way unless you go to something else, which I am above ever doing, as you should be too, if not for you then for your family.)

I know that when it is time to detox that I will need to be alone, take off of work as long as I can and just deal. I may even try to find a damn rehab. NOT Looking forward to that. I will definitely see my medical doctor through-out the process.

All-in-all, my advice is: do not stay on methadone for long, use it as a tool to withdrawal from whatever it is you were taking first to ease the withdrawal pain, BUT GET OFF OF IT SHORTLY AFTER YOU START.

I hope that this was helpful for you, if anything, a reality sound check for your brain. I sometimes try to forget and just live my life but there will always be something reminding me that I am still on methadone so; we must eventually say good-bye and move on to another stage in life.

Thanks for reading,
Kat Red

[happyguy783]

I'M SO SORRY for all your suffering guys,FIRST OF all I think thats total BS, that you are required to pay for it,REGARDLESS(OOPS,I'm Canadian,and weaning of Methadone right now,thats why I'm so mad!)do they not see the problem?Sumthing like 80-90 % of all prisoners in Canada(trust me on this,LOL)are in there directly as a result of alcohol and drugs,meaning u know drug addiction related robberies,etc.DOES your countries politicians not see this?People get addicted,they suffer withdrawals, and do CRAZY stuff to try and get more,so I CANNOT believe they will do that,see over here its not a big free for all Health Care wise,but I can walk into any hospital and not be handcuffed to water pipe if I can't pay my bill(yes I know its not that bad).See for guys and gals over here on limited budget(social assistance or just you know, lower income)HAVE their meds covered,so they wont go and rob someone to pay for their friggin Methadone,WELL guy and gals hang in there ok?

[dpoogs]

hbb

[dpoogs]

methone ***** i cant stand it and is it true after 18 months i gotta pay cuz ill start goin down now and how do i tell if im on methadose

[blixer]

My ex-girlfriend was on 65mg.  She came down rather fast, also because of $$ and clinic prices.  Private clinics can be much higher than state run clinics. She actually did 5mg a week and then stayed on 10mg for 4 days then 5mg for 4 days. Then just stopped. She felt lousy for about two weeks. I do not recommend this but she took tiny bits of valium to ease the WD symptoms. It worked, she lost all the weight, looks great, feels great now.  She drinks a little alcohol but so what.   Now for ME: I was on 125mg and came down to 90mg but I am too chicken **** to stop. But I am workin' towards it. Luckily I am in a different town and mine is cheaper.  Also, I have heard of people switching over to subutex when they get down to 30mg or so. It is suppose to be easier WD.  Goodluck!

[breezes120]

I am 36 weeks pregnant and I was under the close care of  painmanagement physician which stemmed from back injuries that I sustained from a severe auto accident in Feb.14, 2005.  I was prescribed various medications from morphine, oxycontin, duragesic patches, to finally have my regimen settle down to a steady dosage of 10\325mg3x times dailly.  I voluntarily weaned myself off of the percocet for fearof addiction and the onset of overusage.  I later found that I still suffered with the pain of the accident and my back was still in desperate need of  pain relief so I began to take Methadone by way of an annonymous clinic and was tking 10 mg 2x daily.  When I became pregnant,I informed my Ob/Gyn, who didnt agree nor disagree but now I have since changed  OB/Gyn docs and am afraid that the baby will be born with withdrawls and opposition from the hospital staff.  What am I to do as far as a self weaning regimen for the sake of my baby not experiencing any withdrawals and how do I stand up to the staff as far as their persistence with still insisting to locate my Methadone Clinic?

[reno346]

I have been on methodone for about 6yrs, highest dose 112mg. tapered of to 13mg, in 7mos. I stopped at 13mg, felt not bad for 1st 4days. Day 5 it started, I have been sufferring for over 3wks. now. I finally felt better yesterday may 15th, but today I am right back to feeling horrrible again. Any advice will help!! Thanks

[Ella789]

I am glad someone came to post some.  They will answer any question that you have. Some times you can read others posts and the old posts from previous pages and see what others answer to others who are wanting off methadone.  I do understand it can be quite the battle and my hope is that you find the information you need.    

Ella

[juno1980]

I THANK THOSE WHO WROTE IN. MAYBE I WAS A LITTLE TOUCHY YESTERDAY SOMETIMES Y0U GET THAT WAY ENEN NOT ON METHADONE. THIS WHOLE CHAT BUIS IS NEW TO ME I NEVER REALLY DID MUCH TILL NOW. I JUST CANT WAIT TO START GOING DOWN AGAIN I STARTED AT 170MG AND NOW AT 95 WAS AT 90 BUT WENT UP FIVEMGS I JUST DIDNT FEEL GOOD SO TOMMOROW BACK DOWN TO 90. MY BROTHER HAS NEVER BEEN ON METHADONE HE TELLS ME I JUST NEED TO GET OFF. I AM NOT THE SAME PERSON WHILE ON IT AND HE KNOWS THE DIET AND EXCERSIZE I HAVE BEEN DONING AND HARDLEY NOTHING. HE STARTED WORKING OUT ANDGOING TO THE GYM 2X A DAY AND LOST 5XMORE THAN ME IN ONE MONTH AND MY JOURNEY HAS BEEN5+ SO ITS FRUSTRATING.I AM GOING TO ASK MY DAUGHTER UPLOAD PICTURES I BUT HER THE STUFF BUT I NEVER USE IT SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A FACE TO THE NAME SOON.

[mr.lucky66]

The fact is that there are many new methadone addicts who are stuck on clinics from oxy and weaker drugs like vicodin. In the old days, you had to be a street junkie to get on but times have changed. Methadone clinics were designed to help people adjust to a normal life , working and not stealing or doing other crimes.Now we have more methadone addicts than ever and what do we do? Just try to encourage them that aren't stuck on methadone for life like many doctors may tell them,. It may be the right thing for some but others may be able to get off.


  I think that detoxing 5 mg. per week makes a lot of sense. I detoxed a few times(the last time 6 years ago), at 5 per day but 5 per week is easier. It wasn't that bad it just took a few months or more to feel ok. I will explain more if people want to know. all the best

[Ella789]

It's probably because you posted on an old thread.  You need to go back and post your own post.  I could and would answer your post if I new anything about Methadone but there are others who do.  Weekends are slow sometimes on here and it takes some time to get a reply.  Sorry

Ella

[juno1980]

What kind of site is this anyway??? I thought maybe some one cared enough to answer any of my concerns or notice a new member...

[juno1980]

Hello, I have just recently started searching for some answers as to how I gained 55 pounds in such a short amount of time. I have also been on methadone like three years. I started on vicodin after I had a surgery. I never actually went thru withdrawl from that but it was getting harder for me to get vicodin. Anyways,you sounded a little like me so I thought I send you a comment.I also have three kids and that was my way to have energy to do stuff with all of them and also clean the house. I stopped eating sweets four months ago and started walking and have lost 12 pounds it is coming off really really slow.  Its so horrible because I used to weigh120-125 and I am only 5'3.Anyways, have you had any luck in finding any other advice on how to loose the weight?Oh I also was at 170mgs. and now am down to90mgs. and I really dont see a difference in if it has an effect on how you loose weight

[steveo30]

how long have you been on meth and how much are you taking now

[handofdoom66]

you will lose every ounce plus, i was on 120mg and now im down to 2mgs and lost all my weight plus, my problem is i lost too much and i think you will have the same problem.

[kim715]

Check your inbox.Sent you a pm..




Thanks sara...

[dominosarah]

Just wanted to say hi to you and welcome you to the forum.  I cant help you out on the Methadone but i know someone who can so will send her a pm.  Keep checking back...sometimes it can be slow this time of day..............sara