Can't sleep...

Hello all,

I've been taking pain killers (Oycontin, Vicodin, Fentanyl patches, Methadone, etc.) for almost 20 years off and on for relief from pain due to Ankylosing Spondylitis. About 6 years ago a nurse at the pain clinic I went to took it into her own hands to deny my refill when my N.P. was out of town. I was off of everything but Methadone at the time and was weening off this too. She felt I didn't need it any more (I received two formal letters of apology from my N.P. for this) and I ended up going cold off of 20 mg. of Methadone. It took weeks to get over it (and I haven't really). I haven't been the same since. And although the withdrawal symptoms lessened, they have never truly gone away. The intense, restless feelings I experienced in my arms and legs continue to this day at a lesser intensity. But it's bad enough to prevent me from sleeping at night. I thought it was Restless Leg Syndrome, but neither Requip nor Mirapex do anything for it. What does work is more Narcotics, but I don't want to take them anymore. This is what makes me think I am still withdrawing after several years. Does anyone have any insight into this? I'm taking Enbrel and Celebrex and for the most part that's plenty good. I tend to go a couple days without sleep and then am able to get enough sleep to function for the next cycle. This is not very pleasant and I am tired of life. I want to fall asleep and not wake up.

[Yoda99]

I am so feeling for you.  I also have ankyloid (sp) spondylosis, arthritis, and much pain from a head-on collision I was involved in.  I had a heavy oxy addition, and I finally gave them up.  The pain sucks.  Sometimes I handle it ok which I never thought I could handle without the oxys.  But today is a bad day for me and I didn't sleep much last night.  I've been up since about 3 a.m.
I'm not sure why you think you are still in withdrawals after all that time, unless it's mental withdrawals.  The only thing physical I suffer from is sleep problems.  And of course the pain.  But it's been only 10 months clean for me, and you say you've been clean for 6 years?  I don't know what to tell you, but that's quite an accomplishment.  There will be more and more people logging on and someone will be able to help you out.
Good luck,
Yoda

[wait2long]

how long has it been?  methadone seems to be the worst drug to kick, and the longest in duration. i am sorry your having such problems with sleep still...have you spoken to a doctor about this?  there are some nonaddictive sleep aids available for this now...and the restless legs is definatley still the effects of being on opiates for such a long time...the only thing i could recommend for that are hot baths, and lots of them...this too should pass with time, requip didnt do anything for me either...but i was also on methadone, and it was quite a while before i felt any normalcy, even on suboxone it was tough...just hang in there, and talk to your docotr about this...he may have a solutution for your sleep issue, which MAY help the RLS, nothing is worse than lack of sleep caused by withdrawals in my eyes, i feel for ya!!  i have been off  methadone since may, and just started sleeping through the night about a month ago...hang in there!
you have to be proud of yourself for stopping all those drugs...thats awesome!!

[nosoulleft]

I haven't been "clean". I've taken Oxycontin in the Fall for the last 3 years and weened off when the pain lessened. AS is a form of Arthritis and for some reason the weather change in the Fall is a bad time for me. I take Enbrel and Celebrex which really help my AS. I don't crave Oxy or anything else. I was/am physically addicted, not psychologically. I'm almost done weening off Oxycontin. Down to 10-15 mg/day of Oxycodone from 120 mg/day of Oxycontin. That's why I'm unable to sleep again.
It's been around 6 years since I went through the Methadone withdrawal. And I've been dealing with the restlessness ever since. Ambien, Lunesta make me tired, but the legs still keep me awake, so it's really much worse for me to take a sleep aid because then I'm even more tired but unable to sleep. I haven't gotten any snswers from my Dr.'s about it. It seems like they don't listen.  

[Yoda99]

   Ok, that makes more sense.  I slept great when I was on the oxys.  All I had to do was get comfortable with my pillows propped up, the tv was on, take my blood pressure med and my elavil (anti-depressant), and I was out in 30 minutes and I would sleep through the entire night.  But when I went off the oxys, I didn't sleep for a while.  I remember making a post asking if lack of sleep would kill me.  Then finally I started getting a few of sleep hours a night.  Now I get a little more, but the best sleep was while I was on the oxys.  But if you read the article on PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome), you will see that sleep is one of the last things to return.

[Clamity2]

I don't think you will get over the wds until you wd for a straight period of time. Do you stay totally clean through winter, spring and summer. Or are you into a cycle that you use, stop, use , stop , just to get some rest??  If I did that I would go back into wds every time I used. From MY experience every time I use opiates for pain or sleep I have to withdraw Especially mentally for energy every time.
I'm sorry for the pain. Celeberx really did help my pain.I use aleve now. Excedrin too sometimes.  

[nosoulleft]

When I went off the Methadone I don't think I took any painkillers for a few years. I was in terrible pain but the memories of the withdrawal kept me away. Then I started the Enbrel and that REALLY helped alot. But for the last 3 years I've taken Oxycontin in the Fall and then weened off as the pain lessened. I haven't taken any Narcotics except during this time (the Fall). Whenever I go off the painkillers I get restless and unable to sleep. This is even after many months of nothing. I thought it might be RLS but it isn't.

[marcatj]

hun, i don't think many people sleep well when they taper or go cold turkey off narcotics (unless you take the clonidine for the w/d's, which i then slept like a baby...)

so, it sounds like you know the CAUSE of your insomnia.  for me personally, since i didn't have a problem with benzo's (and i do not recommend this, if you do..) but when i went off the pills c/t (versus when i did with the clonidine) i used klonipin (klonopin).  it was the only thing that helped me sleep.  and i DID sleep finally with it.

it is HORRIBLE when you don't sleep, it makes everything else - including pain - about a zillion times worse.  if your doc isn't helping you with a solution, the only thing i can offer in terms of advice is to see a new doc about this WHO WILL LISTEN, but make sure you give him/her all the facts..

good luck sweety...

btw - there's a good homeopathic remedy you can get from Whole Foods called Deep Sleep that comes in a liquid form (drops) and it actually works really well too..

-mj