Drank wine while weaning opiates and went into wd..normal??

[HookLineandSinker68]

Today I'm down to 40 mg per day from a 60 to 74 mg habit, for over a year..but had a glass of wine and seems like it put me right into wds. I don't drink, never did..I thought it would ease the mental part but back fired on me. One glass of wine and wd happens ... Is this normal??any one experience this..?? I thought I would find something anything to ease out but don't want to take v out and put anything in its place so thought wine for a few days would help.....NOT..what happened? Any stories similar to this?  I take vitamins, Thomas Recipe...and keep busy helps. But this weaning crap is hard but will hold on, I'm listening to my body... What are wd symptoms with weaning to a low dose say of 5 mg per day and then jump off? I hope to be there is a couple weeks... Thanks

[HookLineandSinker68]

I'm in the med field but new to this stuff... I know my bp got higher weaning. It all depends on what you normally run.... Do you know your normal which necessarily does not mean 120/80.. A lot of athletes have lower bp. But find out from your doc what your bp has been the last year, that will either let you know if its YOUR normal and it's you or see your doc for bp. Best I can give on this. Have my own issues I'm trying to figure out how to get  my life back and I so want me back... It's taking awhile but I'm starting to even think clearer and get up and do things while weaning which is opposite from what I've been reading. I can only say from 70 to 40mg in two weeks. ready for the next wean down tomorrow..my wires in my brain are trying to connect and sometimes they spark and out comes mood swings.. The only issue I've had minus trying one glass of wine which was horrid for me. Never dreamed it would be so hard. Why am I so terrified of withdrawals? I'm a wimp and admit it. I just don't want to go through wd and trying to minimize them or I'd jump off and get this crap out in 5 days. To scared.. I'm terrified quite frankly..thanks for the comments. Will not drink at all. Glad someone said no pot. I never smoked it and was ready to try to jump and smoke some during the ct or even after my wean is over...so I guess that don't work either. I look forward each day to this site it helps me learn and blab my fears to great people who get it, my husband don't get this at all.. How do I explain how hard this is.. To get him to understand I messed up.. Surgery then hooked..I think he sees me different now, not the love looks or compassion I need. Sometimes I just need him to hug me and acknowledge I'm one 4 pills versus 6 per day. To me, I feel good. But to him I'm still a junkie.. Gosh that's an awful word.. I'm straight edge type of person, perfectionist, very active, and always have my hair, makeup done, dinner on the table, and dress good. You would never know I had this issue but since I've told him I feel like he does not look at me like he used to and it bothers me..I'm still doing all my wifely things without letting anything go but my Four pills a day....

[nursegirl6572]

Check the main page of the forum, Weaver has started a seperate thread for you, and your BP concerns.

[ponco]

Im trying to sen out to you . im trying to figure what went wrong. let me know if you got this. ponco

[ponco]

Hows it going im haveing some issues. I know no one is a doctor out there, or maybe there is. My blood pressure to me seems low. im like 111/60 or 101/59 i went to the doctor the other day . mine wasnt there but i will see her on this tues. I stop takeing one of my 3 bp meds still running low. but the doc says thats normal blood pressure. so my question is dose your blood pressure run low if your withdrawling? because mine never been that low for such a long time. i thought your blood pressure goes up when your withdrawling? but any ways do to money issues i have to go to 5mgs a week instead of 2mgs a week. so i dont know if i will feel the withdrals at 5 mgs a week? get back with me thanks ponco

[weaver71]

Hey ponco, sent you a message and invitation, maybe your messages will make it to me now.

[nbhope]

You know my hubby was doing that and he seemed to be having more issues than I :/

[CurvC]

Darlin that all depends on how fast your metabolism is. You have to look at it in a different light; no matter how much you ween down- slow or fast- eventually you are going to have withdrawl symptoms. Methadone is an intense drug and your body is relying on it. Like I have posted 10 times; I am 6 days clean today off of suboxone. I used xanax to take off the edge and within the last 2 days found out imodium helps in larger doses but research has to be done because the active ingredient in it is an opiate itself and you need to be careful. Just take it one day at a time, don't stress yourself. If you start to feel a little physical discomfort sooner than you'd like, that just means you have less to deal with when you're on 0mgs

[CurvC]

Day 6 :) Im better today than yesterday. &yes, please don't drink any alcohol it just makes you 10 times as miserable!

[nursegirl6572]

"The body can only metabolize one drug at a time, that's why people OD when they mix opiates and alcohol. You just added more confusion for your body. The only way that I found, was no mood altering chemicals plus time. I found that I was way more aware of my symptoms if I altered my brain chemistry in any way."


Nicely said, weaver!  Very true!

There are some theories about how mind altering (intoxicating) substances, like alcohol, MJ, etc can trigger a "memory" of sorts in the brain...which can either cause over-intoxication, or w/d symptoms, depending on what stage of recovery a person is in.

I think, to be TRULY successful, one has to be committed to steering clear of those types of substances.  I know it's difficult for people, they're just looking for some kind of relief from the w/d symptoms, but self medicating with alcohol, pot, or other intoxicating substance just isn't the way to go.  It also reinforces that addict mindset of having to "take something" in order to feel better.

The body has the amazing ability to normalize itself in almost any situation (providing there are no medical conditions that would prevent that).  The best thing is TIME, and letting your body heal itself...it WILL.

[ImDONENoMore]

Ponco - please read more about tapering.  The slower the better.  I'm not sure how to help you?

[ponco]

How are you doing? me so so. im trying to find someone to answer a question i have. well i have to detox a little faster than planned. im at 71mgs right now. the clinic is decreaseing me 2mgs a week. I have to decrease to 5mgs a week. will i start feeling withdrawls at that dose. thankyou.

[ImDONENoMore]

Hi ponco.

I don't have any personal experience with methadone withdrawal, but I can tell you from everything I've read, the slower the taper, the better.  I know you want to get through this as quickly as possible, but this doesn't have to be a race.  As long as you're heading in the right direction and continue on your taper without increasing, you'll get there.  Slow and steady is the way to go and trust your Dr.  He/she knows what they're doing and they will help you get to where you want to be.  Clean and sober!  Good luck to you!  :) (and congrats for quitting!)

[ponco]

Hi my name is ponco. i wanted ask you a question. Maybe you might have the answer. im detoxing off my methadone. I was at 80mgs Im now down to 71mgs im going to have to decrease fast beacause of funds. but anyways. the clinic is takeing me down 2mgs a week. if i go 5mgs a week will i withdrawl? and also ive only been at the clinic since aug. 22 2012 5 months. if that makes a diff. so if you can get back with me that would be great. tomarrow mon. is when they decrease me again, Thank you ponco.

[ImDONENoMore]

And I'm just now realizing that you're still taking the pills.  Please do NOT drink alcohol when continuing with your taper.  It's a recipe for disaster.

[DEMONTHADONE]

Thats good to know cuz I was thinking abt getting sum booze to help but this is the 2nd time I hear this. Hey curvc how r u holding up??? Hope everyone is doing well. Keep at it Hook b4 u know it u'll b out this mess

[CurvC]

Never never drink alcohol while dealing with withdrawl. BAD combination.. as you know. I'm on my 6th day totally sober off of all opiates but mainly suboxone. I just bought some Imodium which is supposed to help along with Epsom Salt baths for the chills. Other than that, I've taken anti-anxiety meds to take the edge off but I don't necessarily recommend it. Hang in there hun! You can make it through this!!!!

[weaver71]

I tried many, many things over about 2yrs, trying to get clean. I found that wine, pot, even coffee wrecked me. The body can only metabolize one drug at a time, that's why people OD when they mix opiates and alcohol. You just added more confusion for your body. The only way that I found, was no mood altering chemicals plus time. I found that I was way more aware of my symptoms if I altered my brain chemistry in any way. Try St. Johns' Wart or Valerian Root. My last detox, I used the St. Johns' Wart. It helped more than anything, as far as relaxing my anxiety. Live and learn, right? I tried to stop tobacco at 100 days, drank some wine to curb the withdrawal. At over 100 days clean, I went back into full blown withdrawal, not like tobacco, like my DOC. Slow and steady wins the race, keep moving forward.

[ImDONENoMore]

YES.  Wine was a horrible trigger for me early on.  Any alcohol was.  I thought like you did, that it would relax me.  Exact opposite.  Stay away from it, it will make this process so much worse and bring the withdrawal symptoms on full force.  Have a cup of tea instead.  It will make you feel better.  :)