I Am ready to get off the Methadone

[mrpat]

I have been taking 80 mgs. of methadone (20 mgs. 4x's a day) since begining of November. Prior to that I was taking 40 mgs. of oxycotin 3x's a day plus 15 mgs. of oxycodone every 6 hours for b/t pain for a year. I suffer from chronic back pain (3 surgeries in past 2 years) but I think it is time to get off the pills before they start doing some serious damage to my liver,spleen and such. If I quit cold turkey, how long before the methadone gets out of my system completly? I know with most opiates it only takes 72 hours before they are completly out of your system, but I heard with methadone it takes longer due to the longer half life of the pill.I know after I get the methadone out of my system  that will determine when the serious withdrawel will kick in.Any one have any help or advise on how to do this? Everyone out there has some good input from what I have read on these posts, so what do you guys say HELP!!!!!!!                                                                        

[mrpat]

Did you go through any withdrawel at all and if so how bad was it? Also, did your pm doc replace the methadone with any other meds,as I myself would like my pm doc to try and find some other type of painmanagement other than narcotics if possible. The problem is I cannot take steroids or other nsaids because of all the pills I have taken in the past have messed up my stomach.I believe I can learn alot of information from you so thank you for you offer and any help.

[verygreatful]

Hi,
I am 38 days clean from methadone 82mg.  I went to a pain management DR. and he weaned me down over a 3 wk period with the methadone pills. Tapering gradually.  I feel really good, and I am going through chemo treatment at the same time.  It was a little tough, but not as bad as I thought.  I had a much harder time with ct from alot of pills back in Sept. but now I am done and it is so worth it.
If I can help you in any way please let me know.

[BlotOutTheSun]

hey i dont know much bout methadone, but i know cold turkey is tough id say any opiate the w/ds depend on how much you use but i feel that within a week youll get pretty well back to normal, itll be hard but you can do it if you set your mind to it

GOOD LUCK STAY STRONG

[oxyaddict420]

I took mathadone 10mg pills for like 2 months straight but only about 4-5 of them per day at most.  I went c/t for about 4 days and it wasnt as bad as i thought, but then I heard about it taking longer to get out of my system. Over then next 2 days it got pretty bad for me, and then I just relapsed and got my drug of choice which is what you were on... OXYCODONE... Sorry cant be more help, but others will post with mroe accurate info with more experience.  The 15mg oxycodone were little green ones right?