I'm in Methadone Withdrawal- Help

[ruffles]

I've been on Meth about 20 years solid.<private doctor>I have slowly reduced from 100mls aday to about 5mls. I'm trying to get rid of this ball and chain.Am in withdrawal now.Can't sleep. Got the willies.What can I expect when I drop to nothing? Never kicked a habit . Not once.Scared to tell my Doctor how low I've gotten. Don't want to lose my place on maintainence, if I fail.
  Its a little different in Canada. Go to Doctor once every 2 weeks, pick up once a week. Doctors only allowed so many, methadone patients.So there's always someone waiting to get on.
This is a really scary thing to do, after 20 years.

[xtremlady33]

i saw ur comment was posted in sept .10 its april13 now, im Nicole btw, im basically doing it slightly the same way.Im just doing one day at a time and just started hitting alittle ThC,& i havent smoked in yrs im alot stoned. The point is what do we look like with pill searching.Once We figure out how really how dumb we look cuz no doctor is going to give us enough pills to whine off of they just dont give them anymore at all peroid unlesss we goto a addiction specialist and spend butt loads of money So just expect to to be down from 2-3-4-or even 5days and try to drink alotta water & take vitamins & it'll be alot better,i strongly sugest getting a script of xanxas too before you begin your cold turkey quiting.Its not any fun,but just believe in ur higher power and try not to do it again!

[gnarly_1]

Hi glad you found your way here your on a old post but I watch for them when you get a chance go to the top of this page hit the orange button and start your own post you will get a lot more responses anyway I cam off a 7ry habit of 150mg  it took me 8 1/2 mo to taper but I did it and lived to tell about it all I will say at this point is if you want it bad enough you can do this it is not ez but it is doable and mark my words it is so so worth it you really dont know or understand what this drug does to you till your off it keep posting for support we all want to see you get clean...........Gnarly..........................

[Dryan8313]

Hi- welcome to the forum... You are not alone! Methadone is a beast to kick but if you do some reading on this forum, you'll find many who have done it successfully!
I'm tapering right now and am currently down to 10mg from 105mg being my starting point.
Do you attend a clinic? What dose are you on?
To be totally honest... I started going down 5mg every week and felt no w/d from it at all, until I got to around 40mg. Even then, it was just headaches. Insomnia and migraines didn't start until I got below 20mg.
You can do this!! Just start a sloooow decrease and you will be fine.
Once you get to a point of where you're feeling your drops, slow it down even more.
Keep reaching out for support and post often.
Hang in there... You're worth getting clean for.

[Sssher]

Omg! I've been on methadone 11 years! I had no idea what it was. I had gotten pregnant, went to rehab, they wouldn't treat me because I was considered high risk, and I got swept up into the methadone clinic. Wtf! I had never done heroin. I was a Big time Vicodin, Percocet, anything hydro condone addict, I hadn't even gotten addicted to oxy's yet! But I had been to prison, jail,stole,lied,stole from my dying father etc, you know the whole part of an addict. Opiates to me where my life, I could be who I wanted, without I was worse than the person I was before i started them. I couldn't function without.
Anyhow, here I am 11 years later addicted to methadone,ADDICTED. I've hid it from my husband! even during my 2nd pregnancy! He is not the father of my child I was prego with when i started methadone. My goal was to get off before I got prego, yah right! JOKE. I can't fathom living my life without, before methadone I was on opiates since I was  18, then to methadone,I'm now 36!!!!!!!!! I hate my life, I want to die every day, I've been in withdraw before idk how I made it that was for 2 whole days, I had ran out,taking more of my doses early left without TIL my next pick up day, I would have killed myself if I didn't know I was getting some,that was 2 years ago that I ran out early. God I can go on. I'm in the same boat,but I havnt tried to stop. I have never lived sober as an adult, and I have never made it through withdraw without wanting to die and meaning to or getting my fix again,I have mass regret/guilt too, all that comes to a head in withdraw and I can not bare to face all that withdrawing, I have a lot of responsibilities, my small child, I can't be in withdraw and care for him no way, etc, the list of why nots go on. Well this is too long it's good to know I am not ALONE,  just a note-I have no plans of suicide, these are my feelings, my fear of withdraw, my emotions daily from being addicted, pure HELL,ANGUISH,TURMOIL what a effin life. Who would have thought as a child so much pain laid ahead.

[anet32]

Hi I am comin off methadone after been a heroin addict for 2yrs and then dabbling on amd off with mwthadone I bought on the street. I eventually went to a clinic and got a script through them but mhave experienced some problems like positive tests when I know I am clean . It is so disheartening and the commitment of having to be on a daily pick up from the chemist because of my (false) positive reading is so restricting
I as many of you are am also sick of this ball and chain I have been carrying around for far to long so am doing a home detox on my own. I went down to 5ml and then to 3ml and have now stopped taking it all together. This is my 2nd night and its really kicking in now and im suffering
My question to you all is will codiene phosphate take the edge off my symptoms which you all prob know what they are. I am not going to go mad on them but just want to take the edge off. Any advice would be massively appreciated. Many thanks annette x

[Genaaron]

Ive been on and of methadone now for 15 years when I was 21 I did it in prison in australia and it wasn't so bad they blind dosed me I didn't no what dose I was on at any of the time and I got off it but I relapsed 2 years later and had to go back on it I've been on it for 6 years and im doing it again I'm 33 this time my body isn't taking it as well as before my knees ache and I sweat a lot but I found taking baths and Valium helps its been 6 days and I still don't sleep much but it's worth doing

[redriding]

Im withdrawing right now. been on meth for a year now havent reduced...just had to cut it out from 40 ml.. my pharmacist is ill and i have to wait untill 3 for some liquid... i dont know how to stop this withdrawal...im in a lot of pain...and eyes and nose running... does anyone have any quick fix remedies...  i cant wait untill 3 its only 11.30 and its unbearable.

[derbyboy]

ive been on methadone for 2 years, i was on 110mls per day now on 70mls per day, i got addicted to codeine phosphate painkillers after breaking my ankle in martial arts. they said methadone would be the answer, but its the worst decision of my life ive gained weight big time i cant compete in mma anymore cos i cant pass the drug tests. im thinking of just stopping 2day ive done cold turkey of herion in prison n that was easy, plus i did cold turkey of codeine proberly more than 5 times. so i hope this wont be that bad as im planning on joining the french forgein legion and at 28 yrs old now i need to get my *** moveing before im too old to do it.. just think after 4 days each day after that will be abit better, get sleeping tablets, zopiclone i reccomend, use em only when u really need em. so good luck to every1 else who is gnna just do it, remember stop thinking about it just do it!! wish me luck

[sleepy1981]

so tired cant sleep how long will this last trying to quit cold turkey have not had a dose in a weak is there anything i can do

[dominosarah]

You are not hopeless at all.  Go to the top of this page and hit the Post a question, its in green.  That will start a new thread for you and others will see it.  This one you posted on is an old thread.  We have alot of people who have gotten off Methadone and will have some good ideas for you.......sara

[krissssssstin]

I'm hopeless and I have nowhere else to turn.  I'm glad to at least meet some people that have something in common with me, but i feel like all hope is gone, and i just don't want to go on anymore.  The only thing keeping me here is my family, and I know i've disappointed them greatly.  these withdrawals suck and i don't know what to do.

[G__ray]

Today I am clean and sober and I thank God and my Family for the help (well, most of my family).  I have been an addict to every kind of drug (besides heroin), and the last 5 years my drug of choice has been opiates.  I tried using Methadone to get off the opiates when my daughter was born 1 year ago.  Little did I know that this is much harder to kick that coming off the opiates altogether.  I started out using 5-7 m.g. a day, and reduced myself gradually alll the way down to m.g. a day until I got arrestedc for marijuana, along with a suspended liscence, etc.  I came clean with all my family, and went cold turkey.  I haver to take this a day at a time, the first 5 days where actually HELL, every day is a little bit better, some days worse than others, I am hoping after 30 days I will have my energy back.  I went to a DR., and he prescribed my .5 mg of xantax, which helped, but my father no longer gives them to me.  I have taked with other peope who have gone to an addiction specialist, and was given sleep aid for 6-12 months, I just want to use these xantax for another 14 days, then stop.  I only need 1m.g. a day, Is this bad?  Am I going into another hole?  I don't think so, I want to use some hours, but I pick up a guitar, or talk to someone, and eventally it all goes away.  I hope my story helps someone, and if anyone has any suggestions for my situation, I would be happ[y to hear!

~G

[kiylen]

If you go to my profile you will find a page where a lot of us have been talking about coming off of methadone and it has been very helpful to me.   Just click on my first post and it will take you to the page and there is a lot of good stuff.  These sites have been a lifesaver to me as I am currently tapering off methadone also.  To me, it's better than going to NA or AA or whatever.  Just to wean out what you really need to know and have people like you have seen here that really care.

[jimgreg]

i say cold turkey it and go forawrd   tappers suck..do irt an d bedone with it..i di on 160 mgs to iothing....the mind game is to me the worst  8 monthes or longer

[PDXtrouble]

Im on my 9th day of detox cold turkey from 60 mg's, Ive been reading all the comments on this board and am going through every WD symptom Ive heard on here. Sure you cant sleep, but really in the grand scheme of life its only 3 to 4 weeks of it. And most of it depends on the person and there mental fortitude. I kick my G/F at night in bed all night if you can see im writing this at 3 a.m. I hate watching her sleep almost makes it worse, the chillls were gone after the first week, then the stomach not eating right maybe 1 small meal a day. I feel liek im losing my mind, but I also havent slept in 2 nights. The absolute worst one of all for me is the restless legs at ngiht, im 6'4 and was an athlete for most of my life til I got into OC's, So RLS and the muscle spasm's almost make me insane, Im one lost puppy right now and if I knew how bad Methadone was, I NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE IT! I qsa at my clinic for about 6 months went up to 100 then got down to 60 and just never went back, hated it there. But to everyone out there going through this, it will be over soon and life is worth living, and its a downward spiral at best; but I love it death. In my pursuit to perfection I was filled with poison..... Good luck and be strong.

[bummedout234]

I'm not a methadone user but my daughter is & has been for about 4 yrs. I agree absolutely with the comment that the so called counselors do not want to lower anyone's dosage. She takes 160 mg.! I didnt read anyone's comments that said that. I'm beside myself with worry. She wants to get off that junk, has no insurance & apparently there are no resources for a recovery from this drug. I do not know what to do or how to help her. She's 25 yrs. of age,

[freeandclear93]

Congrats to you for taking the leap after so long.  This is my biggest beef with methadone clinics.  If they really wanted to help people they wouldnt let it go on for so long, but oh, the money made off of junkies. My own "counselor" (i use this term loosely as she thinks coke and heroin provide the same feeling and knows nothing about addictive personalities) tried to tell me i couldnt drop for the first TWO YEARS. Started @ 80, now its over.

I was a junkie for 5 years and on methadone for one, i got off the **** by tapering about 12 days ago.  I never felt sick but definately . . . different.  Im tired, am unmotivated, havent had a sex drive since i hit 10 mg (3 months ago), am sensitive to cold, and am having serious #2 issues (trying not to be graphic, ha).  

Im new to this forum but i gotta say even with the down sides it is great not having to bust out my bottle, check the date, and down that nasty **** anymore.  I can spend the night at a friends house and not have to hide in the bathroom and sneak a dose, i dont have to stash my luggage ral fast when i go visit my family worrying if theyll stuble upon my little black box or if i left a bottle out, and most of all it feels really good that i finally did it.  For me i just couldnt take having my life run by a brown then pink substance.  A measly CC or mg of something that if i forgot or couldnt score would ruin my whole day.  Its worth it, its scary, but its an unbeatable sense of accomplishment.  Self afflicted so no pat on the back from anyone but you, but thats the only person that matters anyway:)

Good luck!

[DUNK32]

I have been on pills and in and out of methadone clinics for about 15 years.  I never actually tried lowering my dose at the clinic when Iwould get done it was allways some sircumstance or another why I would quit.  Sure enough a day or 2 or 3 later I would be begging to come back, and sometimes it would work and mostly not.  I have been getting my methadone through a DR. no illegal buisness at all and I get 405, 10 mg tabs every month.   I also have a brother that is going to the clinic for about 5 years solid, but he takes his take home done really quick and is out only days after getting it.  So he knows he gets to go through 4 days of hell.  This is where the problem is he turns to me for my pills and makes feel like its my fault he is feeling crappy and I will not help him and he know this works on me so I give in.  No matter what every single month about 10 days or so I am really low and have to taper and almost allways completely out 5 days before I can get more.  I need to stop him from getting mine, and I would really love not to be a slave to this drug anymore.  But everytime in the past I have tried to quit I relapsed, I even had 6months off the stuff but felt sh**ty the whole time.  Does the Methadone Spell ever go away?  I love my brother so any tips on getting him out of my bottle would be great.  Good luck everyone, and Im happy for you and the good days and feel for you and the bad, you know what I mean.
DUNK

[alli123]

i have been addicted to opiates for 15 years and methadone for 4 years. my dose is 90 mgs. on april 18, 2008 i went to jail and was forced to quit cold turkey. i am certainely going through withdraws, but they are not nearly as severe as i would have thought. i am now 3 weeks in..........is it possible that the worst is still to come? any advice would be appreciated.

[Ernieelc]

I have been takeing Methadone for almost 2 years. The last 6 months I was takeing about 60 millagrams a day. My wife and kids had no idea I was on this stuff. I have a job that has terrable hours and no scedual. I work 10 to 16 hours a day so I started useing methadone because it gave me alot of energy at work. I never thought I would get hooked on a drug but methadone got me. I tried quiting cold turkey. This was imposable for me to do. I felt suicidal when I got sick it hurt so bad. I tried to ween myself off of it but that didnt work. As soon as I started feeling sick I was back up to my 60 millagram dose. My habbit started afecting my wallet and my familly. I knew I had to get off this stuff somehow. I went to the emergeny room. They seemed like they didnt want to help me. They told me to see my familly doctor. So thats what I did next. I went to my doctor. They were very suportive. They talked me into telling my wife about my problem and even came to my house to help me talk to her about it. At this time I havent had any methadone in two days so I was going through withdraw. I had enough. My wife was so pissed. But she calmed down and was very supportive. I started calling rehab facilities. Most were full. I found a rehab. called bowling Green. It was 5 hours away. Somehow I drove myself there and checked in. To be honest I thought it was a **** hole and I wanted to leave. I was realy sick by now. It took another day or two untill they dosed me with 30 millagrams of methadone. They started tapering me down 5 milligrams a day. I felt like **** but it wasnt that bad. I could handle it. To be honest I checked myself out of rehab after 6 days.I couldt take being away from my familly. I just wanted to go for Detox. I have not had anything in about 14 days. I stopped counting. I did not get very sick. I am having alot of trouble sleeping. I have crazy dreams. My leggs hurt. I have some of the crepy crawleys. But I feel a little better every day.I went back to work 5 days ago. It was hard to stay on my feet all day because of my leggs hurting but somehowe I did it. I think tapering off this stuff is the way to go. You probable wont be able to do it yourself. Reach out for help. There are still some good people in this word that will help a drug addict. No matter what you are going to get sick. You may not get as sick as you think you are. I am not going back to useing. I hope this helps some people. Take care.

[bubbaganoosh]

Was going to say 20years though't i was bad holly ****, 20yrs i woulda jumped by now anyone how they went hopefully ok

[FLaddict]

This is an old post, it will more than likely get lost due to its older date.   scroll up and click "back to forum"  this will lead you to the main forum and post a new question introducing yourself. this will up the odds that members will see your posts and help you anyway they can. Its getting late so if you don't get alot of responses tonight check back tomorrow..

welcome

[KA069]

I HOPE THERES STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE IM NEW TO THIS SITE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOME OTHERS.....
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP... AND GOD BLESS

[KA069]

IM CURRENTLY COMING DOWN FROM METHADONE. I WAS AT 90 MGS IM NOW AT 52 AND STARTING TO COME DOWN 1MG A WEEK RIGHT NOW I DO HAVE SOME DISCOMFORT IN MY KNEES AND BACK BUT IM GONNA TRY TO STICK WITH IT IVE BEEN ON IT 2 YEARS AND IM READY TO BE OFF I REALLY HATE THE WEIGHT GAIN AND CONSTIPATION.