Jumped off Methadone at 5mg.

[Mike_M_70]

My methadone taper started over a year ago from 155mg. a day. I found this site when I reached 24mg. It was soon after that when the clinic I was going to changed my take home status from going in once a week to pick up 6 bottles to having me go in and pick up 2 at a time. One of the reasons for this was to get me to check in on a regular basis in case I had trouble with the tail end of my tapering. The last couple of months I've been getting a lot of friction from the clinic, (i.e., They wanted to slow me down and they kept putting my taper on hold to stabilize me and my counselor would make me jump through hoops to start the taper back up, etc, etc.) This past Friday, (7 days ago) I was scheduled to drop from 5mg. to 4mg. and when I went in to dose and pick up 2 bottles they told me they put my taper on hold again. I went home with my Saturday and Sunday bottles and gave a lot of thought to what I wanted to do going forward. I decided I was all done and Saturday I didn't take my dose. I didn't feel good throughout the day but it wasn't out of control. Saturday night was a whole different story! I absolutely couldn't sleep. I didn't just have restless legs; I had restless legs, arms, head and total body. I couldn't take it so at 3AM I took the dose I skipped and used the rest of the weekend to re-group. Monday I went back to the clinic, dosed and picked up 2 more bottles. Later that day I went to see my PCP who knows what's going on with me and has been bugging me to get off Methadone for 4 years. He prescribed me something non-addicting for my sleeping issues. I haven't taken any methadone since Monday morning and today is my 4th day being off from it. I have had no issues so far sleeping and now that I seem to have that under control, I can deal with the crappy feeling all day long, the lack of energy, the frequent trips to the bathroom, the cramps, etc. I was scheduled to go back to the clinic yesterday but I didn't show up or call. I wasn't ready to face them giving me a guilt trip. Today I was, so I called them to let them know I decided to discontinue my treatment there. They think today is my second day off methadone. I didn't tell them that I didn't take the 2 take home doses I was given. I went totally against a lot of people's advice by jumping at 5mg. instead of dragging the taper out until I got down to 1mg. I think I made the right decision for me.

[jeanbeanie]

Ive been on it quite some time now and was tapering before I got pregnant. I was up to 140 so I think Im doing good. I just think giong down 1ml after 5 is just prolonging the w/d. I am feeling them now so I just want to be done with it. This was DEFINATELY a suprise pregnancy. I havent used and of my d.o.c in years and have no desire to so thats not an issue for me. I just cant wait to be done with this crap!!!!
I already had a son on methadone and swore Id NEVER put another baby through that so this is my choice. If I had of been on a higher dose I wouldnt have even tried getting off but I was so close. I just dont want to go through another 8 or 10 weeks of coming off. As it is now, it wears off by about 8pm anyhow.
Id just like folks to know that if youre on a low dose and are stable and really want this, theres no reason to have a baby on methadone!!!!

[Mike_M_70]

I was at a methadone clinic for nearly 4.5 years and during that time I had seen SEVERAL women who got pregnant and delivered babies while taking methadone. If you're not ready to be off methadone before you deliver your baby, I wouldn't sweat it. The moms and the babies that I saw all looked pretty normal to me. If you're ready to get off methadone then get off. If you're not ready, don't. Also....Towards the end of my taper I was decreasing 2mg. at a time until I got to 6. When you're down that low 2mg. is a pretty substantial jump. Just be careful.

[Mike_M_70]

Hi Karl:
Thanks! First of all I've got to tell you that I'm very fortunate I don't have to go to work everyday like most of you do. My entire game plan may have been a lot different. I started working from home part-time 3 years ago. My wife was up for a pretty sizable promotion at work (Lot of traveling) that was only possible if I was around to take care of the kids, the house and the dogs. I'm still just as busy as I ever was when I worked in an office Monday through Friday, but the difference is now I have some flexibility I didn't have back then. My schedule doesn't get too hectic other than August through November when I coach football and February and March when I go to a number of clinics, (Football coaching clinics, not methadone!). I have no idea if what has been working for me regarding sleep would work for you or anyone else let alone if your doctor would presribe it to you. I was put on Trazadone. Trazadone started out being a drug for depression and anxiety but it was soon discovered that one of the side effects was drowsiness. I only take it at night about a half hour before I want to be sleeping. It knocks my *** out for the count! The first night I took it I only took a small dose and I was wide awake within an hour with restless body. I took another 50mg. and that was all she wrote. The whole idea of withdrawals scares me, but nothing scares me more than not being able to sleep at night. I can pretty much take feeling like crap all day, I just need to be able to get a few hours of regular sleep at night. If you feel ready to go at 3mg. than do it! Talk to your doctor about your sleep concerns too. I'll tell you something else....The only times during these last 4 days that I've felt even somewhat normal has been when I'm doing something like yard work or running errands. Maybe you shouldn't be so worried about w/d's and work combined. If you can get your sleeping under control like I did, working through this could be beneficial to you. Just a thought....

[kc156]

Hi Mike.  I am down to 3mg and am ready to go too.What was it he gave you for sleep?
  Next week I got off work for holidays just in case,but this last 2 weeks the bastards have made me work 6 days a week,10 hours a day.They are making this last bit a piece of hell.
  Good you are done,and stick with it man.                                           karl

[mouse1977]

DUDE YOU TOTATALLY DID THE RIGHT THING!!!!!  CONGRATS!!!!! MAINTAIN!!!!

[jeanbeanie]

I was at 30ml when I found out I was pregnant and I continued to taper SLOWLY  with close watch from my Dr. I asked him if I should jump off at 5ml and he said it was up to me. I then told the nurse about it and she said not to. I feel like crap as it is. Im at 7ml and go down to 5ml on Tuesday. I planned to stay on 5ml for a few weeks to stablize before quitting. If its unberable Ill go back in and go down a ml every few days. I just think its prolonging the inevidable.

PLEASE, NO HATE COMMENTS FOR MY DECISION ON BEING CLEAN OF THIS CRAP BEFORE DELIVERING IN NOVEMBER!!!!
Both my Dr at the clinic and my OB knows whats going on.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Mike if your 4 days into it and sleeping your doing fanatic it was months b/4 I started sleeping well as for the energy thing and the aches and pains you can expect that to go on for a wile but look at it this way you could be miserable tapering down for another 4 weeks or like now your making forward progress in your recovery...I would take the progress over the misery any day...just be prepared for a grind here it takes a wile to start to feel better...and please keep posting people need to know just whats involved both good and bad about getting off this stuff.......Gnarly  

[Mike_M_70]

Thanks......You're advice to jump at 5mg. instead of grinding it out had a lot to do with my final decision. For me, it was good advice and I appreciate it. I may just have to hold you to blame if things get too rough :o)

[gnarly_1]

Hey Mike glad to see you back and congrads on getting off the stuff...I have followed your story since you started posting on the forum...you have done extremely well with your taper...and im happy to here you jumped at 5 rather then grinding out the last 5 tapering
I was miserable doing it and my final withdrawal was no worst then tapering below 5
im happy the trasadone is working for sleep for you....I got little relief from anything
the next month can be a little ruff with the energy thing and I felt sick for quit some time
you get improvements as you go along but it takes a wile to get back to 100% hang in there and just know it will get better with time....keep posting on your progress I hope you come around faster then I did good luck and God bless.......Gnarly  

[Mike_M_70]

Thanks. He put me on Trazadone.

[mellie4]

Sounds like you made the right choice for you.  I'm glad your PCP is on board with you and can help.  What did you get to help with the sleep?

[vicki595]

I think you did,too !!    Good job !!    :)

V.