Methadone Question

[blotout]

Im on my 4th day without no methadone, the withdrawals havent hit me yet, i was on it  for 2 yrs 80mgs and tapered down to 26mgs stayed there for awhile then on down to 10mgs and tried to quit, well on day 4 that time i was practically running back to the clinic, so i went on down to 6 and stayed there for like 3 weeks, i still have my bottles for Sat, Sun, and Mon just in case this gets really bad, do you all think it is too early for me to feel it? im sure it will probably hit me tonight, i can always tell because first my back hurts which isnt bad, but then the back of my forearms start drawing up feeling like needing stretched no matter how much i stretch, i cant stand that!!

[Ben727]

Wow. Don't mean to hijack this thread, but this is the single best, most informed, and entirely correct list of drugs, nutrients, and activities that can be used to assist with, and recover from, opiate dependence that I've ever read. It's better than the Thomas Recipe IMO. You even mentioned NAC, which no one knows about, and which is the single best antioxidant for healing damage from acetiminiphen. Sorry blotout!

[EvolverU]

Hi!
       First, thanks for the redirect. Congrats on your taper. It takes grit. I tapered from 140 to 28 in a year and a half - walked off & went to a detox in FLA (a decent one). They waited five full days maintaining me on Hycodan and Chinese herbs, IV Vitamins and GABA (an 'non-essential' Amino Acid - that acts as a 'Valium-like' substance in your brain.) Most drug users are GABA depleted. (Which is one of several reasons we feel so stressed in withdrawal) The problem, unfortunately, is not getting the drug out of your body, it's the amount of time you've been using. Your body completely rebuilds itself every 7 to 10 years depending on what structures we're talking about. So, if you're like me, I've been on for 20 years this time. It's in absolutely every part of my body. Our neural pathways have actually been rerouted. Our brains and bodies have been deceived into manufacturing/releasing less dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, melatonin and a host of other hormones,etc. That's why we feel so crap. While agree that the first week to three weeks (depending on the person, health, metabolism, etc.) are almost unmanageable without "comfort" meds (particularly for sleep which is so key for healing and emotional stability). What so few "addiction specialists" and regular MD's or pharmacologists seem to understand is that the way to truly speed healing - especially of energy, mood & sleep is through nutrition. Besides having a strong support system around you, it's really important to hydrate constantly (purified water if possible). Don't drink coffee, alcohol or soda if you help it. Take as much Immodium or Lomotil as you need to help with the runs. Obviously, you want to "exercise" as soon as possible (to jump-start the endorphins), even if it's just stretching and walking back and forth. Stay in a hot bath with regular salt in - (will draw toxins from your body and make you sleepier).  If you use benzos try not to use Xanax or Ativan. Clonopin and/or Valium (if you can get it). If you can get Clonodine (blood pressure med) start with just half a dose -- (If you're acutely sick your pressure will be up). Always be cautious with these meds and check the dosage and prescription info. Use this after a hot bath before bed. Use the BZ's for as little time as possible. As soon as the acute faze is over -- after you stop thrashing around and can lie still - incidentally, a prescription for the muscle-relaxant Flexarill might help with the restless leg thing in combo with the Clonodine and/or benzos). You can also try Benadryl for the runnny nose/tearing eyes but I don't recommend it because it further messess up your histamine response and you'll just have the symptoms longer -- Only take the benzos as needed and try switching to Passionflower tincture -- better than Valerian (which is toxic to the liver) you can also take CAL MAG/Calm Forte or just Magnesium (They're all powdered and you can buy them at health food stores or GNCs to help you sleep. It does work after the acute phase is over. The only problem is that if you take too much it'll give you the runs so keep taking that immodium as long as you need it. The Best thing you can do for yourself is research the nutrition that will heal your brain, your hormones and nerves. It's complex and the buying part can be expensive. Try to drink Food-based Liquid Vitamins every day (much more bioavailable than pills). You can find injectible B vitamins, GABA, L-Tyrosine(for energy) and DHA/EPA (fish oil), Vitamin D3 (15,000  IUs per day),  and 3 TBS of Raw (unprocessed)  Coconut oil -- (A Medium chain Triglyceride) . N-A-C 1,000 mg. twice a day. These are a few of the most helpful nutrients in repairing and maintaining brain nutrients. Try to stay out of the cold or away from crowded places for the first month or so because, although you may never have gotten sick while you were buffered by opiates. Our bodies are wide open, our immune systems are stressed and , speaking personally, I always catch the first thing I run into out there.
           Try to watch things that are funny, laugh, surround yourself with smells that you like and put on music that you love. (That'll help with the endorphins.) Most of all, stay away from sugar, fried food (that means pasta, bread, rice..) eat at least three grams of good protein and plenty of both cooked and raw vegetables. Eat fresh food if you can - not microwaved frozen dinners.  Think positively, pray if you're able or at least tell yourself that you're worth it. If you've got no one positive around you, as soon as you're able go to a meeting or treat yourself to something you've wanted to do like a hobby or a class, etc.  If you slip, don't beat yourself up -- too easy. Much harder, to pick yourself up and keep on with it.. You've only lost a little ground.
      My experience using heroin, coke and methadone for 30 years has taught me that you can be greatly influenced by the people around you. A better tennis player will improve your game -- someone not as skilled as you will teach you nothing and very likely convince you to drop your rackets and go do something that makes you both feel more  "confident" .

                    You sound like you've got a good shot.  I wish you the Best of luck and to anyone else struggling with this Dragon of Dragons. We never know how strong we are until we have to be or until we reach a point where we won't be able to forgive ourselves if we don't really give it our best shot. I'm the latter. Don't ever let anyone tell you it's impossible. I heard that from doctors and clinics, and from friends and even family who thought I was a lost cause but whether I'm back there (the clinic) in three months or I make it, I know that the power begins and ends with me and I think that's going to make the difference.

[VICourageous]

Hi like I said in other post I agree with weaver. My w/d kicked in about 10 days after ct from 30 mg of methedone plus adderral and benzos. I am very much in favor of the vit/min and I take the mag,d,cal at night. It took 2 months for it to kick in so I could sleep good. I was on the methedone for 12yrs and oxy/hydro for 5 before that. I glad you are tapering hopefully it will be milder. I went threw stages of w/d for about 5 months. Still have weakness hit and miss. You can read alot about how the transmitters or such take awhile to kick back in. It is the science of the brain. sooo hang in one min at a time or as they say at meetings one day at a time. It will take time so take it EASY KEEP ON TRUCKIN God Bless

[weaver71]

The worst symptoms hit many at about 7 days. You did a decent taper, so hopefully it won't be too bad. Methadone stores in fat and bones, so it releases slowly and that's possibly why you're not feeling it yet. If you start taking Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc, 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening, it will help with the arms coiling up like snakes. That feeling is horrible, but will pass. Congrats on getting your life back, you won't regret it. Keep posting for support and advice.