Methadone Withdrawl ???

[Shreddi]

I have a problem with opiates.  Rehabed and clean, then had surgery.  Dr. prescribed Vicodin and thats all it took to get me back on the road to Hell.  Then finding a person who sold her meds for cancer to me, I ended up on about 80 mg of Methadone a day for a few months after about a 18 month binge which included all the Pain meds I could find including IVing Diuadid.  Well the supply abruptly ended and im on my 3rd week of withdrawl.  I was lucky enough to find a doctor who understood and let me detox myself using clonodin, adavan, vistiral, and a couple others.  I am no longer taking any medication but still dont feel normal.  Methadone, they say goes deep when you use it, settling far deeper into the tissue than anything else.  Ive detoxed off Heroin and it was nothing compared to this.  Does anyone know how long the withdrawl usually lasts after 3 months of 80 mg a day on Methadone.  I do feel a lot better than a week ago but not sleeping or normal.  Will Wellbutrin help get the brain firing normal again?  I realize my mistake and have to go to support groups.  I guess I found my bottom.  Thanks.

[Ben There]

Dear Shreddie,

No matter what hang in there, you've done it before.  The physical symptoms should be gone be careful about replacing one med for another.  Use your mind over matter now and find a good support group.  Psychological addiction is sometimes the hardest to overcome.  Find a good church also the power of prayer helps our addictive minds.  Good luck.

[Shreddi]

Thanks very much.  I finally got out and did some walking.  Yes I guess its the psychological stuff thats really hanging on.  It never did before. Probably cause I was never beat like this.  I have gone to meetings but need to go more I know it.  I feel like I lost my spirituality and I do need to go to church your right,  Thanks for reminding me.  The Dr. put me on Wellbutrin.  I will try it for a month and see what happens.  Thanks for your input I DO really appreciate it.   Take care, and Thanks again.

[foxyroxy2005]

I have been suffering also from pschological withdrawls much more profusely than the physical. I took buspar, prozac, trazadone, and xanax to get yhrough the physical withdrawls of taking 60mgs a day of methadone ( a waffle and 1.5) and that really helped my anxiety, and insomnia. However I have been suffering with a newfound major depression that has been causing cravings, very imense cravings. I am waiting to get a med coupon in the mail to seek outpatient treatment, but it is taking forever. I just wish I could feel content sober again. Reading your story helped me see I am not alone.

[Sassy111]

I am going through withdrawls from taking methadone for approx 5 years.  It is the hardest withdrawls I have ever been through in my life.  I have set my mind to it and I will get through but I just want you to know that it can be done.  The last time I tried to get off Methadone it took about 3 weeks of withdrawls, the not sleeping, night sweat and physical pain is extremely hard to take.  I wish I had never take the first one.  Everyone is saying that I can't do on my own but I am determined to prove them wrong, more importantly I am going to prove to myself that I can do this.  It is some psychological but also allot of physical pain with methadone withdrawl.  I am doing my best to focus on what is important in my life and that I will have a much happier and more productive life without any additctions.  I feel like I have lost myself along the way and I can't wait to see who I really am and what I am really capable of.  I feel for you and it helped me to hear your story.  I wish you all the luck in the world, never give up and you will accomplish your goal.  If you ever need to talk I am here.

[painsuffering1]

I have been taking methadone 100mg. a day for 8 years and stopped cold turkey the 7th. I am at day 4 and starting to feel very bad! I decided I was tierd of feeling like a Doctor was in control of my life by managing my pain with methadone and decided I am stopping this terrible drug to to all the hype and bad rap on the street. I am lucky to have xananx and captain morgan to kelp me, and soma for the leg pain. my wife is supportive of my decission but is rather concerned because I had seizures last time I stopped cold turkey and woke in the ICU at the hospital only to have caused more pain within my family. I DO NOT want to take any thing like this drug again and am determined to stop even if it kills me. If I get past week 3 am I in the clear as far as physical withdrawl goes? I will live in pain and take easier narcotics to come off from. I am not a Drug addict but am addicted due to the many years of staying on this drug to get somewhat of a life, but apparently I reached a ceiling effect where the pain was bad again and the meth wasn't helping like it first did, I want out of this endless loop of pill popping for pain. I have MS and broke my back in two places and have bad left leg siatica nerve pain. seems like my life is nothing but drugs and I do not want this no more. It's ashame peoplee like myself that really need something for pain are looked at like any other drug seeker addict when attending follow-up appointments, I am sick of fricking doctors thinking they are all that! my decissions far out way any doctors degree's and I have the power because I pay the doctor. he works for me now and any doctor in the future will learn this first hand before I ever see him or her.

Wish me luck and please keep me in your prayers,
Doug

[Puckster12]

Good Luck and I'll be praying for you.

[worried878]

wellbutrin can do wonders if that is the antidepressant u need..as there r many different ADs that work in different ways,,,many addicts are dopamine deficinet which is what wellbutrin primarily replaces...sleeplessness can be a side effect tho...it doesnt hit til 2 weeks in when the drug gets in ur system ...also not a good drug for someone with high anxiety and originally for people who had a lethargic depression..the type that m,akes it hard to get out of the bed..i am a very active type..low anxiety but active...loved the energy WB gave me but it caused insomnia for me both times i tried it..if i coulda waited that out i think i would have done well on it..many addicts do well on it...i work so it was hard for me to get thru the insomnia phase...and again, many do not have this side effect from it

[grummmpy]

Im on day  8 of methadone withdrawal.  Not being able to sleep for 5days and the weakness i feel is the worst.  ive also been on other pain medications for chronic pain from 6 disks in my back that are just about done.  ive been on levorphanol,  norco, lortab.  all those just seem to build up tolerance quickly and at one point was taking 40 mg. of the levorphanol, combined with 100 mg. of norco a day for a year.  detoxing from that cold turkey was an absolute nightmare and could not do it alone.  my doctor recommended methadone at lower dose and it has worked once i got up to 100mg. day.  I feel now that im not taking the drug, the drug is taking me. so far its not as bad as the others ,but again i am only in day 8 of withdrawal.  it does help to push yourself to get up and function to some degree, even if its a small thing.  hopefully you succeeded.  hopefully i will