Methadone detox

[Kelcoo]

I am down to 2.5 milligrams of done.  Staying here for two weeks then down to one for two weeks. Hoping for minimal withdrawals.  Is my taper at a good speed?

[Soulscapex]

Hello , Kelcoo , congrats so far on the taper. I dont know that speed is the name of the game here , a slow taper is always best , but when i did mine i put 2 weeks between each drop sometimes 3 , but your lower then i was when i jumped off , i jumped at 7.5 mgs . A few tips as you might of read on alot of the post , get some vitamins start taking now , get a protein shake , start all of this before you reach zed.
Im now on my 183 day off of methadone , i look forward to reading about your success.

God Speed

[Kelcoo]

Thank you for your answer.  I will get the vitamins and protein shake.  I don't feel bad at all just move slow. I will keep posting. Congrats on day 183 that's awesome.

[atthebeach]

Dropping below 5 mgs doesn't make a difference in the detox and withdrawal process. If you stop now you will be weeks ahead of your detox.
Stay hydrated. Exercise. Yes vitamins, protein shakes. Clean eating. Lean protein, veggies, fruit.
Congrats on breaking free.
Keep the faith.

[Kelcoo]

I was wondering about that. Should I just jump off now??    

[atthebeach]

I think so

[Soulscapex]

I would start the vitamins and shakes before jumping , do you have a support group to help you this time, from my experience it took me a good month to start to feel better, i took 3 weeks off work,  its not easy , but then again nothing worth doing is, i came here everyday for support, i was told i only had mild wds , you will need some imodium , that is a must , i didnt have trouble sleeping some claim they do , i slept every day thru my detox, i recommend something like valerian root and some melationin , my spelling is bad so please excuse that. I was also prescribed clonodine for the bp , i only took that about 3 weeks and stopped after that .I kept a journal on here through my process, it helped , now if i go back and read it , i remember every detail , it helps me to not forget what i went thru to reach my goal. A major factor in this is your will , your drive to break free. You started a taper so i would take it you are ready . You must remain positive , this is key, there will be some bad days, but you must tell yourself , this isnt forever it will END. On my bad days i would put some ear buds in and listen to music and focus on making it thru that moment , music helps big time. Start walking as soon as you can exercise helps the brain start producing endorphines that our body had been naturally robbed of. once i broke free i started the gym , im really into fitness now which i was way before my addiction took hold, ive been goin to the gym 6 days a week for almost 2 1/2 months, and i am amazed at how far ive come , ive lost weight and even people are now commenting on how i am changing. Believe me this is all worth it , i use to say man i dont feel any different after getting off of it, but it took some time to start to see the changes, Im Happy now, i ENJOY LIFE. No more fears of being sick. YOU can Have these things too. Just stick with it dont give up , there was a few times i questioned myself, and i came here on those days the great people that made it thru this encouraged me . we are here for you. It gives me great pleasure to help others thru this. I will include you in my prayers. It only takes one small change to make Great things happen.

[Kelcoo]

Well I jumped off today!!  I've made it half a day things are okay so far.  Last week I wasn't ready but today I am. So I jumped at 2.5. I will keep posting my experience with withdrawals.

[Soulscapex]

Awesome to hear, You got this. make sure you come back and post for support.

[atthebeach]

Congrats and kudos on making the jump.
You are healing each day.
Be patent with the process.
Keep the faith.

[jimgreg]

your doing good.but your still going to feel it. or something.i jumped off the done 5mgs after a taper from 240mgs.it was very easy from the top,its when you get closer to the edge..i,m pretty sure you know this.or you would had dropped off..the thing I did was held on 5mgs to long and rebuilt a tollorence  5mgs.i jumped off the train OMG,OMG,,21 days of purse hell..i would say everytime you taper your feeling something?? I,m sure you are.you should just throw in the towel now? the closer you get the worse off..i detox twice from done 1 time at 20 mg CT it was 14 days the 5mg 21 days..methadone is 1 weird one..great luck my friend

[Soulscapex]

Methadone is a strange , it affects people in different ways when detoxing , but i jumped at 7.5 after being on it for 9 years and i didnt have a bad time, i slept every nite , the worst that happen to me was the bathroom and stomach issues, but im a 192 days clean and life is amazing again, u must stick with it, i will quote Gnarly by saying you have to be ok with not being ok for a little bit. everyday gets a tad better. Keep the Faith.

[Soulscapex]

Kelcoo , how you doin , comeback give us an update. Hope all is well , i ve been keeping you in my prayers.

[jimgreg]

if it was me, instead of getting sick each drop. Just jump off now..I jumped off at 5  I taper like you I would get wds..I taper from 240mgs to 5 mgs in 6 monthes,.then went ct 21 days of wd,s

[gnarly_1]

Hi and congrats on your taper your doing great....I always recamend jumping at 5 because tapring below that is miserable....it just gives you a jump start on your recovery..you have been givien great advise and I second the ''whey protein shakes''  it is  cheep at walmart and not only gives you the protein for energy but also a boat load of amino acids to heal the brain....just know it can take a wile to feel better it took me a good 90 days to start to feel like myself again...this is a war one in baby steps...let us know your symptoms we have a lot of home cures to help as always keep posting for support
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Kelcoo]

I didn't continue with my detox. I am staying at 2.5 until Christmas break.

[Kelcoo]

Jumped yesterday it wasn't too bad. Took a klonapin clonadine and nausea medication. Smoke some herb too. Have an appetite and slept. Happy Thanksgiving. Doing fine continuing my drug regiment today. I feel calm

[Kelcoo]

Meant to say I jumped and won't be going back to methadone.

[Soulscapex]

i would avoid the klonopin that is just a whole diff devil , one of the few wds you need medical help to detox from, clonodine is fine , its a blood pressure pill, which the doc gave to me to help easy the wds, i used it at night to help make me a little tired, but i never had issues with sleeping, i took it till about my 3rd week of detox, at that point i started feeling better, and i read that it can give rebound headaches if taken long enuff without tapering. Wds from methadone dont really kick in till about 3 to 4 days later. just keep your head strong. You got this.

[Kelcoo]

Today is day four without methadone.  I move a bit slow but other than that I feel okay.  Thank you soulscapex  for your concern about the klonapin. I am prescribed this for my mental issues along with antidepressant and mood stabilizer from my psychiatrist.  I also smoke weed as in my state it's legal.  This helps address my chronic pain issues which is why I was taking methadone. I have no cravings for anything. I have no anxiety and am so relieved this kick is doable so far lol. Wish me luck and please share your experiences on your first week

[Soulscapex]

My first week wasnt bad at all , neither was my whole detox, i think we hear alot of the negative surrounding wds, and it feeds our demons. My first week, i had some mild cold chills, never had any sweating , I slept every night thru my detox. had no issues there. the only thing that plagued me was the bathroom and stomach issues, i sure needed immodioum. Sounds like your doin awesome man, keep at it , you got this. the key is to stay positive like you are, you might hit a few bad days , but just tell yourself , it will end.  
Congrats man on 5 days.

[Kelcoo]

Woke up feeling good. Day five and just move slow.  I am so calm not anxious at all. This is so weird not feeling any withdrawals.  I took a klonapin clonadine and nausea medicine as these were prescribed for m by my doctors. This isn't my first kick but it is using a doctor to help. I am beyond grateful.  I have NO cravings either.  I went through a rough patch in my tapering and just kept there until I felt okay.  IMO. Going low and slow is how I am doing this.  

[Kelcoo]

Woke up feeling good. Day five and just move slow.  I am so calm not anxious at all. This is so weird not feeling any withdrawals.  I took a klonapin clonadine and nausea medicine as these were prescribed for m by my doctors. This isn't my first kick but it is using a doctor to help. I am beyond grateful.  I have NO cravings either.  I went through a rough patch in my tapering and just kept there until I felt okay.  IMO. Going low and slow is how I am doing this.  

[Kelcoo]

Day 6 woo hoo!!!  Slept eight hours.  Feel good have an appetite and no depression.  Taking it one day at a time. I am so grateful this detox is so effortless.  I move slow and getting up from a seated position is all I have to complain about.  But I can deal with that.  

[Davidmel]

Tell me more about the ease of methadone tapering! It helps me!

[Kelcoo]

Well IMO everyone is different when tapering.I was at a low dose of 30ml. Stayed there for years. Then went to twenty stayed there for awhile I didn't feel that drop.  But when I went from twenty to ten it was rough going for three days.  I stayed at ten for over a year or there abouts. Then I cut my pill in half stayed there for a bit then quartered my pill fora bit.Then crumbles.  This is the easiest withdrawal I have had. Low and slow. Then I jumped off to nothing. I am on day 6..  Low energy that's it. I sleep and eat. In fact I am waiting on a pizza now. I am calm inside. No anxiety how high is your dose? Have you started tapering? Tell me more

[Kelcoo]

Today is day seven.  I slept ten hours.  I can't believe this is going so smoothly..  I have e had no stomach issues nor bathroom issues. Yes I have sneezing fits no biggie. Anyways just keeping a log of my detox. It's going so great.  

[gnarly_1]

Hi Kelcoo.....wow your making this look ez....well a big congrats to you your free from the vicegrip of this drug...over the years I have deffently seen a difference in those that took a long time tapering  compared to rushing threw it.....you never know how it is going to be until you go threw it.....every once in a wile we get someone like you that seams to have beat the withdrawal....we call it a ''get out of jail free card''  im, so happy for you  the ''energy crash'' can be debilitating on it own  I recommend ''whey protein shakes''  you can get a 2lb can up at wallmart for less then 20.00 bucks just one scoop to a glass of milk...the chocolate flavor is good  this is not a quick fix but rather the building blocks to recovery  the raw protein helps a lot with the energy....and it also has a boat load of amino acids to heal the brain...keep posting for support and to help others....and take a minute to pray and thank God for this gift he has givin you....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Davidmel]

Wow! Your experience is encouraging. Ive been on methadone 6-7 months and got to 75. Realized it was not for me... memory loss, clinic every day, couldnt go out of town for fear i would go thru wd or my husband would find my bottles... easing down 5 mg a week. Im at 40 today... no issues yet... my stomach is talking, but that is it.
This clinic isnt great... not much support especially since i decided to come down and quit on my own..since i teach, im afraid of the energy crash and am going to try an anti depressant im the next few weeks to get ready for it.. my clinic only deals in 5 mgs, so that is when i will make the jump, i guess.... hope it is easy like urs. Gnarly has such great advice and is so knowlegable and supportive

[Soulscapex]

Nice update mate, i had a easy detox , well according to most horror stories i read, my story isnt to much different then yours the highest i was on was 30 mgs and then to 20 and stayed there for a few years , i dropped from 20 down to 7.5 in about 3 months . I was ordering pizza on my 10 or so day. i kept a journal on here just as you did, i kept coming on and asking Gnarly when does the wds kick in really bad, before i knew it i was on day 17 or so, So happy for you , i know the feeling. Gnarly is correct about the energy crash, it was my 3rd week and i had to return to work, it was on of the hardest things in the world to do, but i pushed on , i did as he said started exercising and walking and it slowly all came back. ive been drinking protein shakes since that day, not only cause it helped out but im now a avid gym nut. Keep us updated man. You making through this one day at a time.

God Speed.

[Soulscapex]

Oh btw , boy do i remember the sneezing fits. so weird how a detox makes you sneeze so much. I envy you on the no bathroom issues, that was my downfall. took awhile for that to stop.

[Kelcoo]

Today is day eight and except for low energy I am doing amazing. I am lying in bed contemplating getting up. I need my coffee.  Lol. Yeah I sneeze a lot during the day but it's a reminder to me I am free of methadone.  I am taking things one day at a time and doing things slow.  I hear the coffee pot and can smell the coffee. Someone surprised me.  I have been given a get out of jail card lol  just had a sneezing attack.  This methadone is a funny drug.  I have to say I am so grateful I got off so easy this time.  Other times I have tried it didn't go so well but I kept trying and I did it !!!!!!!! Thank you for all your support and kind words it means a lot to me.  Will keep you updated.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Kelcoo...well your doing great but at this point your only prolonging the discomfort....it is best to jump off around 5 and then be 5 weeks ahead on your recovery time  that and for me tapering below 5 was misrable...your brain will not begin to heal until you stop taking it.....even in a 1mg dose....your not going to feel any worst then you do now....it is not so much the severity of the withdrawal but the long recovery time that makes this the hardest of the opiets to kick.....so try not to let the fear of the withdrawal keep you from jumping..... I have helped a lot of people off this drug and 5 or anything below is a safe bet to jump off from....anyway what ever you decide we will be here to walk you threw the whole process keep posting for support...your in my prayers....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Kelcoo]

I am on day nine of no methadone. I have resumed my normal routine I am a lot slower though. I sleep fairly well.  But then I have always had sleep issues.  I have an appetite and eat fine.  I will keep updating.

[Soulscapex]

keep at it man, almost in the double digits. make sure your trying to eat healthy lots of protein.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Kelcoo....sorry I forgot you jumped already....I try to keep up but I dont always have the time to read all the comments....please excuse this old hippie...lol anyway your doing fantastic...the energy thing will take a wile  your so lucky to be sleeping....I couldn't even with prescription medication.....anyway it is time to  put some form of aftercare into place....often when coming off of maintenance drugs you can get some  powerful cravings aftercare is a critical step that should not be skiped...even though your off the drugs you still find yourself thinking like a addict it is the behaviors like obsessions compulsions the need for instant gratification along with the shame and guilt that brings people down....I often say this is 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental.....for me the N/A program is the magic  bullet  it is free the meetings are only a hour long and it will give you some place to share on those days that the ''mindscrew'' starts....trust mew most addicts have there days it is important that you find help b/4 you need it....here on the forum we find those that use aftercare stay clean and those that dont keep coming back from relaps  anyway take some time for your recovery
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Kelcoo]

Thank you gnarly1.  You have given me solid advice.  Thank you.