Methadone taper - 5mg increments only??

I have been on methadone for over 6 years, so i know more about it than most. first, i wish i'd never gotten on the S*#T. but, i am, and i taper to 7.5mg and then i found out i was pregnant. i did not want to risk miscarriage or damage to the baby so i stayed on it; of course, i didn't realize how much i'd have to go up to maintain during the pregnancy (esp. with a pinched nerve/dr-ordered bed rest). when I had my son in July '10 i was at 80mgs. I slowly tapered again starting a few months later, now, in Sept. 2011, I just came down to 5mgs.

but the big thing is: when I was tapering the first time, they let us come down in 2.5mg increments (no liquid at this clinic). NOW, it's 5mg increments only. i just went from 10 to 5 yesterday and i'm hurting more than i thought considering this taper hasn't been very hard at all; i've taken my time with it (and gone back up once when I came down too fast).

what scares me is the jump from 5 to nothing. i'm considering switching to a clinic that has liquid and detoxing 1mg at a time; however, i've been to ALL the clinics in my city and I go to the ONLY decent one. They know me, i have a great counselor, etc. it's relatively convenient, and they are lenient with my payments when i ask, because they know i work and i always get paid.

can anyone advise as to whether it's better to A) stick it out at my current decent clinic and make the jump to 0 [holding out hopefully they'll get liquid, but not holding my breath; the director said they ordered the pumps months ago and still aren't getting it] or B) take these last 5mgs and go to the shady clinic i was at before where i can detox 1mg/time? [when i say shady, i mean it. I like my clinic now because there aren't deals going down in the lot and it's in a better part of town.]

[mookie377]

Congratulations on your pregnancy.I would put the baby-first,sudden and dramatic biological and psychological shifts can lead to a miscarrage (miscarriage).I dont mean to frighten you,but Homostasis?an even keel is the healthiest for you and your developing fetus/baby.I have been on methadone a long-time and im at a low-dose,i get 2-weeks of Liquid carries and because methadone has an opiate blocker/agonist i do not take percocets,I have taken then at different times,but theres no Euphoria.Plus im no longer beating myself-up thinking im a loser because i take methadone.We wouldnt taper-off insulin,thyroid,or heart medication,why beat yourself-up on being on a medically-prescribed opiate medication,its time for us to rise up our selfesteem and not look at the disease of addiction in only one Tunnel Vision approach. see ya john

[atthebeach]

hello and welcome to MH.congratulations for tapering down as you did. i know it was long. good for you wanting to re-claim your life and be drug free.
when you get under 10mg the taper doesnt matter much. it is just hard you are in detox. people have tapered to 5,4,3,2,1, and stayed on those low doses for a long time and when they come off they still have withdrawal.
i would just stay on 5 mg for a week or so and then take the plunge. look on the bottom of this page at the health pages.  the amino acid protocol and the thomas recipe are good for detoxing.  these pages have a lot of information on them are will help you be more comfortable and help to rebuild your body.
make sure you drink lots of fluids,gatorade,juices, you have to make sure you exercise too. please push yourself.
keep posting for encouragement and support.
you can do this. please continue with counseling and check out some support groups.
sending prayers and blessings
debbie

[atthebeach]

actually you should stay on 5mg for a few weeks  or a month because of the half life and to let your body adjust to the drop

[gnarly_1]

HI IM with atthebeach and would tell you stay at 5 for a week then just jump I took it all the way down to 1 and was miserable the whole time I tapered below 5 every time you droped a mg you went threw 4 days of withdrawals its just not worth it that and my final was no worst then tapering below 5mg....expect about a 7day week of withdrawals with some symptoms lasting 2 weeks then its the post withdrawals that start....it takes a wile to get well after you stop it took me 3mo to start to feel better with the first mo being the hardest it not like you dont get well it just happens slowly your at the poit where your ready to start your new life methadone free there will be a few things you will have to get past fist is no sleep second is the energy crash both last about 2 mo but again gradually get better we have lots of members who have made it im 1mo shy of 2yr and feel great so you do get better you just got to hang in there wile its ruff keep posting for support and good luck with the jump dont be scard of it its not as bad as people make it out to be you will feel it but it is totally doable I help a lot of peopel off this drug if you would like help just say so or p/m me with God and time you will get threw it....Gnarly

[Methsuxbad]

Hello well gnarly pretty much covered everything...I took my last dose of 10mg on july 13 and as he said the first week or so was rough and the first 30 days sleep and energy were scarce but now approaching 70 days I feel good and life is so much better not being chained to a clinic!!  Just wanted to show a little support and tell you that you CAN do this...I agree with gnarly just stay at your current dose for a week or so and jump...I tapered from 70 and was miserable below 20 so just decided to bite the bullet and get it over and so glad I did now. Listen to gnarlys advice, get the stuff listed on the thomas reciepe methadone really takes alot out of your body start doing some things to help your body mind and spirit bounce back.  Good luck and god bless!