Methadone withdrawal

[jj190]

I'm on week 5 of detoxing from only 60mgs of methadone (prior heavy IV heroin addict) and everyone keeps telling me it's going to get better.  I feel like I have a body of a 80 year old women and I'm 33.  I would rather withdrawal from heroin than methadone. It's the hardest thing I have ever had to do.  Everyone keeps saying everyday will get better and every week that goes by I keep praying for this to all be over with, but it still isn't and it's like I'm in a nightmare only I can't sleep!  I wish I could sleep so I wouldn't feel this way, but I can't stay asleep for longer than 30 minutes.  I'm on xanax xr 3mg which is time released and seems to not do much, flexeril (this does nothing for my muscle and joint pain) and for my blood pressure I'm taking Clonodine which works for the hot and cold sweats.  I've tried benadryl and that does nothing.  I was told this could last up to 3 months.  I wish I would have just went into a detox center for heroin instead of going to the methadone clinic.  I don't even have the energy to walk.  I had to leave the state I was living in and stay with my parents or I would have probably relapsed by now just so I could function at work.  I've made it this far, I'm just wondering if 3-6 months is really how long it takes, because that is what the doctors keep telling me.  Now I have lost interest in everything and to even put on a jacket to go outside for fresh air takes all my energy and have to take breaks to sit down walking to the door.  Not to mention the mood swings, going from crying to evil.  Tomorrow will be week 6.  I just want to know that this is almost over or do I still have another month or two before I feel normal (if I even know what normal feels like since I've used drugs for so long).  Several doctor's have told me 3-6 months, then others 6-8 weeks.  

[Doro1961]

I have read your comments and many others.  I tried three times to come off of methadone and had a seizure.  I was on it for three years.  I finally had to check into a detox and rehab place.  Now I am over 60 days clean and feel like crap.  This stuff is terrible

[RebeccaJeanine71]

Wow.. I read about what you've been through and I got to say that is a lot to go through.. I think you HAVE lived to help others as well as yourself :).  I too have chronic pain,not due to any major injuries.  I was put on a low dose of Methadone (30 mgs. 3 x's a day), Norco 4 x's a day (10/325's), Neurontin (300 ml. twice day).. was on zanaflex (.4 ml. 4 x's a day) but they switched me to what you were on (Baclofen)...and I also take Zoloft for panic attacks (was on those way before I started the pain meds).  I have been on all this for close to 12 years.  I'm a 41 year old female.. lost my health ins. and had to go on California's Med-ical.. almost NO Med-ical Primary care phys. will prescribe anything higher than Norco... SO (even though I had thought about it time and time again) I decided to get OFF the Methadone for now and then off the Norco...but Dr. later told me get off Norco FIRST cuz Methadone will keep me from going through those withdrawals... I dropped my norco cold turkey a day ago but ended up taking a third of one to help me sleep tonight as I've gone through no sleep for days... Wow.. so now i gotta start going to the county drug/alcohol program.. supposedly they are going to help me ween off the Methadone.  I'm scared for what I'm going through..but so far the withdrawals seem not to bad.. I mean I got a horrible headache most the day..hot flashes like crazy..but I have been taking care of my body (eating better, exercise, Taking supplements etc...) which I truly believe has helped to lesson the withdrawals.  I worry I will have seizures...but could I still have them with such a low dose?

[weaver71]

I totally know how you feel, and i care. Go to the top of the forum and click on "Post a Question." Start your own thread so we can keep coming back to support you. Give us a little more info. What was your last dose and when? I was up to 200mg, so I relate for sure. Lets figure this out together.

[donwanttobeadrug]

DON;T WANT TO GO BACK TO BEING A DRUG USER AGAIN I being on METHADONE for 10 YEARS AN I BEING CLEAN THAT LONG I GOT CUT OF BECAUSE I MISS A FEE APPOINTMENT BUT I WAS NOT DOING ANY OTHER DRUG AN MY URINE WHERE CLEAN I DONT NO ANY DRUG THAT CAN LAST 24 HOURS LIKE METHADONE AN ANOTHER THING I DONT WANT TO GO BACK TO SHOOTING NEELDLE IN MY BODY I CANT HANDLE THE WITH DRAUL FROM THIS DRUG IT IS THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD IAM LOOKING FOR HELP IAM PARYING FOR HEIP BUT IAM GETING NO WHERE I NO IAM JUST ONE PERSON AN REAIY WHO GIVE A .... BUT I DO GIVE A .... AN I NEED HELP  I CANNOT HANDLE THE WITH DRAUL FR THIS DRUG THEY SHOULD OF WARNT ME ABOUT THE SIDE EFECT PLEASE ALL IASK IS FOR SOME HELP I JUST WANT THE DOCTOR WHO CUT ME OF TO NO IAM SUFFERING DR ELLE BUT I WAS NEEDLE USER FOR 5 YEARS AN I NEVER USED IN 7 YEARS AN I DONT WANT THAT LIVE BACK SO PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP ME WITH THIS  IAM NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT ALL I WANT IS FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE A .... I JUST CANT SLIP BACK INTO THAT LIFE AGIAN I DONT CRY BUT IAM PRETY TEAR EYE NOW I NOT GOING GIVE MY NAME IAM JUST GOING TO  SAY PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS A.D ING

[j350nismo]

Sorry for the double post....dang finger twithes. Anything I can do to help or encourage don't hesitate. nismo350jeremi  [at] ya [hoo] .

[j350nismo]

DON'T QUIT !!!! Keep going....I was on 180mg of the highly potent liquid. I left the clinic after them telling me for 6 weeks they couldn't bring me down and giving me 1 excuse after another why. Prior to the clinic I was on 4, 80mg Oxycontins a day,  3 160mg before they pulled them off the shelf, and 4 instant release 30mg oxycodones (roxy's), 2mg xanax, and 350mg soma's. I never took as much as perscribed cause it would drop a horse but it's still a ton of opiates that were in my system. Going to the clinic was my biggest mistake ever. Methadone is the worse drug ever made. I would have much rather detox off my Oxy's and just take less and less every day till 0. But I did turn to the "done"...lesson learned.  But the good side of this is I found a great Doctor that brought me down real slow with tablets. I went from 180mg to 140 the 1st week which was the hardest. But now I'm at .25mg (1/4 of a 5mg tab) and it gets better every day. Their were days when it took all I had to even lift my finger to tchange the tv remote channel or play my acoustic guitar for even 5 minutes but I found just going for a 10 min. walk with some good motivational music to push me helped a great deal. Thru this whole "comedown" it's been a lot easier than I ever thought it could be. Their were months where I didn't even realize I was coming down. Sleep seems to be the biggest issue for all of us...luckily it's just starting with  me. i can feel my body searching for what it's used to having to be able to sleep. It will adjust, it's what the human body dose naturally. I will say to all the people trying to get off this wretched, horrible, nasty drug.....DO IT !!  Your body, bones, and teeth will thank you later as it destroys all 3. Also go to a doctor who will bring you down slow and ask him for Clonidine 0.2mg to regulate the blood pressure(hot/cold sweats relief) and Baclofen 10mg for the muscle spasms (kickin',jerkin'etc..) these 2 have helped me considerably. I tried twice to drop the Oxy's and the Methadone cold turkey. It lasted about 2 weeks and ended with me in full blown seizures and nearly dying twice.  Anyone considering using Methadone to come off Oxy's, Roxy's, Lori's, Perc's, Vike's, Tab's or Hydrocodone.....Trust me, I've had em all...Been prescribed em all and I would never again do what I did thinkin it would be easier or better for me. Methadone has really screwed me up in more ways than I can count not to mention ruined my body that I worked really hard to get. Don't try quiting cold turkey either, your body can't handle dropping opiates that well. Just get your doctor to bring you down slow with the aid of the 2 drugs I listed above. A fatal car accident that I should have been dead in after being ejected thru the windsheild and ripping the seatbelt clean out of the car at 70mph to dead stop then being pinned under the car we T-boned(they ran a red light) for 4 hours while firefighters cut the car off of me put me in pain management where I was put on Oxy's. Before this I had never even taken an asprin and was in peak physical condition. If I lived to help just 1 person make a good decision here.....it's worth it. Methadone is EVIL...stay away.....PLEASE.

[acl1213]

I have actually just stopped taking methadone too. I have 43 days clean. Everyday is a struggle to get up and do something. I am sleeping better then you. I sleep about 5 hrs a night. I have heard sleep patterns return to normal at 2 months mark. But every person is different and their body reacts differently. I would suggest trying to get sleep whenever you feel tired not just at night. As for your energy it will return it just takes time. I dont have my energy back but everyday I make myself get up and do things. Plus I have a 2 year old to care for. The more you do the better you will feel. Also start exercising it really helps and will help you sleep. This is a long process but in the end the reward is so worth. With great struggles come great victories and even better rewards. Time is the best healer. Stick with it. It will get better.

[Louise5414]

Stay strong and thank you for sharing.  I just posted this week because my daughter went from subs and now is taking meth at the clinic.  She's at 30 mgs and I have seen here go thru withdrawals from Heroin and suboxone. They are both very difficult to go thru and watch as her mom. I am worried about her now trying to use meth to stop carvings.  I have no idea what you are going through but my fears when she stops meth that the detox will be worst that anything else. We're you weaned to 60 or did you quit cold turkey?

Please stay as strong as possible keep your mind busy if you have the energy to do so.  There is a lot of support here so just stay in touch.  I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  Take care of yourself.

I wish someone could figure out a way to help people get off what suppose to help them not use. When you are withdrawing it seems unbearable and miserable. Maybe now that opiate addiction is considered an epidemic somebody will.

[clean_in_ks]

Welcome to the forum!  I noticed you posted a comment in the substance abuse forum on another person's thread.  That is good....but I don't think it will get you as much help or as many answers as posting your own question like you did here.  HOWEVER (LOL) this question you posted to start your own thread is posted in the "Living With an Addict" forum rather than the substance abuse one.  Hopefully, if I hit the "miscategorized" button hopefully the moderators will move it for you to the substance abuse forum where other addicts will read it OK?.  I know it's confusing.....I'm a about 185 days clean and still learning about forums vs. groups, posts of your own vs posting on other peoples "threads", etc. can all be confusing until you toot around a bit.  You're getting it.
Don't get discouraged ok?

Two things, first.....YOU DESERVE HUGE PRAISE FOR YOUR WEEKS OFF METHADONE!!  Don't give up, don't go back ON something.  You have so much already behind you.  I have no personal experience with methadone, but many forum members DO.  I was on subs for 28 days but still would never recommend that to you at this point with so much clean time already racked up.  There is a really good article in the health pages about methadone that may help you to read.  I read it and thought of you when I did.  Here's the link:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Detox-and-Nutrition-for-Opiate-Methadone-Addicts/show/55?cid=1006

There are many more health pages that may help you.  I get the feeling like 80 yrs old!!  I am still waiting for some major healing events in my life LOL!  You jumped at a pretty high dose, but that article above talks about others who did/have too.  Keep doing what you're doing......or you'll just have to do it over again.......and it will be even harder.....MUCH harder.
Blessings to you~