Methadone withdrawls where does it end?

[bdwife]

Hi, I am new to the forum, I have been reading this forum for quite some time now and decided it was time to join.  My husband takes Mehtadone for his back for chronic pain.  My problem is, I have a bad back myself, but selfish me, I started takeing his medication.  I went to the Dr. at one time and did get clean, however it lasted for about two months, then you know the routine, I will take just one it can't hurt, well one led to two etc.  I was taking 10 mil a day and sometimes 20.  I know this does not seem like alot, but I am a tiny person and to me it was.  Yesterday, I only took one 5 mil, then took valium last night to sleep.  This morning, I took a valium, and right now I have no symtoms, but I know they are coming.  I have to stop this, he comes up short every month and that is not fair to him.  I read somewhere that L-Tyrosine (sp?) helps with the aches and pains, and that valium helps.  Do you think I will be suffering within the next couple days?  I have so much to do this weekend I just can't be laying around.  This is so unfair to my husband, I really need help to stop before I ruin my marriage.  Any suggestions?  I have to be strong and not take any more.  Because the dosages I have been taking are not tremendous, is there a chance I can swing it without feeling too bad?  Really need some support, can anyone suggest anything?

[jj5577]

I don't know you or your husband, so I can't say if he's cheating on you or not.  But my boyfriend and I were on methadone for about 4 years, and I can tell you that my sex drive was DRASTICALLY lowered.  My boyfriend's was as well.  In fact, I have been off methadone for almost 2 years now, and my sex drive is still much lower than it was before I ever took methadone.  I don't know if it's like that for everyone, but I know that's how it was for me.

[PIN980]

I have been taking methadone for 3 years now. I take 120mg a day 6 10mg in the morning and 6 10mg in the evening. my Script is due on the 9th of every month. I ran out on the 3rd a few days ago, I understand the W/D are torture. I had to go to my doctor lastnight and he gave me a script for Gabapentin 300mg 3 times a day. so i'm taking this until monday and he gave me 13 methadone untili monday to try to keep me from going into total W/D and I have almost no W/D and taking only 4 methadone a day until then with Gabapentin.
Gabapentin is a good medication for W/D if taking for a short time but there are alot of side effects i have read about.  
I hope this helps alittle.

[CYNSHINE]

MY HUSBAND IS ON 25MG OF METHADONE.HAS BEEN FOR 3 YEARS THIS TIME.I DO NT TAKE THE STUFF.I HAVE READ ALOT OF THIS AND WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE SEX LIFE.OUR SEX LIFE *****.WE HAVE HAD SEX ONE TIME IN THREE MONTHS.H SAYS IT IS THE METH.IT MAKES ME DEPRESSED AND HETELLS ME I EXPLAINED THIS TO YOU IT IS THE MEDS.I HAVE LOSSED SELF ESTEEM AND IT MAKES ME THINK HE IS CHEATING.IS HE TELLING ME THE TRUTH?

[Sassy111]

Hello.  I feel for you and I truly know what you are going through.  I am going through the 5th day of withdrawl from methadone today and I am in pain, haven't slept in 2 nights and feel like I just don't know what I am going to do.  I have gotten off of them before so I know that it can be done.  You will need every bit of strength that you have in your body to get through this.  You have to keep telling yourself that the pain will go away in a few weeks and life will get better.  Focus on the rest of your life instead of how you feel right now.(not easy but it does help). I don't know if you have children but if you do focus on how much they will benefit once you are your self again.  Children can see so much that we don't think they do.  That is how I am getting through this.  I am takin Kalapin 10mg at night just for the first couple of weeks so that I can sleep alittle bit.  You must get some sleep, that is the best help for this.  Taking allot of other drugs to get over a drug is not the way to go.  You will just get addictied to that and then you will have to start the whole thing again.  I wish you so much luck and you do have the strength inside you, you just have to find it and hang on.  If you need to talk I am here.

[GoingToMakeIt]

We are still here, but this is an old post. So copy it and go to top and hit 'Post a Question' button to start your own post.

[Vinnieanew]

Hey everyone,

I just found this page today and it has given me hope right now after rapidly drooping my methadone amount, I'm ready to take that road you guys so strongly went down.  I just hope people are still on here to help.

I really messed my back up w/ degenarative disc.  I was on Norco...like 30 a day.  Then to Kadian, and now 3 1/2 years on methadone.  I was on 120 mg Then, to 80mg, after that in 3-4 days I was at 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 within 2 weeks.  Now, I on my 1st day of this w/d nitemare..especially not sleeping.  Unfortunately, I don't have the means to ket clonopin etc but, I want to do this w/o a fall back now so I can remember this.  I went through 2 to 3 days once w/d and I was freaking out like I starting getting really upset, the mad then happy within 10  mins.  No sleep, my whole body I want to climb out of.  BUT, reading everyone's story has given me hope and will keep coming back to let you know how I am doing.


Thanks everyone be back shortly I'm sure to strength.
Vinnie

[iwanttobedone]

I just wanted to let everyone just starting to go through methadone withdrawl, it is pure hell. I have been going through withdrawls for five weeks and one day I will feel great and the next day I will have muscle weakness and a fever. I feel like I have a sever cold that is taking over my body. My doctor feels I should have been over this after two weeks and put me on a antibiotic that has not helped. I was taking 5 mg of Methadone every two hours for 5 years for a back injury. I was on 50mg a day. I have not had any Methadone since April 30. My mind isn't wanting another pill for the rest of my life, but my body feels different. I can't seem to get over this and I want to know how long this will last. I am starting to get depressed. My husband is getting very tired of me being sick also. Someone that is methadone free for more than two months please let me know there is hope.
I am definatly done.

[blueyerach]

i have been on methadone for 3 yrs now and im only 21...the first person to get me into heroin was my own mother cuz she is sik with this disease as well even tho no mother should do that to her kid...i dont no if ill ever forgive her cuz this basically ruined my life i have been in drug programs my whole lyf and have been recusitated bak to lyf a few times as well..i was on 130 mg of methadone and they kicked me off for takin my xanex so that took me down 10 mg a day in only a span of 13 days i cant stop throwin up or goin the bathroom wit stomach pain i cant eat or drink im thinkin i may have to go to a detox i was in the hospital last sat. but they said there was no where to put me im really scared and dont wanna end up using thats y i got off this methadone it did save my lyf but afta bein on for 3 yrs i was becomin a slave to it the liquid handcuffs does ne 1 kno how much longer ill b throwin up every 5 minutes its been 5 days since my last dose..ne suggestions im young scared and need help

[Blueeyedeagle]

Thank-You so much for your helpful post, I am writing all these things down and will go to a health-food store to look for them.  I am feeling better today, a little calmer.  I'm half-way into my third week now.  My doctor, which I saw yesterday, told me to try to take it in intervals of 2 weeks...every 2 weeks it gets better, instead of every day.  This sounds pretty hard to me...but I do feel better than I did 2 weeks ago. If I stay at this level, then I think I can make it to the next 2 weeks. I am pushing myself to get out every day for a walk, and doing some stretching & deep breathing, which helps also, and of course hot showers.  I wish your husband well in his reduction.  I felt fine till I got to about 70 and then started to feel it, but it only lasted for a short while and was very manageable...got down to 50 dropping 5mg every 3 weeks, then was admitted to do the rest. The first 2 weeks of this was quite manageable, they don't tell you how much they decrease by, then the last 2 weeks were harder to the end... I think though that if I could do it again, I would have just stayed with the clinic and did a much slower taper.   Again, I wish you and your husband well and everyone else on here as well.  

[Becky102]

For what its worth, my husband is starting to taper off on his methadone after 14 years in the hope of finally being drug free.  I've been reading this forum and researching what vitamins and supplements other people have had success with during their withdrawals.   This is a list of what has been recommended to us:
CalMag  (it's a powder you make into a drink) used by a couple people here (Feohmoon) who said it significantly eased their withdrawals.  I ordered it on the internet
Natural Calm (same as above)
L-Tyrosine  (rebuilds dopamine receptors)
L-glutamine (at least 200-300 per day/split the dose) for trauma, stress, enhances        muscle recovery
Full spectrum amino acids (someone recommended "vitadone" for this one)
Milk thistle  (1200-1500 mgs per day)
Alpha lipoic acid  (400 mgs per day in split doses)
Triple strength fish oil w/ omega 3/6/9 (4000-6000mgs per day) for joints, brain and memory
Multivitamin with strong mineral component  (in gel cap only for maximum absorption) 2 per day for 3-4 weeks
Valerian root (1000-1500 mgs every four hours) reduces anxiety, helps sleep
Melatonin (for sleep)
Zinc

My husband is not to the point that he is having withdrawals having reduced his dose slowly from 120mgs to 100 mgs over the last couple months, but we hope that with the help of these supplements he will eventually be free of methadone.
If anyone has any other things that have worked for them, we would love to hear about it.

[Blueeyedeagle]

The 15mg time released morphine pill gave me 2 days worth of relief, so 2 days later I took a 6mg of time released hydromorphone contin pill...this one did the same, but made me feel kinda sick.  Tonight I am feeling absolutely horrible and worse than I felt before, so this was NOT A GOOD IDEA.  I have disposed of the rest of them, and am feeling like I am starting all over again.  I have upped my clonidine from one half to a whole one and am sitting here trying to do some deep breathing to control the horrible anxiety I am feeling.  I thought it might be a good idea, but for me it was playing with fire.  I just want to be drug free, and am trying to get back into a positive frame of mind about it. All it did was set me back.  Live and Learn and then Live and Learn Again.

[Sael]

Blessings to all of you. I've been where you've all been at one time or another. I just want to encourage you to do a few things:

1) be honest with those around you, especially a trusted doctor, and of course US!
2) don't be hard on yourself, you're only human and we all make mistakes
3) you're not bad people, you're good people that just didn't know much about how opiates work and how tolerance is built over time
4) research everything you put in your body before you put it in your body so you know how it may affect you in the short and long term.
5) take it one day at a time
6) learn about non-narcotic avenues you can take that will help you and do step 4 again :-)

This advice is coming from my heart.<3

[Blueeyedeagle]

Hello.  I am a 50 year old woman who was put on methadone 2 years ago to get away from a pain pill addiction.  I have just come out of a detox unit after being detoxed off the methadone.  My last dose(they don't tell you what they give you, I was there for 4 weeks) was 2 weeks ago.  I have been in horrible misery for 4 weeks now and just broke down today and took a 15mg. time released morphine pill.  I felt relief after about an hour and am now feeling so relieved! I do not want to go back to the pills on a regular basis.  I have about 9 of them. I know these miserable post acute withdrawls can last for a few months. Do you think it would hurt or help me if I just take one of these pills every few days just to get some desperate relief.  I am on the clonidine, but it really does not help all that much.  Help!  I just want some relief once and awhile...Do you think I am playing with fire and should maybe just get rid of them?   Please tell me what you think.
                        Kerry.

[Lorigurl]

Hello.  I am new to all this.  I don't really know how these message boards work.  My husband and I are addicted to lortab 10 mg and have been for about a year.  I was taking about 6-8 a day and he was taking about 10/day.  We are trying to wean ourselves off.  They are destroying our lives.  He is down to about 6 a day and I'm down to 3 and 1/2 a day.  I'm trying to wean off by 1/2 a tablet per day but it is very difficult.  I suffer from a runny nose and body aches and he suffers from body aches and the mental meltdown areas of withdrawls.  We want to avoid rehab at all costs.  We can't afford rapid detox and if we have to miss work to go, everyone will find out and we can't let that happen.  Everyone would be so dissapointed.  I need advice on anything that I can get over the counter or anything I can do to help strengthen our bodies while we go thru these withdrawls.  I know the worst is yet to come.  We are drinking plenty of water, gatorade and strong coffee in the a.m.  Mentally, we are both prepared to do this.  It's the physiological withdrawls that are killing us.  But these pills are destroying our finances, our marriage and our lives.  Can anyone email me with some advice, support or anything pertanint or helpful?  My email is misty.***@****  So much for remaining anonomous...

[bdwife]

Hi bdwife, back here.  I went to the doctor on Friday, and do not know whether he is helping or hurting.  I told him about the pain in my back and he scheduled an MRI.  I told him about the methadone that I was taking from my husband.  He said "then it was not prescribed for you?"  and of course I said no.  I told him about the symptoms I am having, depression, hurting, etc.  He then wrote me a RX for vicodin 5's and told me to take one every 4 hours.  So how is this going to help, going from meth to vicodin?  I am going to try and only take one or two and then hopefully none.  Am I going in the right direction?  Or am I spinning my wheels?

[bdwife]

Well I went to work yesterday, and had to leave at lunch, could not stand it any longer.  Went home and laid down for a while, hubby went to dr and re upped.  To get me through till Friday, when I go to the doctor myself, he gave me one 5mg tab for each day.  So far, I feel fine.  Just a little depressed.  I am hoping that my doctor will help to wean me off, instead of making me go cold turkey.  I agree that tapering off is the way to go.  cold turkey hurts too much.  So I have gone from 10 or sometimes 20 mil a day to 5 mg.  Hopeing this will do the trick.  Or at least help.  Thanks again for all of your support. Sure does help to talk about it.

[AlexisInTx]

I just read your previous messages, I'm sorry not to have responded earlier.

I can totally understand about the 'wanting out to get wasted' bit.  When you feel like you're feeling, I'm sure you're just looking for some type of outlet or escape, but then you wake up the next morning feeling like ****, huh?  It's happened to me before too, so all we can do is move on and keep with that program, but find outlets that are easier on our bodies (and minds).

The depression part is exactly where I am too.  I feel like I'm in a fog sometimes.  It takes a big adjustment to get back to normal, but I do know that normal is a wonderful place to be and it's so worth all of the rough patches we go through to get there.  We both need to keep our eye on the prize and if we deviate, get right back on track and not feel guilty (I try to tell myself this).  Right now I'm taking just the bare amount of codeine to get myself through the day (15 mg. a.m., 15 mg. p.m.) and I'm feeling pretty sick, so if this reads as a little disjointed, I apologize.  I'm wondering if just cold turkeying it would be better and not prolong the agony?

I just wanted to let you know that the depression does lift after a time (I remember last year when I was clean for 4 months), but I think talking to your doctor about the tapering and maybe taking another non-addictive med (Clonodine?) could be helpful to your taper.  I hope your doctor's the sympathetic type who will work with you instead of making you c/t it without any aids.  I have no experience with methadone, so it's hard for me to say exactly what the withdrawal from it from the dosage you're on would be, but I would imagine that they are all similar in one way or another, although some may be more pronounced or protracted.

Benadryl is supposed to help with sleep, but I'm unaware of any other benefits.  If it helps you, great!  I think I may just try it too.

Take care in the meantime, and keep us posted.  

Alexis

[bdwife]

Hi AlexisInTx  I read your post and I actually sat here and cried.  I went to the Mother's Day thing, and I made it, only becasue my husband was so kind to give me a meth. It got me through, then to top it off, and I feel so bad, isthat we went out and got totally wasted and did not get home until 4am.  What kind of a life is that?  Someone should have kicked my a--.  Saturday I spent the first part of the day laying around, then I took  a percocet that someone gave me the night before, and I actually cleaned my house and even babysat my grand son.  But ooooh the guilt for taking anything.  Now today is sunday and here I sit feeling sorry for myself and wondering how on earth I will make it to work tomorrow. I work at a Ski Resort thank god that in the summer we are not busy, Ionly have to pay 50 people, not 1000.  If my boss knew about this I would be fired. Thank god when they do random drug tests I have been lucky enough to not be called.  My body  is so run down, I just took a beer out of the fridg and my daughter (who is 15 tomorrow) just about had a cow!!  Both my children who are still at home (15 & 16) are worried about me, they seee me falling apart.  It is bad enough that Dad goes through withdrawls but not mom too!!!  Oh how can I make it till next Friday when I go to the Dr.?  Will my body hurt all week?  I am sure it will.  I must admit that the withdrawls this time are not near as bad as last time.  someone told me that benedril helps any comments on that?  It helps just to sit here and type.  I am sitting here thinking I wonder where my husbands meths are hidden, only one could get me through the payroll tomorrow.  That is soooo sick.  Another question: Since I am new to this forum, should I keep posting here, or start a new one?  I do not know how long you guys keep reading under this one.  I wish I could crawl in a hole and never come out.  Will the energy ever come back that I can live a normal life again. I can't even eat.  Please someone give me some advice.  I don't mean to sound like a cry baby, but man it  hurts physically and mentally. All my prayers to any and all of you that are going through this also.  AlexisInTx I can sympathise with you I am right there by your side and going through the same thing.

[AlexisInTx]

I've also been reading your posts and feel so bad for what you're going through.  Although I don't have any experience with methadone, I do have 2 years on (and sporadically off) opiates of one type of another -- DOC, Norco, hydrocodone to be specific.

I realize after reading the stories here that methadone has a longer half life so it takes longer to get it out of your system -- tapering sounds like a good route to go if it works for you and you can talk with your doctor openly about this.

Before this happened to me, I couldn't imagine how people became hooked to narcotics, but they are SO insidious and incredibly easy to become physically, emotionally and physiologically addicted to.  

I have to say that I can equate with you in re: to going to your granddaughter's Mother's Day School event.  I went to my daughter's orchestra recital (she plays the violin in her school orchestra) when I had run out the day before from the Hydro, and I was stifling the urge to cry and had to look down the entire time so as to not meet anyone's eyes.  That is until she came on, and I was able to focus on her and her playing.  I do think you're right that it's mind over matter to a degree and perhaps I was making it worse on myself that it should have been (my husband said that at least).  I had to run to the bathroom just *after* she played and got pretty sick.  I'm not saying this will happen to you, you may have an easier time with it since Methadone is a slower acting opiate and will take its' time leaving your body, maybe the effects right now won't be quite as severe.

In any event, my heart goes out to you.  Post here when you can.  I'm grappling right now with getting a renewed prescription.  My 13 year old daughter actually kicked in her bedroom door last night, leaving a HUGE break in the bottom of it because she was told she couldn't go to the roller skating rink at 11:00 to meet some boys.  I'm NOT going to let her hang out with people who can potentially influence her in the wrong direction, and I know personally these people WILL.  I ran for the Klonopin and Soma (the only two meds I have left, except for the Codeine and I'm not going to take any more of that than I have to) because I felt a terrible panic attack coming on.  Also tomorrow I'm visiting my Mom in the rehab facility and I don't know how that's going to work.

I'm sorry to go on and on, but I'm coming here in hopes that I don't succomb to the hydro.  I think it's important for you to be able to understand your not walking in those shoes alone -- I know you have your own set of unique circumstances (and I feel so bad for you for having to go through this), but we are all suffering basically the same problem.  My thoughts will be with you, and please keep posting.

[lisabet]

hey, lady - have been reading your posts, and just want to let you know you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.  Good luck to you. About the rapid detox thing - I personally don't know anything about it, but judging just by reading posts of people who's tried it, it doesn't seem to be that effective. Hopefully, someone who's tried it will see your post and respond. To ease your withdrawals, you may want to check out Thomas' recipe, which is posted throughout the forum.  It couldn't hurt to try; it's really benefited lots of folks, and at the very least would probably take the edge off, ya know? Take care of yourself. I know you're going through a difficult time. Keep posting - there's SO many supportive people here who is going through, or has gone through what you are right now, who truly understands.  Hang in there.  Love, Lisabet

[bdwife]

Just one more question, does any of that natural rapid detox stuff work?  I know it cleans your pee for a drug test but how bout the withdrawls?  I am grasping at straws I guess you all know that.  Any suggestions?

[bdwife]

bdwife is back, this is day three, I fessed up to hubby, what a disaster, almost ended in divorce, but he did this morning give me a 5 mg of meth cause he loves me and hates to see be going through this withdrawls.  The last meth I had was on Monday, 5 mg.  and the one today.  Still feeling pretty shitty, I am not sure I will make it till next Friday, and then I don't know what the doctor will do or say or give me for that matters.  Nothing is getting done at my house, it is a disaster.  I have no energy.  God, I want to crawl in a hole and just die!~  Have to go to the grandaughters school in 2 hours.  I will push myself, but it will be tough.  You guys are great support.  I am loosing weight fast, I am lucky if I weigh 100 pounds now.  Thanks, guys, I will let you know how I am doing.

[AlmostThere]

HI Guys-  I haven't posted in awhile- it's been a long month.  I was taking meth for 12 years- the past 3 years at a low 20 mg dose- I weaned down slowly with some symptoms, the worst being at 7 mg (the wall).

I stopped taking the meth all together about a week ago and hate to be the one to tell you but the symptoms will not just go away in a couple of days, like other shorter acting opiates.  I have allowed myself 2 Vicodan per day and a 5mg Valium to sleep, that combination allows me to function at work and sleep (sometimes).

While I understand the Doc means well, I have never had any luck finding a doctor willing to help an ex addict.  I do not present myself as one would expect an 8 year heroin addict/12 year long term meth addict- so when I meet a doc for the first time I am greeted and treated like a normal human being.  When the time comes and I confess my past I can watch their physical presence change and their heart/mind close.

While I am sure there must be some understanding docs out there I have never found one.  It seems to unfair that the long term meth patients have no where and no one to turn to for help- other than online pharmacies (just what we need, right?)

I can offer you only this guidance- go slow, take it easy on yourself, who the hell knows why we ended up in this addiction circle and all that matters is that you have resolved to change your life.  Do what you have to do- staying away from the heroin and resolving never to go back to a clinic is tough, but I do have hope that like my Mom used to say, "This too shall pass"

I wish you all strength, hope and peace

[RobynBanks]

Thanks for being so honest. No way to escape the horror of withdrawls!
I'm 35 and have been on and off some kind of narcotic from percocet to heroin for  12 years. Currently I am on 22mg of methadone. I guess your right- I have changed my life but I can't seem to get the narcotics the hell out of my body and mind for good. I feel too tired of being sick-I don't know that I can go through it again. That's how it goes-get out while your still young and undefeatable. Congrads for getting away from the clinic.