Methdone

[Bobby180]

Iam on 180 mg and have been taking methadone for 3 years.I want to come off...I am sick of paying the money...and sick of not having the sex life I used to have....Does anyone have any encouraging words?...I also want to go to a doctor and  not a clinic....n e 1 n Tucson!!!???

[bubbaganoosh]

I agree with Penelope and Mr Lucky, since your on 180 tapering down wont hurt you % wise of your dose, its getting below 20mg etc. it starts to feel crappy, I tried it 4weeks ago and was struggling big time, helps if your  support network is there too and not to much happening. do you get takeouts? I started mine at home again by reducing bit out myself.. i feel i have more control that way so far im fine. be prepared for your Pharm or others Gp's to say you wont make it you will be straight back on it.. plenty of nockers out there, and as you can see people here have done it.

[mr.lucky66]

Most people can go from a high dose like you are on to less than 80 without problems in a month. It never bothered me until I got below 20 mg. no matter how fast I went down on dose. Don't be convinced that you have to taper slow. Most people can taper faster and then slow down below 40 mg. There's no need to prolong it. all the best

[Penelope14]

180mgs is a such a high dose, I know alot of people on methadone, as I used to go to a methadone clinic, & have yet to meet anyone on a higher dose then 150mgs, now this doesnt mean that you cant get off of it, it only means that it may take some time & lots of dedication on your behalf, I devoted a year of my life tapering from 90mgs down to 0mgs, I did it very slow & still got a good kick in the butt, regardless, it was well worth it, as now I have a life that is,nt so blah! I had very little feelings on methadone, I didnt know who I was or what I wanted in life, I couldnt cry, laugh or really enjoy much of anything, I was in bed at 7 or 8 most nights, with no motivation or for much of anything. Do make sure that you really want this, & above all dont fear it, this is what I had issues with, I heard all the horror stories & they all stayed in my head, its not a easy drug to detox off of, as it is so lengthy, but if you can titrate down then jump off at a low dose that is appropriate for you, then you will be ok. I,ve been methadone free for a little over a month & have to say it was the 1st two weeks that were the worst for me, depression & high anxiety were the worst! I now only have problems with sleep, I dont sleep & when I do its in rem. Good Luck to ya, Penelope

[dineshsibal]

Hi.
You have already started right. You have come to a sharing platform.
Although I have no idea about this opiate but I do know few things about rehabilitation.
My suggestion: Don't do it alone. Find a support group in your city. You are better off on recovery than abstinence. Latter is temporary and one runs the risk of going back.
Are there any NA meetings you know of in ur area?
Please do visit once. i promise you that you will be welcome and looked after by a community (like this one) which knows where are u coming from. Just one request: on that day, at that time try to go there with a resolve that for just one day you will not use.
You will the strength to handle the rest.
As importantly, remember you know that you do not need this substance in your body. It is forcing itself onto you. That itself should decide how much you are capable of fighting.
Go ahead my friend and challenge this chemical. And slowly you will defeat it.
Do not forget to keep in touch by keeping to come back to this forum with what you are experiencing. believe me it works.

Best.
  

[lucyred68]

i have been off methadone for almost a year.  i took it for 2 1/2 years for pain, and just decided that i didn't want to be a slave to it any longer.  it's a rough drug to quit, but it can be done.  i am so glad i no longer want it or crave it.  you are on a really high dose, compared to my 40 mg's a day, and i would deffinately reccomend a slow taper or suboxone.  jumping off at that high of a dose could be dangerous.  we're here for you, continue to talk to us.  this is a great place.  

Lucy

[mr.lucky66]

I was on and off methadone for 25 years and have been off done and dope for 6 years now. I would guess you are talking about being on a clinic like I was. This is a real hard drug to get off of, (unlike vicodin which seems to be the main drug around here), but it definately can be done. I did it and know others who have kicked long term done."Methadone, there's no future in it" all the best

[kim715]

I have a little over 7 weeks off of methodone and I feel for me it was the best decision I ever made.Your dose is pretty high,I would certainly suggest tapering down and not jumping off at 180.I jumped off at 25 mgs and I'm not  going to lie,because I think it's better to be prepared for whats in store,methodone is a rough detox.I think the reason why it's so hard is because of the drugs half life so the w/ds are prolonged.It's not easy but it most certainly can be done.All you have to do is want it,want it more then anything and don't let anything stand in your way.You have come to the right place for support.Lots of wonderful people here who have kicked the methodone or are in the process of kicking it.Hopefully Penelope will be on soon,she knows alot more about tapering then me.Hang in there and keep posting.Peace.

[grievingwidow]

Hi there.  I have been on Methadone for the last 10 years and would give anything if I could go back in time and never get started on this ****.  It does not even help my pain that much.  However, I am on no where near the dose that you are.  I have been on 30 mg a day for the entire time I have been on it.  My doctor, out of the blue today, decided I needed to come off my meds ( I also take Percocet 10 mg twice a day).  So, he has dropped my methadone down to 20 mg daily instead of 30.  I am a little worried about it, I mean I don't think I will go into withdrawal, but I suspect it will be somewhat anxious.  It scares me to death though to come completely off of my meds, I have taken SOMETHING every day for the last 20 years, ever since my hubby was first diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.  I cannot offer you much advice, just wanted to say that I do sympathize.  You must have been in bad shape to be on a dose that high.  I do know that you will have to do a taper - you cannot do it cold turkey, no way.
I believe many people here will recommend Suboxone to you which I what I am also considering.  It is a drug that tricks your brain into thinking you have taken an opiate even thought it isn't, it is not like Methadone.  You will eventually have to be tapered off of it but I would think it would be a lot easier than coming off 180 mg of Methadone a day.  Good Luck Bobby!  I will be thinking of you.................

Love, Cindy

[joann1975]

Bobby, I don't have experience w/methadone but I know a lot of others on here do. They will respond to you as soon as they are on.

Welcome to the forum there is lots of support here!

Good Luck,
JoAnn