Need SPECIFIC advice to counter methadone withdrawls

[JohnnyBeGood5]

I am a father of 4 and have had on again-off again relationships with opiates. I grew up in a divided family- parents divorced at age 2 and mom visited on holidays. Dad took care of me (just us) for many years. Then grandma took care of me for a while when Dad went to college. Grandma was my mother, always there for me, the true parental figure in my teen years, then she suddenly died and ripped my heart out on the way to heaven.Enter wicked stepmother and new kids on the way, and bye-bye pre-existing child, Dad started a whole new family and allowed his new wife to banish me to a life alone, discarded. This is where the anomosity began, this IS why I eventually fell into the trap of opiates. Whenever I would go to the dentist, or my arm would come out of socket ( old injury) and the doctors would give me an opiate, I LOVED THE FEELING. That was the beginning of an ugly battle that still wages within to this day! My first major addiction to opiates was with hydrocodone, I was up to 40mg a day , bumming them off a "friend", or should I say a sucker that I let think was my friend. And in fact, maybe he was my friend, but what i did, steal his pills,etc. , that is NOT A FRIEND, I am and WAS a terrible person to him, them I started "shopping" around, going in anyone's medicine cabinet anytime I went to a strange house. When I would find a new "victim", well you know, "HI I am your friend, let me pretend to give a **** about you", when we all know the only thing I wanted was to taste the chalky taste of crushing two hydrocodones between my molars and swallowing them with a nice big glass of soda, and waiting for about 40 minutes to feel that euphoric RUSH I loved so much!! I even managed to steal my wifes pills when she was put in a wheelchair for 3 months from a car accident, I TOLD YOU I  AM PATHETIC !! Well eventually all things must come to an end, and as fate would have it, we had to move out of the town we were living in to a new place where we knew very few people. That was my first experience with the Thanksgiving feast, or should I say COLD TURKEY !! Sorry, no gravy on this turkey, just terrible chills, insomnia, feelings of suicide and low self-esteem, headaches, you know, the bottom of the barrel. The demons inside only wanted to be fed, and boy it is amazing how the human brain will try to play with those demons. Thoughts of holding up a pharmacy, crazy ideas of following people home from pharmacies and attacking them ( by the way I never did any of that, that is how crazy my brain would work !!- anything to stop the pain. anything to feel relaxed again, NORMAL !! Why does it have to be so hard to get off? Not everyone has the benefit or the resources to go to a detoxing clinic, see my problem usually centered around having to deal with very young kids and a wife that worked alot too. Next was the infamous OXY, boy snort one of those- or in my case 1/4 of and 80 in the am, and 1/4 at night. and you are Leo Dicap- KING OF THE WORLD !!!!!!! Well all kings too shall eventually lose their thrones, and I was toppled off my high horse quicker than you can say "-", well that was my second serving of freezer burnt turkey, and another chapter in the pathetic life of Capt. Diarreah, another trip down, " I'm a Loser"Lane. But each time I have tried to increase my activity, staying busy, exercising more, taking vitamins, drinking little to no caffiene, I find that makes it worse! and taking up new hobbies, but boy always my sexual appetite hits the ceiling, that is the only good part! And now the yellow brick road has led us to - what is he addicted to now?- you ask! The dreaded METHADONE!!!!! A friend offered 10mg of liquid one day at work when I was complaining of toothache, when subliminally I was probably trying to find out who could get their hands on what. and I found Methadone, well it wasn't long before I had doubled my dose, and kept increasing my usage until I was at 40mg a day, what a COSTLY habit!! As time went on I just couldn't afford it anymore and cut my dose in half, it was actually pretty easy, and since then I have gotten down to 14mg, that's as of now, well the **** is hitting the fan now, I was in the process of tapering myself and doing a pretty good job, until I just found out I am getting cut off! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!is all I can say, I have posted this thread for people who can share legit ways to counter methadone withdrawls, anything PLEASE that has worked for you, from Green tea to Calms Forte, I want to know all, I am being handed my last serving of the frigid bird and NEVER want to eat it again! This time I KNOW if I get safdely through these withdrawls I will never look back, I have too many positive things in my life right now including my wife and 4 kids, I am happy smokin' a little evry now and them to take the edge off, I dont need anymore opiates, I want to end this vicious cycle now and forever- now HELP please ! ADVICE < ADVICE< ADVICE .....................

[ufindme2008]

Hi Johnny I, nor anyone else in the forum can tell you what to do. I too, am an addict that knows all to well what you are talking about...the wonderful CT method of withdrawal.  Ive done it so many times in my life that I cant even begin to count the times.  This past year I attempted to come off hydro's so many time by the taper method and I would fail every time.  I went to a Sub Dr. and began Suboxone in January.  Im aware of the horrible withdrawals I could experience if I dont taper off the right way when I decide to come off, but I had to do something because I know I was dying.  As far as Methadone.  I know just a little about it, but have never taken it myself. I have two residents where I work that are on it right now.  The husband gets 10 mg tablets from his Dr. for pain, but I believe he is only using the Meth so he wont go back on the Oxy's.  His wife, on the other hand is going to a local Meth clinic to get her daily dose.  She is serious about not wanting to use ever again. From what it sounds to me is that youre not even sure if you want to stop taking it, but have no other choice.  Buying meth off the streets will sooner or later come to an end.  Is there a clinic in your area where you could go for treatment?  At least you'd be doing it the right way.  The wife is going to the clinic and is doing very well.  She has even earned take-home doses.  She says that this is the first time in her life that she doesnt think about using heroin, and she lives a productive life now.  I realize that both Suboxone and Methadone is not the cure for addiction, but for some people it may be the only way they can live a somewhat happy, healthy and productive life.  But most importantly Johnny, to thy own self be true.    

[mtgoat911]

i have detoxed off methadone several different way, but i kept going back to it because i refused to goto na meeting
my last detox was ct off 240mg a day
my suggestions to you, depends on how you want to detox
if you are looking for comfort meds here is a list
make sure you get them from a doctor, dont have a doctor, goto the er, ask if they have a sponsorship program
here are ideas of what you can use
clonidine or tenex for bp and anxiety
trazadone for sleep
darvocet as a taper med
from your last post i see that you are only quiting because you are getting cut off, so thats really all the advice i am wanting to give you
come back when you want to be clean
good luck

[JohnnyBeGood5]

I have been on the methadone for 2 years, and to answer previous questions, I was NOT getting it from a doctor or clinic , that might help answer some questions out there. I did not choose to quit right now, I am being forced to due to no other option. I just really need to know how to cope with regular over the counter remedies, anything that may have helped slightly with other people,

[pipemaker]

Hey Johnny,
  I wish I could wave a magic wand but no one can . However there is an upside and you may not see it as an upside right away but here it is. I ave been on methadone before a couple different times in my life. Once for 2 years till I got pissed at the clinic for being such weasels. The thing is I quit Cold that time at 80 mg and survived. The second time was at the 80mg point again after roughly 4 years of that stuff. And since I am writing to you it means I lived again. I am 55 years old and have been clean many years now. No more heroin no more methadone. My back has enough titanium to build a dam space shuttle. And here's what helped, remembering that we are all put on this earth by a loving Creator who gives us free will over what we do and we live and die by our decisions. It is not pleasant to kick methadone but many things in life are not pleasant. Realizing that and that we were put on this earth with every tool we need to survive whatever is given to us. And going to N.A. meetings getting in touch with the powerlessness you have over this condition. Because as you seem to be aware by now being strung out is no picnic. What is it you want. To be clean of course how do you do that? you stop. I wish I could say there was an easy way but like anything you do in this world, hard work is involved. It will however be the most rewarding task you have ever undertaken. It will restore your heart you will regain your power and most importantly if you go to meetings you will discover you are not the only one who has fought this battle and you will have other addicts who will treat you like a brother. Your Spirit your heart and strength will return you will never fear anything again. With the exception of maybe ending up there again. So unless you are feeble and have medical reasons that you are really concerned you will die. Kick it's *** back to the stone age. Perhaps you could get a check up from a doctor before you undertake this thing. I did not but I had reached the point where death would have been better than continuing any longer. For me it was better to die trying rather then giving up. And Johnny I know we all have this power given to us by our creator. If you have any questions drop me a line and I will help all I can. I work days and am usually on in the evening but I will be there...

[worried878]

CT off of 14 mgs if u have been on methadone for a while  is no picnic...if ur doctor cut u off, is there another doctor u can see?  suboxone can be used at this dose of methadone and if u have insurance it will usually cover the medicine, not the doctor charges as a rule tho..not one to suggest sub but it may help so u can continue working .... if u get on and off  the sub in 21 days or so, then many avoid sub addiction as it is addicting as well if used long term...also if used long term a slow taper can be used..again there is a risk...do u go to meetings or any type of aftercare?  I know u r ready to be done but it can also help ur state of mind thru all of this and attitude is % of wds..exercise and the thomas recipe helped me...read thru the health pages as ther e is alot of good info there

it is wonderful that u have decided to get clean ..keep posting..lots of support here

[steveo30]

do you have a doctor you can go see

[steveo30]

your not in for an easy ride,how long have you been on meth.you dont have a doctor from what i understand to help you.theres a thomas recipe at the bottom right of this page,click on it,you will find it most helpful,people swear by it.other than that see if you can find something for sleep,trazadone helps for me and is not addictive.you will have many responses to your post

[Ronnie152]

You said you are being cut off, That would mean from your dr? Why would he do something like that ct? Could you go to another dr and get help. I am sorry I dont know abour methadone but I here wd's are bad. There will be people on that know more about it. I am sorry I couldn't help but I do want to wecome you to the sight, it's really good here and the people are great! Keep posting and keep reading. I wish you lots of luck and hope you enjoy your soon to be new clean life.