Detoxing on methadone

[nky859]

I've been pn methadone for 5 years. I am now detoxing and started at 80mg and
after a few months and am on 25mg and am now wanting to use again and am taking Xanax to help but tis not from a doctor and am now going to a doctor about the depression and anxiety and there giving me lexapro and clonidine. The clonidine makes me to out of it and don't like taking it,and the lexapro makes you gain to much weight, and am looking for someone that could offer some help. I have to detox off the methadone because of probation. The only thing that makes me comfortable is the benzo's,but I think she has a problem prescribing me them. Do any of you have a words or help you can give me thank you.

[madnessss]

To the wondering about methadone.
#1. If your only soon hydro's or oxy's..methadone is no way to go..just seen your self down slowly off them..you don't want to trade a monkey for a gorilla! Withdrawl from methadone is more horrible than just hydro's or oxy's and last ALOT longer. I was strongly addicted to oxys or anything I could get my hands on for 12yrs and started to dabble in heroin before I chose to goto methadone clinic. After 3yrs on the program have decided this was worst decision I have made. Should have weened off opiates with hydro's or just stopped all together. The withdrawal wouldn't be as bad nor as long. Methadone should be used to detox off a bad heroin addiction or cronic pain ONLY! But is your choice. Really look into the  methadon programs tho. At my clinic there is soo many rules...example..i had to choose a time to medicate and can't medicate any earlier or pay extra 10bucks on top of the 14bucks to medicate. So in turn its $98 a week or $392 a month(at my clinic) prices vary I'm sure from clinic to clinic. All I'm trying to say is research your decision and make sure this is for u. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[ken1962]

hi been awhile but i'm down to 6mg now and feeling well talk with you later

[Savas]

That's a good way to do it. Just learning to be "normal" again can be a trick and a half.

[ken1962]

what i've concluded so far is that i gave up my oxycodone pill habit and cocaine powder habit for a managable methadone maintenance and a job where the money i earn isn't all  spent on my drug needs and wants . now what scares me the most is the unknown and this is being clean from all substances .it'll just be a continual slow process for me and i hope a successiful 1. i could allways fall back on meth or pills again but i'd love to see and be a part of a normal life style and this will take a lil more time. nothing comes overnight

[ken1962]

i'm not pressured to detox by anything other then the sesire to do so myself i don't use sedatives aka valium xanax or any other i'm on blood pressure meds lipitor and methadone i'll probabl;y continue this reduction by 1 or 2 mg's a month or more time if needed. i have noticed maybe this is mentally but on a day i'm off of work n just hanging around i seam to feel my med a lil more or that slight drowsyniss but when i'm busy working its almost as if theres no change to a lil change in a sedative way

[skoochie]

hang in there and if you can go slower and definately save the clonidine and xanax for when it is totally out of your system in a few days.  Post here because we are all here for eachother to get through this hell on earth.  In the end you will be so happy not to be married to drugs and this awful physical feeling like you will die if you can't get your next fix, you won't die!!!!

[Savas]

Well...the problem usually comes from tapering to fast. It takes two weeks to adjust (physically) to a dose drop...so if you're going down faster than that, it means you're in continual light withdrawal.

Which some people can handle more than others. Everyone has different stresses and personalities. But if you're already taking xanax, you're probably dropping to fast. The clonidine should be for AFTER your off. So that also makes me think "to fast!".

But if this is a probation thing, you may not have any choice. Most doctor's don't recognize the truths of methadone detox, and probably won't help. Do you have any say at all on your taper and it's speed of decrease?

[mr.lucky66]

If you are taking xanax and wanting to use badly, I wouldn't continue tapering and would hold right where you are. Don't set yourself up for failure. all the best

[feohmoon]

oops, I meant to let you know we will be at 35mg. tomorrow.

[feohmoon]

I am detoxing from methadone...was on 110mg. Aug.'07, began reducing that by 5 mg. per week.  My last dose will be March 6, that is 2 weeks and 1 day (and counting) - For the last week, I have been coming down 2mg. per day.
I feel that a lot of it depends upon your frame of mind , determination and positive thinking.  Also, there is a recipe called the Thomas recipe - great advice for detoxing.  My fiance and I are doing this together - as we did everything else - we have been taking a lot of vitamins, keeping a good mind set.  Are you a spiritual person?  I simply ask because this is a time of enlightenment as well as sickness...embrace it and take the lesson from it you were meant to get.
This forum is awesome, I never imagined I would participate in an on line forum such as this, but it is truly a wonderful support group full of caring, intelligent and compassionate people.
Good luck - we will continue posting - There are also a couple of others here detoxing from methadone and we are all somewhat close in dosage.  We will battle this together - There is strength in numbers!  We send good virtual energy to you all ( we've never done that before! )

[madazzahatta]

I'm a month clean after 15 years methadone addiction. I used a subutex detox but would not recommend it. It induces the mother of all clucks and then your still addicted to subutex!

Best just reduce your methadone by 5% of your dose daily or every 48 hours. When down to a tiny dose, or going clean, bring on the Valium and sleeping pills.

Good luck. 25mils will take 2-3 months to reduce to being clean.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Hey Ken, Copy your post and start a new one. then you will get the answers you need.

[ken1962]

hi i've been on a metadone maintanance program now almost 4 years i started on 32 mg now i'm on 16 mg i only went down 2 mg at a time every few months now since i've been under 20 i haven't had the hot flashes lately which is good and my dose still holds me. after i drink it it takes 1 hour n 20mins b4 i "feel the med" that feeling of wellness. i wasn't shooting dope or using needles b4 this i was using oxycodone hcl percocets oxycotins from 1989 to 2004 i strted on aprox 50, 5mg tabs a week on a continous basis till around 2002 when i shifted to oxycotins chewing them sniffing them and when i could get dilaudids i took those also. i also had a duel addiction to cocaine powder sniffing in combonation with the pills. i've been clean of cocaine n pills almost 3 years but now face my addiction to methadone. i hope i can contiue to come down 1 or 2 mg's every month or 2 till i'm off of it but who knows

[cheree25]

Hi, I was on methadone for a year and went into rehab to be detoxed off it. I was at a much higher dose and did it in 45 days but it was a huge challenge. Went a little crazy and I am so happy I am not on that anymore and I wish I never went to a methadone clinic to treat my addiction to norco and vicodin. Should have went into treatment beforehand. Clonipin definetley helps and I was weaned with no benzo's. They would not perscribe them to me. I have not been on methadone for a 1 and half years and I am so happy.I lost the 40 pounds. stopped having to plan my life around the clinic and have changed a lot in my life.  I slept 14 hours a day on it and gained 40 pounds. I was a recent college graduate and painkillers have ruined my life.   But I always continue to try, go back to the program and recover from a relapse on vicodin. Anyhow I hope that helped ??

[beachtowel]

Can I ask you why in the world you have been on Metadone for years?

[Supermomtoo]

Have you tried taking less of the clonidine at a time if it wipes you out?  I think it will lower your blood pressure which could be why you are so tired.

[creek]

I do not personally know what to advise, but I do know there are people here that will help you.  You came to the right place for support and information.  Hang in there and good luck.  SOmeone will be on that knows your plight and will answer soon I'm sure.  

Peace~