Stopping Methadone

[likemike]

I'm on day 4!! Last night was hell with the creepy crawlies but the Neurontin, Clonidine, Advil, Vitamin water with potassium and B's and Valerian  Root to promote restful sleep have all helped immensly.   I'm feeling much better now, but I don't want to count my chickens too soon...hoping I'm on the downhill side.

[daelia]

how do you get prescribed for clonidine?  my dr.  is decreasing my numbers of pills but i don't want him to jump me off too quick.  i am afraid to ask for anything like what I have read on this forum.  I take 10 mg of methadone per day sometimes 20.  But I am trying to taper down.  He is a pain dr. and gave me ultram, but it seems from what i have read that's not a good way to go either....

[likemike]

I get clonidine for heart palpitations and high blood pressure. It's not addictive, however, you do have to taper if you want to stop it because it can cause increased palpitations when you miss a dose. It's a great med for relieving many methadone withdrawal symptoms.  Most pain doctors are happy to prescribe it if you're considering quitting methadone. I shouldn't advise you on the Ultram, but I will tell you from my own experience it's only jumping from the fire to the frying pan (to quote my Mother).  Also, tapering off methadone (from what I've heard) only prolongs the agony. For ME, I quit CT because I was told by a doctor that 1mg per day or 65 mgs. per day, the withdrawal can be just as difficult.  My belief is that as long as you take even a crumb,  you are starting your withdrawal back at day 1 with each dose. I'm sorry you're going through this and I feel for you. Be strong, and for goodness sakes, talk openly and honestly with your doctor....especially if he is a pain specialist. Did you know that in medical schools around the country chronic pain management is an ELECTIVE course? Disturbing to me....any doctor can put you on narcotic pain meds but once you get dependent, they have to refer you to someone else who specializes in getting you off the stuff. Many (not all) doctors don't have a clue as to how to get someone off them.

[likemike]

I should also add that phenergan (also not addictive) helps tremendously with the nausea. He probably would be happy to give you that also.

[daelia]

I have heard that about the methadone, that even getting all the way down to 1mg you are still going to be sick...what a sick drug!  I know myself and I am afraid that if I don't have "something" to help with symptoms I will just not be able to take it.  Since it takes at least 6 months to a year to feel better I will need help.  Well I see my doc next week so I will see what he can do.  I have taken a few of the ultram and what i noticed was that it seemed to induce withdrawl symptoms.  I think i am in semi-withdrawl anyway since I am cutting back.  I want so bad to stop taking them da** things!  I will talk to him and see what he wants to do.  He is a very good doctor and as a matter of fact is trying to get away from prescribing so much pain medication these days.  So I will see what he says about prescribing clonidine and possibly valium to sleep.  Thanks for your help and I wish you the best as well.  How much methadone were you taking before you went CT?

[FLaddict]

Here is an article from a doc that has helped tons of methadone patients to detox copy and paste the link to your browser, its long but worth reading.



http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/600  ;

[Penelope14]

  Im also on a taper to get off methadone, and I must say that I have spoke to numerous people who have detoxed off methadone and I can tell ya that most say that the slower you go the better chance for success, if you come off it to fast you will suffer, but if you listen to your body and take it slow you can acheive your goal, but you are at day 4 so Im thinking that you are past the worst, also everyone is different, while one person can detox off methadone with ease their are others who claim to be in a living hell, but I cant help but say again, that the slower the better, and I guess I,ll find out, as I am currently slowly tapering off this drug from hell. I went to see a addiction specialist last week who was not so worried about my withdrawels from methadone, but more worried about a possible relapse, we tend to be at a higher rate for relapse due to us not feeding our bodies opiates anymore, so Im sure you may fall into this catagorie as well? so I hope you have lots of support and give NA a try, thats what Im doing, good luck and congratulations!

[likemike]

Thanks, I believe I'm pretty much past the worst of it. Daelia - I was only taking 5 to 7 mgs./day.   I'm not sure taking Methadone and Ultram together is a good idea. I know taking suboxone and something like lorcet, can throw you into severe withdrawal very quickly. I was hospitalized last year for quitting Fentanyl by myself CT. I had left over suboxone so when I started feeling sick, I took some suboxone...then I felt worse, so I took a larger dose of suboxone...then my family had to call an ambulance. It was scary.  You have to wait a full 24 hours from your last dose before suboxone or it will throw you in the worst withdrawal ever. I believe with methadone you have to be in withdrawal for 3 days before they'll convert you to suboxone or any other narcotic because it does cause the opposite effect.

You are correct, detoxing from methadone is very different for everyone. FLaddict - I'm using most of the items this doctor suggested. He is the one who said whether you go CT from 1mg per day or 65 mgs. you can have just as hard a time.  My only problem with the slow taper is with suboxone. I tapered several months and was sick every single day (which messed with my mind and broke me down mentally)...as opposed to CT and being sick just a few days. But whatever works for the individual is best, for sure.  It shouldn't be 6 months to feel better. Maybe a week or two...they only mean that you can get an occasional symptom up to a year later, but very mild and you may not even notice it for what it is.  Anyone who suffers from chronic pain will be at risk for relapse...that includes me. But after 3 years of on and off again, I've decided living with the chronic pain is a better solution for me.  As for the valium, I doubt he will prescribe it. They don't like prescribing that stuff anymore. If he gives you clonidine you will sleep, trust me on that.