When do you feel better once off methadone?

[gettingbetterallthetime]

I have been on methadone for 3 months and went from 40-3mg and stoped 3days ago. I just wanted off and didnt go on the program like other suggested for years and years. I want to know if anyone out there can tell me what to not look forward to after weeks 1 2 3 and 4. I also would like to know if coming of 3mg is easier then coming of higher doses? I have heard there all the same but I dont want to believe that. I am also curious if you previous reason for going on methadone effects your withdrawls eg one person took oxi's and another heroine. would one be worse coming of methadone or not?
and advice would help me keep positive.
thanks C

[krissy30]

You are so lucky that you only stayed on it for a few months.  I agree with gnarly 100%.  I was on Methadone (160mg....which is pretty high=to about 80mg of morphine) for about 6 years.  My life was pretty good while on it.  It suppressed all my cravings and I never used while on it.  I even got a great job and moved into my very first apartment.  I had trouble keeping up on the Methadone clinic's bill once I got my apartment.  Then I had to go into the hospital b/c I needed an emergency gallbladder operation.  It was very scary to be in so much pain and not have any meds work because of my tolerance and the fact that it acts as an opiate blocker.  That's where the doctor told me that the Methadone to Morphine ratio.  They finally had to just sedate me b/c I was in so much pain.  I kept thinking what if I'm in a terrible car accident and lose a limb....I will be in so much excruciating pain b/c nothing will be effective for me.  I was three years into my program by then.

I then made an appt. with the Dr. at the clinic and expressed my want to get off the Methadone.   First of all, they didn't want me to get off it.  They strongly advised against it...but I was persistent.  They tapered me down very slowly.  It took 2 years just to get down to 60mg.  Then with the bill there getting higher and higher....they decided to take away my take home bottles.  So instead of going into the city twice a week I had to go everyday.  So now they had me going into the city constantly around Heroin everyday and detoxing from methadone....so I wasn't feeling well and I had to have great will power....Well, after 6 years I was down to about 20mg....no longer effective at blocking other opiates and leaving me feeling like total crap!  Needless to say, my will power was not strong enough and I relapsed.  I lost everything I owned including respect for myself and the respect of my friends and family.  

That was all about 2 years ago....I went back to using Heroin (IV) about $100 to $200 per day and sunk deeper into the addiction....deeper than I ever have before...about 8 months my parents moved down south...My drug dealer called my parents (yes my dealer who was also a friend....that's how bad I was.  I dropped about 150 lbs and hadn't slept for a month)  Anyway, my mom came and got me and brought me home with her.. ..I don't know anyone here and you really need a car to get around.  Town is about 10 miles from the house and no buses run here.  So I no longer use Heroin, but I do take about 40mg of Oxycodone/day.  

I'm not saying it's right, but I do.  I admit that it's not right, but my point it...I know finally the point.....That Methadone screwed me up I always had anxiety but it's 100 times more intense now!!  I have emotional and psychological problems now!! I don't recommend that Methadone to any one ever.....If need be people should check into Suboxone first.  

You are very intelligent to stop that stuff now and be greatful that the Drs didn't push you to increase your dosages .....like they did to me.  They fought me for years to stay on it.  

It makes no difference what opiate caused you to begin taking Methadone....What matters is how long you take it and what your dosage is.  You should be ok...You can probably expect some nervousness, may some loose bowels, and you may get chillier than other people.  I am constantly cold!!!

In fact, if you have insurance, I strongly urge you to see a doctor or psychiatrist...There are so many non-addictive...non-opiate based meds that could be beneficial to you..  I plan to see a doctor as soon as I can raise enough money.  Hopefully you can get through it w/o a doctors help, but if you feel like you can't tolerate any of your feelings, or if you feel hopeless, don't hesitate to see a dr.

Good luck and my best wishes....Oh, and be very, very proud of your self.....What everybody who suffers from addiction goes through is a very difficult thing....And remember what doesn't kill us makes us stronger...That is something I tell my self everyday...The things I've done and experienced have made me the person I am today!

[gnarly_1]

methadone detoxing can be pritty ruff on your system...it takes a good 7 days to detox
I went down to 1ml and felt it for a week...physically you'll be over the detox then
but methadone is notorious for having a drown out mental part that can take a month
to just start feeling like your self again....on the bright side you weren't on it that long so your detox and recovery shouldn't be that bad....I was on it 6 1/2yrs and my recovery has been slow going but im giving up a long habit also..just hang in there...right now
you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile....it will get better as time passes
take it one day at a time...you will start to notice your feeling a bit better each week that passes I got 159 days clean and I still feel some of the side effects of it but overall im much better then I was in the first mo of detoxing...you got it beat now
all you got to do is give your body and mind a chance to heal and with time it will
hope you feel better real soon ...good luck and God bless.....Gnarly    

[mr.lucky66]

No, what ever narcotic you were on before methadone, has no impact on what you are dealing with now. 3 mg to 0 is good and 3 months of methadone shouldn't be bad but it can take several weeks to feel normal again. You symptoms shouldn't be bad but you may feel weal and a little chilly for a while and have some trouble sleeping but nothing more. I have detoxed from methadone several times and am now off of meth. and dope. The main factor is time on methadone and not as much dose for severity and lenght of withdrawals. You should do fine and really could have avoided a big  big problem later.