free of methadone

[bullcityK]

I don't know what else to do with this methadone deal. I've been on 220mgs. for some years now and can't seem to get
below 180 mgs without feeling like i'm dying.. years ago i kicked a 2 to 3 gram a day heroin habit and it was bad, but
nothing compares to methadone. I'm really scared i'll be too weak to go work when i really decide to detox this evil
drug , which at the same time helped me keep my job when dope tried to destroy it. If anyone can identify please give
some helpful advise... thanks!!

[bullcityK]

Thank you for all the responses, It really means alot that there are so many nice people that I don't even know willing to help.. I will keep that info. in mind because I'm really planning to detox this stuff. I just kick myself in the butt for going so high on my dose.  I went up 10 mgs. a day the first month , and before i knew it WHAM !!  I'm worse off than the dope had me, it seems so anyway. thank you and everyone else too .

[Becky102]

My husband has been on methadone for many years and is now trying to taper off.  He's gone from a high of 130 mgs to 70 mgs over the last several months without too many problems.  He's been taking a lot of supplements that I've read about on this forum, and perhaps they're helping.
If you look in FlAddict's journals you'll find an article by Dr. David Arneson on Methadone/Opiate withdrawal that is very informative and lists the medications and supplements that he recommends for his patients.  I printed that one out for my husband.  You should also print out the Amino Acid Protocol and the Thomas Recipe as they give you a list of supplements and medications that help to ease withdrawals and have been used by many on this forum with success.  You can usually find both of those articles in the Most Viewed Health pages on the right side of your screen.
There's another old post from 2001 that I've read that I find very interesting.  This guy is from New Zealand and he claims that you can get off methadone without too much suffering by taking zinc and magnesium supplements.  I printed it out and this is the link that printed at the bottom of the page so I hope it works:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/43483
I'm sure if it works as well as he said that it would have been big news and I've never heard of it before, but I don't think it could hurt and it might help.
Like Penelope said, I think the secret is to take it slow.  If it gets too uncomfortable you can stay at a certain level until you stabilize.  

[sadinmichigan]

comming off methadone is for sure hell..I jumped off at 65mg..You are taking quite alot but if you can just taper very slowly..lets say..1-2 mg every 21 days..and get down to at least 70mg..then I say go for it..Many studies have shown that there is little if any difference between going cold turkey off of 30 to 70 mg..I tried tapering and i was in constant w/ds..not as bad as cold turkey but bad enough..If you have a good month or 6 weeks that you can lock yourself down..then you can be free..It will be anything but easy but it is possible..You will feel like your dying and will even wish you were but with the right people around you can do it..I'm sorry your in this position..Methadone is a wicked drug..

[welldigger]

I am going on my fourth week off of Methadone. It has been hell. Yesterday I started crying and became very very depressed. Today, all I've done is cry. I can't stop. Is this normal anyone? I'm scared because I can't work right now and I have no money. I can't believe this is taking so long to come off this ****. I'm starting to get very discouraged. I can see why people relapse. This is ridiculous to have to go through this for so long. I'm not getting any better. I feel like I'm only getting worse. I have absolutely no energy. And now I'm depressed worse than I've ever been in my life. Is this normal?
Welldigger

[Penelope14]

I can relate, & understand your fears. I went onto methadone because I was addicted to vicodin, percs & then eventually started taking 300mgs of oxicotin per day, thats when my life became unmanagable & out of control. I tried several times to get off it only to relapse, so 5 years ago I went onto methadone, I was on 90mgs daily. A few years ago I started to notice that while I was on methadone I really wasnt myself, I grew very tired of life on methadone & as of last year decided it was time to put my fears behind me & begin tapering off methadone. I tapered 2mgs per week, & never felt anything till I got below 14mgs, & really felt it when I got under 4mgs, but I kept my eye on the prize & hung in their. During my taper I was still working until I got below 2mgs, then I decided it was the right time to go on vacation, so I took two weeks off of work, which I thought would be plenty of time for my recovery, ten days into my detox I found out I was wrong as I was still suffering & not ready to go back to work, & this was scary as I have been employed at my company for 7 years & didnt want to lose my job, so I lied to my employer & took off a additional two weeks, Im so glad I did, the extra two weeks gave my body & mind the time that it needed to recover. I,ve been methadone free for two months & life just keeps getting better by the day! The only symtom from methadone thats left is that my energy level isnt what it used to be, but Its alot better then a month ago. If you have any questions, feel free to p.m me. Penelope

[grievingwidow]

Hey there,

Well, while I have totally associate with what it is like to be addicted to methadone, I am afraid I have never been on anywhere near the dose that you are on.  I am currently trying to taper from 30 mg a day to 20 - and just doing that has been hell, I can only imagine what hell you would go through if you do not do this thing the right way and VERY VERY SLOWLY.  From what I can tell, that is the key with Methadone,  taper by very small amounts over a prolonged period of time.  If I were you, I would really try to get a professional's advice, especially since you are such a big dose.  I have been taking 30 mg a day for 15 years and now out of the blue my doctor wants me totally off all my pain medications (I also take Percocet 10 mg twice a day).  I started this **** after developing chronic tension headaches following the diagnosis of my husband with  chronic renal failure.  I am going to try to talk my doctor into letting me taper by 1 mg per month when I see him tomorrow - hopefully he will have a little compassion when I tell him that I just cannot go lower than 20 mg at this time.  Hey, I do feel for you friend, I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this - gosh like I said your dose is really high so be careful before doing anything too drastic, please keep us posted and feel free to PM me anytime - I will be thinking of you and checking in.  I know I was not very much, if any, help.  I just mainly wanted you to know that you are not alone.

Love, Cindy

[lostdreams]

Hey welcome to the forum.
I cant really identify with the methadone and the withdrawls associated to it. More people will be around soon that can give you some advice on how best to come off it. Stick around and i'm sure you will get good advice and suppost.

I would like to congratulate you on kicking Heroin, i too was a heroin addict and know how bad it is to kick that drug. Congratulations.