methadone detox and a cough

[ken1962]

i'm on my 6th day of stopping my methadone after being on it for 5 years i was on 2 mg for last month and a half i feel ok with the exception of this horrible dry cough for the last few days. has anyone experienced this? if so for how long and any suggestions for a non opiod treatment of it?

[Sugarmagnolia1975]

I don't have experience with methadone but with opiates in general and the subutex I was on, I did have that dry cough after coming off of it...it can be a real pain in the a**, made me gag a few times. It will get better soon though :)

[Babababababa]

Yes, a dry cough is a less common withdrawal symptom.  Opiates, including maintenance drugs either suppress or amp up the brains chemical factory in order to adjust to the ingested oppiates.  When in withdrawal, there's a period of time, the length of time depending on the half life of the drug, where the brain has to maintain feeling good without the assistance of foreign chemicals.  Hence the hot and cold sweats, gastrointestinal stuff, etc, including the histamine release that can cause a cough.  Best thing I did to address the cough; drink tons and tons of well water or artesian water (trader joes). This allows the toxins to flush out the eliminative organs faster.  For immediate relief, pick up a herbal nasal inhaler from a health food store.  Peppermint, eucalyptus and camphor are excellent!  The worst thing I tried was throwing everything over the counter at my cough.  They made me feel wired (dextrosmethorfan), cough drops, etc.  OTC and any drugs for that matter make it just that much harder for our body's' to detox!

[mr.lucky66]

It's rare but it happens, the cough butnever to me though. You did something very rare that is hard to do and you are to commended. You were on 2 mg. for a month and that's hard to do and is probably why you are doing so well. The most important thing I can tell you is not to take any more dope so you don't get hooked again or end up on methadone. So many people here put so much emphisis on detox they forget that what they do after detox is over is more important. all the best

[Ghilly]

Opiates suppress the cough and sneeze reflexes, so when you stop them, until the reflexes are fully "awake" again, you cough and sneeze, somtimes a lot.

[ken1962]

thx today my cough has relaxed a bit its my 7th day off methadone since i kept waking up thru the night with the cough i feel tired today i'll check back in in a few days and let you know how i'm doing

[jan_05]

shes right it shouldnt last that long its just that when u get off methadone or opiates ur immune system isnt strong and u need to takes some vitamins so u can build it up, thats what my doc told me to do and it works so all u can do is try it. well i hope everything works for u and congrats on gettin off.

[IBKleen]

Hi,

It is normal to feel some sort of upper respiratory problem when stopping opiates.

It should not last much longer hun but if it is really bothering you then ask your local pharmacist for something otc.

Congrats on getting off of the Methadone!!!!