methadone detoxing

[jennlp29]

I was opiate dependent for 2 yrs then 2yrs ago I was told about par methadone maintenance to help get off opiates...well par never said anything about methadone wd being worse than pills..I went up to 100mg and about 8months ago I startd decreasing. I would drop 10mg every 3-4wks depending on how I felt..when I got to 20mg I I went to 15 then dropped to 5mg and decided I just wanted to stop. I didnt want to rely on something everyday to keep me "well"..its been 7 days n I feel awful my legs are constantly aching, my stomach cramps n is just twisted, n ive barely slept in 7days which is effecting my mood I cry cause I just dont want to feel this way..I dont even want to get up and go to the bathroom. .how long will this last and can I do anything to make it better???

[jennlp29]

Today is the start of day 9.. I tried really hard to stop counting days but it didn't work..I am starting to feel a little better..my stomach is still messed up n I'm still not sleeping but during the day I feel ok ill have some random hot flashes n chills n my legs seem to feel good during day its only at night when I want to relax lol....bit even that small change with the legs gave me enough hope when I was just about ready to break again..fri. I wanted to go back to th ed methadone clinic so bad n its silly I know but I was thinking even if I went back n tapered slowly from 5-1mg it wouldn't b this bad coming off a mg...but seeing as how I'm this far already it would b a huge step back for me...this forum n all your amazing stories n help n encouragement has helped more than I can ever express..n yes we can and will do this together :)

[carpediem0303]

I'm on day 6. Kinda of the same thing...together we can do it. I hope it gets better it has to.  My biggest thing is I'm not sleeping and feel weak.  Hope ur doing better today.

[clean_in_ks]

Gnarly....you need to get off that cheap hospital computer...haha!
Can hardly read or understand your posts, guy!

Hope all is ok if you are at the hospital...and still glad you posted to jennlp29 even if "I" can't understand what you are saying lol

[gnarly_1]

hI     WELLwe have had manny members make it off 20 mg  and do fine in my booktttgh and nwyocansewhy  say that yr jus sraei tes abt 0t4 daysfhehywherefthenthe t hdrSTARS wud be  go t u a 3oeaman  frm walmart calicum magnes  zc t 4 ach  nhnd 4 ch  t  t wll reall help cut back o   whdrawls sorry bout the typos im  h  a really lsy uter    .....from here stay close  to a hot tub seveal soaks a day are i order keep posting for support.........Gnarly

[jennlp29]

Thank you all for the great advice....it really does help knwing I'm not alone...

[VICourageous]

Hi I can say it does get better..Just hang on to that surf board and ride the waves out.....You tapered very well I must say..that is the way to go. Yes it makes me mad when they put the other pain pill people on the methedone..Methedone is a whole other beast...I used the hydo/oxys before my 12 yr ride on mehtedone plus other meds..I got down to 30mgs and jumped off. I have 6m in 5days so it can be done...If u want to PM me I will tell u more..I can suggest some things I used and still useing..
EVERYONE one here has some great exeperinces to share of what, how, and why we do the natrural to otc things to help..I did not have the rls this time and the stomach thing but I sure got the anxiety to the moon.(benzo & adderral too) I sure can help u out with the sleep issue to....Just hang in it is the best choice u did to get your life back....
vickie-----moose-lips Ha!

[Jenelle2020]

Hi there, sorry you are hurting, you have been given some good advice. As someone who was on methadone for 7 years, I have taken 3 years to taper, I know that sounds crazy but I was at 130mgs when I started my taper, I am now down to 1mg and have only 3 days left to go before I jump off. Methadone needs to be tapered long and slow for minimum withdrawals. I feel maybe you should have gone right down to 0mgs and you would not be suffering. SmilingBright did a good slow taper down to a small amount, I believe she went about it in the right way and will not likely suffer much at all. You do have 7 days in so hopefully you will start to recover soon. Take care!

[Sweetness91]

Detoxing from methadone is hard...but everyone is different! I felt bad from the get go...and sorry to say, but mine lasted for over a month. I detoxed from 45mgs over a 6 week period and evidently it was a little too fast. Smilingbright went the right way I think...I know she stayed at 1.25 for awhile before stopping which allowed alot of the methadone to leave her system before the big day. So I've got high hopes that she experienced most of her withdrawal during the taper.  Methadone has a half life of up to 60hrs...meaning it can take up to 60hrs for HALF of it to leave your body...then half of what's left takes up to another 60hrs and so forth. And it can take 4-6halflifes for it to be completely gone. But the effects can linger a good while. This isn't meant to scare you, I'm just trying to give you some information because for me, it was better to know than wonder what I might go thru. Again...everyone is different. The length of time you were on it and the dose you were on has alot to do with it.

Everyone here is rooting for you! Dont give up. The Thomas recipe worked very well as well as straight magnesium & potassium. Rhodiola is great too and keeping hydrated and eating is key to a better recovery also. Hopefully some of this will help you. :) Good job on 7 days btw!!

[SmilingBright]

Oh great.  Lol. Not so good news for me.

I'm
Still pretty optimistic tho, I'm hoping they will be pretty minimal since I was pretty bad w wds when I dropped from 20 to 5 mg over night.  That SUCkED.  Prob for the first month I was on 5 mg it was not fun.  Up and down.
Oh well. Hopefully it won't be too bad. If it is , I'm armed and ready to rumble w this beast!!  It will not win!!!    Have u tried rhodolia yet?  It's natural herb for mood and energy.  I love it

[jennlp29]

I dont want to say you will be the same because I know everyone experiences things differently but I felt actually pretty good my first 3 days it wasnt til day 4 when the rls started and 5and 6were so much worse day 5 I wanted to go back to methadone so bad and through the amazing support of my husband he has kept me from bteaking down....I hope you dont feel like I do some days I think I should of went from 5-1mg n maybe it would be easier..I knw we can all do thisit helps knwing theres so many others who are going through it or been through it..gives me hope to knw theres light at the end of the tunnel I just have to take it a day at a time (which is so hard) and keep moving forward..it doesnt help yhat methadone masked the pain of a kifney infection ive had for who knws how long went to e.r on day 3 for that gave me loratabs to take even though I told doc. I was an addict n only 3 days clean..as hard as it was I shredded the script when I got home.....

[SmilingBright]

Hopefully my buddies who have been off of methadone a lot longer than me will come along soon to help u out my friend.  Hang tight.....
Christina

[scottscott1973]

Dont stop keep going your so close,,try reading my thread,,,there is alot of help here just keep going

[jennlp29]

I have not heard about the thomas recipe but I am going to check it now.. I dont eat very much usually eat very little at night by force of my husband lol..its a challenge to eat..on the opposite side I have been drinking lots of detox tea, gatorade, cranberry juice...thank you for the tips im on my way to look into them now....

[SmilingBright]

Oh sweetie.  I'm sorry u r feeling so rough.  Hopefully it will get better soon. I'm still much of a newbie.  I'm behind u actualy.  Have u been hurting the last 7 days?  It's only day 3 for me.  But I've tapered since jan 1st   And hopped off at 1.25 mg. was sick of tapering as well.

Do u have all the vitamins people reccomend ??

[FourJays]

Hello and welcome . . . . so glad you found this place; you will get a lot of support here.  I don't have experience with methadone but many here do and I am sure you will get some responders very soon.

I did go through an opiate detox so I do understand how you are feeling.  have you looked at the Thomas Recipe?  It has lot of information about remedies that can help with the symptoms.  Hot baths are great for the RLS and achiness, as well as extra magnesium.  Immodium helped me a lot with the stomach problems.  Are you drinking a lot of fluids and eating?  I know you probably don't feel like it much, but you gotta keep your strength up.  Lots of people like Melatonin to aid with sleep.

Just know that what you are feeling is temporary.  It will pass.  hang in there and keep posting with your questions and progress.

Julie