methadone taper, doing great! but Im scared

[Penelope14]

                      I must start out by saying that I,ve looked into alot of forums for addicts and this one by far is the best, some of the others were so depressing, so during my methadone detox this will be my homebase, so from time to time I,ll check in and look for strength and guidance from some of you who have more knowledge and understanding of this awful disease of addiction. I,ve so far gotton a few good recomondations from a few of you, and I so appriciate it! Ok so now its time to let ya know whats up? Im getting ready to taper down another 4mgs this week, so then I,ll be at 35mgs of methadone, in case ya missed it I started taking methadone due to my addiction to oxycodone, prior to the oxycodone I never knew I was a addict, boy did I get a wake up call. Im still thinking about going on suboxone but Im not leaning towards it as much as I was last week, ya know I got some feedback from someone on this forum and he or she? kinda touched a nerve, they said I was replacing one drug with another, at first I was ticked off, thinking the nerve of this person! but then I realized they were right, Im trying to take the easy way out, so the next day I made a appointment with a mental health and addiction specialist, I just thought it would be good to see what my options are and see if going on suboxone for a mere 28 days to get off methadone is a good idea or a bad idea? Keep in mind, I have been clean, except for methadone for 5 years, I dont associate with anyone who uses, I live in a stable home, I have a good job, and I have my head on straight and know what I want, and I want sobriety! So what do you think? Should I keep my slow taper off methadone going? I,ll be off by March if I continue? or should I get down to 30 and start suboxone? Any feeback would be great!        Thx Penelope

[beachtowel]

Sometimes in life you can always pick what is good or the best ........

Sometimes you have to pick between the worst of two evils.........

I'm not sure who it was that said don't go to Suboxone from Methadone because your only changing habits or different drugs.......but comparing the two is like comparing Jack the Ripper to a bank robber........
Anytime you can get off Methadone is a plus.......
You can taper off Methadone however is you work closing with a doctor I would assume you are right now.......so as long as your already on Methadone you might as well do the best you can.......

Methadone is very addictive.........Suboxone can be too but Methadone is very addictive and very powerful.....

I am also glad you mention that you went to mental health and got an appointment with an addiction counselor I think you will find it can be very comforting to get a lot of stuff off your back and talk about it with someone who understands and who cares.......

Five years on Methadone Wow.......may I ask what drug you got off of to go on Methadone?

[Ga Guy]

I know it's late beach..but read :)..."in case ya missed it I started taking methadone due to my addiction to oxycodone," You're eyesight is as bad as mine, friend :)

[FLaddict]

ANd Beach, you were there one who told her to stay on methadone and finish her taper.  


Penelope,  I suggest finishing you taper. making the switch from meth to sub isn't easy. most people have a hard time doing it. YOu have to stop taking the methadone at least 48 hours before making the switch, and someone here stopped 5 days before and still got very very sick with precipitated withdrawals.  It take some people weeks to adjust to the Sub after swtiching. I would personally stick with the taper you have going and make it work. I have a great article by a doctor on methadone detox in my profile journal that i highly suggest. there are supplements and OTC things that can help heal the body from the use of methadone. And help ease the symptoms while tapering or detoxing, check it out. To find it click on my name beside this post and click on my journal.

[Penelope14]

  Thax for your recomondation, I guess I have this huge fear of detox, I think what it is. is Im scared it will be like my oxycodone withdrawls that I had in the past, they were so awful that I really felt I,d rather be dead, and while my nurse reasures me that as long as I keep my taper slow and I listen to my body, It wont be as bad, she claims it,s not gonna be easy, nor fun, but she says it wont be the same? Keep in mind, when I took oxys I was taking 3-4 80 mgs a day, and thats alot to try to come off of. So my mind is leaning towards continuing with my taper, and just take it day by day, I am also getting impatient because I know Im getting closer to having closure from methadone, and for me thats the light at the end of the tunnel, that is my prize! I went to a group meeting today at my methadone clinic and everyone their is so convinced that they must stay on methadone all their lives, I used to have this type of thinking to, and I only had it out of fear of the unknown, I just wonder if this is how alot of these methadone clients think and justify their use of methadone? I feel that I personally wont be clean till methadone is out of my life for good, I cant speak for everyone, but this is only how I feel, and I will do it! I also must thank you for suggesting supplements that can help my body heal from methadone, Im really into keeping fit and I do take care of my body and keep my weight down, so I will for sure check out your profile journal when I close here with you today. Thank,s for your help! Penelope

[Savas]

Huh, I think that might of been me that said it, but it could have been a number of us. Either way, glad you didn't stay mad. :)

Just keep in mind that when you get below 25 it can get a little tricky. But it is doable. I've had a few key "dose drop" points under 25 where it was fairly uncomfortable. Your nurse is right, listen to what your body tells you. Don't look at it from a point of view as;

"I hate this and I have to get off this poison!"

An attitude of "While unfortunate I have to take this stuff now...I will make it a positive force in my life and use it until I'm prepared to remove it totally from my existence."

Hating being on methadone/suboxone and being angry about it is one of the key reasons people make bad choices in how and when they should do their taper drops.

Try not to let it rule your life. Keep it in the middle/background and keep a careful eye on how your doing and it's affecting you.

[ziggiz]

Where are you at now with your Methadone taper? I'm currently at 20mg a day on my Methadone taper and would like to hear back from you on how you're doing.

[Penelope14]

Hey, Ziggiz, I just thought I,d answer your question & let ya know that as of yesterday I am now on 20mgs of methadone, & Im kinda feeling the drop, not as much energy & things kinda smell funny? Also the mornings are the worst, but after my dose Im fine. I just have to keep a positive attitude & understand that this is almost over, & if I must I will slow down. I see that you also are on 20mgs, Im wondering how you do in the evenings? As that is when Im at my worst, but I dont get sick, Im just not quite myself, ya know what I mean?

[ziggiz]

Hi Penelope,

I'm glad to hear from you.

I split my daily dose between morning and evening and have been dropping 5mg every 4 days up to this point. When I make the drop I take the lower dose at night, trying to keep doses as close to 12 hours apart as possible. That way you don't experience peaks and troughs like you might dosing once a day.

So far I've been lucky enough to only have experiences slight nausea. My sleep is broken but most nights I do get 4-5 hours. When I made the drop to 20mg I did notice it more than the others and felt a little shaky, so I stayed at 20 a little longer than usual to stabilize.

I've been on 20mg for almost a week now and feel stable enough that I'm going to try to make the drop to 15mg today, having already taken 10mg this morning and waiting to see how I feel this evening before deciding on a 5 or 10mg dose.. If not today then tomorrow. That will leave me enough Methadone that I can stay at each level for approximately 7 days before making the next drop. After being on 5mg for a week I'm planning on staying at 2.5mg a day for 2 days before jumping off completely. I have some Klonopin saved back for when I do to hopefully help with sleep and the heebeejeebees.

The length of time you've been on Methadone and your regular daily dose determine how bad your symptoms will be coming off the drug. It's important not to "spike" your dose (increasing your daily dose significantly) as it will only increase your blood levels and set you back.

Feel free tp PM me if you like. Good luck.

[skyscreamer]

I have been on 40 mg. of methadone for 2-3 years now for chronic back pain. The va gave it to me. Boy, if I had only known what I was taking. I now have a pacemaker/defib and was having lots of side effect problems. Cough syncope, lungs filling with fluid, weight gain and not really eating. Just all around toxic. I went to a local er this past weekend and he told me it was the methadone and to get off now. The VA doesn't kn ow how to get people off of this so my wife did the research and I got on suboxone. Gosh it helps so much. The first 3 days was kinda rough but nothing major. I just could not sleep and the Dr. gave me 1 mg. of ativan for morning and evening. I was willing to suffer through anything to get off this stuff. I feel wonderful today. It has been 6 days now. I am tapering off the suboxone so I don't get addicted to that either. I will just have to find other ways to deal with pain when it comes back. I did get some klonopin also and it seemed to help too. I wish you the best of luck getting off this stuff. I had just heard too much about this drug and I did not want to taper off I WANTED OFF NOW. I will pray for you  and for a safe detox. If I can help just let me know. God Bless

Skyscreamer

[oxyaddict420]

I have heard bad things also about suboxone because i have been inquiring alot for help on ifo and expereince..  I am going to get on it if I can for getting of oxycodone 400-600mg usage per day..  Plus it has been a very long term abuse as well.  So I havwe gotten some dolid info from people who have actually went on it, stayed on it for a long maintenece program and then came off and have been clean and sober now since!!

My biggest fear was also the withdrawl stories I hear about it.. Some saying it is so much worse because its half-life like methadone.. phoowiiee!!  The thing is, you have to taper very very slowly and do it the right way.. Alot of the poepl that were sying negative comments were people that were trying to get off in like 1 week 2 weeks and so on..  I am ready to do the hard work and put in the time..

It seems if you are able to do a 5yr orgram on methadone, the Suboxone should be easier and also better.. But you have to do what you think is best.. to be fair i have heard some say going from methadone to Suboxone (can) be difficult.. again individual expereinces..  Plus going 48 hurs isnt all that long for methadone is it? since it has a longer half life as well..  When I came off methadone(see journal post) I didnt even feel withdrawl until day 4-5!

BEST OF LUCK MY FRIEND

YOU CAN DO THIS

I HAVE FAITH IN YOU

I AM HERE FOR YOU 100%  PM ME ANYTIME

[Miss_Meth]

"Things smell kinda funny.."
Ha! Every morning when I go to the clinic - at my sickest - the smell of the air freshener in the stairwell is positively unbearably nauseating!! I find in the morning when I'm getting ready for work (before I stop off at the clinic) I don't even like the smell of my own perfume!

I'm also detoxing. I'm at 8. YAY!

[rebelyell]

I've been on oxycodone 40 mg per day for 3 years due to back surgery. I still have pain but am ready to try to get off because I'm tired of taking it and fighting the battle with doctor's to get it. I was switched to methadone for awhile because my pain Doc said it was longer acting. The only side effect that I had was it made me sleepy a little. The reason I'm writing you is that we are moving to Texarkana Friday and I think you are in Texarkana. I want to use a methadone taper like you are but don't know where to go. So if you or somebody else out there is reading this would you     please respond and give me some direction.   Anybody from Texarkana I need your help.

Rebelyell