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This is my experience with methadone withdrawal: I was acutely sick for about 2 - 3 weeks (terrible aches, runs, skin crawling, puking, insomnia, shaking and sweating). This was relentless--if I had been where I could have gotten some dope, I doubt I continued with the cold turkey, but I was in the country with no drugs for miles and miles. After this acute phase, I felt like **** for about 6 months, however, there was gradual improvement. I started being able to sleep more and more, felt a little less achy and sick, but it was very gradual.
Methadone is a very hard kick--often, when they put you on maintenance, they figure you aren't ever going to get off it. They never tell you how hard the kick is when they talk you into going on it.
The good news is: I have been clean from heroin/methadone for over ten years and have never felt any desire to use those drugs again. Seriously. My ass got kicked so hard that I don't have euphoric recall about those days. I just remember the horrible reality of coming back down to earth and the hard ******* fall it took.
Good luck, get the recipe (it's posted everywhere on this site)--I think this will help you. Honestly, if I were you, I would try to get something to help you out for the next week or two. Something mild like codeine 3's--these aren't going to make you feel great, but it might help you through the worst of the kick and help you stay off that evil drug (sorry folks, I know some people have good experiences with methadone, but it was EVIL!!!!).
Keep posting and let us know how you are. I'll send a couple up for you--I hope your suffering ends soon.
Weeks 1 and 2:
6 Darvon N per day
6 Librium (or another benzodiazapine will work)
Stomach Pills (but immodium is now available OTC and will work just fine).
3 dalmane (for sleeping at night)
A good multiple vitamin
B-Complex
Week 3:
5 Darvon N the first 4 days, then 3 the last 3
5 librium the first 4 days, then 3 the last
Stomach pills as needed
2 Dalmane
A good multiple vitamin
B-Complex
Week 4
2 Darvon N the first 5 days, then 1 the last 2 days
2 librium the first 5 days, then 1 the last 2 days
stomach pills (you shouldn't really need them too much at this point
1 dalmane
vitamin and B-complex
The Darvon N are longer acting, which is why they used them at the clinic (they are longer acting and milder than codeine 3). You won't feel anything from them, but it will make your situation a little more bearable. The librium or other benzo (valium, xanax) really helps with the skin crawls and anxiety. I believe they used librium again here, because it is longer acting than a lot of the newer benzos.
The dalmane (also a benzo, but a sleeping pill variety) is enormously helpful in helping you sleep.
Again, good luck--try to stay away from anything really hard, because that will prolong the kick. The above regimen is not an answer for the long haul, but it is an easier taper and was used by the Clinic for years. I think they use another variety today-- that includes the Clonidine Patch.
Let us know how you are doing.
but it goes away after a while, and i also think of what i lost and almost lost when i was using, that helps. I am with you man, hang in there, and think of life ahead WITHOUT DRUGS. and by the way i am a dudet not a dude. Git any ideas about the psycological gravings? peace.
Deborah
Haven't posted in awhile...been through a lot lately.
I've been on methadone for 3 weeks now after a miserable attempt at kicking Duragesic. I failed miserably!
I don't like this methadone at all. It has changed me, too. I am way too lazy! I have had anxiety like crazy!
Just wondering, what everyone thinks of me being put back on Lortab 7.5 (which was the first med I took before the Duragesic) and weaning off that instead of weaning from the methadone?
My Doc is going to prescribe this tomorrow, but just wanted some opinions. Even though I've only been on it for 3 weeks, do you think my body has become adjusted to it, and will have w/ds going on to the Lortab?
I would appreciate everyone's opinion.
It's good to see everyone again, it's not fun being on medication for me anymore. I just want off this ****, once and for all.
Thanks,
Koala
Speaking of which, I hear Ultram can have a similar effect, but in a reverse scenario ... if you first take some Ultram to "hold you over" until a real dose of opiates, then later that day score and take your opiate, the Ultram binds so completely with the opiate receptors that it almost cancels out any effects of the real thing.
Now on the flip side, the other day I had begun a makeshift self-detox from Vicodin by using Ultram as a substite, and I was amazed at how I practically didn't have any of those painful aches when if I hadn't taken anything I would have been seriously hurting. However, after reading some of the posts here about the (hidden) evils of Ultram's almost methadone-like withdrawls after even just ten days, I decided to scrub the whole plan and try another angle ... soon, hopefully. I'm so tired of playing the doctor game. Man!
I live really close to Tijuana, Mexico, anybody know of an easy place/way to score down there (legally, of course, and other than via the internet)?
--memikey
All I know is that methadone will tie you over longer than opiates will. I am trying desperately to get off the methadone by weaning back to Lortab. I have had some adverse reactions from the methadone, that the majority of people on it don't get. I've been on it for 3 weeks, and haven't felt good the whole time.
I took one dose of the Lortab yesterday, and ate a full meal. I haven't been able to eat at all since being put on meth. Slowly, I will be put back on the Lortab over 12 days and then wean off completely.
I've been reading horror stories about coming off meth that I don't want any part of. W/ds scare the **** out of me! Wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!
I think for some people, methadone is the answer, especially if you are trying to come off of something else. I just wouldn't stay on it too long, if you can help it.
Koala
I wish you all the luck. Let us know how you make out!
Koala
If you can successfully do the detox, go for it--but nearly everyone I ever knew who used methadone to detox (at least more than 1 time) eventually got put on maintenance. The kick is a nasty, evil experience and one that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Good luck--my big mistake with methadone was doing a detox 3 times in about 6 months--too many times and it just was too convenient to go on the juice permanently. Thank God that nightmare is over.
I was on five mg twice a day when I quit, cold turkey, a week ago. Of course, I've been depressed since I lost my job, and I don't have much to look forward to when I'm over this. I was wondering why my legs were hurting so much, but it's reassuring in a way to hear that it happens to other people. I wish I was hooked up with an accupuncturist, because I'm sure that would help. No one can tell me how long this will take. I've been smoking a lot of pot, which is making things suck less. I have plenty of klonipin (relative of valium), and I picked up some of the recommended vitamins and stuff. I'm going easy on the doses because my stomach gets burned easily. If it weren't for the pot, the klonipin, and the spouse, I'd have checked myself into the hospital days ago when things were worse.
For some reason, the Kid Rock CD's are helping to. Must be the line about 'all the heroes in the methadone clinics.'
year I got down to 3mgs. I decided enough and walked off. I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it. It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last. Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it. I have children to take care of and can not be non functional. I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher. My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone. My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired. I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs. Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks. My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.
year I got down to 3mgs. I decided enough and walked off. I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it. It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last. Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it. I have children to take care of and can not be non functional. I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher. My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone. My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired. I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs. Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks. My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.
year I got down to 3mgs. I decided enough and walked off. I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it. It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last. Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it. I have children to take care of and can not be non functional. I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher. My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone. My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired. I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs. Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster? THanks. My heart goes out to those of you who are suffering more severely.
year I got down to 3mgs. I decided enough and walked off. I thought that I had mostly done it at this point.
I am having withdrawal symptoms anyway and I am depressed about it. It has been a week now and I was wondering if anyone knows how long it will last. Lorecet helps but I do not want to prolong it. I have children to take care of and can not be non functional. I can not imagine living through this if I had walked off at anything higher. My counselor said that I should start feeling better with in a week, but I do not think she has every been on Methadone. My symptoms are not severe just backache, excessive use of the toilet, and I can't sleep even though I am very tired. I purposely took over a year to detox and before this have only felt sick briefly going down below 20mgs and going from 8 to 7 mgs. Is there anything I can take to help me get back to normal faster?
Any suggestions for feeling better quicker?
Hi Lisa -- I have been on Methadone for 3 years. This past April, I got Hepatitis and was hospitalzed for 10 days. During this time and not to my knowlege,the doctor tapered me down from 85mg(methadone)to 20mgs. My doctor did this in 10 days. I had tapered down to 12.5 in August. I started to feel anxious and had some trouble sleeping. I had to go back up to 25mg. I am at this dose as of today. I want to start tapering down again. My counsler advised me to taper2.5 mgs every 3 weeks until I am off. Please, stay in touch and let me know how your doing. I am so scared from hearing all of these horror stories about coming off Methadone. I wish you all the luck in the world. Hang in there. Sparky, Atlanta Ga.
I am in the same boat as all of you are.
I've tapered off of Methadone that I've been taking for a back injury about 10 years ago. I was on 40mg for the last 3 of those years. Before that, it was only 15mg.
Today is day four for me and I feel REALLY bad. (What did I expect? :) )
Anyway, if someone can tell me what to expect, how long it will be before I can do more that walk 20 feet and collapse, when I will regain my strength, I would be forever in your debt.
I am in the fight for the long haul and have said that since I started my taper. But, I have to admit. I did not know it was going to be this bad. I have NO energy and I feel like I am loosing hope, strength and the will to fight on.
Even if the news is bad, I would sure appreciate someone telling me what I can expect and how long (if ever) I will feel OK. I'm going to start taking multi-vitamins and the doctor said to get on a B complex too. THEN, he added that I need an anti-oxidant too. I'll do it, but will it speed up the process? Will I EVER get my brain working right again. I'm worried that I really messed it up good and it's not going to come back.
Thanks for reading this. When I was in the treatment facility, I met some of the best people I have ever met. Talk about an eye opener! Anyway, God Bless each and every one of you. I will pray for ALL of you people tonight.
MethMan
Thanks people.
I'm a 26 year old man who has been on meth for 2 years and was forcefully tapered using klonzapan. I was on 60mg, and was tapered 10mg a week. Now that it's over, i don't even remember the last 24 months and i have very little short term memory. It was a clinic in Miami called the South Side Comprehensive Pain Center. Great program, but they will take you off ALL narcs. Narcotics for chronic pain sufferers isn't right anyway. Narcs are great for broken bones, or something that will heal, but for us chronic people we'll just get addicted and continually increase dosage. In my opinion, pain management is a joke. Seeing an Anesthesiologist is asking to be sedated. We need ways to overcome the pain, not hide it. I found when i was on methadone i was a walking zombie. I only realized the strongest of stimuli, and that was pain. So i got more and more depressed (pain actually alters brain chemicals), and I started considering suicide. All i'm saying is that methadone requires a plan to get off including exercise, mental therapy, and great willpower to just be sick of this style of "living". If anyone wants the number for this clinic, email me. Oh, and has anyone else forgotten the entire time they were on this drug after "quitting"?
Good luck to all,
Larry