tapering from methadone

Hi I am new here and still checkin things out..I have been on methadone about 3 years and am now tapered down to 64mgs from 165mg..My DOC is oxycontin..I have been doing alot of reading lately about coming off the methadone and the WD stuff that I will go through and I am getting very scared..I want to get clean and off all drugs but sometimes I have doubts about being strong enough to make it..Even where I am now I am having issues with depression mostly..I am taking anti depressants but I still have anxiety attacks more and more often..Is this normal when you are tapering..

[Cissy373]

I have never been on Methadone so I can't really say about the anxiety attacks. I know one this this forum is a huge help to me and I am sure it will be to you too. Just keep posting, there are a lot of good people here that are willing to help.

Cissy

[turkstragal]

Support and ppl to talk with that can understand what I am going through is exactly what I am needing right now..Seems like since I started tapering I have started have more and more panic attacks and feelings of depresion..I also end up very tired about half way through the day..Since I work full time days this is very annoying..Is there anything that helps with this..I just dont have time to sleep my days away..I have to keep going as I have a family to support..

[jimgreg]

when tapering  from methadone  expect  the unexpected..  but yes ur going to feel alot of things..i came off of 160 mgs...went from there 5 mgs every 12 days to fast but i had to..im on it for sevre pain..well i got to 20 mgs and went cold tuky..it wa bad but not like others get so everone is difft..but ur going to be fine..its not a easy thing  to do..u gt threw this you will deserve  a pat on the back,..so  stay on this board to get the support you need and belive me they will help you..i dont come here much...i just posted myself..once you get threw the phiscal  parts then you have the mind  parts which acts like deppreshion..i would drink 2 pots of Coffey and not touch me..i went 45 days total..but this was my plan..i was wanting back on it at much lower dose..but i could have got to 10 mgs ands held it..but i had to experience this..cuz it dont matter  if u detox from 20 mgs or 100 mgs!!!!!!!!!!!  ur going to go threw the same withdralws some seem to thank a tapper is  the way to go..to me its more pain..why not just go c.t. from were ur at..unless  you have other issues...ive got alot of medical issues including  blood p..and it spiked high..but went down at times..heart rate goes up..

my sytoms  took 4 days to show  but they  were,,cold sweats, hot flashes,anxtys,felt like insulation me all over,,sleep  not much about 3 hrs anight..couldnt handel the noise at all..drank alot of fluids and took aloit of baths VERY HOT TOO...but this will last from 9 days threw 14...then to the mind game..its not good either but beath the 1st part..you  rember when you were younger  you had the flu so bad that  you couldnt walk ..this is something in that nature...little more intense though...you  go about  after the  4 days it starts you will know it.,.but it dont hit all ar once the next day it will be tough..then after 9 days things start to get better each day..then the14th day its gone...but the non sleep  may last a long time..im on xanax so i tweaked it ..it helps take  te edge  off..my women was laid off at the time..she thought i should go to the er..theres no reason for this....its not a emergency  but to the one not going threw it even hurts them to see there  love one hurting...witch is normal...i would gt angry tell her to leave me alone for a week lol lol.. PAY HER  YO LEAVE..  BUT LIKE I TRY TO STRESS THIS NOT EVERYONE GETS THE SAME THING..I NEVER  GOT SICK ONE TIME..BUT IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT  WHEN U GT CLEAN YOU WILL REMEMBER ALL OF THIS....LETS SAY IM ON 25 MGS.. I PICK  A DAY  TO DO THIS..AND MAKE  SURE IM READY,,and have everything  i ned to get me threw 9-14  days..cuz ur not going to want to leave,..herioun  is harder than methadone.but methadone  takes longer..by my brother..i,vie never took heroin..my other brother overdosed on it..in 1996....i never  did like methadone its real good on my pain control..but the effects of gouing to te restroom as u know..and it keeps me  up all night..i go to sleep at 6am up at 1pm..im oin disability though..GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[windowsca]

Hi I just posted about this on another thread.  Please look into some holistic options,  Tapering is just prolonging the process and not getting the opiates out of your system so you risk relapse constantly.  Read about "fighting relapse" in the Health Pages at the top of MedHelp to understand why this is so hard.  Then consider the following so you REALLY get off drugs - won't that be nice... ;o)

1.  HYPNOSIS~
Start with Hypnosis.  It helps you reprogram your subconscious mind which is the seat of your behaviors, including habits and addictions.   By understanding the underlying reasons why you personally have been doing what you do - we are able to substitute new, healthier ways to relax, unwind, escape or whatever it is you need to change.  When you subconsciously accept that you can take care of the underlying need with something else, then there is no need for alcohol or other drugs.  The urge either goes away, lessens or is replaced with an urge for the healthier substitute.  While that's keeping you from using . . .

ACUPUNCTURE ~
Research has shown that acupuncture increases the micro circulation throughout the body which in turn increases oxygenation of the tissues which will help flush toxins, waste products, and other accumulated particles and chemicals from the tissues improving their overall function.  Imagine making a small hole in the pile of debris which is blocking the stream. It will often clear the entire stream path, because the force of the water gushing through the hole will widen continuously until eventually all the debris is washed away and the normal course of the stream is restored. Similarly by inserting a needle into an acupoint of the blocked meridian it will have a similar effect. And just as a stream may have certain points more easily accessed or more easily blocked, the meridians have certain points which, when needled, will have a significant impact on the flow pattern. In this way by needling acupuncture points it is possible to exert a direct therapeutic effect on the channels and organs, and thus in turn on bodily functions.

There are points in the ears that pertain to specific organs in relation to detoxification treatment. To be more specific, this includes: the liver, kidneys, lungs, and the nervous system. Needles are placed in each ear, which relate to each organ mentioned prior. The entire treatment takes approximately forty five minutes.  One of the reasons that acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms, is because endorphins, a natural body chemical, are released.  Endorphins tend to reduce cravings, ease symptoms of withdrawal and also tend to increase feelings of relaxation.  This will also help with anxiety.  Acupuncture through different needle placement will control the pain,drugs just masked.

3.  YOGA~
As soon as possible get moving, start with beginner classes, cause yoga just looks easy.  It's a butt kicker!  Exercise will become your new addiction - you'll see!

4.  VITAMINS, MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS AND PROBIOTICS ~
Supplementation with vitamins and minerals is intended to provide vital nutrients that support and stimulate the body's own detoxification mechanisms. This type of detoxification therapy often targets the liver. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are sometimes called friendly germs. Probiotics work by colonizing the small intestine and crowding out disease-causing organisms, thereby restoring proper balance in the intestinal flora. They compete with harmful organisms for nutrients and may also produce substances that stop the growth of harmful organisms in the gut. Most probiotics come from food sources, especially cultured milk products. Probiotics are thought to help the colon detoxify the body by preserving the intestinal lining's protective barrier and preventing harmful bacteria that produce toxins from growing inside the colon. However, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of this therapy.

Google these and other things like sauna and niacin for detox - there's limitless help without such a struggle if you look.  Best of Luck!