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1985289 tn?1328579594

tapering methadone down to 4 mg. WOW, to jump or not to jump

I have been tapering methadone for a very long time, over a year.  My stable clinic dose was 110mg when I started my taper.  Been tapering about every 5 weeks, sometimes longer. Whenever I cut my dose down it would always be the same, didn't feel to much until the 3rd. week. Well here I am once again on wk. #3 of tapering and I am starting to feel it more than ever, but I have come so far.  Just last night was my first night of sleeplessness and about 4 days of terrible coughing.  Yuck,I am trying to do this and still work.  I am not able to take time off.  I was put on Lyrica for nerve pain due to abdominal adhesions about 5 months ago and I do believe that has helped as I have heard of others taking Neurontin (similar to lyrica) during withdrawal.  I actually have done very well considering.  The worst part has been a lot of pain in back and legs, which I attribute some to tapering and some to sacrolitis.  
So for this tapering I have no dr's help (needs to be this way, small town, very small) I stopped going to the clinic, quite long time ago and I have about 50mg. methadone left here at home.  I have prescriptions for tramadol, cyclobenzaprine, lyrica. Have been taking calcium/mag for long long time - a big thank you to gnarly for telling me about this long time ago when I first started to taper. Cough medicine which doesn't seem to do much.  What do you all think????? should I jump now???? should I taper down to 1 or 2mg.  I am really not sure if I am just prolonging the inevetable.  Input and advice would be SO helpful.  I love this forum :)
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1985289 tn?1328579594
Thank you for all your suggestions and help.  Right now as I type this the only symptoms I have is a cough and a bit of creepy crawly feeling which I believe is anxiety.  I have been sitting here also going back and forth with whether I should go take my 4 mg. it really is a big step.  I guess I am most afraid that I will be working in a few hours and totally go down hill.  In the past when I did not take opiates or methadone my legs were crazy with rls, terrible terrible and my body just wanted to jump around and could not ever be comfortable  - hard to explain but I am sure you all know what I mean by your body just being out of control anxious. But I am not going to let my mind take over what I may or may not feel from withdrawal because I don't know.  I do have to make this decision and I am honestly not sure which direction I will go in today and that is the complete truth. I just want to be completely honest with you all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i cant belive how many people are addicted to a medacine . i have been addicted  to a pain killers for 14 years not because i choose. i had operation on both my hands for carpletunnel . soon after operation doctors gave me endone from that to oxiconten to tramadol and then went to ATODS to help me get of tramadol and get on suboxon my goal was to get of from that as well but they are nothing better then the doctor who put me on oxiconten i was suposed be clean last year and it took me a year of haseling to get off suboxon today is 3 weeks i am clean i still have withdrawals i still dont function but every night when i go to bed i say to my self tomorrow is a new day 14 years is gone and those years i cant bring back but i will make up for what ive lost,  my advice to a people who are scared to get off any drugs  dont be afraid to live ...... be afraid of living as a zombi because that what the drugs are i dont feel myself ,  i lost interest in life  and got deppresion so do you people really want to live like that or are you going to say to your self and the so called doctors enough is enough when i was growing up i didnt have family , Ive been with my husband for 20 years we have 4 kids  i used be happy full of energy full of life that is what i fight for ,  it might take another two month but i will be the one who is going to control my body not medication or the doctors I  am just sad that it took me 14 years to finally say enough of medication and i wanna be a mum and wife to my husband who believes in me ,  please who ever reads this dont let another day for medication  control you  , you have only one life and you are the one to control you body dont wait like me 14 years life is very precious
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Hun any opiate or semi synethic opiate will just continue to drag out your detox. You did a nice, long slow taper. At some point you will have to totally detox.
What withdrawal symptoms are you experiencing now?
Yes there will be rebound pain when you detox. It will take a month or two to re-evaluate your pain.
Don't let the fear take over, just treat your symptoms. Take  it one day at a time.
Stay hydrated, eat light foods, keep your mind and body busy. Use immodium.
Helpful - 0
4522800 tn?1470325834
Hi! Well if it would make you feel any better I was on the oxys/hydos and went up to the Methadone (prescribed) for the last 12years. I got down to 30mg and jumped off with also taking the Adderral and snorting them both and had a klon at night to come down. I did this at 56 and it did take me awhile. I would try to stay away from the Trams because there are Many on here that got Addicted to that and it is just as synthetic as the Dones. It does not like to let go when you try to detox. You have been here for awhile so you should know the drill about the vit/min and to keep hydrated and get those electrolytes going. Yes, Just jump now and be done. I almost have a year in now and I finally turned the best corner yet. BUT I am also a long time user for off and on for almost 40 years. NOT Proud of it but it did happen and that is the Past!
Speaking of Gnarley I think I will send him a PM. I wonder where he has been. I guess just living Life.
Bless
Helpful - 0
1985289 tn?1328579594
thank you for all the responses, wow really is appreciated.  I am totally scared to death to jump.  I know if I do, I will have to flush my methadone stash and it has crossed my mind several times.  It is such a HUGE decision.   I spent about 15 years taking opiates, and about 6 yrs. at methadone clinic, that's a long time for my body. I am 45. I just wonder how hellish the withdrawal will be compared to it now..  I did take 2 tramadol today and it is helping with aches etc....  I have been taking them off/on for about about 2 weeks for back pain.  The cough medicine is over the counter delsym, but doesn't seem to be doing much really for the hacking cough.  I pray I can get through this.  I just found out recently I am going to be a grandmother for the 1st. time and I totally want to be sober when the back comes in late January.  It's so hard right now...
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
are you taking the tramadol?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't know much about the mdone but you are getting great advice from my friends above! I just wanted to drop in and say GREAT JOB! Once you are completely off you will begin to feel better and better! Congrats to you for taking your life back and again GOOD JOB!
Helpful - 0
4810126 tn?1503942735
As atthebeach says: 'Wow! you've done Awesome!' As an ex-M'doner who did a taper from 140 to 28mgs before I jumped (after 20 yrs.) I gotta' hand it to you!! Listen, in spite of the fact that it's true that you're metabolising a less than 5 mgs. (we never metabolize the full dose we're on) it's still significant but 5 mgs IS a good jumping off place. Try not to be fearful. I know it's hard.

Can you tell us a little bit about this cough medicine you're taking right now? What is it? & how does it help? Is it prescribed (no judgement) just want to know! Please, keep posting & let us know  how it's going for you. I know it's rough but you can DO THIS if you WANT it!! We're Here & We're With YOU!
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
hi wow you have done awesome. congrats on your taper.
tapering below 5mgs doesn't give really any benefit. it is more of a
mental crutch. you are just stretching out the detox and withdrawal at this point.
i would stop now, so your body can really detox.
Helpful - 0
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