Methadone withdrawl nitemare, worst days

[Vinnieanew]

To: Vinnie
Hey everyone,

I just found this page today and it has given me hope right now after rapidly drooping my methadone amount, I'm ready to take that road you guys so strongly went down.  I just hope people are still on here to help.

I really messed my back up w/ degenarative disc.  I was on Norco...like 30 a day.  Then to Kadian, and now 3 1/2 years on methadone.  I was on 120 mg Then, to 80mg, after that in 3-4 days I was at 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 within 2 weeks.  Now, I on my 1st day of this w/d nitemare..especially not sleeping.  Unfortunately, I don't have the means to ket clonopin etc but, I want to do this w/o a fall back now so I can remember this.  I went through 2 to 3 days once w/d and I was freaking out like I starting getting really upset, the mad then happy within 10  mins.  No sleep, my whole body I want to climb out of.  BUT, reading everyone's story has given me hope and will keep coming back to let you know how I am doing.  Which days are the worst days?  did oyu guys feel yourself feeling so miserable oyu think even another 10 minutes or second you'll crack?


Thanks everyone be back shortly I'm sure to strength.
Vinnie

[sadinmichigan]

welcome to the forum..this is a great place. i also went cold turkey off methadone..65mg..it is no picnic..how many mg did you quit at? You should expect the bad w/ds to start within 48 hrs..and it will stay bad for a few weeks. i was sick for about 2 months with 3 weeks being the absolute worst..please feel free to send me a private message..there are a few others that have done this too..also in my journal you will find an article written by a dr. about methadone detox ..he was also an addict for 18 yrs..it might give you some helpful info..You just hang in there and congratulations for taking the plunge and getting off that ****...take care..Lisa

[FriaryGrad]

I think people will still be out here, so keep checking back.  You can do it.  My drug of choice was alcohol, but it's all the same to our brains, so I know exactly what you are talking about.  I could never taper; I am an addict and I have no control over my actions if I am using drugs or alcohol.  I've been through a couple of horrible withdrawals, very painful, anxiety, the works, just like you describe.  But I stayed in the moment, telling myself "this is what alcohol withdrawal feels like" rather than "I am going to die."  I am very big in to labeling what's going on without emotion, unless emotion will help. I don't say I'm "overwhelmed" I say "I have a long to-do list." The change is within ME, but so much of the time, that is enough. When you're experiences withdrawal pains that you can't ignore, give up trying to ignore them but try to conscientiously evaluate and label them for exactly what they are, NOT what they aren't.  Your heart is pounding? Okay, your heart is pounding, you're not dying, not having a heart attack.  Your legs ache? Okay, where in your legs?  And lots of warm baths, soups and broth, and tea. And most of all, just a bit of time....... Take care and I will pray for you.......  

[worried878]

read and use the supps in the thomas recipe...do u have anything for sleep...otc drugs like melatonin, valerian, tylenol pm...muscle relaxers at the house can help..also many have a bottle of phenergan laying aound.or a doc will call it in for a tummy bug anytime as a rule/safe drug/use to sleep anxiety/tummy issues/even helps my sinuses...get out and exercise when u can as much as u can...keep posting..lots of help here

[lucyred68]

the worst was the first three weeks for me, 21 days with no more than 2 hours sleep in 24.  i am still clean from methadone 13 months later.  you can do it.  i won't say that it isn't hell, but the end result is way worth it.  my prayers are with you to kick this horrible poison, the worst ther is in my book.

Lucy

[Penelope14]

I also detoxed off methadone & had many sleepless nights, not to mention horrible anxiety, I wasnt the same person I am right now, thats for sure, I was a wreck! & at the time I really believed that I would never recover, but I did, & you will to, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to maybe even a month? Take Care & keep us posted on how your doing, Penelope

[Vinnieanew]

I went through my first night n it is horrible,  I have been throwing for 3 hrs. now.  I just wish it would settle down.

I read the detox formula n it looks great but, not enough funds to pick anything up.

I've been trying to tell myself,,,u know what is on the other end of this hellish tunnel.  I think of what everyone has greatly assisted me.  Wehn you say 3 weeks doess that mean everyday like right now day 1 and half? but this is hell

[BoboR]

Your bathtub may be your best friend for a few days. Catch a hot bath, hot as you can stand it, and soak as long as you feel like it. Hot baths helped me get thru some of the methadone wd aches. I did a very slow taper and jumped off at only 2 or 3 mg, but I still had some wd's.  Sometimes I took several baths a day. Also, some imodium, which is pretty inexpensive could help with your stomach issues. Hang in there, it gets better.

[scaredmom330]

warm baths and something hot to drink,  Imodium is good, OTC sleep aids are good too. just keep telling yourself you can do this...we all are here for you my friend..take care and msg me anytime...you are in my prayers.

[Vinnieanew]

In the middle of this fight of my life.  It will be a complete 48 hrs tonite but I feel so miserable.  I keep thinking,,,,How can I get through this? Then I come here or think of what you guys wrote.  Minutes are ging by like hours and hours feel like days,

V

[sadinmichigan]

You hang in there..It is very hard to go through w/d from methadone..and yes..3 weeks of feeling pretty much like you do now is likely..BUT..keep focused on the end result. It is more than worth it. When I went c/t I didn't have anything from the detox formula either..I didn't find that article by the dr. until I was @ 3 weeks into it.
Don't look at the clock..the clock seems to stop during this..and your right min. seem like hours. I remember that all too well. Try to post as much as you can. We will be here for you. How many mgs were you on? Actually I don't think it much matters with methadone, I have seen people come off of way less then what I did and have just as bad of w/ds..this will be a short time relatively speaking compared to the rest of your life without having methadone handcuffs on..right?..Hang in there..

[theeagle]

I dont have the answers for you - but I did it. And it didnt kill me...even though I thought it would. It is so worth it to get behind you that any measure is worthwhile.....best of luck to you - keep posting and keep occupied.

[Vinnieanew]

Thank oyu everyone for helping me. It's really open my eyes as to howstrong one must be.  Hopefully, everyone is different, maybe it won't be 3 weeks for me...maybe longer, maybe shorter.  It just iis so damn hard right now to even hold thought or one single sitting position.  I think for me, I can handle but, it's the restlesness...aka high anxiety and sleep deprived.  Did you sleep at all in those 3 weeks??

Vin

[sadinmichigan]

I hate to say..I only could sleep about 30 min in any 24hr period..and that usually was 15min at a time..it will come..I also tried tylenol pms..a whole bottle didn't make me sleep..
Hang in there..it will get better before you know it. i hope it doesn't take to long for you..

[theeagle]

I forgot to add something.....if you are vomiting a lot...or have loose stools....get some pedialyte or gatorade.....some other formulas exist, but push the fluids (room temp 7-up left out to remove carbonation is good) to avoid dehydraton...

[Vinnieanew]

oh man am I ever throwing up.  I drink water and vitamin water multiV. Did you guys notice yourself getting stronger as those 21 days came?

[Vinnieanew]

Its going to be day 3 tonite,  I feel miserable I don't even know if I feel better that the first 48 hrs...my brain is so mixed up.  I was able to take a multi-vitamin .  does taking these vitamins make the feeling of this w/d any better??