56 yr old getting off Methadone

[daveku]

hello,
I'm 56 yr old male, that was taking 60 mg Methadone for about 5 months because of OxyContin, i used to shoot it up the arm. i'm down to about 30 mg.Methadone and going cold turkey... i can get some clondine. will it help?? how much should i take?? and how long after stoppping  Methadone???
any help out there??
please!!! thanks.,
Dave

[selfinduced]

You guys are the best! It takes a village from all phases of like to educate us. Thank God for humanity. xoxo

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

thanks Teri and we will stay in touch throughout this path in our lives. and YES the execercise thingy was a Gnarly suggestion.....He had done a hike or something like so he adviced I that I just take it slow in steady....and if HE SAYS IT I DO IT!!

And the same goes for you please contact me via email as it goes to my private email which is on all day so I know if someone has contacted me thru med help...I am here for YOU as well....never forget that!!! we are strong and we will get thru this FIGHT....

your friend and RECOVERING addict,
Kim

[gnarly_1]

HI  so you want off methadone .....well its very doable but unless you want to torcher yourself I would drop your dose into the single didgets jumping from 30 is going to feel like getting hit by a train this stuff is a lot stronger then people think 10mg id like 10 percs so in effect you would be jumping off 30 percs very unpleasant my advise to you is keep tapering down this is a race one by the tortus not the hair
slow and steady wins this rase I came off 150mg of it took me 8 1/2 mo to taper but I did it if you havent gotten the vitimins go to walmart they have a 3 in 1 calcium/magnesium/zinc take 4 in the morning and 4 at dinner this will cut down on the withdrawals your going to feel this reallly helps and its only 6 bucks I know what it like to just be fed up and want off ......unfortunately it wont work with methadone you just have to grind it out if you do choose to jump at 30 your looking at 2 weeks of hell sick for a month and a long drawn out recovery we have had members do it all regretted it I wish you the best of luck with what ever you decide God bless.......Gnarly  

[Teri9498]

Hi Kim, just read your post and wanted to thank you about the info on exercise how weird I did not know that....so thanks.  I know you can do this, just keep a positive attitude.  Our stories with methadone sound so familiar.  If I can do anything at all let me know, send me an e-mail or message.  I've also been listening to Gnarly he is so inspiring, I keep thinking he did so I can do it.  We WILL get through this.....sending love and prayers, your friend, Teri

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

AMEN! Selfinduced! AMEN!!! Gnarly Is and has been my SAVIOR/HERO/and he has restored my faith in Jesus Christ.....
I absolutely listen to his advice word for word....it is GOSPEL to me!!

So Yes, If G-man chimes in he KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKIN about.....So listen and try to be as open minded as you can...

God Bless Each one of US!!!....
Kim

[Hollaatme]

Hey guys I just switched from methadone to suboxone...if ur willing to go thru the long lasting w/dog methadone or able to go I to Med.detox then good for you! Myself it wasn't an option. I switched to subutex/suboxone and have been doing great.. obviously I now need to get off the sub but most stories have it less intense of withdrawal....of course its no "miracle drug" but it made sense for me.good luck message me anytime for advice

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

I have been reading all the posts and  tho we do not personally know one another we are all connected in this methadone world....
I am so very -VERY proud of you!! I can't tell you how refreshing it is to read on here how many methadone users whether you're using it to get clean from Oxy's (like myself) heroin or if some have just been addicted to methadone itself....but to read these have been so much more encouraging.
I stand in lines at my clinic 3 days a week and the STORIES I have to hear make me SO darn angry!!!!!
I know they are the ones that just aren't READY to be or even TRY and get CLEAN but ...it still  just gets to me ---ya know??
I too am on the taper stage and I was so riddled with FEAR about how bad this was going to be...but I too take the Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc-have been for a few months now 4 in the morning and 4 at bed time...
I was also given GREAT advice from THE BEST On these forums and "HE" knows who he is,....As do most of you....G man!!
I told him how I was taking these 25 to 30 mile bike rides 2 to 3 days a week then on the next week I was walking 5 miles 3 X's a week and was told this:

"do only short and or low impact excercises....No strenuous exercise as it's real ez to metabolize ALL your methadone and you can send yourself into withdrawals:
See I did not know this...here I am thinking " I will just work out like a crazy woman to get ALL the drugs out of my system" WRONG...As methadone isn't LIKE ALL THE OTHER DRUGS Ive detoxed off in the past.....

Just wanted to share that tid bit of info with ya......
I am at 20 mg's and I will be tapering down by 3's....just waiting  4 my body to tell me WHEN?? Plus I am doing it "slow N steady wins the race".....just another quote from the G-Man!!...... and I plan on winning this BATTLE!!

I am so proud of you and to hear such pozitive words you wrote...just KEEP that pozitive attitude and dont allow yourself to think  "Im sure it will get worse as I go down"....instead tell yourself "It will get better as I go down"!! I have FOUND the more we think POZITIVE then POZITIVE THINGS happen to us...I swear its true as I was the worst at being the most NEGATIVE person on everything.....THE WORST...always waiting for the world to END kinda thinking ---- but NO MORE....

So GOOD LUCK I will add you to my prayer list and YOU CAN DO this WE ALL CAN because WE WANT IT!! add me as a friend if you like as i would love to stay in touch and hear how you beat it!!!
God bless  and STAY Positive!!!
Kim....

[selfinduced]

I have no experience with methadone, but I want to bump your post up in hopes gnarly will tap in. He can help you. Stay strong xx

[ready2bfree49]

Please keep in touch with me.... our situation is really similar....i'm on 40mgs now in a couple of days it's going to be 30 i'm goin to stay on it as long as i can then wen i get to 20mgs for a week i'm going into medical detox.....i know how i am...i'm a wimp and i kno i will give in to temptation plus there is alot of therapy with the place i'm going into and i kno i need that...I have been on something for so long I don't even know what sober is much less living sober...oxycontin for 3 yrs. methadone for 7yrs. and before then I would use whatever ( only thing I haven't abused is heroin haven't ever seen it...) but it was the opiates that changed the whole story......

[Teri9498]

Hey guys, I also am tapering methadone.  I've been on it for over 7yrs. I was taking 80-90mg a day, that was in August, now I'm at 10 mg. I too have been so scared because of all the horror stories you hear coming off methadone, but I must say it has not been that bad, I'm sure it will get worse as I go down, but right now I'm doing ok.  I've also been taking the vitamins and it really seems to help.  Now if I could just sleep, but from what I hear that will come with time.  Next week I will be going down 1mg.  If anyone needs someone to talk to I'm here.  

[ready2bfree49]

I too am detoxing off of methadone ...I have been on it for 7 yrs. and most of that time I was at 90 mgs a day. I am now on 40 a day getting ready to go to 30 then when I get to 20 for a week I'm going into a medical detox here where I live....I am scared to death mostly b/c of all the storys I have heard ( I go to a methadone clinic) I would love to have someone to talk to that is going thru the same :) something I am doing is taking calcium, magnesium, zinc vitamins..a few people on here have said to take those ( double the dose suggested on bottle) they said that they had little to no withdrawl symptoms...methadone affects your bones alot so it makes since....I'm doing it...I'll try about anything b/c oxy's is what led me to the methadone so I know all to well what a bad detox is.....good luck to you and i'm here if you want to talk to someone that is going thru the same as you :)