Does alcohol affect methadone withdrawal

[christphert]

   I've been off methadone for about 3 and a half months now and the withdrawal symptoms still haven't gone away. I was on 110 milligrams of methadone for 3 and a half years, i detoxed myself very fast (in 3 months time) but i can't stand the withdrawal symptoms any more. Its not that the withdrawal symptoms are that bad but it's bad because its been SO long and i'm now willing to do subutex because i don't know how long this will continue. I need to go back to work and have no money for paid doctor. Can someone tell me where i can get subutex from a free clinic? Also 2 times i started to feel better so i went out with some friends and had some mixed drinks and the withdrawal symptoms came back harder. I felt like i just lost a whole month of withdrawal both times. I now will not drink at all until i'm 100%. Has anyone else had the same thing happen to them where just one night out and withdrawal symptoms come right back worse for like 2 weeks?

[gnarly_1]

HI sounds like your in the grips of methadone's lonnnnnng post withdrawal it not uncommon this drug has its own set of rules it was 90 days for me to just start to feel good it took a good 6mo to say ya im ok now but even a yr later I felt better I wish there was a way to beet this but theirs not you just have to grind it out one thing you need is good nutrician I recamend whey protein shakes to everybody that detoxes its loaded with vitamins ecential amino acids as well as the protein all of witch the brain needs to heal you can pick up a 2lb can at walmart for 15 bucks the chocolate flavor is good you just mix it with milk drink 2 a day till you feel better then 1 a day till a yr is up this is not a quick fix but it will give your body the building blocks to get well a lot sooner this stuff works as for the booze....as addicts a buzz is a buzz is a buzz regardless where it comes from and we cant aford one it leads back to our DOC every time alcohol is responsible for most of the relapse here you just go out for a drink your guard is down your inhibitions drop someone pulls out some pills and your sunk it just not worth it you have to grasp sobriety as a whole not just the parts that suit you it a commitment but the only thing you will be missing out on is a hangover try the protein drink exersize from there its up to God and time but you will heal I can promise you that if it makes you feel any better your threw the worst of it now comes the recovery good luck and God bless......Gnarly        

[mellie4]

I don't have personal experience with methadone, but I did a lot of research after it was suggested for me for pain relief.  I chose to not go that route, and though it probably has helped some with pain, it wasn't for me.

I know gnarly_1 has a lot of experience with methadone.  Along with the support Jeremy gave, I know there are things you can take that may help.  Have you tried anything from the Thomas Recipe or the Amino Acid Protocol?  You really tapered really fast and that can be really hard.  You've come so far are you sure you want to do the suboxone?  That can be difficult for some people to come off as well.

I know gnarly_1 recommends some sort of protein drink that can be purchased at Walmart.  I'm sure he'll comment on some of his recommendations that have helped a lot of people.  Also, if you search through some of the past posts on methadone withdrawal, you'll find a lot of suggestions and support.

Congratulations on getting as far as you have!!  It's not an easy thing to get through.

[christphert]

     Hey, thanks for taking time to answer my question. It's good to hear that it has taken someone else months to fully recover. I never had to deal with heroin withdrawal thank god but i didn't clarify how bad the withdrawals were when i went from 110 milligrams to 0 in 3 months time and even worse when i was in jail for 3 days and went cold turkey. It was pure hell. Like you i remember smelling odd stuff. I smelled something like burt charcoal or some kind of food burnig, but it was very nauseating and there was no kitchen and only i was smelling it. Also the thing that got me the most was the cramps in my arms and legs only my muscles in my arms were burning and it felt like the muscles were being stretched. Now it's alot milder but so annoyin. Thanks again, it's good to talk someone who knows what i'm going through.

[hellc@mst]

No, I never drank before or after detoxing from methadone, but if it did make your withdrawals reoccur, you would be wise not to do it again for a while. It does take time for our bodies to reset and there are often idiosyncratic symptoms  unique to every individual. For me, I would get the faintest metalic or chemical-esque taste in my mouth and I also had the wierdest muscle twitch in my left eyebrow. Another was the smell of cooking would make me wretch even months after my last dose of methadone. These all subsided over time and I was told not to worry.

I also believe you are right about the methadone withdrawals. Often they are made out to be the severest/most intense of them all but that was never my experience. What wore away at me was their duration. It was like Chinese water torture. Not very severe initially but after months of disrupted sleep and constant muscle ache, it really did get me down at times. IMO, heroin withdrawls were far more intense than detoxing off of methadone but thankfully they are shortlived and easily forgotten.

Take care. Kind regards Jeremy (recovered addict)
4 years drug and alcohol free