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Finally...detoxed from Methadone

Morning.  I finally after 7 years on Methadone, have detoxed.  I never had been on too high of a dose, I started a slow detox from 35 mgs., the detox was 6 months.  I'm feeling alright, somewhat- but the symptoms are there, the not sleeping is the hard part along with the leg-cramping and the usual bag of unpleasantries. Can anyone give me any time- frames as to how long this will last?  Hopefully not for months on end! I have a feeling I went about this the right way, rapid detox seems like your just setting yourself up for a nasty fall.  I got on methadone when I was 19 yrs. old, I'm 26 and just want to reclaim my life back, go to NA- stay sober!  This is actually my third time trying to kick methadone, the other two times I failed miserably.  I don't want to end up back 'chasing a bag' or limping back to the methadone clinic.  I have severed all ties to previous friends that were users, I do the 20 second rule, and stay busy!!!  My main questions is: how long should I expect these withdrawls to last?  Did I go about my detox slow enough so that most of the drug is out of my system?  For being on this for such a long time, I'm still kind of naive to the generalisation of methadone, always in the past have heard 2 or 3 sides to every story!  Any input would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!!!
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Avatar universal
Hey everyone. I have been on methadone for 6 years. I have been decreasing my dose down for over a year. Im now at 14 mg. My dose isn't even a sip worth anymore. But I'm starting to feel some symptoms. Feeling cold sweats, fatigue, excessive yawning. Nothing to severe. I go down 2mg per week. Is that too much? Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks
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Avatar universal
hi Jeremy  sent you a message so check your e/mail......Gnarly
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Avatar universal
Hello. I saw your post where you said you are very knowledgeable about the methadone program and that's where I am right now. I just started today at 30mg. I'm hoping I can stay at that level and not have to go up, but I know its possible that I will have to go up. I had my first dose at 8am and when I go tomorrow for my next, it will be in the afternoon, so I figure that being as I'll be over 24 hours from my last one, I'll have a better idea if I need to go up 10mg or not. I hope to have you as a person to talk to about this since you are on the receiving end of the program and an insiders opinion is always of value to me,so long as it isn't a biased opinion. Thanks for your time friend and wish me luck. all of us here need that in commodity size.
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Avatar universal
I've been on methadone for about 15 years. D decided I couldn't let it run my life anymore. I've stocked piled some Percocet and Valium. I've started at 125 and I'm down to 45. I'm starting to feel it. Someone told me there is a ratio of how many Percocet u should take at a time depending on how much methadone your on .does anyone know what that us. Begging for help!
My clinic only takes u down to 10 ml and then your on your own!
Please help. I also have some Valium to help.
Please!  April
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Avatar universal
THE REASON THERE ARE NOT MANY H ADDICTS AFTER 50 is because most don't make to 50. Geeze.  and the ones who do are on methadone!  Just saying ✌out.
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Avatar universal
I got to say if you can't sleep and you got leg cramps!!! That is not a successful detox.  Once you comfortably get to 10 mg you should go no more 1 mg a month. And in some cases like me (23 yrs.on methadone) the old timers 10 years and up should go 1 mg every 6 to 8 weeks. Then you will have a real successful detox. Everyone gets on the program and gets feeling like normal (working, hanging on to money, enjoying life again) and rushes to get off and then BAMM!  So take it so so slow. What have you all got to lose. We all know it's tough being a junky. So why torture yourself rushing off only to fail again. Remember there is no drug out there that is worse to get off then methadone (Valium is the next-that's one under estimated little drug too).  So if you go slower the better. What's the rush. Enjoy your life before you wake up 70 and you realize you wasted a good part shooting dope and got **** to show for it. God bless you all in your recovery, and mostly in your detox. ✌out.

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Avatar universal
you have no idea how great it is to see some positivity for once on this topic. I've been a methadone  patient at a treatment facility for over 7 years and am starting the process of weaning off. it's been the scariest thing I have EVER had to deal with....my soul aches to think of the day I won't be able to handle it and give up  . Peace be with you and I pray you are looking up friend. please let me know how you are doing love.
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Avatar universal
I just have to comment and please take this as it is meant, to help you.
It sounds like you could really use some NA meetings.  If you depend on your girlfriend like you are you will most likely use if things don't work out between you two.
A support group is so important for you right now, any group that believes in living clean.
Please trust me I have quit for my husband, my daughter and didn't get sober or clean until I did it for myself, with a lot of support from others!
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Avatar universal
actually I feel better than yesterday. Any sleep problems tonight will be because I slept this afternoon after the gym.

I have to be clean in under 4 weeks as I'm going to eastern europe and have no return ticket. Last summer the doc was happy to give me 3 months tabs, 35mls a day, this time it can't happen and is better to bite the bullet now. Where I'm going aspirin and codeine is probably a crime.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. This is the best forum on this stuff I've found. Although it makes me profoundly glad I'm not a citizen of the USA (I've been there and met many great people) who has these problems.

So благодаря и чао за сега

Ci/Cи
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Avatar universal
GOOD JOB MATE  YOUR FREE!!!!! the post withdrawal will hit and then its the energy crash and no sleep at 4 days your just getting into it it takes a good 7 to 10 to get over the intial withdrawal bu8t hang in there my habit was long also it took a good 90 days to feel weel you do get better along the way but painfully slow hang in there and keep posting for support good luck and God bless.........Gnarly
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Avatar universal
gotta say mate these posts from the US horrify me. I was H addict for 7 years and then meth with H on top for 15. methadone allowed me normal life, still using if I avoided occasional drug tests.

I have never heard of methadone as a pain killer, for back pain etc. These huge doses that these people get for back pain etc, incredible. The National Health Service never pescribes methadone for such reasons. And then they run out of money and have to detox from 110ml upwards! Barbarism.

My mum slipped in a pool of petrol. Broken arm, cracked wrist, petrol burns. In A&E are big signs "If You Are In Pain Ask For Relief", which basicaly means another shot of morphine while you wait. But after stabilisation no opiate pain killers.

The US health care system just seems uncivilized, and the worlds most expensive.

Anyhow day 4, no real w/d. Bit manic maybe! And I have suffered w/d at higher doses and know the pain. I have come to 0 after a year tapering off, and yes low doses mean you won't be very happy after lunchtime. But infact the discomfort of 5ml if you give 5ml time is no worse than 0, just means you don't sneeze between 7 and 13.

I send these two comments after reading of peoples experience in the US. Just do what the guy says, taper gradualy, do 100+ to 60/50 quite quickly and then 25 down slowly. Do nothing on top. Take the last 25 slow, very slow, like six months and at the end you have a mild cold.

Exercise helps, get those natural endorphins, hot chillis also stimulate endorhine (unless you're Mexican!).

I have very strong reasons to give up, more than "I know I should". This helps, but if you are H addict the stats show you grow out of it around 50.

But I read these stories of money and driving to clinics in the next state and docs who care only about money and my heart bleeds. The worst I have ever had to deal with in bureaucratic ineptitude.

Just taper slowly, have something to live for, it'll be OK.

OK, take care, bye.
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Avatar universal
just to say this can be done without too much pain. I started reduction from 50ml, very gradual to 10ml, then 8, 7 and 5 for a couple of weeks. I have been on 'done for many years and it did allow me to keep using H a couple of times a month.

I figured it might not be so bad when I was on 10ml and made an error. I went away and was pescribed from a Tuesday through to the next Tuesday. Picked up from chemists and assumed the doc would have issued until Friday and then back to the usual Friday to Friday. So without looking at the bottle on Thursday morning drank the lot. Down to chemist and find my next pickup is Tuesday. So 4 days without and it wasn't too horrible (though I did have a few codine phosphates).

So on Sunday (6:00) after 2 weeks on 5ml I took what I hope to be my last dose. 60 hours later and no real pain (19:00 Tuesday). A little sweaty sometimes, a little goosebumps, occasional sneezes, but really nothing much more. And lets hope it stays that way!? No screaming ab-dabs...

Makes me very sad to read of you people in the USA who have to pay so much money for treatment. Long live the NHS!

Good luck folks

Ci
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Avatar universal
HI I answered your other post....but read this one if you taper properly you can avoid most of the withdrawals you will have bouts with them here and there but not what your describing methadone has to be done painfuly slow to avoid this kind of thing but your clinic should be able to stear you right if you have problems message me good luck and God bless........Gnarly
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Avatar universal
im on 95mls of methadone per day,i used to smoke a lot of heroin and crack cocaine.i have stumbled a few times.i want to get off the methadone so bad but im scared.ive let my family and friends down so many times with lies and worry.made them ill to a point,i have to stop.if i reduce 5ml a day starting tomorrow untill i get down to 20mls or something low,will it be dangerous?help someone.spmedays i want to die.im afraid of the pain and people have told me ill be seeing strange things and will feel like there are snakes and creepycrawlies all over me and trying to get out of my skin.the flashbacks,the guilt,crying.i have a partner of 15 years on and off and he does not smoke or take drugs,works hard and has said this is my last chance.i love him so much and if i dont do this im going to loose him.im 34 years old,thankfully i dont have children,even though it is what i want more thaan anything in the world.but not like this.im running out of time for kids.i dont thjink my partner realises what this entails,but ive had to many chances and this has to happen now not next month or next year.im so so scared.
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Avatar universal
get up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin calcium/magnesium/zinc .......take 4 in the morning and 4 with dinner in a few days this will help with your withdrawals
for recovery I recamend whey proten shakes again walmart for 15 bucks for a 2lb can there full of amino acids as well as extra vitamins ans raw protein all of witch the brain needs to heal the choklate flavore is good just mix it with milk drink 2 a say till you come around im so sorry your doctor did this to you this is just like coming off 20mg so its going to be a ruff ride but you gave birth its not as bad as that but expect the next 2 weeks to be sore and run down along with the symptoms you have already if you need support im out here to help I help most of the methadoinans good luck and God bless.....Gnarly    
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2028941 tn?1329113395
I have been on methadone ever since my near fatal car accident & for the past year I have dropped dwn to a 20mg dose per day. Does anyone know how long it will take to start feeling ok again bcuz I am not in the position to be able to lay dwn &,withdraw, I have to care for my newborn baby by myself, I really need some friends for support but noone I know would understand my situation. If I didn't have someone small depending on me for everything it would be a whole lot easier to accomplish this. My doctor of 5 years perscribed this evil drug to me & failed to patient counsel me of what was in store for me if I wanted to come off of it. Now, I am rushing around my house washing clothes, etc trying to get as prepared as I possibly can, feeling & acting as tho my life is going to end in a day bcuz that is when I take my last dose of 10mg. I am already getting fever, chills, & nausea & I only cut my dose in half. What happened was this, my doctor of 5 years dropped me without any warning bcuz when he gave me a test, the right dosage wasn't in my system. I have been taking it like I am suppose to but he won't believe me due to other patients lying to him I guess. Can he legally just drop me & let me suffer like this. Please, if anyone has any advice that will give me an ounce of hope it will greatly be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
check your mail
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Avatar universal
Kiylen,I am new to this site . I  really need to actually talk to someone ono on one. Iam detoxing off of Methadone and Im soo scared.If i give you my email address,will you respond ,then i could give you my phone number. Anne
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Avatar universal
Id like to know if its better to just quit when you are at 15mg of Methadone a day...I was at 20, went down to 15 for the past week, cramping and diarrhea *****.  Wouldnt it just be easier to just quit and get it over with all at once? Have been taking for about 5 mo. Before that it was Percocets 5mg 2x a day for about a year for pain. I want this to end, tired of these pills owning me.  
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Avatar universal
Hey guys what's up, my name Carlos. I got o line and searched the methadone detox and luckily saw your post. I've been detoxing methadone for about 18 months and I just went down from 7 to 4mg this week about three days ago, and tried kicking it yesterday. I went all day feeling ok, but at night time I started feeling like crap, I had a burning sensation in my stomach, I was very gasie. I felt like I can deal with that so o went along with it, but when the time came to go to sleep my legs started cramping like hell and the leg pain wouldn't let me sleep, so I just ended up taking my dose, and decided that I'm going to wait a few weeks and go down to 2 mg and take it from there. Any advice? Please
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1845229 tn?1318913050
Thanks Gnarly.  And congratulations on 2 years!!  I read your post before reading your reply to my question & I have to say it's great how much good first hand experience you help so many people thru.  A true gift.  I think the irresponsible clinic my man goes to (and pays 500 a month to) is crazy cruel to give no support to people trying to get off this stuff. Conflict of interest ya think???  My man does not go to meetings or consult with his med. Dr... But the nutritional packs I got him from dr Dave seem to be key to his healing.  I am convinced that the brain chemistry imbalance is essential to work on.  My own personal experience with gabba & vitamin b has proven to work so well in helping with depression that I take no other med  we are hopeful that my husband will get as much from the nutritional path.  Anyway I just wanted to say thank you as you've given me hope for a better quality of life for this great guy I love.  Today better...4 th day from the Friday step-downs.
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Avatar universal
HI welcome to the forum and yes a cronic ain suffer can break free from this stuff I was on it for 6 1/2 yrs for cronic pain all the way to 150mg it took 8 1/2 mo to tapper down but I did it and tomorrow is my 2yr anniversary its taken a lot its not ez and the recovery is long mabe 90 days or so but today I live with less pain then wile on it motrin takes care of most of my pain I choose to live with a little......better then living in a fog and missing out of life sex and emotions if you guys need help im kinda the go to guy for methadone I can help you write back if you have queations or want help good luck and God bless,,,....Gnarly
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1843491 tn?1322859611
you did it cold turkey....thats amazing! how...i can;t!!!!!!!!!!!
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1845229 tn?1318913050
Not sure appropriate to post here, but have watching the agony of my husband of 21 years trying to get off the methadone he's been using for about 2 years now.  Was up to 125 mg & decided he wanted to be free of it.  The constant fear of withdrawing/difficulty of going on vacation/unexpected trips are inpossible/etc etc.  It's a slow process, but 13 months since started weaning I believe he's down to like 42, but the third and fourth day after a step down are obviously agony.  He is SO negative, unhappy, can't eat (sweets only & milk), smoking so much.  I hate living this way, our 3 kids have no idea what's wrong with him, just that every few days he's an animal crouching in the dark bedroom.  I wish to support him, I know he's getting closer all the time, but I've sacraficed so much of my own life & my girls for SO long (10 years chronic pain/addiction of my husband) but I want him to find his peace.  Just want to know...can a person with chronic pain (back surgery, circulation problems in legs) ever truly be free from this stuff?  
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