GOOBIE1234

[GOOBIE1234]

I need help trying to taper off methodone does anyone have any suggestions on how to this without going in the hospital I am a single mother and cant afford to go in rehab I am going to try to do this by myself. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[orangefyre]

First, I want to warn you I do not sugar coat anything, and I ask and say whatever is on my mind, some people find me a little brutal, but I'm real and thats the way I approach things now. I do not mean to offend you, so if I over step ANY bounds let me know.
OK.
Well, you have the right mindset to beat this. To answer your question about being on 50mgs will the w/d's be bad. I see it like this;
#1 Which is worse? Being dope sick for a little while or
#2 Living your life revolving aound Methadone?
Your children know you beat Cancer, they will understand if you have your BAD DAYS. I know that deep in your heart you understand that you have already beaten a huge monster in Cancer, now you are only battling yourself. The Cancer couldn't take you out! Get the picture here?
Pill addiction in itself is very lonely, thats why we are here. Withdrawals, even more lonely. You will have sleepless nights (and I do mean days of no sleep all night) diarrhea, chills, hot and cold spells, sweats, dizziness, memory problems, lack of concentration, and the "jones". But it won't kill you and its beatable (is that even a word?) Anyway, you probably didn't blink an eye when it was time for you to get tough and beat Cancer, why are you so afraid of this?

[serenitysaves]

I as well have two kids a boy who's 4 sone to be five in Oct. and a girl who's 2 and sone to be 3 Sept.  This is a very scary process.  I've been on methadone for five years and have'nt used since.  I only take my methadone "as pricribed" by my doctor.  So my kids have not had to see the monster I become when in my active addiction. and I hope they never have too.  Some days I'd asume to just stay on meth till the day I die, but it does take a lot from me.  Always tired, and the restrictions of the clinic when it comes to vacations and whatever eles.  I only go once a week and get take homes for the rest of the week. but still it is'nt the place I want to spend my Thursday mornings.  I hope like hell that I can do this, I know I can I must always stay focused and keep my support group cloose.  well I wish you the best,
take care, Robin

[GOOBIE1234]

I know what you mean about the kids. I am trying to find the easy way to do this my kids had to watch me almost die from cancer and they are the reason I beat it . I just cant stand the thought of them watching me go through wd I am only on 50mg a day and have only been on that much for six months do you think the w/d will be that bad I am very scared of what I am gonna go through. The first time I got off of pain meds it was norco that was after I finished radiation. I had to get on methodone because I now have ostio radial nicrosis of the jaw and it has gotten better thats why I want off of the meds I dont feel like I need them anymore. The first time I ended up in the hospital and it scared my kids to death I am a single mom of 2 girls and they are my life. I want to be here for them for a long time I lost my mother when I was 14 to cancer Im not gonna let my girls loose me.

[serenitysaves]

I would not recomend cutting your dose in half because you are at low dose now.  If you could get a mesurment tool to see exactly how much your comming down and do it yourself.  If you come down to fast in my opion it just brings more pain than is needed.  Methadone is a hard drug to stop, and for the time you've been on what's a few more months?
something that might be helpful as fars as med's when comming down.

alprazolam is a generic for xanax.  a small dose of 0.5MG once or twice daily. (only as needed!!!!)
hydroxyzpam 50MG is a generic for vistaril. take one up to three times a day as needed

OF COURSE!!!!  Talk to your docotor first!!!!
These are what I'm taking right now to help with the w/d's, which at this point are'nt that bad. (very greatful for that)

I know a lot of clinics want people to stay for the long run either for money or the fact that if used and taken the right way it can change an addicts life, which it has for me.
I know your situation is different, but my clinic has been very supportive of my taper to detox.
as long as your not using and taking it as directed there should'nt be a problem, but again that's for the clinics I've been too.
I wish you the best. It really is an awesome thing to hear of a recovery like yours.  My aunt, who was my moms twin and only living realitive because they were adoted in Germany.  She died in 1990 from ovarin cancer.  so it's so great to hear anyone surive the fight of cancer.

Take care, Robin

[orangefyre]

My advise to you...get it over with. Just go through withdrawals. Easy for me to say, I know...I planned my w/d's over a vacation (Christmas). I did a slight taper, but found I still had mild w/d's, so why torture myself. I couldn't afford to lose my job, and I had seen another person go through it before...It's not pretty. The Thomas Recipe got me through the worst of it, I don't know if it TRULY worked, or if I was just substituting one addiction for a healthier addiction. It gave me hope and something I had control of. Anyway, I haven't taken a Methadone since Christmas. I was up to 160mgs give or take. Stressful situations were my trigger to take more, so I had to re-teach myself how to deal with stress. I'm 36 yo and have 4 children. A sweet and very supportive (I confided in her) 17 yo old daughter, and 3 boys ages 2, 8, and 13. I literally have my hands full. Going through w/d's with my children around, looking back, was the best thing that could've happened to me. They PUSHED me to get out and get moving. Just a little bit each day, and soon I was stronger and it was finally over. I played the "FLU CARD". I had some trouble with my heart during w/d's but it was short lived. It took a good month for me to say, hey I'm doing ok now.
That's my story, and my advise. Don't put your body through those mini w/d's during a taper. Methadone is a different critter, and VERY hard to beat. If it is TRULY what you want, you'll find a way to get through it. My email address is in my profile. If you want to talk to someone who has been there and beat it, write me. I'll do my very best to help you through it. I have faith that you can do this, if you want it. You can beat it.
:-)  Lisa

[fishmeal]

Go to suboxone.com

It is another opiate drug but better than the doan.