Help from someone who had Sucessful Methadone Withdrawal

Question

After 18 years on Methadone I started to detox back in Oct. I came down 2 mg a week. On Sat. the 26th, it will be 8 weeks since my last dose (2 mg). The 1st 3 weeks were pure Hell, I still do not know how I got through those days. The following 5 weeks were better, but I am still having withdrawal symptoms & I just do not feel good. I am still having diarrhea & my stomach only lets me drink water & eat the blandest of foods. If I try anything else my stomach starts up in protest immediately. I still have chills, sweats & sneezing fits everyday, but much much less than those 1st few weeks. I am sleeping, on average about 6 hours a night. What I would like to know is this normal? I had no idea almost 2 months later I would still feel so lousy. I am in this for the duration, I did not go through this hell for nothing, but would like an idea how much longer this will go on. I did drugs for 18 months & when I went to the clinic for a detox, they convinced me maintenance would be better for me, which might have been true at the time, but no warning was given about what it would take to get off of methadone. This is one of the hardest things I have done & will probably be one of the hardest things I ever do in my life. If there is someone out there who has done this & actually started to feel better at some point after their withdrawal & could tell me how long it took. I know it is crazy to think it will never get better, but your head can really mess with you, and it makes everything so much harder. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

gnarly_1 · Accepted Answer

HI and welcome to the forum....well im 247 days clean from methadone and life is a beautiful place once again...and im here to tell you it will be for you to but the painful fact is it takes time...man o man how I feel your pain...I know exactly what it feel like to be in your shoes ...your just like.....when is this going to finely be over...well for me it took a wile I was on narcotic for 16 1/2 yrs ...10yrs on the pills then 6 1/2 on methadone...I came off 150 ml and it took me 8 1/2 mo to taper to say the least it was difficult...when I came off it I expected it to be like most narcotic and in a few weeks I would be better.....but thats usually not the case with methadone...I had a similar experience like you instead of feeling better I felt sicker for quite some time like you said the first 3 weeks are he!! then slowly your a bit better by 60 days but still having symptoms it was around 90 days that things started to turn around for me...I still had a ways to go but each week there after seamed to get better by the time I was at 6mo things had really moved forward in my recovery...there are a few things that you can do to help it along for 1 look up the amino acid protacall on the right hand side of the screen the supplements give your brain what it needs to heal and have helped many...also I found that drinking whey protein shakes helps a lot its full of vitamins and amino acids as well as protein all of witch the brain needs to heal...you can pick it up at walmart for 15 bucks for a 2lb can the chocolate flavor is good and all you do is mix it with milk...I still drink 2 a day...the next thing is some sort of aftercare both A/A and N/A are free and the 12 step programs work if you work them if this is not a good fit try an addiction therapist or a substance abuse conslor but you are really going to need support in helping you recover from this right now try and not get discouraged...I know it can be tuff I have been there but push thew the pain it is so so worth it when you finely recover keep posting and reading the posts...read as much as you can about methadone recovery ..knowledge is power...trust that with time and God you will eventually start to feel better...and feel free to message me if you just need to talk or vent...where all out here to help good luck and God bless......Gnarly

gnarly_1 · Answer

HI and welcome to the forum....well if you scroll up you can see what it was like for me
and it is typical for methadone...try not to get discouraged this is a battle one or lost in ones own mind...try and keep a positive attitude it will help out a lot ...the next month will try your perseverance to the core but YOU CAN DO THIS...the sleep thing is the worst
try relaxing in a hot bath right b/4 you lay down....if you cant sleep try laying on the couch with your eyes closed and some soft music playing in the back ground ..it might be the closest thing to sleep you get for a wile...if you can cat nap during the day take sleep anywhere you can get it...look to the right hand side of the screen and look up the amino acid protacall ...the supplements give your brain what it needs to heal...just know you will get thew this ....sleep will return slowly and day by day you will start to feel better just hang in there best you can...good luck and God bless
.....Gnarly

stupid954 · Answer

I second what gnarly said. 27 yrs on methadone, 68 days clean, and every day is better than the last ( and I've got all the symptoms you've got, I figure I'll get to day 90 then start bitchin', but that's just my plan) Give it time, 18 yrs. is a long time.

msdm105 · Answer

Sorry - I know exactly what you are going through & I know it is pure hell.  I am at day 58 after taking my last 2-mg dose.  To be honest with you the next 3 weeks are going to be very hard.  When I started the detox, like you I had kicked Heroin several times and thought it would be the same & within a week or so I would feel fine, I was wrong.  This is a long process.  When I accepted that and stopped waiting to feel better tomorrow, it helped me deal with the way I was feeling.  Just stay tough & keep reminding yourself that it will pass.  I am still suffering much milder symptoms, but despite that I know it will be worth all of the suffering to have control of my mind & body back.
As far as what you can do, I can tell you what I did.  1st of all drink ALOT of water, as much as you can.  If you are too sick to eat anything, at least drink protein drinks like ensure, your body needs proteins & vitamins, and all that stuff to start repairing itself.  For sleep I took Tylonal PM.  I still went through a sleepless period.  Over the 1st week I went days without sleep, and then was able to sleep like 3-4 hours a night.  Now I am sleeping every night for about six hours on average.  Most important try to keep busy.  The days I stayed home in bed were out right brutal.  When I got up and did things & went out, I still did not feel good, but I felt better.  Keep your mind occupied or you will have no choice but to occupy your mind with how bad you feel & this will make it so much worse.  
I had the anxiety attacks too, they passed after the 3rd week.  Just remind yourself that it is all part of the detox.  
I know it it not much comfort right now, but I truly do understand where you are at & I hope you stick with it and get through this because it will be worth it.  Hang in There!

hurtinjim280 · Answer

THIIS IS DAY TWO AFTER TAKING MY LAST 2ML DOSE OF METHADONE AND THINGS ARE NOT TO GOOD. MY BIGEST PROBLEM IS SLEEPING. I JUST CANT DO IT. I FEEL OK AND WHEN I LAY DOWN IT HITS ME LIKE A SACK OF ROCKS,PAIN IN MY FEET AND ANXIETYTHAT I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFOR. I HAVE NOT SLEPT IN 60 HRS AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE DETOXED FROM PILLS AND MAIN LINEING HEROIN AND NEVER FELT PAIN LIKE THIS . CAN ANYONE GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ABOUT THIS! THANX...

gnarly_1 · Answer

BTW  go to your doctor there are meds they can give you to help with your stomach problems...

sway1 · Answer

gnarly is the resident methadone expert. he was here earlier and will most likely be back, so don't go away. i have never been successful coming off methadone, so can only say my hat's off to you. you have gotten much farther than i ever could. hang in there. peace, sway