Methadone Dosing down

[officehours]

Usual questions concerning dosing down. I was at 50mg - down to 28 this week. Been going down 5 mg a week. From what I read that is fast but our clinic is over $400 a month and I can't afford it any longer. So far I've been fine, no problems at all. Some anxiety here and there, but that's normal for me. I am just looking for some withdraw stories for people who dosed down to 1mg from a clinic. Just wondering what to expect, if its going to be full blown bed ridden withdraws or if I'm just gonna be crabby and tired. I have a small son, so I need to be prepared, I am going to talk to my counselor this week about it to get some info, but looking for first hand stories. Thinking about taking a week vacation from work, but I want to take it at the right time. If withdraw doesn't start until day 3 then it would be a waste to be home then.

[atthebeach]

you have done well. try not to push your taper too fast. dropping 3 mgs at this stage is enough. see how you feel. let yourself adjust to the drop and then drop again.
don't fear the withdrawal. just take it as it comes. anxiety and fear will only make it worse.
treat your symptoms. build up your body with exercise, vitamins, a lean protein and veggie diet.
you will continue to get through this.
keep the faith.
congrats!!
keep up the good work.
Debbie

[officehours]

Its $13 a day, and you can only be $24 behind at a time, which doesn't even add up to 2 days. Its all financial. It cost me almost $400 a month to be there, Honestly, I shouldn't be complaining, I'm in a good spot, but inconvenient at most. 5mg a day.... wow- I can't imagine. I've been going to the clinic since late February- Started at 30mg- up to 50mg and now have been going down 5mg a week and I'm at 23mg now. So far, so good. Not one issue. I'm so scared to drop below 20mg, thats when I've heard the issue mainly start? idk. Just gotta do it.

[officehours]

I've been good so far, but I've read alot of people have a hard time under 20mg. I called the clinic and requested to only go form 23mg to 20mg instead of 18mg-Since labor day is Monday I will be at 23mg until tuesday, so about 2 weeks at 23mg, then starting wednesday, I will go to 20mg. Do you think 2 mg a week is too much after that? Its all financial, if I could do a 1 mg drop a month I would-- but its just not possible. I know that I will be there longer than I am thinking at this point. I guess spending the extra money is better than being bed ridden. What.a.pain.

[gnarly_1]

Hi  well you seam to be doing good so fare but dropping from 23 to 18 is a bit to much it is all about serum level in your blood in the lower doses you need to go slow or face some prity hefty withdrawals it takes longer to go from 20 down to 5 then from 60 to 20 this has to be done slow in the end our your going to be miserable  it takes about 3 days to notice the drop keep doing what your doing but slow way down we will be here for you  detoxing off methadone is now just a bad memory but one I will never forget .........Gnarly

[EricaLynnWeber]

I was deathly I'll for 3 weeks. But I'd been on 120 mgs for almost 3 years & I went down 5 a day. At the clinic I went to, they couldn't kick u out for non payment while u were pregnant.But u oonly had a week or 2 to pay it off after the birth. I dunno how it is where u go, but u might wanna ask if u don't wanna go down so fast right now. Best of luck with whatever u decide.

[officehours]

Going down to 18mg end of the week, I put in my request this morning and that should go through by Friday. I am so nervous for this decrease. thank god its a 3 day weekend. I have my Xanax filled just in case i need help sleeping and with anxiety. I had a touch of anxiety this morning just thinking about it i think and almost didn't fill out my dose down form, but I did it! So far so good at 23 mg. I recently started dating someone so my anxiety seems to be worse since then. Missed yesterday at work cause i just couldn't sleep the night before, nothing to do with withdraws, and i felt fine... I was just over thinking relationship things, so dumb! Just worrying about little things. So strange since I haven't had to deal with that sort of thing for years. But I was single that whole time, or most of it anyways. Thats the only thing I can think why I am dealing with the panicky feelign again. Now its back, and i hate it. hate it! Makes me even more scared about dosing down. anyways. I'm just babbling/.

[atthebeach]

hi thanks for checking in. wow you are sleeping? that's fantastic.
down to 23 mgs that is great news. if you didn't take one dose it is really ok. we have had some people who have skipped doses here and there.
most times it is just the anxiety of knowing you missed. the withdrawals usually take a few days to kick in with methadone.

you are doing awesome. make sure you are eating, staying hydrated,
exercising, taking vitamins, drink protein shakes. you are almost there.
keep moving forward.
congrats on your taper thus far.

[officehours]

I slept in yesterday and forgot to take my dose until like 4pm. I thought I took it and went back to sleep, but I must have been dreaming or something weird like that. .  .  I had such bad anxiety all day until I realized that I forgot to take it all together. I was revealed but then I was super scared. I hate dealing with any discomfort with anxiety. I'm so worried about missing work often once my dose gets lower and lower if that is how things are going to go. Just need to stay positive. I want to slow down my decrease but then again I just want to get it over with. I can't afford it any longer, like at all. Had to sell my iPad and some of my son's infant stuff like car seats and all that stuff we don't use. I feel fine today, and I'm going down to 23mg this week. Probably Wednesday since I took my Monday in clinic and took a take home for tomorrow. Yesterday was miserable tho. Not looking forward to do ing this but its all I want right now. UGH!

[officehours]

this is the 3rd time I've posted this. I keep forgetting to sign in!

Thank you so much for all the input. I am going to slow my taper down once I hit 20mg or maybe 15mg, not sure yet. Gonna talk to my counselor first.

Readytogetmylifeback--Keep me posted on how each day goes for you please. Message me if you want to. I'm always around a computer and really like to support anyone who needs it.

I'm just glad I decided to join this site.

I do plan on getting my script of Xanax back, and I'll pick up those meds. I have been doing the body by vi shakes since February (I'm not selling anything!" but I think they are packed with protein-I will have to double check. I have 2 a day and honestly they have been making me feel better and my skin better! So hopefully they will be an asset as well.

Keep the tips, stories, or whatever you would like to chat about coming. I really enjoy the support.

Thanks and I know I haven't been taking opiates long, I've always had some drug or alcohol issue going on, but never had a hard time stopping like this,

Good luck to everyone and thanks!

[gnarly_1]

Hi ...well you have been given some great advise I would like to add this  get up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitim calcium/magnesium/zinc  take 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner in a couple of days you will notice a big improvement in your withdrawals just know this can be done  I have said this a million times but ''you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile'' keep posting for support the last 20mg are ruff but doable we all want to see you make it
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Gnarly............................................

[beatbutnotbroken]

Hello and congrats on your progress....if you are looking for stories heres mine....I have been on opiates for 8+ years and the last 5years at a methadone clinic...got upto 105 then the last 8 months or so tapered down to 45mg and then jumped...the first 5 days was in detox and waited 80 hrs or so until they gave me subutex first day gave me 4mg onceIin the am and once at night then next day 2mg and 2 @gain...then said you are good to go..with 70%  of detox behind you....they were wrong...my hard physical detox lasted about 10 days...im 35 male who has 34 hard fought days clean from methadone...this drug twisted my body and mind and made me feel horrible...but I pushed myself thanks to many here who gave me the right advise...nutrition and hydration are the keys to help u past the physical but the mental oh my the mental is way way oh yea way worse than the physical for me I relate to what dryan says about energy crash and telling urself that ur to weak to do anything but you got to stay positive and dont think about the negative...like my sponsor told me im not allowed to think without adult sober supervision...but for you there are questions that you have to answer the ones evolveru asked. Then we can better understand your situation. Im an addict named josh and will be in recovery for life...keep posting for support and know you are doing whats right....

[beatbutnotbroken]

Hello and congrats on your progress....if you are looking for stories heres mine....I have been on opiates for 8+ years and the last 5years at a methadone clinic...got upto 105 then the last 8 months or so tapered down to 45mg and then jumped...the first 5 days was in detox and waited 80 hrs or so until they gave me subutex first day gave me 4mg onceIin the am and once at night then next day 2mg and 2 @gain...then said you are good to go..with 70%  of detox behind you....they were wrong...my hard physical detox lasted about 10 days...im 35 male who has 34 hard fought days clean from methadone...this drug twisted my body and mind and made me feel horrible...but I pushed myself thanks to many here who gave me the right advise...nutrition and hydration are the keys to help u past the physical but the mental oh my the mental is way way oh yea way worse than the physical for me I relate to what dryan says about energy crash and telling urself that ur to weak to do anything but you got to stay positive and dont think about the negative...like my sponsor told me im not allowed to think without adult sober supervision...but for you there are questions that you have to answer the ones evolveru asked. Then we can better understand your situation. Im an addict named josh and will be in recovery for life...keep posting for support and know you are doing whats right....

[Dryan8313]

Hi- the fact that you've been on MMT a short amount of time will definitely work in your favor :)
I tapered over a 10 month period. Started at 105mg, jumped at 4mg. I was fine too until I got below 20mg (like Evolver mentioned- I decreased 1mg per week once I got below 20). I was still "ok" throughout the rest of my taper (nothing like full blown w/d's,) but still a little uncomfortable and I had ZERO energy under 15mg. My biggest complaint was the lack of energy and sleep. Thank goodness my clinic doc prescribed me Doxepin (anti-depressant) and clonidine. Both helped me catch a few hours of sleep at night.
I jumped at 4mg because I felt like I was dragging the discomfort, both mentally & physically, out longer then necessary.
The first week after my jump wasn't too bad. No energy & no sleep even with the meds.
But every week got better and better. I'm 78-79 days off of methadone after 9 long years on it and I feel pretty good. I joined a gym a few weeks ago and after a few days of working out, I started sleeping pretty good again every night. I found that I always felt better after I forced myself up and outa the house. It was tough to make myself get up and get going; telling myself I was too tired and weak but I always reaped the rewards afterwards. However, I had/have the luxury of not having to work. Maybe having a job to go to everyday will be a good thing!
Once you get to a low dose, chances are that it won't "hold" you 24hours anymore anyway so I don't think you'll have to wait the 3 days for w/d to kick in like someone would on a higher dose.
I jumped at 4mg very spontaneously. There was no plan... No anxiety about it leading up to it so I think that worked in my favor. I just woke up one day and thought I'd "try it". I realized quickly that jumping off there didn't feel much different than one of my weekly decreases so I just stuck with it!
Good luck... Keep posting for support, and listen to your body!!! If you go too fast and are suffering, then you need to either slow it down, or just jump and get it over with.
Btw- congrats on getting down to 28mg!!!

[EvolverU]

Congrats!!! Definitely let us know how it's going! There are several folks on forum either on 1 mg. not sure if they can take the plunge or getting down into the low digits & wondering what it will be like. :) Fingers crossed for you & a hearty 'Way To Go!'

[Readytogetmylifeback]

I didn't start getting really sluggish until I dropped below 15 mg. I'm currently on 1mg and I'm just now starting to have to find a babysitter for my 2 year old. I've been able to take care of her up until this week, not like I've been able to (like carry her, play with her, etc), but it's been ok. Tomorrow is when I stop my dose completely, so I'll let you know how it goes. Good Luck!

[EvolverU]

Hi there! (me again)

I know that the finances are rough but here's my concern. It's one thing to drop from, say, 50 to 45mgs. That's only 1/10th of your dose gone. Even 30 to 25 is okay as it's 1/6th. However, when you start getting to 20 & below you're subtracting 1/4th, 1/3 & then half your dose! These ratios make a huge difference. Plus, you're only giving yourself a week to adjust to each. Do you plan on slowing down at all? I see that you mentioned the possibility in your last sentence. Do you have a specific taper plan for the upcoming weeks?

Thanks for the info! The great news is that you're young & you have only been doing opiates for a year & a half. This will more than likely, make your kick easier than if you had more time in!

I know that it's hard during the taper but what you're doing now will make it easier on the other end. :)

We're here! :)
Let us know what you think.

[officehours]

Thank you for your encouragement. I was originally on Morphine 30-90mg daily for a year. I've been at clinic since Feb so 6 months. I am currently dropping 5mg per week-- This week at 28mg-- I'm 32, and I eat normal, have a regular office job and a small son -18months- I plan on going down to 1mg and holding for a week? I really am not sure what to do at 1mg since its so low anyways. So those are my details, I tried to split my dose in half yesterday, so I would have been only at 14mg, I was completely fine all day and then at night obviously my legs started going. I wasn't aware that it was such a withdraw when tapering down to zero. I'm pretty discouraged about that. I don't know if I would have went to the clinic in the first place if I knew that was the case. But I am glad I did as far as the couseling and support goes. I'm mainly curious about what I am going to expect with tapering down to zero slowly as far as withdraws go.

[EvolverU]

Hi there & Welcome!

Thanks for posting & Congrats on your taper.

Questions:
1) Do you plan to slow your taper down on the next drop or the drop after that?
2) How long were you your clinic in total?
3) How long was your opiate habit that led you there?

The answers will help us to better respond.

The most effective tapers leading to easier w/d's are gradual ones. Gradual is important, particularly @ lower doses. I jumped off of 28mgs. -- the very dose you're on -- b/c I became impatient w/ the clinic & myself & just wanted off. This resulted in a very rough kick (but then I'd been on for 20 yrs. coming down off 140mgs. over 1.5 yrs. & was 47 yrs old). I should have gone down much further & allowed the drug stored in my tissues to leave my body but after all is said & done, I don't regret it & wish I'd been able to do it earlier! I still marvel @ how dysfunctionally  in bondage that stuff kept me in just about every way that you can imagine. Getting clean will be a real revelation to you.

I won't lie, M'done & Subs are a rougher kick than other opiates but it is Completely Doable!! Your length of use, previous habit(s), attitude going into it, the way you eat & exercise before & during your detox, your general health & your age will all factor into how long healing will take. Generally, the acute w/d's off M'done last anywhere from 8 -14 days. After that it takes a bit longer for the sweats, yawning, sneezing & gut issues to resolve. The last thing to return are proper sleep & energy (as w/ any opiate detox) ;) Some, who have done slow tapers & get super low before jumping & who weren't on for that long have a markedly easier time.

Here's a link to someone else's post that I just commented on who seems to be doing quite well though they haven't yet made the final plunge:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/Scared/show/2267045

You CAN do this & we're with you all the way :)