Methadone Taper

[Soulscapex]

Hello , im new here, im currently on 10mgs of methadone, i have less then a month to finsh out my taper. i have never felt any of the drops, im goin to drop to 7.5 on friday , does anyone know at what point do you start to feel the taper. My therapist told me you dont untill your actually off, and its not that bad if you tapered down. Should i just ride out the 10mgs till my clinic closes or finsh my taper.

[gnarly_1]

Hi...and welcome to the forum.....well your doing great as for feeling the tapers it is different for everyone  I came off 150mg and went in and out of withdrawals the whole time  I did a fast taper though  kicked in 8 1/2 months....most people start to feel it at around 20mg so your doing great so far.... just take your time and let your body be the final judge in when to lower doses....get up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin  calcium/magnesum/zinc  take 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner  in a few days it will really help with the withdrawal  as for what to expect it is different for every one the forumula we use is how long you been on it...how high a dose and your age will foctor in  it is not so much the severity of the withdrawal but the long recovery time that makes this drug hard to kick.....you just dont realize just what this drug has been doing to you until your off of it.....also it can take 3 days to feel the drop in dose because methadone has a long 1/2 life....just know there is life after methadone and getting off it will be one of the best decisions of your life...I have helped a lot of people kick this drug and will be happy to help you also....keep posting for support................................Gnarly.......................

[otterwatcher]

Many congratulations on getting this far and wishing you all the best on your journey.

[VICourageous]

Hi. I have been following this for so long now and it makes me put a smile on face..YOU have come far and the changes you have made. A BIG Congratulations to you!!  Support-Support and more Support is needed for this Disease.
I too came off a long ride from Methadone-plus. Went c/t back in 2012. I also had 2 other meds in the mess. Always wear your Armour and carry a Big Sword, because sometimes that bad guy will try to take you down again, but if you stay away from any triggers and set those boundaries up, you will Win.

It does get easier as we travel further into our Recovery. So glad you stayed on this site all the way. Hope & Pray that Life will be Blessed for You and your Family.
Bless
Vickie
PS..You can always start a new post and tell others how far you have come.

[Soulscapex]

57 Days today , wow , Doin Great,  I just keep myself busy , started working out about a week ago, and that helps so much, ive been a lump for so long, and its time to get my new self  at peak performance. Gnarly you always put a smile on my face , you make me feel very proud of myself, As you stated i did kick a Monster, kicked him to the curb, Just got done helping my brother hang drywall and lets say that was a workout in its self, im so beat and ready for bed. I must agree with you Gnarly , a positive out look on life makes the difference, i have a little girl , well shes getting older on me now, i wasted to much of my life numb to the world, They are only young once and we only life once. im so glad i made the choice to get off of this drug,  and i have this place to thank for the support. So if your reading this, just know yes its hard to make that choice , but so many before you have done so , fear will only keep you behind.  Good Nite and God bless.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Dude  how goes it????  been a few days just checking up on you  so far so good.....just keep doing what your doing it is working for you  your really doing well  I have helped a lot of people of this stuff over the years and your recovery couldent be going any better....the one thing that I see that has helped you most is a positive attitude ...you have had one threw the whole process  I always say that makes the difference between being uncomfortable and suffering  suffering is a choice....when you find the time  update us...also helping others is great for your recovery  in N/A we always say ''you cant keep it unless you give it away''  the forum is a huge part of my recovery  it gets me out of my own head  anyways dont think you dont have any thing to offer you do!!! you have kicked a monster.....some of the best advise comes from those just getting clean  look forward to seeing you post
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Soulscapex]

Day 53, Hello all , just thought id check in , all is good with me, clean and sober, everyday that passes just gets better, just got done working out and my daily walk/jog, getting clean has inspired me not to only take my life back from addiction, but also to better myself, getting back into shape, after a nice workout you feel so good. Best things in life are free. Ive lost about 15lbs since my clean date. Well , thought id update my post, Gnarly thanx for your continued support.  
God BLess

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude  how you doing..??  it has been crazy bizzy at work the last week but I just wanted to check up on you....as for sharing  some of the best advise comes from people just getting clean so answer some posts you have been threw a lot and can share your experience the energy will come back it just takes time it was around 90 days that things got better for me..................Gnarly...........................

[Soulscapex]

Day 45, hello all , im doin well , no complaints , stomach almost back to normal , sleep has been normal since day 1, energy and motivation comes and goes, but i also not that young lad before i started my journey thru addiction, i am who i am now, and i am just thankful, that god gave me the strength to do this and become clean, and Ty you gnarly , i come here everyday and read the other post , i would like to answer some but i feel that i dont have enuff clean time, to give any one advice.

God Bless.

[gnarly_1]

Hey Dude how's it going????  im so happy for you...you just dont realize what methadone does to you until you get clean from it....your life will continue to improve just keep doing what your doing....when you get the time  post to let us know how your doing and if there is anything I can do for you just ask  where all here to help...I know this hassent been ez  but as time goes by you will find it is so so worth it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[sicraw]

How is your stomach in the morning?  I have no appetite in the morning, but as the day wears on it is better.

[Soulscapex]

i wish i had no appetite, i lost weight thru this, i have been trying to eat healthy and exercise , but ive been eating what ever, the energy thing comes and goes like ill have 4 good days and then like today just be wore out all day. but my stomach is slowly coming around big time.

[sicraw]

I think mine is tied to my anxiety and it makes my stomach upset.  I am finding that taking an antiacid helps.  Yes I have lost weight through this - the only bonus in the whole thing :)

[Soulscapex]

i have anxiety also , but ive had that along time ago,and yes it will make you have stomach issues, the bonus is your not on that pill anymore, just like thru all my days of bathroom issues, im coming out on the other side a better version of myself,

[sicraw]

And you are right - no pill every day - very freeing!!!

[gnarly_1]

hey dude....congrats on 39 days now.....your beating this thing one day at a time....you have recovered quickly compared to most  over the years I have helped a lot of people off this drug and for most it is a 60 to 90 day or longer ordeal.....as for N/A im a member and recamend it to all addicts....long after the drugs stop your still stuck with the addict in your head along with the addictive behaviors....N/A treats the addict ...the meetings are only a hour long and give you some place safe to share what is going on in your head  I often say that this is 1/3 phyical and 2/3 mental....it is the mental part that most people struggle with  right now the withdrawal is fresh in your mind but as time goes by you will find it is not enough to keep you clean....N/A is the only progam that with time and working the steps you will loose the desire to use....something I thought was impossible....I to tryed a addiction counselor for 3 yrs ...it helped and kept me clean but the compulsions and obsessions to use never left me ....I figured after 35yrs of using  that was just what I would have to deal with the rest of my life....NOT TRUE!!!!!!  n/a has given me my life back...what I would recamend is try a few meetings....you dont even have to talk just listen...for most we find it a safe sanctuary recovery is a ''WE'' thing not a ''I'' thing together we can beat this thing....those that go to meeting tend to stay clean....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Soulscapex]

Day 38, sicraw , you can ask me as many questions as you want thats what the purpose of me coming here is to help and get help, and to answer you not really ,it bothers me some days but , i can slowly feel the last few symptoms leaving, my stomach has improved a whole lot, and the back , i think really is my sleeping habits, dont ask me why but for some reason i prefer my couch then a bed. plus its cooler down stairs in the summer.  have you been walking stretching, i read recently that helps alot for back pain. I had a nice long talk with my addiction therapist yesterday about aftercare, i wanted to know if she felt that i needed na, she said as long as i have some kind of support , someone to hold me accountable for my actions, and ppl to talk to , that is really up to me. im a anti social weirdo ,
i know alot of ppl on here are suggesting that i go to na, hope your back feels better, get someone to give you a back rub.

[sicraw]

How are you doing?  Sorry, I keep peppering you with questions, but you are going through similar withdrawal on the same timeline with me and I am just comparing notes.  My lower right back still hurts - are you having back issues still?

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude....well the diarrhea can last a wile try getting some fiber in your diet   now the blood pressure is more serious  ...it is normal for it to be high wile detoxing  but it should be getting better by now  this is nothing to mess with  you dident get clean to have a stroke or heart attack....I fatefuly take my blood pressure med 2 times a day  and my pressure is great now  it is a silent killer  please get to the doctor and get some meds......................Gnarly

[Soulscapex]

Day 31, I never lost hope from the get go, i was just scared of the horror stories you read online, i think sometimes we make things worse in our heads, but my heart was set on making it. To be honest man i feel like , its just another day , life goes on , so i still have to do all my daily routines, no matter how wore down i feel, I do have one question , should i still be having diahrea by now, just wondering if its something else, even my family doctor told me it should go away within 30 days,My bp is thru the roof also , i refuse to take the meds he gave me, cause well i dont want to take any more meds.
I keep thinking its from this process of healing and it will return to normal.

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude  you sound great for 30 days clean  it took me a good 90 just to even have hope.....you have done a excellent job so far  keep doing what your doing  get out in the sun  go for a walk exorcise helps a lot  get the ''whey protein shake mix and drink 2 a day it not only will help with energy but it has a boat load of amino to help the brain chemistry  keep posting for support   Dude you got this........Gnarly

[Soulscapex]

30 days today , so pumped the sun is shinning, God bless all

[Soulscapex]

Day 27, Doin good,  to answer sicraw , the pain comes and goes, its mainly when i stand on my feet for 8 hours , after i get home it goes away , today was a blessed day , other then the morning stomach issues, it was a good day. they come and go also , mainly mornings , i started a pro - biotic today see if that helps get it under control. i mean i kind of look at it this way , its normal life, ppl deal with things daily and dont need meds to fix it. for xample i just wanted to sit around today , but i went out and worked on my jeep , in the blistering sun, ya it was tuff ya **** hurt , but life goes on no matter what.
Who knows when god will ask me to leave this earth, so i must make the best of everyday .

[justme1119]

Hi, I went of 15mg/day cold turkey more or less.  Suffered much more than you have so, way to go!  Just wanted to add that 4 yrs later, I am still dealing with pain issues.  Your mind will tell you that you can't do it anymore, the pain keeps nagging you.  Don't let your pain, draw you back in.  It will try to.  There are ways of dealing with it when the withdrawals have passed.  

[sicraw]

Still have back pain?  Me too.  I keep thinking it may be something else, but then it didn't start up until I went clean, so I am pretty sure it is related.  I wonder when that will finally ebb.  Hopefully sooner than later :)

[gnarly_1]

Hey Dude....well your doing great so early on for most people the detox to where your energy is back and the bathroom situation get better  you start to sleep normal and it starts to look like your going to recover takes around 90 days  you my friend sound like your going to beet this in under 60 days...just keep doing what your doing keep up with the aftercare...I still always recamend N/A your coming up on 30 days here you can pick up a 30 day keytag from a meeting and it will give you something to hang on to when the going get tuff  let me know how your doing  even the little symptoms  this is a great post for someone to read and will stay in medhelp file forever  even years later people that are struggling with this drug can read it and get some hope...............Gnarly..................

[BK2BK]

Great job on 26 days!  I agree on the previous statement to get your testosterone levels tested....infact,tell your Family Doctor about your history with medications and before u go in to your appointment,I would take a few days listening to your body and writing down everything you are concerned about....then when u are in your doctor appointment,go down the list and write your doc's recommendations. Me personally, I was an addict for 5 crazy years to oxycotin,perc,vic,xanax,opana,heroine (and much more).I finally found out about methadone and headed to the clinic.My highest mg was 118 and I'm now on 1mg! I tapered very slowly and also was put on fluxetine (generic prozac) ...prozac is AMAZING,LIFE CHANGING for opiate abusers since our serotonin,dopamine and other hormones get depleted dramatically. I also take a digestive enzyme ,probiotic and liquid B's. Also,making sure I drink lots of water so that my body can actually obsorb the vitamins I take. I would recommend only taking liquid vitamins so your body can obsorb what u need as fast as possiible....especially since u are using the restroom a lot. On that subject,WATER,WATER,WATER ....no Gatorade or sugar drinks...get a water with an electrolyte. Methadone and opiates back your system up and right now your metabolism is trying to cleanse and balance. Also,get your test levels done because that will effect your metabolism ....Way to be strong and an encouragement to others!!!!  

[Soulscapex]

Hello, yes day 26, still having bathroom issues, who knows i might have a underlying problem , or it could be its still taking its toll, for the most part im a functional person, clean and sober, work is killer with the back pain and the lack of energy takes everything i got to make it . but i do it.

[sicraw]

It's day 26 for you.  Most of the w/d symptons gone?  How are you doing?

[gnarly_1]

Hey dude just checking up on you...........been working some crazy hours at work they just put on 470 more companys and where sorting them out now will be supper bizzy for the near future but I still wanted to touch base with you....you sound good just keep doing what your doing cangrats on making it back to work  let me know how it is going
..........................................Gnarly..............................

[Soulscapex]

Day 22, doin good man,