methadone detox

[lms796]

I have been on a methadone maintenance program for about 10 years. I am actually considering just stopping, cold turkey. I have tried to taper before but since you have the option to hold at any given time, i have a bad day and that is exactly what i do. I am at 58 mg. now. The highest i was on was 90mg. the lowest was 43 mg. I get a week of take homes and can't leave them alone. I am getting a lot of pressure from family members due to the the financial burden. It's $84 a week and takes about an hour drive at 5:30 am one way once a week. Is it possible to stop and be successful?? I have 3 sisters with the same addiction problems they've never been continuous on the program like I have but also are still struggling. I am truly terrified to return to the ******** life before the program but also afraid of never being off of this?  I guess I am wondering how bad it will be cold turkey and how long will it last?

[Scorpiozap]

Hello and first congratulations on your decision to quit. I was on methadone for about two years 80mg a day and tapered off six months and have been off totally since March 2009. The first two weeks were hell and I constantly believed that I would die. My heart would race and pound like it was coming out my chest. I was was so weak I couldn't bathe myself nor did I want too. I had the classic opiate withdrawals just more intense and for a much longer amount of time. I was breathing but not alive it seemed at times. I prayed and meditated slot forcing myself to relax and remember that it would get better and pass. I was broke and unable to afford any medical care but I hear there is a lot your doctor can do to help like clonidine and sleep meds as the OTC did nothing for me just know that it can be done and you will get through this one day at a time

[dominosarah]

gnarly gave you great advice.  I just want to add that aftercare is very important to our success in recovery.  Look into NA/AA, addiction specialists or some sort of in/out patient program.         sara

[gnarly_1]

hi and welcome to the forum ....well you could C/T off of 58ml but your withdrawal would be horrendous if I where you I would put a taper in place and try to taper down to a lower level b/4 jumping...I did a taper from my take homes it went like this 10%drop in dose every 72hr...it brings you off relatively fast but without to much discomfort you can get an oral syringe from the drug store...they keep them behind the counter and you have to ask for one but that will give you a way to measure out a little less every 3 days
you will be much better off jumping off at a lower dose then going thew the he11
your thinking of doing...it will take you a couple of mo but in the end you will be successful...the only way id jump from 58 is doing it at an in patchent detox center
methadone is a lot stronger then most think...I tapered off 150 and it took 8 1/2 mo but im 97 days clean so it can be done...good luck and god bless...Gnarly    

[jr1981]

i am going threw kind of the same thang but it is so hard my friend was on 100mgs aday for 5 years and it took him almost a year to wing him self off he started taking 8 a day for a month and the went to taking  5 a day for a few months and then 3 a day for a few month and finaly 2 a day and then 1 a day for a while and stop taking them of course he gets the urge but he dident do it he was not feeling good for 3 days wee ak and all but its easyer than cold turkey god blesss and good luck.