Good Morning....welcome to the forum...there hasn't been alot of responses b/c it's a holiday and a little early. We have a few people with methadone experience. (i don't have any) I will ask them to PM you and talk to you also....in a few minutes I am going to comment on a Methadone Detox journal from one of the ladies here....it's the easiest way I can lead you to it....so in about 3-5 minutes refresh your screen look to the right and you will see joann1975 commented on and then click on the methadone part.
Someone will get with you...please be patient... like I said...holiday and early.
Also...check out the Health Pages on the right side of the screen there is tons of info in there that can help you out!
Thanks joann. I realize it's a holiday weekend. I appreciate your reply this morning. The lack of response I was referring to was over on another forum last night. There were quite a few users online, but I got pretty much ignored as a new forum user trying to get clean. Thanks for the suggestions, and have a Happy 4th of July.
Welcome to the forum!! I to have detoxed off methadone & understand where your coming from. I was on 90 mgs for 5 years then did a slow taper to 2mgs, then jumped off, I always thought because I was on such a low dose for so long that I wouldnt suffer to bad, but that was not to be, I think for the most part everyone on methadone will go thru some kinda withdrawals, some fair better then others, but at the end of the day, methadone withdrawals doesnt leave peacefully, I think its because of its long half life? I have been methadone free for 3 months & did it the only way I knew how, & that was with pure determination & support, I used no other drugs to help me thru the tough days except for a occasional clonidine, dont take this the wrong way, but taking other drugs during recovery may not be the best thing for you, as your body is trying to detox not retox, so if you can, stay away from all opiates & give your body the time it needs to heal. Typically most people start seeing a improvement in a few weeks to a month after detoxing from methadone, myself personally it was around 6 weeks that I felt normal. In regards to energy, this seems to be the last thing that improves, it took me months to get my energy back, but it does get better, the real key to methadone detox is time, in time you will slowly notice improvement. I wish you the best, & I know you can do this!! Penelope
Yeah someone is up w/knowledge of it! Thank you Penelope14!!!
BoboR... I just noticed your post had been sitting for a bit and I didn't want you to think it was going to be unanswered....did you find the journal on the right I told you about?
Yes! I did find it, and read parts of it. I'll read the entire thing later for sure. Thanks so much for directing me to it. I'm trying to get ready for a 1:00 bbq today, with relatives coming. Today is one week with no methadone. I've caved in and took 5mg hydro this am, just a few minutes ago, so I'll be able to "function".
To Penelope: Thanks for your post, too. I know I shouldn't be taking the hydros either, but like I said, I have to function somewhat normally. I have two teens still living at home, and they don't have a clue that Mom is an addict. Nobody knows except my husband and 3 or 4 friends. I may be wrong, but I think I'll have an easier time tapering off the hydros than the methadone.
Best of luck to you.... I hope you have fun today! Please stick around... the forum will really be helpful...I would have never made it w/o this place!
I have no experience with methadone, but I want to congratulate you on how far you have come!!!! You have done an amazing job tapering, and that in itself takes alot of discipline. I want to also thank you for sharing your story. It gives those of us who still need help courage to do this!!! Thanks and keep it up.
I did not detox from methadone...hydros...but i have read alot and people like penelope and skippysizemore would post each day during their journey...it was informative and helped many who need the help...seemd like within a month the tbales would turn and people seem to feel better....with hydro it is more like a week due to the half life but the mental aspect lingers for months...the deprssion, anxiety and fatigue...the fatigue is what was hardest for me as i am active....just want to lend my support and i had never realized what abattle getting clean is....i just thought u had physical wds and u were good as new...WRONG!...had i known i wonder if i would have made different choices? hindsight is 20/20 they say....best of luck and keep posting..this forum is great and is centered more on getting clean i think than the forum u mentioned...there is alot of support here....
I just want to welcome you to this forum. There is tons of support here so stick around and keep posting. Enjoy your 4th. sara
I DID detox from methadone many times. It sounds like you did a good job of tapering but the hydro could be problamatic but I understand. Sometimes some people take small doses of weaker narcotic like davon after meth and tranfer and stronger habit, meth for a weaker habit, darvon but I don't know about hydro. An occasional valium could be helpfull but don't know exactly what you mean about smoking aj. but I think I do. I won't comment on this now. The "we speak methadone" is for lifer methadonians mostly on clinics. They are very intolerent of anyone who doen't think methadone is a miracle drug and a life saver. I don't think drugs save a drug addicts life and are only tools.
wow..you have done an amazing job!! I hope this will inspire someone else here..I too detoxed off methadone but went cold turkey off 65 mg..so I really am not sure about a taper..but,,I would say that you definately son't have it licked just yet..Methadone has done alot of damage..It is a horrid wicked drug..I put some methadone info in my journal..It explains what methadone does to your system and what you can do to build yourself back up..the sweats should be gone in a couple weeks..again Congratualtions!!..I always love to hear that someone is off methadone..please feel free to pm me..
I agree with Lisa,you did a great job tapering on your own.I went cold turkey off of 25 mgs and it took me about 6 weeks.I wouldn't think that you are out of the woods yet though and please be careful about taking the other opiates.It sounds like the other opiates are masking some of the w/ds from the methodone and when you run out of them you might hit a real rough patch and you need to be mentally prepared for that.I know how hard it is to deal with the w/ds and still have to take care of kids.I have 2 granddaughters' that I'm raising [2 and 4] and just making mac and cheese for lunch made me feel like I had run a marathon.I want to congratulate you on your willpower and your success thus far.I'm so happy to hear that you are methodone free.Oh and in your original post you said something about still having a little stash of the methodone,get rid of that garbage,you don't need it anymore.Have a ceremonial flush and jump up and down as it's twirling around in that toilet and yell at the top of your lungs 'I'M FREE ,I DID IT'.Welcome to the forum and keep posting.Peace.
Thank you all so much for your warm welcome and your support. I think I've found the right forum now to help me. For some reason, I felt the need to "talk" to someone about my detox/taper. I thought about going to NA or some other type of meetings, but our town is so small and rural, everyone knows everyone else around here. Thanks to all of you for the moral support. It feels good just getting some of these things off my chest, finding a place to ask ?s without being judged, And I also started a journal here, just thought it was a good idea to record my feelings and experiences.
To sadinmichigan: I finally realized later last night after doing some reading, that I definitely DON'T have this whipped yet. It's a long process, and I've really only just begun. I definitely know that the other opiates are masking the worst W/D symptoms. However, I felt like the hydros were gonna be easier to kick than the methadone. Hopefully I'll be able to taper or jump off the hydros in a few weeks. Hopefully. Keeping fingers crossed.
Thanks again to everyone for your kind welcome and words of advice.
Yes, that's one of the first things I found on this forum, was your info re: methadone in your journal. Quite interesting and informative. Thanks for posting that info.
So far today, I've taken 5 mg hydro at 6:30 am, 5 mg again about 11 am, woke up from a nap at about 4:30, took 10 mg lorcet. If the fatigue, backaches, dizziness and slight disorientation would just go away, I think I could handle the sweats and chills and minor diarrhea. The lorcet is surely masking the other wd symptoms and I don't know what else to do to stop them. Later everyone. Thanks for letting me hang out here.
omg..I checked out that forum you were on..no wonder!!!!..they are certainly misguided in my opinion..methadone is not the way to a healthy life..of course there will always be someone that will dispute that..but I don't care..I stand my ground and nobody will shake me. just the fact that a microscopic crumb can give ward off w/ds..should be the first clue to anyone about how strong methadone is..and that includes sub (in my opinion)..it really frustrates me..I can hardly remember the first 3 weeks of my w/d from methadone..I was lucky enough to have someone taking care of my kids so they didn't have to see me..
I am really not sure what taking a hydro or oxy will do as far as setback..it may prolong everything..of course those of us can rationalize that getting off of hydro or oxy..is way better or easier..I would logically say to just let it get out of your system..but I also know how very hard it is to go through meth w/d..it's a tough call..keep posting my friend..you will have tons of support...My prayers are with you...
The NAMA methadone site is very pro methadone and I was banned for telling what methadone did to me. I think sub can be even trickier and this doc you have doesn't inspire confidence and I would let him mess you up and have you pay. I hate to tell you but smoking a j may seem like it helps but if you smoke it it you have a greater chance of going back on Narcotics. People don't like to hear this but one couple that used to post here got off the done and got very defensive when I mentioned this. I don't think they made it. I'm not g trying to be a killjoy but I have to say what I feel and believe.
Point taken. Not very well received, lol, but I understand.You may be right, I won't argue. But I really don't think the j is gonna cause me to relapse on the 'done. If anything causes the relapse, it will be ME giving in to the craving. The j is just to settle the nerves and help relax, when I can sit in my bedroom and contemplate....things. Thanks for your advice, tho. I do appreciate your input.
I had to add this: The people on the NAMA site are a bit delusional, I think. This is what one of the moderators posted to me.
"Now, in your case, you were using methadone as a street drug, in an addictive manner, and I'm sure that it did develop into an addiction for you, one you are glad to be free of. That is as it should be. But most folks here are taking methadone as prescribed, to treat addiction and/or pain, and in many cases it is making a very positive difference in their lives."
In an addictive manner. LMAO. Yep. Apparently some of those folks think that because they're taking methadone "as prescribed", they're not addicted. THEY'RE on MMT, they're not addicted. lol. I do realize that methadone has helped some people who do need it, but I feel that way too many people just think they need it. I'm sure having to get up before the crack of dawn to stand in a clinic line is making a huge positive impact on someone's life. wow
I glad you understand my point and just wanted to tell you my experience. The NAMA website is very slanted. I feel for these people because nobody respects people who go to methadone clinics so they have this website and other methadonians to justify their addiction. I think some ppl need methadone for life but for a lot of others, it's a cop out to justify staying on done because they don't want to suffer the long withdrawl. It a shame to go through life sweating, sedated and constipated. I did it for years.
I agree. IMO, there are a lot more people on methadone than who truly need to be. I know the stigma of people who have to go to the methadone clinics. I haven't done it personally, but I know someone who has. He's one of those "lifers", who now in his 60s, will probably never even attempt to taper or jump off. He was a heroin addict when he was younger, then a pain pill addict, then discovered the methadone clinic. He now sees a doctor who writes his methadone for "pain". This friend recently about 3 years in jail, and as soon as he came out, he was doctor shopping. Even after he went thru the miserable detox he described in his first month of incarceration, he got right back on the 'done as soon as he came out. I just don't understand. If I ever get free from this, I'd like to think I'd never take another crumb of the stuff again, unless perhaps I was terminal and needed it for pain relief.
One more thing I just thought about: the mod at NAMA stated, "But most folks here are taking methadone as prescribed..." That made me stop and think. I know 5 or 6 people who are on methadone. Perhaps 1 or 2 of those people truly need it. And every single one of them that I know *sells* part of their prescription every month to people like me. Maybe I'm just living in a depressed area where people need cash, but I've got a feeling that it's not just my area. The one friend who takes it that I know truly needs it, sells just enough of her medication to pay for her monthly doctor visit and pharmacy bill. And believe it or not, she's the only one of those "friends" who supports my decision to get off methadone.
when I was at the clinic..I couldn't even begin to estimate how many people in there were totally working the system..A good amount of them just took enough methadone for it to be in their system and then got their take homes (if they could) and sold them as soon as they left the clinic..The woman that i used to get my pills from had been going to the methadone clinic for at least 10 yrs..she had built up her status to of course get her takehomes for a week..and worked herself up to 150 mg/dy..But she only took maybe 5 mg..every other day..she sold all the rest..and the thing that really ticks me off is our government pays for these people to go..$80/wk..no matter what dose per day your on..it is big business..methadone is so frickin cheap it's sick..
You will be free of this drug..I have 2 yrs comming up in Aug..the "sickness" was worth it..
When I first started taking the methodone I justified it as I was using it as a means to stop my 20 plus a day addiction to vicodin.Sadly after being on it for a few months,I started learning just what I had gotten myself into by overhearing what some of the veterans at the methodone clinic had to say about it.I never took that high of a dose compared to some.In fact the clinic I went to started you out on 35 mgs and the second day I made them take me down to 30 mgs,because the 35mgs made me so "high' I couldn't hold my head up I was so sick.You think that would have given me a clue,but I wanted so much to believe that I was doing the right thing and this drug was going to be my ticket out of addiction.I understand where alot of those people are on that other site,the ones who are taking the methodone to 'overcome',and I use that term lightly,their addictions.My heart goes out to them.They want so much to be free of addiction,and they have doctors reassuring them that this is in fact a 'miracle drug' that is going to help them accomplish that.They have no idea what this drug is doing to their bodies,nor do they know whether their taking it as 'prescribed' or not ,how hard it is going to be if they ever make the decision to stop.All the rest of us who have been there can do for them is be right here for them .If in fact they do ever make the decision to stop,and I pray that they do,they're are going to need to pull on the strength and wisdom from the rest of us who know first hand what this drug does to you.They're going to need to hear that it is possible to live a happy,healthy,alot less painful life post- methodone.I will remember to keep them in my prayers.Peace.
I don't like to see people on vicodin go on methadone. I know that won't make me popular here but that's what most folks here are or were on it. I was on it too but before it was street dope. The difference between detoxing from vicdin and heroin is enormous. Back in the 70's and 80-'s most of the addicts that came to the methadone clinic were junkies now most are pill heads. What the difference? Junkies would do such dangerous things and crime to get their fix and were shoting up unknow amounts of dope and running the risk of jail and death every day. The thinking was that it is better harm reductuction to put these ppl on done and society would be safer. I don't think vicodin addicts run the same risks that the junkies did and shouldn't be given a much stronger drug to get hooked on (done) which they might never be able to get off
This is turning into a long thread....I have methadone horror stories also - but they arent enough different to relate....meth is a monster....lots of people go to a different narc and then detox from that....just be careful with your hydro helper - smoke old AJ (Foyt?) and continue your plan.....