Methadone withdrawal HELP

[mandi52285]

I have been taking 70mg for about 3 years. I recently just dropped 2mg per week and got down to 58mg this week. I lost insurance coverage and my car broke down and I missed an appointment. I have no family besides my husband in this state to help me get to the clinic, pay my missed appointment fee, and pay the 150.00 per week for my dose.  I have no friends or family that can help me. My husband just got laid off on top of it all we are getting evicted because the landlord who has been taking out money 'forgot' to tell us that he quit paying the mortgage and is in foreclosure I have two kids 6 and 9. When it rains it pours.

Don't want to throw a pity party but my husband has been working at this company for 7 years now and has always worked hard. I was supposed to graduate with my associates degree this semester (fall), which will not happen now. With all that is going on my school has been postponed until spring. We have always worked hard and taken care of ourselves the right way. I got in this situation because I got extremely addicted to a pain medication that I was prescribed for a back injury I sustained and mild scoliosis that I have had since young. I feel as if my life is falling apart.

I have been wanting to quit Methadone for a while but I didn't want the withdrawals to affect my schooling so I put it off. I was however aware that our insurance would be cut off eventually so I started saving one or two doses a week, every week, for a while. I stored it in used energy shot bottles. I have around 4000mgs right now. And as I suspected my worst fear (concerning methadone) came true. I hated duping the clinic by saving doses BUT in my situation I was looking out for me and mine.

My last dose was yesterday morning (full dose). I took 10mg out of my stash tonight. I am well versed in what will happen with WDs start. I have been researching this since I started. I know I will be out of commission when that starts. My husband has locked my stash in the safe and bought an eyedropper to measure my doses. I am aware that I don't have enough for a nice year long withdrawal. At 58mgs I was on and having 4000mgs left I was wondering what you guys suggest. Should I just quit cold turkey?

I want to make an appointment with my physician but the last time I talked to him about methadone he said he was not versed in it and didn't have a good enough relationship with me to help (that was a long time ago). I have not seen him since. Will he help me at all you guys think? I heard sleeping pills and a few other drugs will help withdrawals but I don't know if he will help me at all. Maybe I should get a new doctor if he won't? I am a little afraid because I have had heart problems (was hospitalized once for a problem with my heart-rate). I constantly have high or low blood pressure which I hear can make WDs dangerous. I am going to need help what should I do?

[atthebeach]

hi mandi,
great job, you are doing awesome. thats good the doctor is helping you with some meds for your w/d. i am glad you are feeling ok. how is everything else going for you and your family? this too shall pass......
keep the faith...... there is always hope.......
sending support and prayers
debbie

[mandi52285]

Thanks Lilly... I am sorry you have to go through this crap again. I have been having a tough time too. I kinda want to just drop off at 20 because it has been so hard to get here and I feel like I could almost have been done with all this by now if I had quit outright. Let me know how things go with you, if you need anyone to talk to (or just complain with) I am here.

I gave my little cocktail of drugs above I will keep this updated throughout the process. I expect this to be a success story and hope it can help somebody else, someday, who feels like they can't win.

[mandi52285]

Okay I am down to about 20mgs now without any real pain involved. I went to see my Dr. (He used to be a real JERK but for some reason was so sweet and helpful). He prescribed me Phenergan, prescription strength Ibuprofen, Ativan & Ambien for my actual withdrawal. I won't be taking them at all until I am in hard withdrawal (probably 2 days in to ZERO mgs). I also have stocked up on Imodium, One Daily For Women multivitamins, B6 & 12 Vitamins, Fish Oil, Potassium, and Calcium/Zinc/Magnesium Vitamins. I bought a bottle of Benadryl for good measure.

I will let you guys know how it goes. I welcome feedback about my supplements and drugs. Also I am thinking about having my brother pick up some weed for me. I know it's not ethical but I heard it can help...

[lilly1307]

I understand how some comments say not to quit cold turkey, but in my opinion weening almost prolongs the agony.  I have quit methadone twice cold turkey, the first time from 60 mg and the second time I was at 150 mg.  The first time it was completely on my own, I basically drank a bottle of vodka a day to try and help with withdrawals, the second time was at a rapid detox and was of course much easier because the withdrawal didnt last as long and I was given meds to help with withdrawals like clonidine, xanax, etc.  The worst thing about methadone withdrawals I would say it the restlessness, it feels like you want to rip your own stomach out, and the sweats suck.  Its obviously your decision if you taper quickly or slowly, but I will tell you if you do quit cold turkey and want to just get it over with and not prolong the inevitable you will have about 2 to three weeks of withdrawals.  Let us know what you decide to do.  Right now I am withdrawaling off fentanyl-not fun, prob the worst withdrawals I have ever had.  

[gnarly_1]

HI just found your post dont know how I missed it I read threw everyday.........go up to walmart and pick up a 3 in 1 vitamin calcium magnesium zinc it only 6 bucks for 250 start by taking 4 with breakfast and 4 with dinner this is a proven way to cut your withdrawals way down also dont drop so much at once you have a lot on hand hang in there you will make it threw thisI cam off 150 and did it in 1/2 the time my clnic wanted me to go I pulled mine from my takehomes I will e/mail you some info on how to bring yourself off this stuff...............Gnarly

[Jenelle2020]

Hi again mandi. I can sure understand why you feel so badly! You dropped from 58mgs to 20mgs which is a 30mg drop which is huge, but now you have gone back up to 30mgs, good idea, but nonetheless that is still a big drop and I would surely expect you to be feeling sick. I got sick for a week dropping from 51mgs to 39mgs and I was tapering 2mgs/week in between, so at 39mgs I was really sick and had to stay there for about 3 weeks. My mind is wanting to advise you to go back up to at least 40mgs, then start your taper but you do sound determined. As I said earlier the clonidine helps quite a bit, with the sweats and the hot and cold. I have take Lyrica before but not for withdrawal so I am not sure how that will work but I hope you keep posting and let us know how you are doing. I am basically in the same boat as you right now at 27mgs but am not sick as I have only been tapering one mg/week. All the best, and once again please feel free to message me anytime..........