Methadone withdrawal advice needed

[janie215]

I'm really hoping that someone can give me some advice.  I started on Methadobe just over a year ago at 35mg. About 3 months ago I started to gradually reduce it 5 mls every 2 weeks. My last dose of methadone was 9 days ago which was 5mls. I have been going through hell - feeling absolutely awful. Shivers, stomach cramps, diarrhoea etc. I havent slept properly for days now  - I finally went to my GP last Thursday (day 6) who prescribed me Aderal which is a beta blocker for the shakiness and buscopan for stomach cramps. He also told me I'm over the worst of it. How can that be? I felt a bit better on Friday (day 7) but I've gone right down hill today - don't even have the energy to get off my bed.

When can I expect this to start getting better? This is so crazy! I'm dosing up on lots of vitamins and trying to drink plenty.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[gnarly_1]

HI the energy crash is normal and can last a few months dont disrepair it dose get better slowly right now you got to do 2 things get up to walmart and pick up some whey protein shake mix it comes in a 2lb can for 15 bucks this has the amino asids as well as extra vitamins and the raw protein your brain needs to heal it not a quick fix but rather the bulding blocks it also helps with energy the chocolate flavor is good just mix it with milk drink 2 a day till you come around the next one is vital it may seam impossible and you may have to force yourself but exercise is critical start with a walk around the block do that for a few day then build up from there siting around is the worst thing you can do also give yourself times of rest if you can threw out the day like after a brisk walk hang in there the next stage is a lot like getting off it takes a wile to get threw it message me any time if you need to talk or vent I know exactly how you feel I have been ther good luck and God bless.....Gnarly    

[janie215]

Well I'm about 3 weeks now since finishing the Methadone.

Whilst the most awful symptoms have now gone I'm now left with this lethargy and exhaustion. Does anyone know if this is normal? I feel just so flat struggling to get on with every day things.

I'm keeping up with the vitamins and lots of water - help!!

[justme1119]

Refuse to listen to that nonsense!  My doctor even said that to me!  If you haven't lived it, you don't know!

[janie215]

Thanks everyone for all your comments, it really helps to know I'm not alone in this struggle. Managed to sleep a bit better last night but still exhausted. Can't seem to even go through the motions at the moment, just want to lay down and not move. Unfortunately I don't have that option as I have 3 kids to get to school etc. Spoke with a pharmacist who said that I shouldn't really be getting any withdrawal symptoms as I was on a low dose and came off gradually. He suggested it was all in my mind! Don't see how diarrhoea and stomach cramps and shivering are in the mind!

Thanks again.

[gnarly_1]

HI coming off methadone id a ruff ride the symptom you have now should be goon in about 2 weeks but the energy crash can last a few months for me I was on the stuff for 6 1/2yr at 150 it took a good 90 days to even start to feel normal 60 to 90 days is the average recovery time with 90 days being the norm and 60 being lucky you need to feed tyour body wwhat it needs to heal whey protien shakes have the amino acids extra vitimins and the raw protein that the brain needs to heal you can pick up a 2lb can at walmart for 15 bucks the chocolate flavor is good you just mix it with milk the other key to getting well is exerosize....I know this seams imposible now but start with a walk around the block and go from there it it critical to getting well you can try melatoin for sleep or vlarairain root I have also here good things about alteril
other then that it up to God and time to get well I know exactily how you feel I have been there if you want someone to talk with out yell at im out here I help most of the methadoniains that come threw here just message me good luck and God bless........Gnarly

[justme1119]

I was taking 3, 5 mg of methadone for about 4 years.  My last dose was in October.  I had a really rough 30 days.  Starting on about the 7th or 8th day, I couldn't not move.  I laid in bed for 3 or 4 days and then my sister came to my house.  I knew I needed to get up, and with her help, I got up and walked around the block and then we got in the car and drove to my son's football game.  Now that I'm thinking about that time again, I can almost feel it! I know what you're going through.  Hydrate! Get Gator AID!  Drink Protein Shakes if you can!  I didn't have diahrea, but everyone takes Imodium.  They say it also helps with withdrawal symptoms, but since I didn't need it, I don't know.  Take vitamins!  Multivitamin and B12 for sure!  This was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life!  But I did it and you can to!  Don't stress over the loss of sleep.  Put one foot in front of the other.  Fake it if you don't want to share with others, but getting help from a friend when you are down and out is a good idea.  Gnarly said 90 days for methadone to be out of your system and almost symptom free.  I know it sounds like a long time, but it's only 1/4 of a year.  You can do it! Hang in there and post and read and post and read.  If you don't get a response, post again!  

[vicki595]

Janie:  There's an OTC med called "Alteril" and it works very well. It's all natural and contains Melatonin and L-tryptophan as the two main ingredients.  I don't know if it will work for you but give it a try. Read the directions for dosages.

Hot baths with Epsom salts really help to relax, as well.

[janie215]

Vicki - yes please, any suggestion to help sleep greatly appreciated.

[bettermomma]

Sorry about my previous, I was a lil late to the game evidently. Lol but anyway my offer to answer questions still stands
- Shell

[bettermomma]

Hello Janie, and welcome! The key here is to trick your mind... as for myself, I'm on day 12 and almost no sleep, but you must push yourself, otherwise you will have a hard time adjusting without the methadone. Are you sure that the dr gave you the stimulant, adderall? If so, that's why you felt better Friday. You have just "traded" so to speak, one highly addictive Med for another, and your brain is using the stimulant to produce seritonin, just as it did when on the methadone. Also, with coming off methadone, or suboxone or even subutex... the wd likes to pan out over a longer period of time than most wd. Speaking from self experience, this family of opiods, was designed to prolong and detensifie the wd process. So my question for you is, have you told your dr that you want to be completely clean? Have you looked into any type of after care? You have to figure out what is best for you. Although your dr and support may have ideas... ( that is if you have any support ) only you can figure out what you need.... as I've already stated, we r all addicts here and our addict brains just want the poison that we supplied, but if you really have the desire, then you can do this! I hope this was helpful, and if you have any questions just ask.
Oh and Congrats on your clean time
Hugs and support
-shell

[vicki595]

Tapering usually minimizes WD's but not with Methadone. Well, I shouldn't say that; if you didn't taper you'd be in pretty bad shape!!  Worse than right now,I think.

Methadone likes to "stick around" (long half life) so that's part of the problem. And it's just a tough one to detox from what I've seen. It takes longer than most opiates by a few weeks BUT you feel increasingly better every day!  Patience...

Are you taking anything to help you sleep? I can suggest some things you can try...

[janie215]

Thanks Vicki. I'm just finding it particularly tough today especially as I thought I may be over the worst of it. I honestly thought that doing a gradual taper would minimise the withdrawals to virtually nothing - I was obviously wrong (so was my dr)..

Thanks again.

[vicki595]

I think she means Inderal; a beta blocker (I think she said that) and frequently prescribed for withdrawal...

Janie:  Methadone WD's are particularly rough. Every day is a roller coaster ride, it seems. If today is bad then tomorrow will be better...it's so up and down!  Are you pushing the fluids?  Eating properly?

It's still early in your recovery and you really need to give it more time. I'm sure you don't want to hear that but it's the truth!

Stay close here and keep posting...

[janie215]

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry I meant Inderal (propranolol).

[theaddict]

while i'm definitely not a doctor, i think this is the first i've ever heard of a doctor prescribing a medication such as adderal for what you're going through. that medication is mainly used for ADHD patients, and is another pill that's highly addictive.

did you mention to your doctor that you wanted sobriety all together? if you haven't, then maybe the next time you go and see him/her, you can let them know that maybe you would rather not do this with other medications [like the addictive ones you're currently taking] and see if that helps? going from one pill to the next to get off the first pill confuses your mind, body and self. but that's just an opinion i share with my current PCP.

there are a lot of members here on the forums that have more experience with this particular drug, and i am more than positive that they will be around throughout the day to help you out and post more for ya!