methadone withdrawal

[millie226]

PLease help if you can, any words of kindness appreciated.

My partner and I have been together since we were 13, when he was 19 he started using Heroin, he has been in 3 dif rehabs, none have worked, he has spent the last 10 years on methadone, over the last 2 years he has tappered himself down and now he is 8 weeks clean, and hasn't touched a thing, he has been brilliant and I am so proud, my only worry is that its been 8 weeks and he is still suffering, not as bad as before when he first started to come off it but he still can't sleep, his legs are bad, he said its a constant pain, you feel as if you want to be stretched, plus his back pain is bad and he has red blotches onhis hands, with cold shivers also, can anyone tell me after 8 weeks is this normal, does it last this long getting off methadone?  if so, when does it start to get better?

My worry when I lie next top him, watching him toss and turn, is that maybe his body will never get over all his drug use, and that he will have to go back on something for life, which we really bothdon't want, his friends have mentioned subutex but he don't want to use that, he is adament he wants nothing else in his body.  As I said he was 19 when he started using heroin, and for the last 10 years been on methadone, he is now 35 and 8 weeks clean, but how long does the pains last until he can live life with no pain of it all?

Please help

[chas37]

Help, I quit methadone cold turkey at 80mg 10 days ago and im still in hell. I tried suboxone after 2 days and that took me to the 7th level of hell for 24 hrs. I didn't think humans could endure that kind of pain. Does anyone know how much longer this should last. Im going out of my mind but trying to stay strong. Thanks.

[gnarly_1]

HI....I came off a 6 1/2 yr run on methadone at 150mg ....I tapered off but its not so much the withdrawals (witch is miserable) but the post withdrawal that makes methadone so hard to get off of I was sick for around 90 days the things started to turn around you need to feed your braqin what it needs to heal amino acids in particular on the lower right of of the screen we have the amino acid protacall it will give you specifics or you can do what I did and start drinking whey protein shakes...there loaded with amino acids as well as vitamins along with the protein all of witch the brain needs to heal ....I omnly wish I had found out about this stuff sooner you can pick up a 2 lb can at walmart for 15 bucks the chocolate flavor is good you just mix it with milk drink 2 a day....its not a quick fix but rather building blocks for recovery....I have helped a lot of people get off methadone and will help you if you like his progress is fairly typical for a long habit just message me if I can be of any help  good luck and God bless....Gnarly    

[millie226]

THank you to everyone, and I mean that with my whole heart, your comments are so helpful.

He has been taking a tablet which the dr prescribed for his legs as he has a knee problem anyway, he is just over the 8 weeks, and whilst I type he is still sleeping, so sleep is getting better, he said the cold shivers are getting better, his legs and back still hurt but not as bad, I am trying to give him all the support he needs, and encourage him that this is so worth it, he is worth so much more that than drug, he is a great father, a great husband, and very loving and caring person, who deserves so much more out of life, as does everyone who is battling the same thing, i'm hoping by telling him this he will get through this, and we will be happy, I am positive and determined, I just hope these pains etc go away soon enough.  Thank you again for all your comments, and anrtech, you stick with it too!!!

[anrtech]

Hey girl,
I'm going into 8 weeks and I have the same thing. Just when I thought it was over, it hit me with a vengence. Tell him and yourself to hang in there. It's worth it. Support, support, support is what he needs.

[Keely80]

hey girl! Me and my husband actually have been going to the Methadone clinic for about three years now. Ive only had to come off of methadone once for certain reasons and that was about the worst pain i have ever felt in my life. You constantly have cold sweats, your legs and arms are sooooo restless you feel like you could demolish a whole house if you were to start kicking , and on top of all that when all you want to do is just lay down and sleep you cant. its horrible and unfortunately I started going bck. Not gonna sugar coat it its one of the hardest withdrawaals to go through, but your husband sounds like he is a very strong person. Its really up to the person and how bad he or she wants to be free of it.  Good luck and keep me updated on how everything is going.

[sudie58]

hi, your partner will get back to normal but it does take a good amount of time, if he was on it for ten years, 8 weeks isnt such a long time, if you think of his body and mind being reliant on it for such a long time, please dont give up, get all the information you can ,
read the health pages, top right hand corner of this page, it has "detox and nutrition"with methadone withdrawal, and lots of other help and advice for you, i really wish him well, take care and god bless.

[monkey273]

I don't have any experience with methadone I'm sorry. But in my experience, the longer a person is on a drug, the longer it takes to recover. Tens years on methadone probably means more than two months clean to recover. If possible he may want to see a doctor to help with the other symptoms he's having. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may just take a little longer for him to get there.