Methadone withdrawal

[meganb045]

Hello I've been tapering off methadone for a year and 3 months. I started at 140 now at 8mg. Well since I got down in the 20's I've been very sick. I am sick all day but it's worse I think early evening, all night and most the morning. I don't really know what I should do at this point a part of me says I should just get off now at 8 because I'm so sick all the time anyway, which I really don't think mentally that would bug me. I just don't know how to manage these withdrawals I mean I feel like major crap. My stomach hurts even after drinking water right now, my anxiety is through the roof shaking all day so uncomfortable. I am not sleeping at night either. I've tried over the counter sleep aids to.  I'm pretty much here looking for advice. Thank you

[Davidmel]

I ve been on it since may-7 months. I did it because i couldn't afford the pills anymore. Glad i did cause it bbroke the cycle, but hate going to clinic every morning!
My clinic only deals with 5mgs....

[JWProudDad]

Wow! The clinic I went to started you at 30 mgs! I believe I've successfully broken my liquid handcuffs and have escaped the clinic prison, but I'm a work in progress. Going an hour drive to the clinic everyday sucked!

[meganb045]

Yes I remember having to go to the clinic every day, it sucked.  I was going once a week last week was my last week going there and Thursday is my last dose. I'm a little nervous for the full blown withdrawals but I know I can do it. I already feel crappy but now it will be the full on withdrawals. Good times.

[Davidmel]

Megan, i'll bet u wont have "full blown wds." ... not with a taper. I cant go to na or aa, since i live in a small town and teach everyone/or their kids... thank goodness for this website.
Everyone-ya'll are the best for responding... we need eachother!

[Davidmel]

Jwproudad..i cant even imagine driving an hour for that little teaspoon of relief.. thats dedication!

[gnarly_1]

Hi Megan.....well I just wanted to check up on you so far so good.....try not to let fear into the equation it will only make your anxiety worst....it always is worst in our heads them it turns out to be...the best thing you can do is try to keep a positive attitude...I have said this a million time but '''you just got to be ok without being ok for a wile''... My taper took 8 1/2 months coming off a 7 yr habit at 150mg....it was a lot faster then the clinic wanted but if they had it there way it would have took almost 2 yrs.....I have helped a lot of people off this drug for the last 6 yrs   on this forum....no 2 withdrawals are the same....we have a equation we use it is how long you have been on it... at what dose... and your age.... so for me the cards where stacked ageist me I was on it a long time close to 7years I was on a high dose 150mg and was 47 when I detoxed...my clinic even told me that because of all this I should be a methadone pacent for the rest of my life and trying to quit was a bad idea...I even had to sign a paper that said I was going ageist the doctors recommendation so they where no help at all...as for how your final detox will go....well because your already sick...(so was I) it dident make much of a difference it takes around 10 days to 2 weeks to detox off this drug....my anxiety went threw the roof and sleep as all but impossible even with prescription medication....it is not so much the severity of the withdrawal but the long recovery time that makes this the hardest of all the opiets to detox from....I remember telling my substance abuse counselor....'''I should be doing a hellava lot better for 60 days clean''...it seamed hopeless to me....it took me a good 90 days  to even start to get better so you have to be in this for the long haul...it is all about perseverance and resolve in the end....just know you will recover and every thing you go threw is so so worth it when you find recovery...this is 1/3 physical and 2/3 mental....the next critical step is aftercare...I have tryed most.. first the pastor at my church... then a substance abuse counselor... then a addiction therapist....but it was the rooms of N/A that gave me my life back...the program is free...the meetings are only a hour long and it will give you some place to share where the people will understand what your going threw...it is that support that got me threw all of this...today I still go to several meetings a week...the program will give you structure in your life...something most addicts dont have.....it is a simple program that treats the  addict that is alive and well in your head long after the drugs stop.....go to meetings get a sponcer and work the 12 steps and with time you will loose the very desire to use....something I thought was impossible..I cannot not speak more highly of a program so google a N/A meeting near you...step out of your comfort zone and go...it is the single best thing you can do for your recovery...just know where hear for you so post and post some more...we have a lot of members who have recovered from this drug so hang in there....there is light at the end of the tunnel..I will pray for you.....>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Soulscapex]

You got this megan, listen to Gnarly , he helped me get off , and im now 207 days clean. What he says about fear and positive attitude is so true. He helped me find the strength inside me. Just like i know you have. we are here to help anyway we can. i come and check everyday this is part of my recovery trying to help others off of this drug. It does get better , i use to say well ,my life is just fine when i was on it, but when i got off and a few months had passed , i look at life in a new way. i was free for the first time in 9 years.

keep us updated
GOD SPEED

[meganb045]

Thank you for the great advice! I truly appreciate it!

[gnarly_1]

hi Megan....how    you doing????...how are the withdrawals going???  OOO and the million dollar questing  what is your dose???? your getting pritty low so the end is near....have you started the 3 in 1 vitamins yet???...today I just want to encourage you....as tuff has it been you have been able to handle it  but I know I grew weary...there was a couple of people that where there on the forum for me when I detox....I found it priceless it is one of the main reasons I became a community leader here on medhelp...that and how we put it in N/A...''you cant keep it unless you give it away''  just know your not alone in this ...let us know what withdrawal symptoms are the most bothersome to you we have a lot of home cures that we can suggest.....the anxiety was one of my worst symptoms like your having....there are a couple of good teas out there one is yogi brand...'''stress relief''  my favorite is ''traditional medicinal's'' sleepy time it not only helps with sleep but it is also good for anxiety just seap 2 bags for 20 min  you can get it at walmart for 5 bucks....the trick is finding it there  sometimes they got it with the rest of the tea's they cary  other time it is in with the vitamins and herbal stuff so you have to look for it   this is a must have...now for the general body aches a hot soak in a epsom salt bath will help   if you have access to a Jacuzzi use it there ausum....try your best to keep a positive attitude it makes the difference between being uncomfortable or suffering....suffering is a choice....  please post some more details on how things are going....we cant help if we dont know....OOO how old are you....it makes a big difference in detoxing...anyway your going to be in my wife and my Prayers daily....if you believe in God  prayer is one of the best weapons ageist this...  hang in there the end is so close you can taste it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[meganb045]

Hello, so today's my last dose and I'm at 8mg. I am 29 I've been on the clinic almost 5 years now. My worst feelings are the anxiety, stomach hurting and feeling nauseous.. ☹️️ I bought the vitamins and have started them. I also bought Valerin root to I can't really say it's helped much. Hate the anxiousness and my irritability there both pretty constant. Feels like there's bugs under my skin a lot and I run my hands together really hard to try to make that weird feeling go away. The best way I can describe it is like there's a bunch of energy or electricity bottled up in my arms and hands and the only way they feel a little better is when I rub my hands together. Don't know if that makes since or not.

[gnarly_1]

Hi Megan....well the ''creepy crawles'' as I call them are ruff  but if you have a regular doctor be honest with him and tell him what your doing....ask him for a drug called ''clonadine''  it is a old school blood pressure med that really helps the crawling skin feeling  also most people have elevated blood pressure wile detoxing...so 2 good reasons for him to give it to you.....now what your also describing is restless limbs....it is very common most people get it in the legs but I to experienced it in my arms also go to walgreens and pick up a homeopathic bottle of ''highlands restful legs'' it is all natural so you cant take 2 much and it works wounder for restless limbs....again you have to look for it it comes in a really small bottle like 1/2 in round and 2in long  you can ask if you dont find it  this is a real life saver the restlessness usually gets worst b/4 it gets better so get up there today  it is only a couple of bucks so it wont break the bank..as for the anxiety  try the teas I recamended just know your going to get threw this  keep posting where hear for you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Gnarly<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Soulscapex]

You got this megan, i can vouch for the highlands , i took it also , you get alot in the bottle , still have it, as for the anxiousness , try not to think to much about all thats goin on , or what might happen , cause it may never. i suffered from bad panic attacks so like most i worried it would get worse when i detoxed, but in fact i got better i havent had a panic attack since before i jumped, i think my last one i can remember is the day of my last dose.
Find some calming music, put some headphones on , and when your mind starts to wonder on worrying about this, just remember you are strong, you can make it through anything.

[meganb045]

So I was put on clonodine three weeks ago and I haven't noticed a difference in the anxiety but I went to my doctor yest for a check in on how it was working and I told her everything she's very understanding so that's good. She gave me anxiety medication as a prn when needed for two weeks. She also have me lexapro she thinks it might help I guess. So I'll try it. Creepy crawlers that's a perfect name for how I feel. A lot of times it feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't breath. I used to deal with a lot of depression and anxiety so I've been on lexapro before but not sure if it helped because it was so long ago. I will add in here since I've been tapering down I've lost 76 pounds. I gained 100 pounds on the clinic and now it's falling off I don't work out and i haven't changed my eating habits so it's def the methadone.  My clinic still won't admit it was the methadone that made me gain all that weight. My thyroid is now hypothyroidism and I've never had any issues like that before. I have an off topic question though have any of you had issues with Novocain working at the dentists since being on methadone? I never had an issue before but now Novocain doesn't work on me I say through three fillings feeling every part of it. They gave me the max Novocain to. So now I have to be sedated just to get fillings. Just thought that was weird how suddenly it doesn't work. I'm headed to Connecticut today for a weekend at my family's that have no idea what I'm going through but I have high hopes it will be fine.

[Soulscapex]

I dont think its the methadone that makes people gain weight , its the sugar cravings,  as for the thyroid my therapist was once a methadone patient and she told me she did research that there is a link between methadone and it, she now has to take thyroid med.  Maybe this is a good time to fill in your family , on whats going on, support is key.