Opiate withdrawals

[Lilly1955]

I have been off methadone 57 days. I spent the last 30 in rehab because I could not handle the withdrawals from the Valium and OxyContin. They gave me clonidine every 4 hours in August , sept 26  released 2days ago, at the rehab they lowered it to every 12hours. Then I find that all 3 of those drugs have withdrawal symtoms of anxiety and depression. I haven't slept more than 2hours in a month . I went 9 days in a row with no sleep. They gave me trazadone I slept for 4hours one night then 2 hours the next then 5nights no sleep. This no sleep is do hard. My blood pressure is all over the place,nausea depression anxiety can't eat or sleep.i started going to NA meetings . Want to do 90 meetings in 90 days. I still don't have all my feelings back. I try to not isolate or keep busy. I can't go to a meeting at night cause I havent slept in a month and don't feel comfortable night vision. How much longer will this take. My friend and family say I am doing better. I can't tell I am just pretending. My life is like a movie I feel disconnected. Anyone else feel this way?

[NeverAgain127]

Hi Lilly:

Try not to freak about the sleep, if you can.  I'm a lifelong insomniac.  And I used Trazodone for years, but it gave me weird dreams and racing heart rate so I stopped it.  I'm lucky if I get 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night..some nights I simply DON'T sleep.   It's okay just to lie quietly, with your eyes closed, and breathe deeply.   It's okay just to rest.  

Your body has been through hell and back.   Things will come in time....hang in there...don't give up.   Do you believe in God?  If you do, pray,  It works.  
Hugs,
Robin

[Lilly1955]

Thank you for the support. I have not slept for more than 2 hours in over a month. I went 9 days with no sleep and started to go crazy so they gave me trazadone which gives me 2 hours sleep. I have been tossing and turning since 2am. If I could sleep I would be able to handle paws better. I was on clonidine since August every 4hours last month cut to every 12 hrs. My BP and pulse fluctuate greatly. I saw Dr yesterday she said she would talk to cardiologist and get back to me but she has yet to get back. I left several messages as this is very uncomfortable. I have tried everything for sleep teas, melatonin (causes nightmares) unisom and Benadryl. Tomorrow I will try and find extra strength Benadryl. No sleep is making the anxiety and depression much worse.

[VICourageous]

Hi..Methadone was one of the hardest and longest detoxes I have ever experienced as I too came off of 2 other meds with it..Just give it time and with time patience. It will take a bit of time for all to balance back and mostly in the Brain..All those billions of wiring we have.
They use the clondine for sleep & anxiety..It is mostly used to help keep the heart from pumping real hard..Not so much for your BP. This is a very light bp and I know some DRs who use it at night now and then for sleep. I only took it for a very short time and at night only when I went 22 days without sleep and could not take any other med without having a side affect. You will be fine just do not give up as it is a hard road to hold but it all will get a bit better each day..It is the mental that will take time..You could feel like a yo-yo off & on for some time..Who knows?? We are all a bit different on bouncing back and there is so many factors why. Age, Health, how many yrs on drugs and how many mg you got up to in one day AND the cocktail of drugs is so much harder to come right back..You will just have to have some patience and things will work it's way around in it's own time..I wish you the best and Pray you have it a bit easier then I did.
Bless

[Lilly1955]

Primary care Dr was suppose to talk to my cardiologist today and instruct me on the BP clondine she never got back to me.

[Merri123]

Yes this is very very common. It takes time to get back to normal. Are you still taking the clonidine?

Maybe a trip to your primary doctor will help. Let him check you out and monitor you.

You are doing good. Keep going to meetings. Keep staying clean. Keep doing what you need to. Stay busy. Stay active. Exercise. It will pass slowly. You just have to be patient.