SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

[ToEffenSick]

I started Methadone on May 8 2013 to help me get off prescription drugs.  I started at 30 mgs. After 2 weeks, they lowered me to 25 mgs.  I was on that for two weeks and then I wanted to get off.  So....they started lowering me 5 mgs every 5 days.  I was on Methadone for a total of 43 days.  The last 3 weeks I was on it,  I was sluggish, tried and sweaty.  They told me that I would feel better soon.  Sunday, June 23, 2013 was my last day. I've had the runs since then but that's not the worst, by the 4th day, I puked my guts up all day and couldn't get out of bed for 3 days.  I am still not feeling well but the puking stopped.  I am still tired, depressed and still have the runs.  How much longer will this last?????  Had I known it would be this bad I would have done something else.  How can I be so sick after being on a low dose for such a short time??????  When will it get better??? Does anyone know????  I can't find any answers because most people getting off Methadone have been on it for years. Is there anyone out there who can help me???  I am at my wits end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank you!!!!!!!

[ariley13]

Just remember this! It's so easy for us to start feeling better and forget how bad the detox was. Then we let our guard down and end up using again. I try ti remind myself daily of the hell of detox!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you. I will go check it out. What a horror show!!!! This pain isn't ever worth using ever again!

[ariley13]

Yeah the depression tends to set in after the acute wds are over. That is a part of the process and very normal. Opiate use makes our brains stop producing dopamine and endorphins which are the 'feel good' chemicals in our body. Exercise can help kick start production. There are also foods that can help us. If you look at the bottom of the main page there is a link for the health pages. There is an article about foods that naturally increase the dopamine in the body. Try to stay busy doing something you enjoy. Be good to yourself, and hopefully this will pass soon. We have all been there and know what you are going through. We are here for you.

[ToEffenSick]

The depression is killing me!!! :(

[gnarly_1]

HI im with vic and wever I was on methadone for around 7 yrs but i\we have had members do it for a short time and and get better in about a month time  recover can be slow you will s\till get some of the fallout from the pills you where taking  remember ez dose it it can take some time to get your Agame back  keep posting we all want to see you get well good luck and God bless....Gnarly

[clean_in_ks]

Congrats BIG TIME on 14 Days and no runs!!!  And you get to have a solitary drive to the beach!!!  I'm totally jealous.....lol

I have really enjoyed driving somewhere totally alone and blaring whatever music I want.....it fills me up and makes me grateful for satellite radio with no commercials...haha!

I, too, came off pills and was dr. directed to subs.....I hadn't found this site and new absolutely ZERO going on them or getting off them.

I'm so glad you are pushin thru and have it behind you now.

Enjoy the sand in your toes....and the sun on your face~

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you so much!!! All this support has been great!!!  Weaver has been very knowledgable!!  How are you doing?? Are you off yet?

[debsgotcurves]

Hi, sorry I just saw your post today. I am in the process of getting off methadone also, but have  been on it over 5 years, and was up to 550mgs!  You have gotten great advice here. Weaver is especially knowledgeable about getting off methadone.  He has first hand experience and is helping me too.  You are doing amazing!!! Just don't turn back now!!! You have already done the hardest part. Keep posting, and make yourself a support system.. Change everything you used to do as far as friends and places that you used.  I wish I had only been on this crap a few days. I know it was hard, but you did the right thing.  As far as the people at your clinic, I CAN RELATE!! I have talked with Weaver about this also.  They just outright LIE about how hard it will be to get off this crap, and they can be completely insensitive when you are trying to get off of it.  I remember asking my counselor what the withdrawl process would be like and she said, "how should I know, I help people who are ON methadone, not those getting OFF of it". Wow, that spoke volumes to me.  Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and give you my support.  You should soon feel much better, and will have put your life back on track to live a happy, healthy, and successful life.  You have your whole future ahead, don't waste another minute of it on this crap.  Go live happy and free!!! God bless you!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you both so much!!! Day 14 and no runs!!!!!  I think I'm ready to fly!!!!!!!!  God Bless you all!

[marycarmel]

Sleepy Time tea helped me a bit.  Alteril did as well.  Imodium seems to help lessen the withdrawal symptoms as well as helping with the diarrhea.  I had terrible stomach trouble coming off Fentanyl but popsicles, watermelon, pineapple seemed to help.  Bland foods.  You're getting great advice here.  I wish these doctors and clinics that suggest methadone to come off pills had to go through it themselves.  Methadone was suggested for me for pain but having read about it here, I said no and changed pain management doctors.  You'll get through this.

[VICourageous]

Hello out there!!! Sorry to hear about the runs still. If this keeps going on I would see a DR. I am glad you are going to get out. You will come around soon. I know what you mean about the Dones. I made the mistake of wanting them so I got them prescribed after I was on the other opiates. Oh Boy it was not a nice ride at all. I never usually say on here how long and how many stages I went through. I am a bit older and have used for many years so I did not bounce back quick. I sure feel for you. You are doing very well considering. Have a great time and diffidently try to re-directed your self..This is a big plus.
Bless!
PS. I guess YOU will be walking in the Sand after all! Ha!!!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you!! That's what I am hoping.  Nothing like a solitary road trip to clear your mind, and, of course, music soothing the way.  The road trip is solitary - I will be with loved ones when I get there.  Thanks again.

[ariley13]

Have fun at the beach! Maybe getting away will help to get your mind off things. Getting some sun may do you a world of good. Be sure to stay hydrated.

[ToEffenSick]

OMG!!!! Had I know that to begin with I would have never went that route.  I thought it would help with withdrawals, and it did.  I thought being on such a low dose and not long term and coming down slow would have been fine.  All I was having was hot flashes and sluggishness.  After my last 5mg dose I immediately started having the runs.  By day 4 I was wretching uncontrollably.  I still have the runs - two weeks tomorrow.  Had I known it was going to be this way I would have never started on it.  I would have done the withdrawal on my own with a little help from Xanax.  I would  have been done in 4 days.  I didn't do my research beforehand as I was desperate to get off the pills with as little pain as possible.  I guess there's no such thing.  I hope I am through the worst.  And I was only on Methadone for 43 days!!! I can't imagine what it would have been like to be on it for years.  I don't know how I would have done that.  I supposedly came down slow...... 5 mgs every 5 days.  When I told them at the clinic I was feeling very sluggish and having hot flashes they said I would get better.  They when I went down to 10 mgs, my counselor said, oh please, you shouldn't be that bad now.  You're on hardly any.  Imagine??? They never warned me about what was to come when I stopped.  I am feeling better though.  I am heading to the beach for a few days.  Maybe that will help.

[lynnalb15]

Methadone is hell on earth. I wish I would have never started!!! Your almost done tho keep it up!!!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you so much for the support!!!  I've been taking vitamins and just started the immodium yesterday....again.  When I took it the first time, I didn't go for three days, so I stopped.  Then of course, the runs started again.  When I drink the Gatorade it makes me go worse. UGH!!!!! I was only on for 43 days!!! Never again!!!  I am able to tolerate lots of water and my appetite is coming back. As long as all of this is normal.....I do think I got this!!!  Thanks again and God Bless!!!!!

[ariley13]

Methadone sure can hang on. It takes a while to get it all out of the system. Thus the fun diarrhea. The tongue thing is probably a combo of dehydration and malnutrition. Have you been doing vitamins and minerals? Drink tons of water, juice, or gatorade. What about immodium? Have you tried that? It can really be a lifesaver with the bathroom issues. Please hang on. You are doing great. This all should be over very soon. Methadone is a very hard drug to get off of. It's totally synthetic and loves to hang on. You got this though!

[ToEffenSick]

Well, I still have the runs it will be 2 weeks tomorrow.  Is this normal after only being on Methadone for 43 days?????  I'm still feeling a little tired and the vomiting stopped. My tongue is very white though.  Is that because I am dehydrated??  Is all this normal?  Methadone is the WORST!!! UGH!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you so much!!!!! I am riding it out!!!! I have no choice! I never want to take another pill again!!!!!!

[ariley13]

Just remember this. It's easy to forget how awful wds are once you are feeling a little better. I remind myself daily of that feeling and how miserable I was. It serves as a good deterrent!

[ToEffenSick]

Thank you all so much!!!!  I've taken all of your suggestions.  Taking vitamins, drinking coconut water, water, gaterade.  I think I may be tired because of the Xanax.  I will not take them tonight!!!!!   They're not working anyway and probably making me feel worse.  I will have my BF get me some CALM or Melatonin to help me sleep.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I never want to go through this again!!!!!!!

[weaver71]

Nothing helped in acute withdrawal. I guess it makes sense, there's no pill to get us off pills. I used lunesta after 19 days. It would work one night, then it didn't. I think melatonin is as good as it gets. Taken at the same time and in total silence and darkness, it can help reset your biological sleep and relaxation clock. It can take awhile, but melatonin is the hormone our brain produces to make us sleepy at bed time. Time is your best friend for now.

[ariley13]

Hi! Everyone's different, but for me I couldn't take benzos during wds. I had a script for Ativan. I took it once and it actually made me feel worse. You are doing great. Methadone wds are horrible. It takes a lot longer than other opiates to get out of your system. You should start to feel better very soon. Hang in there and stay with us. We are here for you. Take care.

[VICourageous]

Well from my experience it is. I remember one time w/ding from the hydo/oxys and I had taken at least 4 pills of .1 Klons and they did nothing at all.The Dr can prescribe you Clonidine (bp med). They use this  alot to help people w/ding from opiates. I only took it at night back in Sept for 2 weeks. Then I went all natural. I took Cal, Ds & Magnz at night and sometimes a Melatonin. Try to find some relaxing Teas or Vit. There is this powder called "CALM" it is a relaxing magnesium supplement. Hang tight and fight the flight. It will be better.