advice for tapering off methadone

[purple4green]

Please any advice to ease the discomfort, I never had issues with my teeth, I went to clinic for 1 year hated it, so I found a Dr, he's great but the first week I dropped 40mgs, down to 90, it sucked but it was baerable, this week I dropped another 10mgs, day 3 of this week, I feel everything, can't sleep more that a few minutes at a time "literally". My mouth hurts sooo so bad?????? Some ppl say done rots your teeth, I have looked around on the web and found nothing to suggest it rots, any advice on how to get some rest.

[marycarmel]

I agree with atthebeach, that was a huge drop; and due to the long half-life of methadone, you were likely feeling that first drop as well as starting to feelmthensecond drop.  Slow and steady will get you where you want to be without throwing you into full-blown withdrawals.

I think the trouble with teeth can stem from any narcotic.  Some people (like me)  get a dry mouth, eyes and that can cause trouble with your teeth and gums.  (I'm convinced Fentanyl did it to me because it was after that that I started having terrible problems with my teeth.  There was no change in dental hygiene and I had never had a cavity until I was put on pain meds.

Good luck with your tapering.  There are quite a few people here who have gone through it and will give you ideas' and everyone here will give you good support.

[atthebeach]

Hello and welcome. Dropping from 40 to 30 mgs is alot at once. In the lower mgs if methadone it is best to go slower about 2 or 3 mgs every week or 10 days because it takes about 3 days for the withdrawals to start. Methadone has a longer half life and it stays in your system longer. You should let your body adjust to the drop before you go down again.

Look on the bottom right u of this page under the health pages.
Look up the Thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol., they help with the w/d symptoms. There is also some great info about methadone detox.
the sleep is hard to come by during detox. Try melatonin, valerian root,
Hot baths with Epsom salts, you will get through this.

Congrats on your decision to quit after only a year.
You can be free from the chains and bondage of addiction. Tapering takes patience, but slower and steady wins the race.
Are you in any support groups such as na or aa, do you see a counselor.
You should have support to help prevent relapse.

What was your doc before you started methadone?

Make sure you take regular and good care of your teeth and visit your dentist.

Keep posting for support
Debbie