help!!! trying to get off the methadone

[Desirae78]

I am 33 and a mother of 3. Ive been on 110mgs for a little over 3 years.. about a month ago i decided to start getting off of it.  The clinic i go to scared the crap out of me when i asked to come off more than just 1 or 2 mgs a week.. It would have taken me forever..  I have 2 weeks vacation from work and i want to really get my dose as low as i can before returning to work so i wont have much to go and i can be home threw the withdrawals.. I want to know if i come down 5mgs every other day untill i get down to 60mgs and then slow down a bit so my body can get use to it, will i be ok for work?? The Dr. at the clinic scared me so bad today when i asked her this question.. she made it seem like i was gonna die a slow and misserable death.  Look i am ready to be drug free and it seems like they want me to stay on the dang methadone,. I have three kids so i cant be humped over in pain.. I have to be a functional parent.. Please give me some  insight on this.. My plan is for the next 2 weeks come off about 5mgs every other day which will place me at about 62mgs by the time i go back to work. I work as a dental assistant in a pediatric dentistry so i have to be able to function. I just want to be drug free.. methadone free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!      Thank you for taking the time to review this and i really would love it if someone could give me some advice. on this.

[gnarly_1]

HI......I completely understand the rush to be drug free but your goal of 5mg a day is unrealistic where not aloud to give tapering advise as fare as dosing but if you have to be functional the slower the better it all about not droping your serum level to quickly and throwing yourself into withdrawals and at 5 a day you will do that methoadne is a very strong narcotic 10mg is like 10 to 12 percs so you have to move slowlythe drug has a 36hr 1/2 life so you wont always feel your drop in dose for a few days this is why you have to move slow
it took me 8 1/2 mo to ween off 150mg to give you an idea of how long its going to take and I did it fast ....faster then my clinic wanted me to go get up to wallmart and pick up some 3 in one vitamins calcium/magnesium/zinc and start taking 4 in thev morning and 4 at dinner time in a few days this will build up in your system and cut down on the withdrawals greatly this will help you taper this is a race one by the tortus not the hare you just got to stick to it and you will get where your going good luck and God bless........Gnarly

[Richarddidit]

       Hi,I was on 80mgs of methadone a day for two years.Requested a taper schedule from my Doctor.A two month schedule was given to me.At the end of two months I jumped off of the methadone at around 2.5 mgs.Time has proven that Gnarly_1's advice was true and correct.I still had to go through withdrawal even though I tapered.I'm not saying tapering does'nt help it does make withdrawal a little easyier.To get an idea of the time frame involved as to how long it takes to get off this stuff Gnarly_1 could help and other members will help also.My biggest problem going through this was there was no fast way to do this and also the fact that withdrawal was unavoidable.Once I was able to accept the process of getting off this horrible drug I'm doing my best to stay off it with two slip ups in my first two weeks completly off methadone.I have to beat this.Everyone can get off this with the kind of help we need.Theres different help for all situations.One thing for sure is people on this site will help you through it.I have read so many posts on this site that is what helped me.   Happy Holidays to you and your family!

[justme1119]

I'm three months off of methadone.  I was taking 5mgs, 3 times a day.  It is a long acting drug so the first few days of detox are not as bad as day 7-14.  The first month I missed 5 days of work and I believe it was on the second week.  I teach school.  I'd advise you not to tell your job unless they already know.  I did, and while I didn't have repercussions, I wish I hadn't done it because I'm a little paranoid about what they are thinking.  Gnarly_1 will answer your questions I'm sure as he is the most knowledgeable about methadone withdrawal.  He told me 90 days was the worst of it and he was right, but you are on a much higher dose and I'm not sure about that.  Congratulations on your desire to be free of the chains and don't let anyone deter you from your goal.  Whatever you have to go through, it's worth it!