looking for insight dealing w/hellish neuro/withdrawl from methadone

[gtngprtyold]

Hi...I am new to this community...I would really appreciate any help/insight as I honestly pursue release from 10+years of Opiate Dependence/Addiction...Most recently, 8 yrs on Methadone...My previous experience regarding escape from the dependence: 2001 Spent just under 4 full weeks in an acute withdrawl syndrom detoxing from a High Dose Oxycontin Addiction in a PA Rehab. The worst of it was the damn Neuro symptoms..specifically involving My Left (occasionally also my right) Leg/Foot. When ever...and I really mean When ever I tried to be quiet and attempt sleep, not only was there absolutely NO sense of Drowsiness during this entire 4 wk period, but I would invariably experience an 'electric/tickle like sensation running down my left leg (like following the hamstring)...enter my foot and build in intensity till it kind of 'exploded or blossomed' in the sole....forcing me to KICK that leg, which would allow the unbearable and impossible to ignore sensation to 'discharge' so to speak. The time frame from first feeling it in the thigh to the kick and discharge would last about 5-8 seconds....after the 'Discharge' (and temporary relief) there would be perhaps up to 30 seconds of so before it would start over again....ALL Night....Every Night for 26 Nights...During the days, the rehab kept me busy for about 16 hrs....during which time, rather than experience this 'Kicking' I enjoyed the rest of the withdrawl syndrom....Severe swings from extreme Core Coldness, to Menapause like Heat flashes w/ sweating....Anxiety, Extreme Emotional liability (not anger)...Total Wakefullness....but Never really anything like the others in the facility....no Nausea....no running nose....no flu like symptoms....just weird Neuro like sensations....Never Drowsiness....and then Every night .... the Kicking...
Remained in a 'sub-acute' withdrawl syndrom from April through November 2001...with the same symptoms as the first Month or so...but keyed down....no actual kicking at night....but still, to a much lesser degree, electrical/coldwater like sensations in my limbs....especially the left side...and the lower limbs more that the upper...and during the days....still the fluctuations from Cold to Hot...and the rest, but much more tolerable and diminished. In November 2001, was placed on Methadone by a Pain Management MD (I have a diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis). From then, until Now, I have been basically taking 20mg every 12 hrs.  Abslolutely No chassing, no experiencing and no looking for a 'High'.....basically, this dose just keep away a repeat, if not Worse (I have been warned that as bad as the Oxy withdrawl was, the withdrawl from Methadone will be far worse)...of what I experienced in 2001.  I have tried multiple times through the years to taper down....go gold turkey....and each time could only tolerate it for up to 48 hrs....experiencing the same as in 2001. I really. really am desperate to get free once and for all. I have researched a bit and seems I have perhaps 3 choices. 1) Rapid/ Ultra Rapid Detox (under anestesia while Narcan flushes the Methadone from my body)....followed by an implant of Naltraxone (to help the Fat bound Methadone molecules clear my Liver and ultimately my body)...followed by a year of oral Maltraxone, to seal the result.    2) try to switch to Suboxone to mediate the Methadone withdrawl....then titrate off the Suboxone....(however, I understand that there is a severe danger of getting stuck in a Suboxone dependency...which is then only marginally less difficult to get free from than Methadone.  3) the last suggestion I recieved is a bit dangerous. Switch to a short acting opiate, like hydorcodone (vicodan)....enough to cover the Methadone withdrawl.....stay on that for at least a Month, if not 2 Months....then, titrate down and eventually go cold turkey....the withdrawl should then be a picnic compared to Methadone withdrawl, both in duration and severity.    Please, I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has any Idea of what I am talking aboout here....thanks much.....wenber.

[worried878]

good luck and keep us posted

[gtngprtyold]

Thanks much for you comments....I really appreciate it....I have an appointment with my Pain Management MD on Monday....hopefully he won't mind helping loose a patient and the income. I will report back after that visit....I am going to follow your advise (I am new here...need to learn the site...didn't know there was an 'ask a doctor' side of the forum...Going now to look for it...thanks again....blessings....wenber

[worried878]

have u talked to a doctor about what is the best route to go?  I do know there are prescription dopamine drugs/mostly in the parkinson treatment family/that can virtually eliminate restless legs...also now used in severe resistant depression...as far as switchig to another narcotic..be it sub or another opiate...seems u are aware of the risks involved...40 mgs a day of m-done is not a whole lot..people switch to sub at 30-40 mgs depending on what the doctor decides..tapering from that dose of m-done would perhaps be what i would do/but i am not u and u have already tried this/but ultimately u would have to taper from sub as well/..or maybe using the sub for 3 weeks then getting off altho there may still be some residual m-done wds at 3 weeks..i do know rapid detox has a low success rate and actually can be dangerous..u know urself and what would be best for u..researching all the possible avenues may help..and asking advice like u r doing now...altho i have never been addicted to m-done/only used it for short periods for pain control...have u talked to the doctor in the "ask a doctor" side of the forum?  he might be able to help u