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methadone withdrawal

I am on methadone for chronic pain. My neurologist, dr. Virginia Pact, MD has sold her practice and she really knows very little about how to withdraw someone from methadone anyway. I use to be on 15 mg daily and I took myself down very slowly from that dose to about 7 1/2 daily about a year ago. I was afraid to go all the way down in case my pain became severe again. I got the withdrawal information from the local methadone clinic at that time. (My doctor thought I should just stop taking the dose...very bad idea.)
I am now attempting to get completely off methadone but have no idea how to titrate down without experiencing severe symptoms. Since this dose is so low, what I am doing is shaving (pills are very tiny) about what I think is 1mg from my daily dose. I started this on Thursday and as of this writing I have diarrhea, headache, back pain has increased with muscle pain and general malaise. My plan was to go down by 1mg daily until I was finished, but I am not certain this is a good idea. I am employed full time and do not want to miss work as a result of this so it is important to keep my symptoms to a minimum. What would you suggest? I hope to hear form you very soon. Thank you very much.

***@****
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Avatar universal
Hello
I have a 27 year old daughter on medicade, who is detoxing at home from 85mg of methadone cold turkey. She got tied up with a clinic for about a year and a half. We, my wife and I, tried to help her come down from 150mgs but we only had ten weeks of withdrawal to give her. Now it's cold turkey. This is the 3rd day, and now she is really hurting. Is there any help for her. The Centers here in Marion Cnty Florida said there are no beds available after they told us to bring her there and we waited 2hrs.
The next step is to take her to the hospital again, I guess.
Does anyone know of anything else and what else to expect from my daughter?
Thank You
Fred
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Avatar universal
I have currently been on Methadone, at my doctor's suggestion as a replacement for Norco, for well over 4 years.  My dosage is 30 mgs every 6 hours, or 120 mgs a day. I have a condition that is inoperable, that leaves me in a twisted spasm of acute chronic pain without medical intervention, but after seeing the long term potential for worse things from the meds, I want to get off and try to deal with the pain using every strength I can draw from my being naturally. Reading the effects of withdrawal from methadone scares me to death, but I am going to proceed.  Right now, I have been able to ween down to 20 mgs every 6 hours, and so far, 2 months now, I have not had any side effects yet.  Do you think that some people have different ways that their physiology works in withdrawal, and maybe some of us are lucky enough not to have as bad symptoms as some of the folks in this forum have?  If anyone out there has had more positive results in getting completely off, please share them with us all, as I need to have hope and get off of this and the other,( soma and norco for breakthrough), drugs all the way.
Please share any successes, as will I and what it was that helped with all of us.
Thanks,
Trying in Texas
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Avatar universal
You asked about withdrawals and depression from switching to methadone from oxy's and I think that you will not experience any.  See when you switch from methadone to oxy's you experience withdrawals b/c of the way methadone interacts with your receptors.  Methadone is a long acting drug, and one of the reasons it's used for opiate addictions is b/c it blocks the effects of other opiates on your brain, meaning you don't get high.  When I switched from oxy's and morphine to methadone I didn't have any withdrawals in the least and it never bothered me.  Methadone acts like an opiate in the brain so you won't get depressed, the methadone will still provide the dopamine and serotonin to your brain.  

Truly,
Amberlynn
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Avatar universal
I am trying to gather info about coming off of methadone (110mg), I am going to come off the methadone 10mgs a week or I thinking about just stopping treatment altogether.  But I was wondering what you meant by, "I took these for a week before I noticed any difference"    ?


Thanks,
Amberlynn
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228686 tn?1211554707
I have a post here "Methadone detox: What works, what doesn't". There's some stuff that may be helpful to you. Fladdict has a post called "amino acids" that can help you out to, There's a few other treatments I can mention that are good, but I can't put them here, this board doesn't allow tthem to be posted here.If you're interested, let me know.
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Avatar universal
Thanks, yeah I realized it right after.  But I'm getting the hang, this is so helpful after 3 weeks on my own.  Thanks, really.
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Avatar universal
you have posted to a very old thread, these posts are from 2001 hun, try to repost your question. that is a very rapid taper...from what i have read and heard you are only supposed to taper like 1mg a month...and also methadone withdrawals are THE WORST i think, methadone stays in your system for sooo long that the withdrawals can last for over a month, i even read somewhere of someone still suffering on their 56th day, but it also depends on your dose and 60 mg is a little high, i was only on 20 mg and still suffered for about 5 days then started suboxone which does work, do some research on suboxone (for short term use) it does help with withdrawals and cravings and you have had no methadone since aug., 2  then you could start suboxone right now...or you can tough it out, you are almost there.... have you tried to double your dose of immodium? also how about tums, i lived on them,   you are almost there though, you have been clean now for 22 days, that is quite an accomplishment, you should be proud...i bet you will start to feel better within 7 days or so.  your doing so good, therapy would help, but i know what its like having WD's and no ambition or care,  just hang in there it will pass and you will see the other side  soon and you will be proud and happy that you stuck with it,   22 days clean for you, THATS GREAT!!!!  post to a new thread though youwill get more help with a new post.  take care and get some vitamins also , if you are anemic, maybe taking iron will help you with not only anemia but also your bowels (iron always constipates me)  LOL!  keep posting!  
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Avatar universal
This is too tough.  Or am I?  Off of methadone since 8-02-07 and suffering.  I thought coming down from 60 to 20 to 10 to 5 to 2.5 mg would be manageable.  Still losing weight rapidly, immodium doesn't seem to be doing anything, although maybe I just can't imagine it any worse.  Heroin withdrawal has nothing on this, in my experience.  The thing is, I had almost 4 years clean and serene(or something?) and went back to it for a couple of years.  This time i'm in a different life of my own creation, something more sustainable than the old city and heartbreak.  So I'm motivated, but I just need to know the suffering will wane.  Every time I think it might have gotten ever so slightly better, I eat a cracker and run to the bathroom to dry heave and the rest.  The only solace I have is my bathtub.  Even that is the enemy when I can't decide if I'm freezing or about to have a heat stroke.  No insurance, I left my doctor in the old town and now can't get my script if I wanted to, unless I go back and start this whole mess again?  I've always been weaker than most, kept in detox longer than the average and come out looking like death.  I'm super fair, and even my eyebrows are light blond.  I think the anemia and loss of vitamin health take such a toll, but the thought of putting a vitamin in my stomach, just the thought, makes me want to puke.  Enough poor me, just sitting home alone in a new town getting through this.  Looked up a meeting, but I just can't.  Anything to take that won't affect my weak stomach?  Bless you all for trying, this isn't easy.  
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Avatar universal
zdevil:
welcome to this forum, there is always room for one more addict, so come in out of the cold! try posting closer to the top of the forum as it's real easy to be unseen down in the basement here!

i've been using drugs on and off since i was 14. i'm 50 as of last sring. i had 17 years of being clean from drugs until spring of 1997 when an old neck injury from 1970 put me in severe pain. 2 surgerys later i take 40 mg of oxy-c 3 times a day. i'm not 100% pain free, but i can do anything i really want to.

getting off methadone is a real *****, no 2 ways about it. the last 5 mg. are the most difficult. did you investigate getting a new pain doc? 80 mg of oxy-c twice a day is about mid-point in the range of intractable pain control.

please keep posting. you will find many individuals that are or
have been where your at. this forum has been a real life saver for me since my last surgery in may of this year. i too was a "spook" lurking for a real long time. the difference between lurking and actively posting is tremendious! so.. i certainly
hope to be hearing from you!

keep an angel on your shoulder!!
kip
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Avatar universal
Well, I've been a silent lurker for so long on this list but thought I would come forward this afternoon for some reason.   I didn't realize I had such a big problem until my meds were switched around.  I have been on misc. Narcotics for 5 years.  I have such a tolerance now doctors will not exceed a certain dosage and will not titrate upward anymore.  So my last doc decided the best thing was to throw me on Methadone from Oxycontin.  I was on 80MG oxy but he started me on 30mg Methadone, then upped it to 60, then 90.  It does make the withdrawls go away but I find that Methadone does absolutely NOTHING for pain.  So, I decide, OK, thats it, if I'm taking medication that does nothing for the pain, I'm getting off.  I have never met a medication that I couldn't taper off without some pain and suffering but methadone is a new evil.  I dropped from 90mg to 20mg in 2 1/2 weeks.  I let that dose ride for a week and then tried to drop to 10mg, but after the first day of this I was a wreck.  It seems that the lowest I can go is 15mg (1 full tab morning and 1/2 tab night) without going into seriously deep withdrawls.  With the advice of the gurus on the list, I have a shopping list for tonight to get the L-Tyrosine, and other stuff to see if maybe I can get over the hump.  I will keep you updated.  Things that work for most usually have a reversed effect on me, we shall see.

I must say, you guys are a great source of information and support.  I have read some of the bashing comments in the past but they in no way would ever post that if they had every gone through what we have gone through.  Some of your posts have been the only thing thats kept me strong over the years when I thought I had nothing left or was going crazy!  Peace to all of you.

J
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Avatar universal
....listen i`m not that god with english so i want bug u much,
i`ve strted takin` tramadol year a go?
.....750mg(15 pills)every two days iz my "must take"....
....without them i feel week,i`m shakin` all tha time,when i think of stopin` i feel like cr.p!
My town iz too small,so if i ask for help,i`ll be banished out!!!
.....can anyone,anyone tell me the "less pain" way to get off,
cause i`m not in control of my life any more,and i can`t stop
cold turkey!

I understand that methadon iz heroin get off,so i dont think that name of a medicine change much?

please anyone anything!!!

?P_A!
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Avatar universal
GO TO HOSPITAL WITH PERSCRIPTION BOTTLE AT ONCE. TRY TO EXPLAIN
WHAT PROBLEM IS! GET GOING NOW, THIS IS VERY SERIOUS MATTER!

SKIPPER
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Avatar universal
listen to skipper,,,,when you don't take the tramadol you feel so bad because you are in withdrawals.,,this may cause you to become very ill....maybe even have seizures..listen  my serbian is not very good but why would you be banished?  ok  if terrible things happen when you are banished??? try taking less of the medicine every day.....until you are down to not taking anything....is it illegal to become addicted to drugs even if you didn't know they are addicting............?  go to your hospital...doc or clinic and tell them the truth      I didn't know Serbia was that extreme....but under these circunstances this is the best skip and I can do     cin
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Avatar universal
Thank you sweetie!  :)
Lv Jenny
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Avatar universal
Hi friends. I'm glad to hear from you Milo. You like so many others have been with me through the storm and I do so appreciate it. How are you feeling these days? My pain today has been rough but I made it to both church services today and even did a solo tonight called "Through The Fire". It's a song I truly believe.
  My daughter has been off the drugs for about a month now. She hit me up for a pain pill today and I stood strong and told her no. I begged her to come to the forum and talk to everyone. She said she could take one for pain without going into a relapse. She got mad because I wouldn't give in. She called later to say she was sorry. I still think she had some the other day but she would never admit it to me. But I told her to keep praying and keep trying. I have to stay strong.
   Cindi , you sound good tonight. I didn't mention you make me laugh girlfriend. You have a good sense of humor. I wanted to ask you about your back. How is is feeling these days? Disk disease is painful . I don't want anymore back surgery but I fear more nerve damage. How is your pain now. Is your medication helping. I know I need to be on something stronger but I just hate to do it. But I'm having more bad days than good and I don't think I can hold out much longer.
   Jennyfla, remember , when we are weak He is strong. Your in my prayers dear. Your going to make it !!!!!!
     God Bless, Kerrie
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Avatar universal
My daughter looked at me strangly tonight.  I was high out of my head, the way i've been over the past week or so, and my eyes are dialated and look strange.  She looked at my eyes hard, and i was taken aback.  I look forward to looking at her face-to-face knowing that her mommy is clean and sober, i'm ashamed to be like this.
I love them with all my heart, and i know i'm a good mom to them, can't get much better except to be straight and healthy!
They love me with all they've got too, they show it with hugs and kisses and sweet things that they do everyday, i am so very lucky to have them!!  So it's time to give them back what they give to me, complete love from a totally clear head and accepting heart!  I can't wait to give them a 100% mommy!
:)
Lv Jenny
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Avatar universal
Thank you thank you, i need that so badly tonight!!!
I'm stilled scared to death.
I waw my hubby tonight, and he felt so good to hug, and he smelled like my honey too!!!  No more yucky withdrawal smell.  I told him i can't wait to sleep next to him in bed again, and i apologized in advance for him having to sleep next to my sweaty yucky withdrawaling self (sorry i'm so gross).
He asked how many mgs i was doing, and i lied, i said 40, it's gone way up since he's been gone.  It's like the closer i get, the more i do.  He should understand, he was a maniac there at the end.  I have a $2,200 deficite in the checking account right now.  we have overdraft protection, so it's a line-of-credit, so i won't bounce checks.
This is so incredibly scarey.  A friend just told me not to go cold turkey because anything over 70mg i could slip into a coma.  I don't think that's true, i thought opiates were safe to do cold turkey.  I'm in great health, and young enough to withstand this, i'm sure i will be ok, just sick as hell, but ok.  I can make it, i know i can do this, i must do this!!!!!
My husband's going to walk me to death, so i better be ready to get up and move around, no lying in the bed waiting it out!!!
I start wed and i have my kids' orientation to meet their teachers on friday.  My hub will stay home with the baby, but i have to go, i want to go.  I will use the 'have a flu' excuse if i look like death!
I'm going to be ok, then i will be wonderful!
How long do the withdrawals last?  I'm so scared!
Lv Jenny
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Avatar universal


       ?P_A! iz in tha lot of pain!!!

mayday...mayday.....i`m going down!!!

PLEASE...send me an S.O.S. cruiser i dont know how to swim
with tramadol(tramal,trodon....),i`ve tried to swim up,but
it`s to gray!

Dont know what to do?
P.S.when off,feeling like lack of oxygene,no interest in life,
everything sucks bigtime!!?

if anyone can
***@****
HELP!!!
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Avatar universal
Ok  Jenny,,,I'm right up there with Milo,,,,you are entriely normal and have every right to be afraid, terrified, excited and everything else you are feeling.....always remember this   YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR FEELINGS  NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE,,THEY ARE YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.  but lke Milo, I would be worried if you were as calm as a cucumber (why do they say that anyway?  LOL)or is it as cool as a cucumber  anyway,,I'd be worried..keep the faith,,,Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due...that doesn't hlep much cuz if you're anything like me you re going to worry but it sounded good  LOL......(pat pat)  even through the toghest times in my life I try to heep humor somewhere in there.....i can always find something a little funny in the worst times   even in my mom's death my sister and i made a little joke...Off subject for a minute,,,but when mommy was mad she would tap her big toe....and my sister and I took her toe in the casket and started tapping it one last time...and sandy made some wisecrack about her being pissed if she knew we were tapping her toe....anyway,,,someday day you and yours will look back and it will seem like a whole different life...I went to a wedding last night  the most beautiful wedding i have ever been to....the groom who is my neighbor (so is the bride) is in a band  they do all their own music and he wrote a song and sang it for her..it was so cool and the words reminded us what marriage and the committment is all about...we have to keep this in mind..keep the faith,,,one day on minute and ine second at a time.....Milo.....you my friend....know how I care for you....you are a wonderful asset to this forum and a good friend..so kind, caring and genuinely concerned for people......your words are only too kind   and my dear Kerrie,,,what can I say  you are just another of God's angel's  you have been one of my guiding lights through all of my turmoil despite your own...may God bless you all  have a great sunday      Love you   cin
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Avatar universal
Jenny -- Take it from someone who's had every strange, bizarre, off-the-wall fear, phobia, paranoia, worry, etc. possible...your fears right now are 100% *Normal*. I'm not discounting them in any way, because I know how terrible anxiety feels, & I'm sure right now you feel completely overwhelmed by it almost to the breaking point. If you didn't feel this way, I'd be worried...you're at a crucial point in your life, and it's a tense time. Just remember how far you & your husband have come to get to this point, and be aware of the strength you've shown in just the past few weeks. I couldn't have done what you have -- hang in there!
Cindi -- My first "angel" when I came in panic looking for help. A special "bless your heart" for all the kind & wise words.
Kerri -- It's been a while, but I've kept you in my thoughts & prayers as well. Remember I'm still here for you all, even if I'm a little quiet now & then! -- Milo
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Avatar universal
CINDI, I'M  YELLING  SO  YOU  CAN  HEAR ME !!!!!! You don't think you've been a help to me ? Who has stayed in contact with me with e-mails and prayers and on this forum? You helped me when I was going through so much with all these tests. You prayed as did so many others and God answered . You being a nurse knew what others didn't know. You knew my disease could of meant I was terminal and you talked me through all the waiting. You are always here with just the right words to say to give me hope about my daughter. Time after time I read testimonials of how you have given people strength to fight this demon called addiction. But, real heros, never know they are. Thank you my friend.
  Wizard , you are like Cindi, full of kindness. You too have helped so many. You are an asset to this forum. I come to this forum for strength from friends that let me spill my heart and help me through the difficult times. My daughter truly tests my every fiber. But I keep praying for her to get clean. Thank you again for lifting me up .
  Jenyfla, sounds like your ready. Remember, have faith in yourself and in God. He won't let you down.
    God Bless, Kerrie
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Avatar universal
Thanks guys!!!! :)
I do have to tell you, i am scared out of my mind today!
As 'the day' approaches, i am getting more and more nervous!
The things i am most frightened of are; a part of me is sad to see the alcohol and drugs gone forever, although i know i couldn't continue this life forever either and expect all to be well in life, etc. etc.  I am also frightened of my husband returning, i am afraid of a relaspe (i know i know, think positive)!  I'm afraid that i will loose my mind getting through the withdrawals, afraid of not being able to cope!
I am a bundle of nerves right now, and with all i have to do everyday, taking care of the kids, it's just been so difficult getting these thoughts out of my mind... I had a load of anxiety earlier, i'm ok now.
My husband called earlier, complaining of his back and knee hurting, he just wants to come home so badly.  He has a job interview set up for Friday.  Hearing him complain about his aches and pains brought back some bad memories.  I've really enjoyed this time while he's been gone only because it's been such a relief to be able to breath for a change.  When he returns, i know he will be a different person, and things will be much better, but i still have fears... it was so awfully awfully BAD before, and during this time apart from all the caos that used to be my daily life, i just can't go back to that life again.  My husband will have to be responsible for himself from now on, because i am out of steam completely.  I don't even know if i have the strength to get through what i need to do for myself...  i just can't do this anymore!!!
I do know this, when i pull myself out of my own mess, i won't go back to the way we used to live.  If my husband chooses to start using again, i'm out of here before i get pulled down with him.  I'm sorry to be thinking so negative, but it's hard not too.  I've been through this before, and it was hell!  It all happened quickly after his rehab last time, and then skyrocketed when our house caught fire... and i went down too.  Then pregnancy, which saved me in my body for a while, but not my mind, it was always there... i couldn't wait for labor so i could request SOME DRUGS!!!!  I was advised to get counseling while pregnant, but i chose not to.  I watched my husband get worse and worse... and you know what was first on his mind while i was in labor... he had to drive my kids to a friend's house while i was in labor, and he made sure to cop and get as high as a kite before returning to the hospital.  He was so high while i was in labor, he was sitting in the chair nodding off!  I didn't care too much, i was kind of busy at the time, plus i was in stadol la la land!  I had to trust him with the atm card while in the hospital for only tops, 24-hours, and he went and had himself a good old time with that card let me say that!!!  I was too much in the bliss of motherhood to get very mad, and allowed him to get away with it.  
Sorry, i got off track somehow.
Anyway, my point is, once i am better, i can't get pulled down into hell again, i won't.  If i make it through this nightmare, then i vowed never to return to it...  If i do, i know my world will end, because it will come back with a vengence.  I feel i am on the verge of making another step downward, and i can't even trust my willpower anymore.  I used to be able to 'handle it', so i thought, but it quickly took over, and i have been going downhill rapidly, and that has scared the **** out of me.
If i go back once i get through this, it's going to be real bad, REAL BAD!!!  I can feel it!
Anyway, my point is, i hope that he is serious about staying clean because i will leave with the kids and start a brand new life somewhere else.  
On the bright side, i do feel that he is better than he was last time around... he has suffered a lot during these past 2 1/2 years, and i hope that he remembers the suffering, and he has the strength to beat it this time.  
I'm just very scared tonight, and i hate pointing my finger at my husband when i sit here still not even straight myself, but these fears are so strong.
I feel i will have the willpower once i get past the nightmare of withdrawals because i have the kids to focus on, he seems to get angry at life too easily, and the kids get on his nerves instead of trying to do things with them, fun stuff.
I feel like deleting this entire post because i must sound like a negative idiot!  But these are my fears, and i will try to keep them to myself, and let my husband have the opportunity to prove that my fears are all just silly nonsense!!
I'm such a hyrocite!!!
Thanks for listening!
Lv Jenny
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Avatar universal
Well i have all my ammonition!  I picked up some more L-Tyrosine, and i have B6, and Zinc and Mag (will take as directed and with food in my tummy).
I will start on Wednesday, i pick up my husband on Tuesday.
I'm taking thur and fri off for sure, and sat and sun aren't workdays so that gives me at least 4 full days.
I also have plenty of benzos to knock me out if i need it, and my husband will take care of the kiddies!
All i ask of him is to give me hugs!!!
He told me today to get my running shoes ready and to listen to him and take his advice, and he will help me pull through this.  He's gonna make me move instead of laying around i just know it.  I think this is going to be very helpful for him, because he has always felt somewhat responsible for my addiction (not true, but hard to get it out of his stubborn head).  Helping me will be an excellent part of his recovery i believe.  It will finalize his own plan in a way.  We've been together for over 20-years now, and we are a part of eachother, and that's just the way it is.  Call us both co-dependent, but it's hard not to be when two people have been together so long, and been through so much.  I am hoping for much much happier days in the future, and hoping to strengthen our love even more, and mend the tears and scratches in our hearts, and have a healthy, happy rest of our lives together as one!  But we need to learn many things, to give eachother space, and to not be controlling, and most of all trust!!!!
Thank you everyone for being here with me, i'll keep you posted!
Lv Jenny :)
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Avatar universal
You are one of the most kind-hearted souls i've ever met, and i feel very fortunate to have met you!!!!
You are always here for us, and you never ever need to question that, like i said before, and as wiz has said.
I love that song by Faith Hill, and when i was visiting my family back in June, my mom told me to listen to the words of that song because they are so very true!!!
My husband was falling apart when i was away on vacation, and i was very sensitive because i had tapered down real low, so i was feeling for a change.
I felt the need to confide in them about my husband, not me though, they still don't know about me.  My mom told me to listen to that song and it gave me strength!
I love music too, and look forward to enjoying it fully when i break free of my addiction.  My husband too, he used to play guitar and he looks forward to playing again!!! :)
In life, you need to be guided by your heart, it never steers you wrong, and those toddlers are some lucky little kiddies to have you as their Mrs Cindi.  I wish you worked at the daycare i will be bringing my little Kayla to next month!  It's gonna break my heart to not have her with me at work anymore, but it's time - according to my boss :(
I know you must put many mommies and daddies at ease knowing that you are their with their little ones while they have to be at work.
Just keep being YOU, never ever change because we love you just the way you are!!!!
Lv Jenny
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