opiate (heroin methadone) detoxxx

[jjames666]

Intended to make this post earlier, but here goes.

So this is the situation:

Im at a detox center right now, this is my 8th day here.  Prior to coming here I was smoking .3-1gram of heroin a day for about a month to a month and a half tops.  Before I got into this detox centre I went to a methadone center and was put on a small dose at my request (10mL) daily.  I was on that dose for 5 days before I got into this detox centre, then when i got here they started me at 40ml and dropped me 5ml per day until I hit 10ml and I stopped taking it.  I still had 5ml left but i decided not to take it.  

So in total I was on methadone for 11 days and had a heroin habit for a month to a month and a half.  As stated earlier, this is the 8th day at the detox centre.

Right now I have 8 days off heroin and am on my 4th (almost 5th) day off methadone (all opiates).

To tell you the truth the withdrawal hasnt been that bad at all.  I felt a bit gross on the 2nd day but nothing siper bad.  I havent been that achy at all.  I have been having trouble sleeping, but am still getting some hours at night after much tossing and turning.  I have some depression too.  The w/d has been pretty mild overall though.

So I guess my question to all you fine people is, how much longer do you think my withdrawal will go on?  Am I through the worst of it?  I think i know some of the answers but am just looking for others input.  If you have anything to add or suggest, please post.

thanks!

[ariley13]

Hi there! Congratulations on your 8 days clean! I just wanted to offer you my support and attempt to answer your question until someone with more experience with Methadone and heroin comes along. Methadone is a very long acting opiate. It has a longer half life than any other opiate and this can make the detox drag way out. Since you were only on it for a short time, you probably won't have withdrawals per se  from the Methadone. It is still in your system however and probably helping to keep you from having full blown withdrawals from the heroin. It's really hard to say what will happen when you get all of the Methadone out of your system. Hopefully, you will feel a lot better and be done with the withdrawal symptoms by that point. I hope that you feel better very soon.  Learn lots of good tools to use in your recovery and make the most of this rehab experience. Good luck to you and take care!

[vicki595]

Hi- Were you taking anything else prior to the H?  You were definitely abusing but are you an addict and were you addicted physically after 1 1/2 months??

I ask because that's not a very long time and you may have been able to detox at home just fine. Regardless, you should feel better and better as the days go by. Methadone does have a long half life so it may still be covering you a little but not much.

How much longer are you going to be there?

[jjames666]

i had 3 months clean prior to the last month-month and a half long h bender.  but i have been physically addicted to it before.  

think i'll be here for another week at least

[digger1976]

Hey, I would like to say well done first of all, kicking your habit so early in and going into detox is the best move you could have ever made. I truly can't see things getting to much worse for you, your body should bounce back pretty quick, you haven't been taking things long enough for it to have a big hold on you. A lot of people detoxing from Methadone don't feel to much until the 4th day, that's when the battle usually begins for them, I truly hope this isn't what's going to happen in your case. I can't see it though, it might get a little rougher but it should pass quickly. The detox centre have done everything correctly, they have dropped you quick and give you a fighting chance.

What were you taking Heroin for? Was it because of said depression? I'm so happy you realised early how terrible a drug it is, it took me 14 year to get clean so think on before you ever look at drugs again, you have an escape route grab it with both hands and don't let go. Now is the time to put some work in on why you went down this horrible road and build up support to make sure you don't return to it!

I wish you the best in everything, well done my friend, truly!

[digger1976]

Ok so you have abused these drugs In the past too, I still can't see it changing to much concerning the length of w/d you'll experience. The thing that's going to be more important to you is aftercare to keep you away from drugs in the future, make sure you take it very serious or you just fall back into old habits.

Keep it up my friend.

[vicki595]

What are your plans for Aftercare?  Does the center offer support then steer you to meetings, therapist, etc?

[jjames666]

thanks for the replies all

makes me feel a bit better

yes the detox centre im at is very good with aftercare.  they select a therapist and drug coun. in your area and make all the arrangements.  the therapist offers relapse prevention, etc.

[VICourageous]

jjames..You have been on here before right?? I thought we talked with you months ago?? Any way you were not on the dones to long and the H is not as synthetic, but the cravings will be what you most differently will have to work on. I have a gut feeling you will be over the physical in no time..Remember it is the Mental that will roll in and out that is the worse. Just be in-tune with it and keep in mind it is all part of the process..Just continue keeping up the Support and May the Lord be with you throughout this Journey.
Bless

[truredhead]

Hi, I am very glad you have went to detox. I am a methadone maintenance person and have been on it for 18 years. I got very addicted to heroin at a young age. Believe me it is a nightmare when in active addiction. And it gets worse real quick. You need to run as fast as you can in the other direction. Methadone is one of the hardest drugs to come off of as well. Takes weeks and months to get right. It has enabled me to live a productive life for the time on it, but I always fear what would happen if I could not get it for some reason. I am now almost 60 years old and I may be on it the rest of my life now but at least I am alive, close to my family, and on good terms with myself. You have a chance now to get away from addiction and you will never be happy if you do not. Methadone should only be for long time users that can not stay off the opiates. You are a just starting out in a bad dream and I hope you can realize how to wake up before you have no desire to live a good life. By the way I have had 18 years of clean drops, you can not be on methadone and use drugs too if you are serious about being away from a miserable way of life. I would try to get off now since you have went through the worst of the withdrawals. It is a mental thing now so you have to get away from all friends using and go to meetings and listen to recovered addicts, they will tell you like it is.

[jjames666]

thanks to everyone for the replies.  

yes VIC i was here a couple months ago.  i ended up losing my job and being homeless for a bit and started using again for about a month and a half.  caught myself in time before it got way to crazy i guess.

today i actually felt pretty good.  i was actually really surprised how good i felt.   minor rls and depression.  got some sleep last night too for aboout 6 hours.  

things seem to be looking up, and im pretty sure im through the worst of it now.

tomorrow will be 6 days off the methadone and 9/10 days off the heroin.

wasnt using for too long so i think i have that on my side.

thanks everyone

[VICourageous]

James, Just take this as a lesson and turn it into a Blessing..Sometimes it takes a fall for us to see that we do not like the way it hurts when we fall down..Och!
I think You just might have it this time..Hang tight to all you got..You know there will be Waves of Good days and Bad..Sometimes it can be part of the process and other times it is just Life..Keep it up and keep in touch on here for Support..Get some face to face Support too!!!  I am still proud of you..lol
Bless

[gnarly_1]

Hi your probably threw the worst of it you weren't on ether to long so you will probably kick in about a week and be feeling a lot better in a month hang in there you will get better by the day good luck and God bless.....................................Gnarly.............................................

[jjames666]

thanks VIC and gnarly for your posts


ya i think that everyone is right about being through the worst of it.  i'm almost at a week off all junk and i havent felt any worse.  feeling better actually.  still have minor depression, ****** sleep and a bit of RLS still but getting better for sure.  good to know im on the upside now.

thanks all

will keep posting

[jjames666]

one week


one week off all the junk folks.  feeling pretty decent despite some **** sleeps and some depression.

all goes away with time though, i know that much

[digger1976]

I'm so happy the w/d's haven't accelerated for you, your a week in now. You would be hitting the wall now if it were going to get worse. I would think in another week of mild w/d's and you'll feel great. I wish you all the best my friend, well done and keep it up!

[Bubbleguppie100]

Aww congrats on you one week. So cool!

[jjames666]

day 13


almost 2 weeks off all opiates.   still trouble sleeping but that is really the only thing im noticing   energy is good surprisingly   most other symptoms of wd seemed to fade off earlier this weekend