physical effects of weaning off methadone are killing me!!! PLEASE HELP

[oceanfamily1992]

I've been on opiates for 10 years straight, (methadone for this last 3) for degenerative disc disease and fusion surgeries that seem to have made my pain worse, until now. I recently uncurled from a two year "nothing helps, so i'm laying down and not getting back up" phase. I decided to try to find help again, for the sake of my children if nothing else. I'm thrilled to say that I have an amazing PT who is really helping me, and a good psychiatrict nurse practitioner (part of a pain clinic) who is helping me see hope and guiding me through the weaning process.  As I was reporting debilitating pain, "they" felt that opiates were only making me worse and it was time to come off. I've gone from 180 mgs methadone a day to 45 mg a day. I am reducing by just 5 mg at a time, and have Visteral and Clonodine to relieve the edginess and anxiety.

I'm having such a rough time for the first week after another reduction. The oddest thing is that my emotions are under better control yet I still have all the physical symptoms of "fight or flight" happening constantly! I'm afraid I will have a heart attack!! The most uncomfortable symptom, aside from the heart palpitations, is the stomach tightening@butterflies that normally accompany a sudden scare or a frightening and sudden thought. This stomach tingling/tightening/floating thing happens every few minutes at the worst of it. I can't sleep, nor focus. It's distressing! And it scares me.

Is this uncommon? I've been waiting for a call from my NP all week and we've missed each other. I just want to survive weaning and get my life back. I would be so grateful for any advice and help. Thank you very much.

Catherine Anne

[Path61]

I don't have any experience with methadone, but I agree with michigan. It does sound like an anxiety attack. Might be caused by the alternate drugs or might be the addiction panicking your body. (If that makes sense) Just hang in there til you get hold of your NP. If we won't reach out to each other when we're able to, we suck as human beings. Definately keep us posted on how you're doing.

[oceanfamily1992]

thank you for such quick replies....it was so encouraging to know others were out there who understand, and who reached out to me.

[sadinmichigan]

Hi there..I have been through methadone w/d . it is the hardest thing I have ever been through. As for your symptoms I almost wonder if it's the clonodine or visteral thats giving you the weird feelings your describing. Nothing is out of possibility though with methadone w/d..you have done an excellent job comming down. Your hardest mg/s are going to be under 20mgs. I have some info in my journal written by a dr. about methadone w/d..he was also an addict for 18 yrs..there might be some helpful things you can do. Try not to panic too much because that is going to make it worse. it almost sounds like your describing an anxiety attack ,because that is what happens..let us know how your doing..

[determined814]

iwas  on percocets for lower back pain due to  ruptured disc  for two years then 1 and a half years and have been 7 days  clean after weeni ng down to 10 mgs from 80   in two months  it  really helped me to start the amino acid protocol  {down to the right on the health  pages}i started a week before i  stopped at 10mgs i

[worried878]

never used methadone but it does not sound abnormal from what i have read from many posters who quit this drug..tough struggle...getting down to 45 mg is a great acheivemnt and give urself lots of credit that is well desrved,,,continue to move forward....u have support and it helps tremendously..others with experience with meth will post soon