question regarding methadone withdrawls

[AprilJP]

I am finally ready to come off of the methadone for good.  I am currently on 20 mgs and trying to decide whether to go c/t or taper down the next 2 weeks first.  I was under the impression that the withdrawls would be severe for only a week and then after reading some posts on here i have read that some people are experincing 30 to 60 days of withdrawls.  Can somebody please tell me the best way to do this and what I can truly expect.  Thanks!

                                              April

[docnomore]

It's a good idea to taper on methadone but in most cases I suggest a quick taper. I have detoxed many times from methadone and found it worked best for me when I did 5mg. per day. don't be scared by the nay sayers who say you have to taper long and slow. In most cases it only prolongs the agony. Also the most important factor is the length of time on the done not the dose. You are just as satuated with done at 50 mg. as with 200mg.. How did you get your done?

[maestrocon]

I was at 35mg from 80 when I decided to stop. Actually my health insurance decided for me. I took 6 days take homes and split each day into three.This I did for 2 weeks and then stopped cold turkey. It's rough but at lower doses ( if you use them at night) you can deal ok, and then go cold turkey which *****! But if you can get some clonadine and tuff it out for 4-6 days, things get better! Not normal or great but better, you sleep more, you have more energy ( after stopping the clonadine), and it's easier to deal.
Good Luck!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Welcome to the Forum! You have posted on an old post so why don't you copy this and go to the top and 'Post a Question' to start a new one. You will get more answers that way.

[kk143]

I am only taking appx 1mg a day and I can deal with the w/d symptoms.  I am scared for the day when I don't have anymore left.  I am going out of town and the last 1mg will be the day before I leave.  Am I going to be miserable or what?  I just want someone with personal experience on this...I don't want to do the sub treatment I just feel like it would start the whole process over and I am so close right?  I have been on about 10-15mg of methadone once a day for about 5 years and have tapered down from 5mg - 2.5mg and now 1mg.  I was on 5 for at least 2mths.  Will I be okay or should I be worried about my trip and the enjoyment for my family....

[chemmonster7]

I quit c/t at 350milgrm still have issues more then 3mnths later w/d hard core for 7-8wks but every one is differt at 20 mil just do it it will be rough but worth it post me if you have any questions

[bodybuilder1]

Methadone withdrawls last far longer than a week. In fact they don't even start to peak until the 7 day mark. I would STRONGLY recommend you taper rather than go cold turkry. Also you want to taper as slowly as possible ie. 1-2mg per week reduction at most. Any more than this will prove very uncomfortable. I have had a lot of experience with methadone and know what I'm talking about as do several others on this site with methadone experience. You probably think "god at 1mg per week that will take ages" but if you want to succede then it's the only way. The reason why most people can't get off methadone is that they try to tapwe too fast or even worse, try cold turkey. Because the withdrawls are so protracted (4-6 weeks) with the cold turkey method, few people can take that much punishment for such a lomg period of time and so relapse. If however you follow the slow taper that I suggested (which incidentally is what I'm doing now) the discomfort will be minimal. If I can help you at all and in any way, please don't hessitate to ask. God bless. Graeme.