repost same methadone detox question

[Foxlight]

Ok, I was cut off of methadone, last dose sunday at 25mg, I dropped to that in about two weeks from around 80.  It was rough but I managed it.  Now I'm on vikes and clonodine and it is wed.  The withdrawals are nowhere near as bad as I had suffered previously by missing two days at 80mg.  At that time, I got back on the methadone after just 2 days off and it took me a whole week to stabilize.  Question is, is this going to get worse?  Or is this it?  I mean, this dr is going to give me subutex then suboxone monday, but do I really even need it after a whole week off?  And are the vikes postponing the severe withdrawals are am I healing and adjusting even now?  Thanks anyone who responds to this.

[eliminnopee]

   You sound so so similiar to myself, in that we were taking the same amount of methadone and lowered very rapidly.  I am suprised that you even feel any effects from the hydro.  Anyway A little of my own history may help you a bit.  I started on methadone to quit hydros, 10-10mgs a day.  I started at 40 and eventually was at 80mgs a day.  I did that for almost a yr. and decided I really didn't like the way it had changed me mentally and started to physically (gained 10 lbs and heard that I would just keep gaining as long as I used, dunno if that's true but didn't want to risk anymore of my health).  I decided to quit and wanted to make it as manageable as possible.  I went to 60 mgs for a week, then to 50mgs, then 40 for a week, and so on until I got to 20.  It was a bit harder to go lower from there, so I did this (worked great for me)  4 days of 10mgs, 2 days of 20 mgs and one day of nothing for one month.  I may have taken say a 10 on Mon., a 10 on Tues., Wed. a 20, Thurs. a 10, Fri. a 10, nothing on Sat., and a 20 on Sun.  I did this for a month, maybe 5 weeks.  Then I started a very fast taper of the suboxone.  I did 4 days of 4mgs (half an 8mg tablet), 3 days of 2mgs (1/4 a pill) and then stopped completely.  It has worked extremely, extremely well for me... no real bad withdrawals at all!!  However, if you want to get off of everything, you need to consider the amount of methadone you have tapered to.  In my case it was very low.  I suggest that if you can, if not, you may try this 4 days at 8mgs, 4 at 6mgs, 4 at 4mgs, 4 at 2mgs, and even lower if you feel the need from there.  Really all I used the suboxone for was to mask the acute withdrawal synptoms that the methadone created.  I tried to use it long enough to get out of the woods on that front , while not getting physically and mentally dependent on the sub.  Everyone is different, while this has worked wonders for me it might not for someone with different chemistry.  It is definitely, definitely, worth trying.  Because if it works this great for you also it's almost like getting a free pass.  When you stop the subs, don't expect it to be withdrawal free.  You will have some very mild ones, but it is light years away from the agony of full onset acute withdrawals!  GOOD LUCK!!  I, along with everyone else are here, support you in whatever you decide is the right vehicle for your recovery.

[FLaddict]

No buprenorphine itself is what can put you into withdrawals NOT the naloxone in suboxone.. the naloxone is only to deter people from shooting it up.. so either subutex or suboxone can cause precipitated withdrawals.

[Foxlight]

thank you everyone for your support.  Really the subutex is the half of suboxone that helps with withdrawals, it's basically the same drug with out the part that sends you into withdrawals.  from what everyone is saying, I SHOULD get on suboxone but you know, I really don't want to get into another situation like I did on methadone.  I did not sleep last night.  When I was at 80 I once missed a weekend and I swear it terrified me.  This isn't so bad now considering.  But I am having leg tremors now, back aches, sleep trouble and mild anxiety.  30 days!  God help me.  When the withdrawals do peak, which I believe they are near, how long will that last.  This will be my last question this string and I do thank everyone who responded.  And Ruthie, we are mere hours away from each other in this and I wish you the best of luck.

[wait2long]

i was on methadone for 9 months, stayed on 20 mgs daily...when i transitioned from the meth to the sub they asked me to be in mid-withdrawals...i waited 5 full days for the withdrawals to even start, on the 5th day i took my first dose of suboxone and it sent me through the roof with precipitated withdrawals...2-3 days isnt even enough time to be in withdrawals yet, you were on a much higher dose just 2 weeks ago, right?  i would really make sure you are good and sick before you take that first dose of sub...the longer you are on the methadone, the longer it may take for your withdrawals to even start, and the severity will depend on the dose.  and short term sub use may not work for you either, you may need to be on the sub for at least 4-6 weeks...it takes 30+days for the methadone to be cleared from your system, so withdrawals can last 30+ days, it took 5 weeks for me to get the full benefits from the suboxone...if you have any questions, just ask hun...my e-mail address is in my profile, if there is anything i can do to help...let me know...

and yes the vikes are just masking your withdrawals, if you plan on taking the suboxone on monday, then you need to stop everything now...but something i didnt think about is the subutex....that may be a better option for you, ask your doctor and just make sure you are honest with him about what you have been taking and when you last took it and what the last dose was...ok?  i dont know much about subutex...but maybe if you put up a post about it someone will be able to help you with that...good luck hun...

[willruthie1965]

I would wait and see how you feel monday.You can always call the doctor if you need too.I am having less trouble with no mthadone this time around.Grant it it;sonly 36 hours but by the  time I  wake up in the morning it willbe 2 full days.Last time I got sick after 24 hours and no amount of vicodin helped.Ifear methadone withdrawals.I would feel like I can do anything ,if I can quit this methadone.Iemail me if you want to discuss.Ruthie

[FLaddict]

Methadone withdrawals can last several weeks, you are day 3 today without it.. I am concerned with you switching to Sub after on 2 weeks at 25 mgs.. they usually want you to be down that low for a month or two  before switching.. and sometimes methadone withdrawals can take over 4 days to fully kick it.. I would still plan on getting on Sub based on your use, the vics could be masking some of the methadone withdrawals, or they haven't hit fully yet. or both..