CRUEL Methadone drop 140 mg to 40mg! Been on it 7 yrs how long will withdrawal be?

[Maymi119]

I went in ICU for Pnunomia/ Flu, I've been on methadone for 6 yrs the Dr.s took me off ALL MY MEDS, & lowered my dose from 115 mg to 40 mg, now my clinic won't tell me if they will increase me or not I'm not looking to go to 115mg it's been a month and my withdrawal is WORSE! I can only think that the build up of methadone is coming out! How long can physical symptoms last?Should I switch to Suboxin I have chronic pain & fibermilga?

[Maymi119]

I live in Pittsburgh, we have methadone clinics, but they are so time consuming and expensive. It's $100 a week.  You have to earn privileges  they're like a dope man, no counseling no groups no encouragements to get better you pay see ur counselor for 5 min. Once month it's a joke but for working people it's the best one. Read my post b4 this one all of them. I went to the hospital dizzy from Pnunomiai. The ICU LUNG DR. ORDERED THE DROP NOT THE CLINIC I WAS ON IT ABOUT 4/5 DAYS. When I came home my methadone clinic won't raise me backup. I pay on time I never miss apps. Clearly I wasn't using being on methadone an ex addict

[marycarmel]

I did try neurontin and it helped my pain but i had bad side effects and had to stop it.

[Maymi119]

Did you try neurotin? That's what I'm on coupled with Alleve. I take 800mg neurotin 2x and 1 Alleve in morning.

[marycarmel]

Check out the substance abuse forum for tips on helping with feeling so lousy with the methadone withdrawals.  You basically did go CT with that kind of a drop.  There are things that can help alleviatebthe withdrawal symptoms and there are a lot of great people who got off high doses of methadone.

I've had fibro for 14 years.  For me exercise and diet helps more than anything else.  I've tried lots of things and really not much helps.

I hope you can get some relief.  I can't imagine how rotten you feel after dropping so much.  

[Maymi119]

I have fibermilga which narcotics like methadone really don't help. I do have REAL PAIN ISSUES, but I got on methadone February 2000 I remember because I went to detox from a 3 MONTH HABIT OF sniffing heroin & I found out I was pregnant, I trusted the Dr.s which I'll NEVER do again it turned into 14yrs mostly on methadone. I called 911 because I have a wheelchair ( for pain) and oxygen, I felt dizzy. I went to the hospital they mixed up my medications and coupled w/ Pnunomia  overdosed me I was on 15 L of oxygen, they almost had to intubate me & put me in a coma. So their way of " fixing" it was taking me off all my meds so they wouldn't get sued or kill me because clearly they were incompetent. The hospital I went to killed my boyfriends Dad! It's not like they tapered me it was 115 mg one day 40 mg next day it's only been three weeks it would be completely INSANE while I'm still withdrawing to quit taking it. I haven't eaten solids for this whole time because I know my consequences. I have heard sometimes it takes months I just want advice on what NON-NARCOTIC ways I can subdue the pain. I didn't have any thoughts or urges to get high until now because I hurt so bad.

[marycarmel]

After 6 years, why don't you want to finish coming off why go on suboxone?  Are you on the methadone for pain?   There's lots of people here who've come off methadone and some in the process of it.  I'm sure they'll be able to answer your questions, but they may need more information.